Waving Clarke over, who jumped into action like an over-eager puppy, I waved at him to take Lumen. He obliged, offering a weak smile. He still seemed off, not quite the same since our across country trek, but finding out his damage was put onto the to-do-list. Ushering Sterling into the conjoining living quarters that merged into the bar, not giving a damn about asking permission, I rounded on him.

"What was that, Sterling?" I demanded, despite knowing exactly what it was. Even still, I needed . . . hell, I wasn't even sure what I needed.

It was like falling: first, panic set in, but it was only afterwards...