Chapter 78

Charles

I went back to meet with Marcus, Darius, Jacob, and Carlos. The clean-up team was coming in through the front door, as was George.

"We have a lot to work out."

George glanced over the scene. "Besides the car about half a mile on a backroad?"

"Besides that."

"They've been apprehended." He grinned. "Gas cars are so unreliable..."

I chuckled and nodded before debriefing him on the situation.

"I'll look into them, see if there's enough to exploit to make a slow ruin worth it."

I smiled at him. "Taken a shine to Eason?"

He laughed, his eye flickering. "Leave me alone. You're a terrible matchmaker."

"I'm a great matchmaker."

Marcus gave me the final report. The clean-up crew had the scent of blood to a nearly imperceptible level by the time they hauled off the bodies to be ID'd and the furniture hauled away. Some of it was damaged; some of it just needed a deeper clean.

"Try to get it looking back to normal by morning. I don't want Cecil spooked, and Eason..."

I shook my head. "He can't stay here tonight."

"I've called ahead."

"Not the Asylum."

George blinked. "The base, Charles."

I blinked and shook my head. "Sometimes I forget that you're my assistant for a reason."

"I enjoy reminding you. They'll have a room ready for him by the time we get there, as I assume you want to take him tonight."

I nodded. "I already let him know."

"I'll get the car." He paused. "I'll also have your coats retrieved."

I sighed. "Right. Thank you. I... had been looking forward to giving her that coat."

Grace's usual coat was a faded old black thing that did nothing for her and looked like it had been sewn back together too many times. I also just hated that it was way too big for her. I glanced over at where the crew was cleaning up the glass and replacing the pane before heading upstairs to collect Eason. Grace was with him, looking calmer. He went tense as I entered.

"Charles?" I asked.

I smiled. "George will be downstairs ready to go in a minute."

Grace's arms tightened around him. "Y-You said..."

"Not to the Asylum," I said gently. "To the nearest magical hospital. It's about an hour and a half away."

"Why?" She asked. "H-He's fine, and we have hospitals here."

I shook my head and watched her tighten her grip on him.

"Lycans and werewolves have different physiologies. We're compatible, but your hospital wouldn't be able to treat an essentially lycan problem."

"I... He's--Wolfe Medical..."

"I'm sure you can work on lycan formulations in the future, but in general, werewolf medicines aren't strong enough and aren't a good match." I cocked an eyebrow. "How much cough syrup do you have to give Cecil when she's sick, and how effective is it really?"

She flinched at that, but I saw the understanding dawning in her eyes. She also wanted to fight it.

"He'll... He'll come home?"

"As soon as he's better." I nodded. "I promise. He'll be safe."

Her jaw trembled, and Eason reached up, prying her arms apart.

"So clingy," he tried to jest, but his voice caught. "You think Lycan Daddy would lie to you?"

I snorted as Grace stood and walked downstairs with us, nervous and hovering. I got Eason into his coat as his eyes started to droop, and he stumbled. Grace steadied him with shaking hands until I lifted him into my arms.

"Oooh," Eason cooed drowsily. "I get carrying perks?"

"Shock special," I said as Grace opened the door. "Enjoy it for a limited time only."

He hummed and barely moved as I carried him to the car. He was lighter than I expected. He probably hadn't been eating enough. Grace would probably start realizing that she was losing weight, too, now that her metabolism was speeding up since we spent so much time together.

It was like a domino effect, and it was probably only going to get worse.

"Stay close to him," Grace finally said, her voice a mixture of worry and resolve. "Please?"

I nodded. "He'll be watched over."

I got him in the car and settled before climbing in after him. I looked back to see Grace watching from the window. I glanced at Eason, who had gone still and quiet, nervous.

"Hey," I said as George pulled away. "It's all going to be just fine. You'll see."

He nodded, but he didn't relax as George drove through the city and out of it. I could understand his apprehension. Going to a magical hospital when he'd likely never even been inside a normal hospital, especially after tonight, was probably putting him on edge.

"When I was staying in Selene," Eason said. "I worked at the main hospital."

My eyes widened. "You're more and more of a surprise."

His lips twitched. "A doctor suggested I go into medicine. I almost changed tracks and stayed there for healing."

My jaw dropped open. "You were accepted?"

He nodded and pulled his coat closer. "I know what happens to lycans who lose their touch with their human side."

He clenched his fists in the seat. "If I'm that bad... if they say it's best, please, just take me. Don't listen to Grace. She's a nut, and she doesn't understand."

"If I thought you were a threat, you'd already be headed that way."

He looked up at me. "And maybe you should consider taking that track. Having a talent for healing as a lycan is... rare."

He beamed. "Poaching me two-fold, hm?"

I chuckled. "If possible."

I glanced into the front seat, where George said nothing. We'd have to talk about a lot more than I first thought it seemed. The drive to the Lycan Enforcer base was tense, but we made it without incident. As we arrived at the hospital, he parked the car and opened the door to help Eason out. Eason could barely keep his legs under him, so George lifted him into his arms and followed me inside.

Inside was as homey and clean as ever. Instead of antiseptic, the scent of magic from the cleansing and disinfectant spells filled the air. She smiled.

"They've set up room 1241 for him, Your Majesty. Head on back."

"Thank you, and I'll need to speak with his primary."

"He should be there."

I led the way. Inside, there was a single man taking notes on his clipboard, but he had all the markings of a witch on his hands. He smiled kindly.

"A pleasure, please, put him on the table, and we'll get started. Will you want to stay?"

Eason's eyes went wide with terror as George set him down. George pressed him to lay back.

"My assistant will stay," I said. "We'll need to speak before I go."

He nodded. "Let's get the evaluation out of the way, then."

Eason closed his eyes. I could hear him breathing shallowly. He cast a wave of magic over Eason as George continued to stroke his hair.

"Close, but he's resilient. I'd suggest some basic training, of course, and a night of observation for now."

Eason opened one eye. "Just observation?"

He chuckled. "Yes."

I nodded. "I'm sure you and George will have plenty to talk about."

George scowled at me. Eason turned bright red. "And you owe me for being a great matchmaker."

Eason scowled at me.

"Just get home and keep Grace from making herself go gray."

I chuckled, giving Eason's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Just focus on getting better."

George glowered at me.

I paused to speak with the healer about Eason's potential, and he said he'd get that worked into his training.

"It makes sense," he said. "Based on the readings. It could become an asset for him in his life if he trains it well."

"I thought so, too."

As I headed out, I took a deep breath of the night air and walked down the street to the main outpost as a car pulled to the exit gate.

"Your Majesty?" I looked up as the truck pulled to a stop, and a familiar face leaned out.

I smiled.

"Good to see you, Daniel. How is Amira?"

He beamed. His eyes flashed. "She's as beautiful and as happy as ever. I'm headed back to Mooncrest."

"Got room for one more?"

"Climb on in!"

Riding with Enforcers was always an interesting experience, but it was lucky that it was Daniel.

"How is the investigation going?"

Daniel sighed. "Never-ending. Apparently, Devin accumulated some under-the-table debts on top of a debt to the Moonblood Clan."

I hissed and pulled out my phone to call George.

"I'm going to nail my son to the wall," I muttered to myself. Daniel laughed.

"He's asleep," George said.

"Good. Thank me later, and set me up an appointment with Isolde. Wherever she wants and make sure she knows it's actually about business."

George laughed. "Like she'll care."