Kynan rolled his eyes. “The demon does have a way with words.” He took Gem’s hand and clapped Lore on the back. “Thanks, man.”
The party in Rade’s room hit its stride when Ky and Gem went inside. Lore’s brothers all looked so happy, their mates grinning and holding each other tightly. It was a scene right out of a damned movie or something, complete with laughter, reminiscing, and a few good-natured insults.
Lore so didn’t belong here.
He needed to find Idess anyway. He peeled off toward the Harrowgate just as the ER doors slid open. Idess darted inside and right into his arms.
Lore scooped her up, squeezing her hard in a silent promise that he’d never let her go. “Where have you been? Are you okay? Where’s Roag?”
“Later.” She took his mouth in a desperate kiss that pushed all his startup buttons. “Did you…”
“Yeah. Rade was alive.” He let her feet touch the ground again. “He’s going to be okay.”
“I’m so glad.” She sounded relieved, but there was an odd, underlying tone he couldn’t identify.
Frowning, he tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear. “What is it? What are you not telling me?”
Her hand came up to his cheek, her touch tender. “Nothing. It’s just been a long day.”
Rami. God, he was such an ass. The guy might have been a monster, but he had still been her brother, and she’d loved him for two thousand years. Expecting her to be okay with killing him mere hours after finding out what he’d become was just stupid.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
The sound of a clearing throat had Lore growling at the interruption. But when he turned to see all of his brothers—and Kynan—standing there, the viciousness turned to confusion.
“Ah… yeah?”
Shade stepped forward. “Runa and I are in your debt.” He breathed deeply, cast his gaze at the ceiling. “I don’t know what the fuck has been wrong with me these last few days. I wanted you dead, I turned on my brother, and I don’t know why.”
“I do,” Idess said, and five sets of eyes focused on her. “It was Roag. He wasn’t just inciting the ghosts. His very essence was affecting all of you. When he was near, you were all more angry. More aggressive. It was what he wanted.”
“Where is he?” That from Wraith.
“He’s been destroyed.”
Kynan’s dark eyebrows shot up. “He’s dead? For real? Not just invisible?”
“He’s not dead. His soul was annihilated. Erased. He cannot be reborn.”
“Holy shit,” Shade said. “How?”
“Let’s just say that my father is a very powerful man.”
“That’s a little understated, don’t you think?” Lore draped his arm over her shoulder and tugged her into him where she belonged. “You know, seeing how he’s the Grim fucking Reaper.”
Man, you could have heard the ghosts tiptoeing by in the silence. At least until Wraith shot Lore a look of sympathy. “Duuuude.”
“No shit,” Kynan chimed in.
“Well, whatever you and your father did,” Eidolon said, “we’re all very grateful.”
Idess’s gaze dropped to the floor. “It’s the least I could do.” She cast a glance at the ER doors as if she expected the Prince of Darkness himself to pop through them at any moment. “I think I can do something about your ghost problem, too.”
“Now that Roag is gone, shouldn’t they settle down?” Eidolon asked.
“A little. But they don’t belong here. They’re trapped, and they’re going to grow bitter. The ones who have been here the longest already are. It just took Roag to show them how to wreak havoc. Now they need someone to guide them to, ah… the light.”
For some reason, she tripped over the last part of her sentence.
“And you can do that?”
“Yes, but there will be more. You’ll need someone to purge your hospital on a regular basis.”
“Are you volunteering for the job? Because I’m thinking I’ll have a hard time finding another angel to handle it.”
Idess stiffened. It was a subtle motion that probably only Lore noticed. But yeah, something was definitely wrong here.
“I can’t,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”
Lore expected his brothers to argue or try to convince her, but Eidolon merely nodded. “If you change your mind, I’d love to have you.”
Shade gestured to Rade’s room. “I’m taking Runa and the boys home. I don’t like having them here with the plague going on.” He squeezed Lore’s shoulder. “Thanks again. And welcome to the family.” Very slowly, he turned to Eidolon. Their gazes locked, and everything around them stilled. Then, Shade embraced E in a silent but powerful apology. When they broke apart, Shade’s eyes were wet.