Chapter Sixteen

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Chapter Sixteen

"Lucifer is going to kill us."

"What'd you mean us? I'm also a victim here. I just showed up for heart surgery. You're the dumbfucks who got his kid kidnapped and nearly killed his son-in-law like three times. Besides, since when did you give a shit about how Lucifer feels? I distinctly remember you tossing him out on his ass just because he liked chocolate milkshakes as opposed to vanilla."

"First of all, that was not what the argument was about at all. Second of all, I do care. Alaric is my nephew. Stanton is... Look, you were also present. You also did not sense the creature hiding among us. No one did."

"You're seriously trying to blame me for that?"

"I thought you were supposed to be all powerful. Perhaps the only thing eating the hearts of your parents did for you was make you nosier than usual."

"I'm going to shove my Demonia Defiants so far up your ass, you'll be barfing up leather--"

"Try me, Greek. In fact, I'm begging you. Nothing would satisfy me more than breaking your head over my knee."

I woke up with my head pounding. Not because I'd had my chest ripped open or I was still recovering from open heart surgery, but the fact that I woke up to Michael and Hades about ready to have a brawl on top of me.

"Shut... the fuck up." My voice sounded hoarse and raw, but it managed to shut up everyone in the room. I fought to open my lids that felt as heavy as garage doors, finding myself staring up at the blurry ceiling over my head. I could vaguely make out people moving around me, probably Michael and Hades abandoning their cock fight, followed by what I could only guess to be Rowan, Simon, and Xiphrus.

I swallowed thickly at the raw pain in my throat, blinking a few more times as my vision cleared and I found myself staring up into Xiphrus's face. His hand was on my head, brushing the hair back from my face, his features pinched with pain and concern, those blue eyes practically glowing. At his side, Hades was whipping out a stethoscope and trying to elbow Xiphrus in the ribs. Xiphrus gave him a look and Hades gave an over exaggerated sigh, stepping back and folding his arms over his chest.

"Stanton, can you hear me?" Xiphrus asked, turning back to me. I nodded, grimacing at the kink in my neck before swallowing and trying to speak again.

"'Yup. Hearing's great. Body hurts."

"Well, yeah," Hades said dryly, "You had another hole in your chest. Why do people need to keep poking holes in my patients?" Everyone gave him a weird look, probably wondering what the hell he was talking about. I rolled my eyes and tried to sit up, but pain pulsed hot through my chest and down through my arms. I groaned and slumped back down. This time when Hades elbowed Xiphrus out of the way, Xiphrus obeyed, stepping back beside Simon as Hades leaned over to check my vitals and Rowan joined him in taking notes.

Every so often, Rowan would look at me, those dark eyes glimmering before he looked back at the notebook he was writing in. I looked at him confused before blinking heavily and looking around for a moment before I remembered what was going on.

"Alaric," I said suddenly, shooting up right before gasping hard, clutching at my chest. Hades cursed and wrestled me back down on the bed, even when I pushed on his face. He snatched my hand and pinned it down on the bed, looking at Rowan.

"Do me a favor," he said, nudging his head toward his bag, "Grab the big pointy needle labeled sleepytime." Rowan nodded and went off to obey. I cursed, grabbing onto Hades's wrist to try and get him off me.

"You asshole! Get off me! Alaric needs me! That psychopath has him!"

"Yeah, we know," Hades said dryly, "Which is why we, we as in the people who haven't been cut into twice in the past twenty-four hours, are going to go get him back. Meanwhile, those of us sporting two major heart surgeries can go the fuck to sleep for the first time in a billion years." I growled at him, then watched as Rowan handed Hades the bag.

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