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Isaac grunted, pushing until his arms were extended above his head. He was really lucky that Isaac trained as much as he did. Not many would be able to push Ira’s body-weight above his head like this. Ira’s head popped over the top of the wall, and he quickly grabbed it, lifting his weight off Isaac’s hands. For one terrifying moment, he dangled, sneakers scraping at the brick. He swung one leg up over the edge, and then he was there, breathing a sigh of relief.

Straddling the wall, he looked down to his left as Isaac backed away, peering up at him.

“Nicely done,” Isaac said, panting slightly. His forehead gleamed with fresh sweat in the moonlight. “Just hang down before you drop from the other side. It’ll be a little jarring, but if you roll off your feet when you land, it’ll make the impact easier.”

“Yes, I’m sure I’ll make that look very graceful,” Ira drawled.

Isaac’s quiet snort was barely audible.

“Oh, and Isaac?”

“Don’t thank me. I was never here.”

Ira smiled lopsidedly. “Okay, I won’t. But Iwillremember this when the time comes.”

Isaac tilted his head. “No spoilers, now. Get out of here.”

“Goodbye, Isaac.”

He tried to do as instructed, lowering himself to hang off the edge of the wall. His grip strength left something to be desired, and when he finally let himself fall, he hit the ground hard, rolling backward in the grass.

“Ouch,” he grumbled as he rolled over.

Hands hauled him to his feet, and he shrieked, slamming his fist into a solid chest and receiving barely a grunt for his efforts.

“Little psychic,” Shadrach said, raising his hands in surrender. “Do you want me to take you back to Wolf or not?”

“You—How did you know I’d be here?”

Shadrach tugged on his earlobe, and Ira dared to think he lookedsheepish. “Talon’s human got a text from someone behind the holy wall there,” he gestured to the brick behind Ira, “and said they’d be breaking you out. I was keeping an eye on the place for Wolf, so Talon relayed the message to me. Alex wanted to come, but of course Talon wouldn’t agree to that. Wolf wanted to come, too, but he doesn’t have some of the advantages of a leviathan. To shut them all up, I told them I’d grab you and bring you to that adorable little skating rink.”

“You volunteered,” Ira said dumbly. “You volunteered to come and get me.”

Shadrach’s expression shuttered. “What can I say?” he said coolly. “I’ve never been so close to the guild’s walls before. It was too interesting to pass up.”

Ira glanced back at the wall. How ironic, he thought tohimself, that the pot should wave goodbye just as the kettle arrived in his place. And they had no idea how close they were.

But these things happened in their own time, so Ira shook himself and nodded.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t question your motives. I’m very grateful you’re here, Shadrach.”

Shadrach narrowed his eyes, like he suspected Ira of sarcasm, but after a moment he seemed to decide he was genuine. He extended a hand. “Whenever you’re ready, then.”

Ira put his hand in Shadrach’s, and the world blurred around them.

When it allcame to a whirling stop, he was standing under the twinkling light of the Rink’s disco ball. Ira took a sharp breath, wobbling in place with vertigo from the sudden travel, when big arms wrapped him in a desperately tight hug.

“You’re back! You’re back,” Wolf said in his ear, and Ira sagged in relief, bringing his arms around Wolf’s neck and letting him take his weight. Wolf was safe, and they were together again. All was as it should be.

“Thank God you’re okay,” Ira murmured, kissing the soft curve of his neck. “I wasn’t there long enough to see if any of you were hurt.”

“No, because theytook you. Are you okay? What happened?” Wolf pulled away and took his face in both hands, searching him for injury and upset.

Ira gripped his wrists, smiling so hard his face hurt. “I’m fine. They mostly just had me in a cell the whole time. I think they were trying to decide what to do with me. One of the good ones busted me out and helped me climb over the wall.”

“Isaac,” Alex said, leaning against the partition wall. “Yeah, he texted me a little while ago, said he’d be helping you over the eastern wall.”

“The one you all say is crazy,” Talon said, looking from human to human.

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