June's POV

Tears slide down my face as Hermes tightens his arms around me, locking me against him like his body alone could stop the bomb strapped to my chest.

I try to push at him, but he’s immovable—too strong, too determined, too terrified.

"The detonator was fake!" someone shouts behind us. "It wasn’t wired directly to the vest—!"

My heart lurches so violently I almost collapse.

"I’M NOT LEAVING HER!" Hermes’s voice rips through the chaos. It’s raw. Ragged. Breaking.

I ...