I was almost halfway to the battlefield when I realized that Alex’s mom hadn’t been among them. Where could she be?

“Where’s Sapphira, mom?” I asked, turning to her abruptly.

“They took her,” she deadpanned. “The elders took her.”

I didn’t dare to stop, knowing that all and any delay could be fatal, but the wheels churned in my head. As earlier, Trevor went ahead of me, making sure to pave the way for me.

I left Tyler in mom’s care, and instructed Cole to ...