“Understood,” said Corbin, speaking in a soft tone.
The boy lowered his head and then curled one of his hands into a fist. “When can we see the other kids who came in with us?”
Corbin’s expression remained unreadable. “If they aren’t out here, in this hall, then they’re being treated beyond the medical bay doors there. Right now, it’s chaotic back there, but once the dust has settled, we can make sure you see your friends.”
The boy’s gaze darted to the bay doors briefly.
Rurik assumed the kid would make a run for them.
Evidently, so did Corbin, because he craftily planted himself in the boy’s path. “Tell me, is there anyone in particular you want me to check on?”
“Yes,” the boy said, his voice sounding small. He glanced at two little girls who were hugging each other, watching the operatives like they weren’t sure trusting them was an option. The pair didn’t look much older than five years old.
One of the girls had ink-black hair with vibrant green eyes and the other had hair that was nearly white as snow. She slid her crystal blue gaze to Rurik and then didn’t so much as blink.
At the same second, it felt like a fly was buzzing around his head. He swatted at it and the feeling vanished.
“Our friend. We can’t find her,” said the boy. “She wasn’t on the bus with us. I looked. I think she’s hurt.”
Corbin reached out and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Then know she is getting the best care possible right now and the best thing you can do is see to your needs. I can go in search of her myself.”
The boy’s shoulders slumped. “They were mean to her where we were. Really mean. I tried to keep her safe. I tried to keep them all safe.”
“And you did a very good job,” said Corbin. “Most wouldn’t have survived what you’ve all lived through. You should be proud of yourself.”
The boy teared up slightly. “Is she dead?”
The two girls who were clinging to each other made the smallest of gasps. The way the dark haired one tightened her hold on the blonde said she was protective.
Rurik nearly went to them both to reassure them he’d find their friend himself—come hell or high water. As he looked into the little one’s blue eyes again, the buzzing around his head started once more, and the need to stop what he was doing now to go on the search for the missing child was so great he nearly rushed away to do so.
Just then a different little girl darted out from the group and wrapped her arms around Rurik’s thigh, clinging to him. Her hair was a shade or so darker than the blonde girl’s.
Rurik put his hands up, worried about touching her for fear of breaking her. She was so small—they all were really.
She tilted her head back, her hair matted to the sides of her face. The next Rurik knew, the girls who’d been clinging to one another hurried over toward him. They peeled the other child from his leg and pulled her back to the group with them. She looked anything but pleased. The dark-haired one didn’t appear to care.
The matted-haired girl tried again to come for Rurik.
The boy tensed. “Olga, stop. We need to find Libs.”
Olga narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms. “She’s probably dead.”
“Take it back!” shouted the girl with ink-black hair right before she tackled Olga. For as small as they were, they had might. It took several children to pull the little girls apart. Thankfully, none of the operatives needed to intervene.
Olga spit at the ink-haired girl and then stuck out her tongue.
The temperature in the hallway began to increase in a way that wasn’t natural as the ink-haired girl lifted a hand, aiming it at the other child. Her green eyes swirled, and a flame appeared out of nowhere in the palm of her extended hand.
Boomer was fast to respond, rushing to the fire-wielding child and lifting her fast. “None of that now.”
The flame died out as she glared over Boomer’s shoulder at Olga. Boomer set her down, keeping his body before hers. “Captain?”
He was thinking what they were all thinking—the children could be dangerous if left unattended.
Note to selves, said Duke through the mental mind path the operatives shared. Don’t piss off the one with black hair. She’ll body slam you and then light your ass on fire.
The boy drew the ink-haired child away from Boomer and held her hand. He stared at Corbin, his eyes growing moist. “You can tell us the truth—if Libs is dead. We know what it means.”
“Other children have died?” blurted Boomer.
The boy nodded.
Corbin cast a worried glance toward Boomer before patting the boy’s shoulder. “I was not informed of there being any casualties. I’m sure Libs is fine.”
Rurik growled at the knowledge of how poorly they’d been treated.
The next he knew, half of them screamed and huddled closer together.
He spun around, expecting to find a threat. When he realized he was what had scared them, he sighed and faced Corbin once more.
Corbin stood fully. “Children, you’re safe. He wasn’t growling at you, were you?”
“No,” Rurik said louder than he’d meant, making the little ones nearest him start to cry. He cringed. He shouldn’t be allowed around anyone, let alone children. “Enough.”
They cried harder.
“Christ, stop helping,” snapped Duke powerfully, causing more of them to join in the crying.
Gram shook his head. “Och, the two of you are gonna scare the life out of them. All right, children, show of hands. Who wants some food in their bellies?”
Little hands shot up right before some wiped their faces and noses with their arms.
Gram smiled. “Guid. Now, what do you say we get you cleaned, in some fresh clothes, and
