She wasn't going to cry. She was not going to cry. Percy was here, and real. Vex could feel his arms strong around her, his mouth taking hers as she kissed back just as hard.

His talk of months passed over her head without registering, unimportant in the moment, just like her injuries. Not when the image of her brother as she'd last seen him was so fresh in her memory. She had to know. Clinging to Percy, she leaned away just enough to see his eyes through the tears welling up. "Vax. My brother – is he...?"