“You are not in charge here,” Lucian growled.
“Then I’m leaving.” I dropped Everest’s hands and stood up. “And I’m going back to campus until I’ve heard from the killer.”
The room exploded in protests around me.
Two steps later, Everest’s hand was loosely but firmly wrapped around my wrist, and Alister was in front of me, his hands planted on my waist.
“Let me go.”
“No,” came four different voices.
“Either tell me how we are getting my friend back or get out of my way,” I said, trying to shake off Everest.
“Don’t make me lock you up,” Alister rumbled.
“Va te faire foutre.”
“You are not to leave,” Lucian commanded as if his word was law.
“I will go wherever I—”
The phone vibrating in my pocket shocked me like a cattle prod.
The killer . . .
Alister’s eyes zeroed in on the sound before looking up at me. We both went for my pocket at the same time.
“Everest.”
My arms were quickly pinned behind my back.
Alister reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone before entering my passcode without hesitation.
“How do you know that?” I gritted out while struggling futilely against Everest’s grip.
“It’s my job to know about you. You know that, demoness,” Alister said as he opened my messages.
“What is it? Is it the killer?”
He frowned.
“It’s Autumn, isn’t it? They’ve killed her,” I said, trying to remain calm.
His brow only furrowed deeper, and I felt all the strength leave my legs.
She was dead.
Autumn was dead and it was my fault.
“Alister, what does it say?” Lucian said from behind us.
My stomach roiled. I was going to be sick.
“Ali, come on man, tell us what it says,” someone else said, maybe Nixon.
“It’s okay, love, I’ve got you,” Ever whispered in my ear as the arms around me wound tighter.
Alister finally spoke. “She’s not dead. Not yet.”