than his insides. Did he have brain damage? “Huh?”
“Orsen, you have some explaining to do.”
“I do?”
He really didn’t know what was going on. He took a moment to take stock and realized he wasn’t in as much pain as he had been. Which was good. Unlike having to explain everything to his mom. Which was bad.
“You absolutely do. For example, you could start by explaining why I have a toddler on my shoulder who refused to go to sleep unless he saw his bear.”
He glanced at her again, and sure enough, Gus was sound asleep, curled in his mother’s arms.
“Gus.”
“Yes, Gus.”
“I’m crazy about him, Mama.” His breath caught, and he felt a little teary. But he wasn’t crying. Just sniffing at little. It was because of the thing in his nose. It had nothing to do with seeing Gus and his mom together and both of them looking content and happy and safe and…
“I know, baby.”
The horror of what had almost happened swelled through him again. The monitor beside him began to beep faster. He pulled in a breath, trying to get himself under control. Everything was still fuzzy and confusing. He glanced down and realized there was an IV attached to his arm. Which meant he was on meds. Which could explain the fuzzies. He glanced back at Gus again. He was safe.
“The wingy horse thing almost trampled him. I couldn’t let him get hurt, Mama. And the scary fairy lady thought I was trying to attack, but I’m not stupid enough to attack a Valkyrie. I just wanted to save Gus. And then… it hurt. It really hurt.”
She leaned forward and grabbed his hand. “You’re such a brave fool.”
“Gus has had such a bad life. No one to love him or spoil him or cuddle him. But he loves me, Mama. He does. And Victor too. We almost had… but Gus isn’t ours, you know? And I don’t know if we’ll be okay without him. Isn’t that funny?”
She smiled sadly and stood. A moment later, she laid Gus beside him on the bed, tucked into the curl of his arm. “It’s not funny at all, Orsen.”
“He needs to be with his kind, though. Right, Mama?”
“All a child needs is love.”
“I love him. I do.”
“I know you do, honey bear.”
Riggs itched his nose again. “My nose itches.”
“Grown man acting worse than his baby. Here. Doc Jerrick left some stuff for your nose. Don’t touch it.”
“Where’s Victor, Mama?” Everything felt so muddy and confusing. Why was he so confused? Victor would make it better, though. The machine beside him beeped and a rush of warmth filled his veins. “Victor.”
Riggs woke up to the sweetest sound he’d ever heard: Gus giggling. Followed by a deep voice making vroom vroom noises. Riggs smiled as he opened his eyes and turned his head toward the sounds.
“Morning, Riggs,” Eduard said softly. He leaned forward in the chair and into Riggs’s view. “How are you feeling?”
He thought for a moment. “Thirsty.”
“We can fix that. Vaughn said you could have a little water when you woke up. Just let us know right away if you start feeling sick.”
He nodded and accepted the slivers of ice Eduard spooned into his mouth. He’d never tasted anything so wonderful in his life.
“What’s going on?”
“Bear!”
Draco appeared beside the bed, carrying Gus. “About time you woke up.”
Riggs would have come up with a smartass reply, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Gus. “Hey, Gus-Gus.”
“Bear!”
“I missed you too, little man.”
“Bird?”
Riggs glanced at Eduard, then back to the little boy. “He’s not here right now.”
Gus scowled, then pointed at Draco. “Rawr.”
“Yeah? Is that a big scary dragon?”
Gus beamed and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
“We’re playing cars.” Draco’s matter-of-fact statement had Riggs questioning whether or not he was still unconscious. Draco turned and carried Gus away. Moments later the vroom vroom noises continued.
“Catch me up,” Riggs said quietly.
“Victor went home. Pretty sure he panicked. It’s a thing we do sometimes.”
“What can I do?”
“Wait him out, I suppose. The housekeeper told me he was up all night, working in his office. I haven’t let anyone update him on your condition.”
Riggs wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. “Why not?”
“He can get his ass back here and find out for himself. That’s why.”
“I want to hear his voice,” Riggs confessed.
Eduard grunted. “Fine. Call him. Although he might not answer when he sees that it’s me.”
“He’ll answer.”
Eduard opened his cell phone and pulled up Victor’s contact before handing the phone over. Riggs held it to