Istood in the center of the living room in Lykos’s penthouse, high above the streets of Athens. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the ancient Parthenon and the rest of the city stretched in layers of shadows under the moon of the night, indifferent to what we’d just endured.
We waited with bated breath for the doctor to examine the children. I was terrified that in the chaos and commotion of saving them, we’d also hurt them.
“They’ll be okay,” he murmured as if reading my thoughts.
Down the hallway, a door clicked, and we both jumped as the doctor stepped out, his gray hair slightly disheveled, his forehead deeply lined. He clutched his black bag in one hand, knuckles pale against the worn leather. He started walking, his black shoes stark and loud against the white marble floor as he made his way toward the living room.
I searched his face for relief, concern, even the smallest hint of reassurance, but found nothing I could hold on to.
The doctor finally reached us and my lips parted, but Lykos spoke first.
“Are the children okay? Should we take them to the hospital? What do we need to do?”
The doctor offered a small smile.
“They’re going to be okay. They’re resting now.” His words drew a deep, relieved sigh from us both. “The children are a bit disoriented, but they don’t need to go to the hospital. I put oxygen masks on them to ensure recovery. They’re shaken up, but give them a few days and they’ll be back to normal. You two, though…”
He trailed off, surveying us, almost as if his eyes were an X-ray machine.
“The window in my bedroom was open, so I think I’m okay,” I responded. “But Lykos should probably get some oxygen.”
“I’m fine,” Lykos objected.
“If you notice any breathing issues, I need to be informed right away,” the doctor retorted.
“Thank you again for coming in the middle of the night, Doctor,” Lykos said, extending his hand and shaking it. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Mr. Costello.” The old doctor turned to me and added, “Keep an eye on him, yes?”
I nodded and he headed out of the penthouse, leaving us alone.
A tremor rose, threading through my body and spreading. It started in my hands, a faint quiver, before spilling into my arms, my legs, until it felt like I was unspooling from the inside out. The room tilted, the polished floor seeming to sway beneath my feet, and for a terrifying second, I thought I might simply fold in.
My knees buckled, and I would have collapsed if Lykos hadn’t caught me.
His arms came around my waist, firm and unyielding. Although there was tension in his body, I found strength in his warmth, letting it ground me.
“Easy,” he murmured, his breath brushing the soft skin at my ear.
I clutched at him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt and anchoring myself to him. But the tremor didn’t fade; instead, it lingered beneath my skin.
“Are you sure you don’t need a doctor, Violet?”
I shook my head, offering a small smile. “I’m fine. It’s just… I was worried about the kids. If something happened to them…”
“I know, but they’re okay. You saved us,” he murmured while I buried my face into his chest. “I should have killed her the day she tried to harm the children,” he continued.
I lifted my face to look at him. “I thought I could help her,” I admitted. “Maybe I should have thought about ending her. A good mother would.”
Still holding me, Lykos’s muscles stiffened and he looked down at my face.
“If you want to kill someone,” he growled, “you tell me. You don’t soil your hands with blood. You understand?”
I stared at him, confused. “Wh-what?”
“You’re too good and too innocent to kill anyone. You want someone dead, you tell me.”
“Okay.” I blinked, unsure how to take his words. “So you’re not mad I planned on killing your wife?”
