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Vane’s eyes narrowed.
“Go,” he ordered the other two who scampered out like their asses were on fire.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What you’ve cost me?” he demanded again as he finally sat down. It was satisfying to see him covered in tight bandages and braces, every movement stunted or followed with a wince of pain.
His hands, abdomen, pelvis, all of it bound in some way. I couldn’t help the genuine smile that curled my lips.
“Don’t look so satisfied.”
“Just because your scars are on the surface doesn’t absolve you of your crimes against me,” I reminded him in the coldest voice I could muster. With the other two by my side, it was a lot easier to grasp onto my anger and let it take hold. “You’ve paid for your mistake, and you won’t touch another patient here.”
“I’ve already handled your hallway. You may as well transfer that nurse, she has no one left to watch over,” Drake said. The vein on Dr. Vane’s forehead pulsed with anger, his entire face purplish-red with rage.
We’d officially derailed everything he’d built. His demon horde had no one left to feed on day and night.
“That won’t stop us,” he ground out, spit flying as he punctuated the words. He was more unhinged than half of the patients here. “In fact, we’ll be doubling our efforts. Watch in defeat as your world crumbles around you and I win.”
The maniacal laughter that followed had Drake turning and pulling us out of the room.
“He’s fucking lost it, but this can’t be good,” he hissed out. “We have to tell your monster. Call Ivar.”
“Monty,” I corrected. The snort of laughter from Drake had both of us cracking up while Roman looked at us like we’d lost our minds. “What, that’s his name to me.”
“Only you would give the fucking Commander of Helheim a fucking nickname like Monty. Where did that even come from?” Drake demanded with a snort of laughter.
The sight of a broken Vane was enough to lift his spirits to a level I’d never seen. It made me wonder what Drake would be like without the pressure of this place.
“I honestly can’t remember. That was a rough time,” I admitted, then grinned so I wouldn’t dwell on the past. “It fits him, though.”
He shook his head at me but didn’t disagree.
Once Roman got us on the elevator, I called out to Monty. He popped in, crowding the elevator enough we were forced to squish ourselves together to fit.
Before he could say anything, Drake spoke. “We just had a visit with Vane. He’s back and is now saying that whatever he’s doing with the demons they’re doubling down their efforts. He’s not even hiding it now. Meaning something is about to go down. Warn Hel.”
He nodded once before popping out, and I blinked in surprise.
No snark or verbal sparring matches?
What the fuck was going on?
“So, who’s hungry?” Drake asked. He looked a bit unsettled after Monty’s lack of response but was forging ahead anyway. I’d give it to Drake, he didn’t let anything throw him off for long. “We need food regardless, and we should probably warn the others about what might be coming. Make sure you let Hiro know, too, Roman.”
“Of course,” Roman said. “I’d never leave him vulnerable.”
Drake nodded before hitting the button for the basement, taking us to the cafeteria. We’d be one of the first for the dinner line, but I wasn’t complaining. It definitely beat fighting through the crowds of people to get to our table.
“What do you think he’s going to do? Are the patients here safe?” I asked as we walked toward the cafeteria doors. Drake let out a sigh.
“Doubtful. But we can’t protect them all,” he countered.
“What happened to the other patients that were in that wing with me?” He glanced over at my question as if he were deciding whether to tell me the truth.
“I moved them to the sixth floor. The nurse there is an old friend, and that floor is for long-term help. They’ll fit in there while they recover. Then who knows.”
“Good,” I said. “I met someone on that floor. A demon was bothering a woman and I chased it out. Or rather Monty did before he disappeared again. I stayed with her until sunrise.”
Drake froze at my words.
