Back in the penthouse, the domestic bliss was interrupted by a debate.
"Pizza," Rhett voted, slamming his hand on the kitchen counter. "Meat lovers. Extra cheese. I have a caloric deficit to make up for."
"Thai," Kai countered, leaning against the fridge. "I want something green. Something that grew in the dirt. And spicy noodles."
"Blood of our enemies," Lucien suggested from the living room, where he was reading a book.
"We have no enemies left," I reminded him, opening the fridge to find it depressingly empty. "Unless you count the squirrels."
"Fine," Lucien sighed. "Tacos. Tacos are acceptable."
"Tacos it is," I decided.
The phone rang.
It wasn't the landline (we didn't have one). It was the dedicated "Emergency Bat Line" phone Ivy had insisted we install. It was bright red and shaped like a skull.
I picked it up. "Hello?"
"Lina! Emergency!" Ivy shrieked.
"What is it?" I asked, adrenaline spiking instantly. "Is Marrow back? Did the pigeons unionize? Is the glitter sentient?"
"Worse!" she wailed. "I'm at the infirmary. You have to come. It's the boys. They're... they're arguing."
"Arguing?" I frowned. "About what?"
"About who loves me more!"
I blinked. "Ivy, are you calling me because your boyfriends are fighting over you?"
"Yes! It's terrible! And wonderful! But mostly terrible because they're being loud and the nurse is threatening to sedate them! Jax is threatening to write a poem! Stone is quoting regulations! Rook is just crying sparkles! You have to come mediate!"
I looked at the guys. Rhett was holding a take-out menu. Kai was washing a mug. Lucien was watching me.
"Change of plans," I said, hanging up the phone. "We have to go."
"Tacos?" Rhett asked hopefully.
"Infirmary," I said grabbing my coat. "Ivy has a harem crisis."
Lucien laughed, a dark, rich sound. "Of course she does. The war ends, and the soap opera begins."
"We're going to the hospital," I announced, opening the door. "Not for wounds. But for drama."
"The best kind of emergency," Kai grinned.
We walked out into the cool night air. The stars were out. The campus was quiet.
But somewhere, in the infirmary, three men were fighting over a Chaos Witch.
And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.
28
The Infirmary smelled of antiseptic, ozone, and aggression.
It was quiet, except for the sound of three grown men arguing in Bed 4 by the window.
