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He could make it to that. Gasping, Adam climbed it.
Carl was the first to him, hands outstretched to tear Adam from his perch. Adam kicked out, catching the guy in the face.
Adam winced as blood gushed from Carl’s nose. He wasn’t certain the guy was faking anymore as he stared up with murder in his eyes. The cult came on. Adam managed another kick but someone grabbed his other ankle and he found himself clinging to the statue. They were piling on, pulling hard. His grip came loose. They pulled him down.
A kick landed on his side. Someone stomped on his arm. The pain broke him out of his freeze but he couldn’t go, not yet, not until he knew the imps were safe.
The blows rained down.
“Hey!” Carl shouted. “They’re getting away!”
The beatings paused enough for Adam to see two red, winged shapes pass overhead.
He released the spirit walk and sat up at home, in his body and bed.
Taking stock of his injuries, he lay still, breathing in the scent of the sheets, a mix of him and Vic, which would forever be a comfort.
Nothing felt broken, though he suspected he’d have plenty of bruises. Gingerly, he probed his side and winced. There might be a cracked rib or two.
He groaned a little as he stood up, as much from pain as frustration.
He’d saved the imps, but he hadn’t gotten what he’d gone for.
20
Adam winced as Vic pressed the ice pack to his side and asked, “Should we get your brother to look at this?”
“Nah, it’s a spirit injury. It’ll heal.”
Vic didn’t look convinced.
“And is that a new scar?” Vic leaned in to examine Adam’s back. He did not touch the hole the banshee had made in Adam’s shoulder, but Adam could feel the weight of his gaze and worry.
Adam distracted him with what he’d learned, which wasn’t much, except that Argent had her undercover agents among the Lost Ones.
“You can’t be surprised that she’s got people out there.” Vic moved Adam’s left hand so he’d hold the ice pack and probed his right arm with his thumbs, feeling at the bones.
“Ouch.”
“Got to see if it’s fractured, baby.”
“No, I mean, I’m not surprised. She’s good at her job, but I don’t like that she lied to me about it.”
“It’s not like you’re not keeping your own secrets. You haven’t told them about Ian or what happened in the Between,” Vic reminded him.
He finished pressing down but continued to hold Adam’s arm by the wrist.
“That’s different. I can’t risk them doing anything to him.”
Vic smiled and kissed the top of his head as he let go.
“And they probably have their own reasons for keeping things from you.”
Adam sighed.
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“You should be used to it by now,” Vic teased.
