‘What happened?’ Gray asked, moving forward and serving stern looks to Lincoln and Phoenix, which they both ignored.
‘Exiles,’ Lincoln answered, still glaring at Phoenix. ‘Ten of them.’
Gray snorted. ‘That all,’ he said, pulling me away from Lincoln, who let my arm slide from his as they walked me up the stairs.
‘You want me to carry you?’ Gray asked.
I saw Lincoln, at my side, shake his head to himself with an almost smile as I shot Gray a furious look. Phoenix stood by the doorway, also smirking. Gray raised his free hand in surrender. ‘It was just an offer,’ he mumbled.
I’m no victim. If my legs work, they carry me.
Steph was suddenly on the other side of me, nudging an increasingly frustrated Lincoln out of her way. I blinked. ‘When did you get here?’ I asked, worried that she’d been in this city alone.
‘They helicoptered me in about twenty minutes ago. Is that a bullet wound?’
‘Yep,’ I said.
Steph shook her head and tried to keep her expression calm. She knew me. Knew I hated the fuss or looking weak. Lincoln was right: some things never do change.
‘Well, Griffin will be appalled,’ she said.
I smiled, remembering how Griffin felt about the fighting code. ‘Speaking of?’
They moved me through the front door and towards the bedroom I was sharing with Zoe.
‘He’s fine. He’s on his way to New York and he’ll be heading this way once he’s checked in on Nyla.’
‘I’m glad he’s on his way there. He should stay with her.’
Steph rolled her eyes. ‘Do you really expect him to leave the fight to everyone else?’
Enough said.
Gray helped me ease myself down onto the edge of the bed. I looked up at everyone hovering around me, including half a dozen overgrown male Grigori crowding the small room. I was surprised to note that Carter had pushed his way into the throng.
How have I managed to go from having no one to rooms packed with bodies in just a few days?
My shoulder was burning alive but I settled a bored expression on them.
‘I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I’m fine. I’ll be good as gold when you all give me a little privacy and I can have a soak in the bath.’
Gray and Carter nodded, grabbing Ray on their way and pulling him out of the room.
Lincoln remained with Phoenix hovering by the doorway, somehow managing to ignore one another. I sighed and looked at my watch. It was ten p.m.
‘Lincoln, I’ll help her. I’ll call you if we need you,’ Steph said gently.
Best. Friend. Ever.
His eyes cut to hers, as hard as steel but then softened and he nodded. ‘I’ll be in my room going over plans for tomorrow. We’ll move out for recon at first light.’
I nodded and he headed out the door, looking back briefly. ‘You know where I am if you need me.’
I heard him walk down the hall and a door close.
‘Phoenix, you too,’ I said. ‘I’m fine. I just need to get cleaned up.’
He studied my face for lies.
I sighed. ‘Please. And promise me you won’t leave the safe house tonight.’
He tilted his head. ‘I’ll stay here tonight. We need to talk about Sammael.’
I kicked off my boots. ‘We’ll talk as soon as I’m healed.’ ‘That might take a while,’ he said before disappearing down the hall.
Whatever.
I slumped back onto my bed and Steph closed the door, giving us some privacy.
‘Okay, what gives?’ she asked, hands on hips.
I closed my eyes, trying to breathe successfully. ‘We were attacked. Everything was fine and I was down to the last one when he pulled a gun. I was on the ground and I thought Lincoln was going to throw himself in front of me,’ I explained.
‘Totally understandable Lincoln behaviour,’ Steph agreed.
I nodded. ‘Right. But then, I asked him to trust me and he … he stood back and let me fight. I could’ve died.’
We were both silent. She knew what I was saying, what a huge thing it was.
‘He loves you, Vi,’ Steph said eventually, her own voice thick with emotion.
She was a romantic. I knew better. ‘It doesn’t mean everything will be okay, Steph. Too much has happened.’
She plonked down on the mattress beside me, taking little care to avoid my injuries even when I winced. She put a hand on my knee.