Sadie smiled and nodded happily at Myka.

“Good girl,” he whispered, reaching up and touching her cheek gently.

He stood up, and Sadie took Elaine’s hand, following her into the hospital.

At this time, the medic from Summer, who had also driven the truck, and the remaining two nurses discussed the best way to transfer Stefan from the truck into the hospital.

“Myka,” Axel called to him, “if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to have a word with you.”

Myka looked at the others. They had gotten a gurney and were preparing to transfer Stefan.

“Can it wait?” Myka asked. “I want to stay with him.”

Axel hesitated, but then he nodded.

“Of course,” he said.

Myka followed the nurses as they took Stefan down several different halls and finally reached the room prepared for him. However, as they moved to take him inside, Myka was prevented from entering the room.

“Sorry,” the nurse said. “We need to keep the room as sterile as we can. You can’t go in.”

Myka saw that the other nurse was also not going into the room. Instead, Stefan was being taken by two others wearing a protective covering over most of their body.

He was nervous, but a soft tapping sound drew his attention. Myka turned toward the window of the room. Standing inside and tapping on the window, wearing one of the protective suits, he finally saw Peter.

Their eyes met, and Myka felt a lump forming in his throat.

“I’ve got him,” Peter said. His voice was muffled through the mask and window, but it was clear enough for Myka to hear him. “I’ve got him.”

Myka nodded and swallowed. Peter nodded and then turned away as Stefan was brought into the room.

“Come with me,” the nurse smiled. “I’ll look at your arms and then take you to Sadie.”

Myka followed the nurse to another room. After cleaning his wounds and applying the medication, she gave him clean bandages and took him to Sadie’s room.

He was told that some of the burns on Sadie’s stomach showed signs of infection. They cleaned her up, applied a new dressing, and started her on an antibiotic. She had fallen asleep pretty quickly after that.

Myka wasn’t surprised. Neither of them had gotten much rest over the past few days. But perhaps being home, knowing their entire family was now in the same place, made it easier. Even he had started to feel the fatigue falling over him.

As he sat by her side, waiting for her to wake up or for any news from Peter about Stefan, Myka could no longer fight the need for sleep. He yawned and looked around the room. There was a small couch, so he decided to take a short nap.

“Myka…”

He heard the soft whisper through the darkness.

“Myka…”

It came again, bringing a warmth that spread over Myka’s body.

“Wake up,” he whispered. “I want to see your eyes.”

Peter’s voice was calling him back from the blackness of sleep. Myka opened his eyes.

Peter sat beside him, looking down with a smile. He reached down and touched Myka’s cheek.

“There you are,” Peter whispered.

Myka reached up and tangled his fingers in Peter’s dark hair. Peter smiled. Myka pulled him down. Their lips touched in a soft kiss.

As they pulled apart, Peter smiled again.

“I’m sorry,” Myka whispered before he could stop himself. Already tears had started to form in his eyes.

Peter furrowed his brow. He looked back behind him and then back at Myka.

“Wait,” he whispered. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

Peter stood up from the couch. Myka sat up, looking across the room to see that Sadie was sleeping peacefully.

They left the room; Peter asked a nurse to look in on Sadie and tell him if she woke up while they were gone.

He led Myka down the hall until they found an empty waiting room. He motioned for Myka to go in and then followed after closing the door behind him.

“I broke my promise,” Myka said as he heard the door close. “I am so sor—”

His words fell away as he was surprised by Peter suddenly wrapping his arms around him from behind. Peter buried his face against Myka’s back, but Myka could feel he was crying.

Myka swallowed and reached his hand up to touch Peter’s arm.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered sadly.

They stayed like this for a long time. Peter held Myka tightly while he let the tears fall from his eyes. Myka stayed still, holding Peter’s arm.

Finally, Peter pulled away and turned Myka to face him.

“Idiot,” he whispered as their eyes met.

Myka smiled sadly and nodded.

They hugged, holding each other close.

Peter stroked Myka’s back affectionately.

“Tell me,” Peter said. “Tell me why you look so sad.”

Myka closed his eyes, the weight in his chest growing.

“I’m so sorry,” Myka whispered, squeezing Peter to him.

After another silent moment, Myka told Peter everything that had happened in Moonguard.

All the good moments with the children and with Ashleigh. And all the moments that he had felt uneasy. He told him about Ashleigh giving up searching for Caleb and wanting to leave. About watching Sadie get dragged into the bushes and walking out of the trees to hear Sadie screaming Stefan’s name and then seeing the look of pain on Stefan’s face.

He told him about taking control of the creature and feeling its strength as though it were his own. How angry and desperate he had been to save the children. How much he had wanted to tear the beast apart. Just as he had felt when he saw Peter in danger.

Myka hesitated, but then he told Peter about how good it felt. How part of him enjoyed the feeling and knew that he could do it again, anytime he wanted.

“I’m sorry,” Myka whispered, feeling all the shame of his admission.

Peter was quiet. They had moved to the couch. Myka sat forward with his elbows on his knees while Peter sat back on the sofa.

“I should have told you before….” Myka said quietly. “I promised to tell you about the power… but I was afraid of what you would think. How you might look at me if I told you what happened to the hybrid…that I made that choice and that I liked it.”

Peter sat forward and took a breath.

“I won’t lie and say it doesn’t concern me,” he said.

Myka swallowed and closed his eyes.

“But,” Peter continued, reaching out and touching Myka’s chin to look at him. “Telling me feels like a pretty good sign that you aren’t harboring true desires to control an army of mindless slaves.”

Despite himself, Myka chuckled, and Peter smiled.

“Myka,” Peter called gently.

Myka turned to him, and Peter reached his arms around Myka’s neck, meeting his eye.

“There is nothing to be sorry for,” Peter whispered. “You did what you had to do to protect me and them. You brought our children home.”

Myka swallowed. His chest was tight. He felt hopeful and terrified all at once.

“As long as we keep talking,” Peter said with a gentle smile. “We can get through anything together.”

Myka closed his eyes, leaning forward and pressing his forehead to Peter’s. Tears flowed from his eyes as he was overcome by the relief Peter’s words brought him.

“I love you, Myka,” Peter whispered. “Don’t ever forget it.”

Myka nodded.

“I love you too.”

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