Page 21 of What We Burn

Odin’s brows lift a fraction. “That wasn’t a request.”

“It should’ve been.” My voice comes out flat. Controlled. “She’s a nurse doing her job.”

He studies me. “And?”

“And maybe it should stay that way. She’s young—a good person.”

One corner of his mouth twitches. “Like I said, it wasn’t a request.”

I take a step back. “Sure. Whatever you want, boss.”

“Good.”

He turns and walks down the corridor. I watch him go. He doesn’t look back. The double doors at the far end swing shut, and the corridor goes quiet again.

Fucking hell.

Find me everything you can on that nurse.

Jesus Christ. What the fuck for?

I drag a hand over my face and push off the wall. If I don’t move, I’m going to keep thinking about it, and if I keep thinking about it, I’m going to start thinking that telling Odin to go fuck himself isn’t a bad idea. But that’s not an option. Not with Sage half-healed and our lives balanced on a lie already straining at the seams.

So I do what I’m good at.

I fall into fucking line and pour my focus into Sage.

By the time I get back to her door, I can hear Milo on the other side, which means he’s made it upstairs and no one’s managed to sedate him with a tranquilizer dart yet.

“—and then this old guy in radiology deadass asked me if I was family, and I said emotionally or legally? Because one of those is a yes and one of those is a felony waiting to happen⁠—”

“Keep your voice down,” Knox rumbles.

“Why do you keep saying that? Hospitals are noisy as fuck. How’s kitten supposed to hear me over all the beeping and whooshing of the machines if I don’t project for her?”

I push the door open.

Sage is propped against her pillows with her blanket gathered over her legs, looking furious and exhausted in equal measure. Her eyes come to me immediately, and the knot in my chest eases one degree.

“Hey, wildcat. Miss me?”

She nods and smiles.

“Obviously,” Milo says from where he’s perched on the end of her bed. “He’s got that whole brooding, badge-and-trauma package. Very sexy. Super marketable.”

I glance around the room. Knox is in his usual chair beside the bed. Micah’s by the window, and Eli’s still on his vow of silence in the corner.

“Transport’s in an hour,” I say, shutting the door behind me. “Maybe less. They’re processing it now.”

“Good,” Knox says.

Milo claps once, soft. “Amazing. Love an escape arc.”

Sage’s fingers tighten on the blanket. “Where?” she rasps.

I walk over to her bed and take her hand in mine, keeping my voice low so no one outside the room can hear. “You’re coming home with me, wildcat. With all of us.”

SEVEN