I spotted Yelena and Nat and rushed to them. Yelena’s face was soot-stained and bruised, like everyone else’s. She leaned on Nat, who wasn’t in any better shape.
“Mari,” she and Nat both choked on my name as I hugged them. “We thought you were taken.”
“I’m fine,” I said. “How are you guys?”
I was probably the only one who wasn’t badly injured, sporting only minor scratches and cuts. But I was so drained I hoped I didn’t fade off right here.
“We both have cracked ribs.” Nat grinned at me. “But we survived. The demons just up and left after you were gone. We thought they had you.”
Héctor stayed by my side as the other demigods went to help the survivors. I pulled away from my friends and surveyed the carnage, looking for Circe, Jasper, and the shifters.
Circe pointed at me. She seemed unable to make a sound, and the black wolf beside her howled. He was overjoyed that I was alive yet sorrowful for the loss of a few pack members.
I nodded at them.
We had come with three buses full of people, and we would return with half that number.
Esme was injured badly, as were a few Dominion guards she’d brought. Demetra had lived, and her eyes burned with displeasure when they spotted me. Some members of her clique had fallen. I did not take pleasure in that. There was only grief, rage, and revenge in my heart.
At Axel’s order, all the survivors limped toward us and formed a circle so the demigods could teleport us all back to the Academy.
As soon as we touched down in the main medical center on Staten Island, military alarms blared throughout the island, announcing a military lockdown.
CHAPTER 15
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We dropped everyonein the infirmary on Staten Island. The doctors and nurses hurried to us with all sorts of medic kits.
Esme was carted to a mobile bed with an IV hooked to her right away. Nearly everyone, except Axle and me, was wounded to various degrees. A few students had lost limbs. Demetra had acid burns over the side of her face and shoulders.
The shifters stayed in their animal forms to regenerate faster.
A combat medic approached the five of us. “Demigods, we need to take a look at your wounds, too.”
Héctor waved him away, and the medic immediately stepped back but pointed at me.
“What about the girl?” he asked.
“We’ll take care of her,” Paxton said.
Zak nodded at a leader of the Dominion sentinels. “Page me as soon as Headmistress Esme Von Rouche regains consciousness.”