A white-hot fist of heat and force slammed into her like God Himself had shoved. The sound was apocalyptic—metal shredding, fuel igniting, the universe screaming as it tore one more family apart and added an exclamation point of flame for cruelty's sake.
She twisted mid-air.
Curled every inch of herself around Phei—arms locked, legs tucked, chin tucked over his head like a shield of flesh and bone.
They hit the ground rolling.
Her dislocated shoulder slammed asphalt first—fresh agony exploding white behind her eyes. Then her back, her ribs, her everything. Skin tore open on gravel;burns from flying embers seared through clothes.
But she took it all. Every impact. Every scrape. Every blistering wave of heat.
If the flames wanted him, they'd have to go through her first.
They skidded to a stop.
She looked up.
And watched her brother burn.
