Page 97 of Ancient Obsession

“For God’s sake,” Zenona said. “Get him out of here.”

They all laughed, even Cody. Before they left, Demetrius caught Oliver’s eye and said, “I’ll call you later.”

“I’m right here,” Cody said with an elaborate sigh. “I can hear you making plans with your ex while I’m going to be hospitalized for serious injuries and most likely major invasive surgery.”

“Tell me you gave him a pain killer,” Dave said to Zenona.

“Nope. This is pure Cody.”

“Unfiltered, baby,” Cody said, raising a fist in the air, then grimacing.

“That’s it, we’re leaving.”

Oliver watched them go, starting when Zenona touched his hand.

“Have a seat, let me take a look.”

“Will you be okay if I go check on my family?” Dave asked.

“Yeah, of course. Oh, my grandmother.” Oliver stood again, searching the groups of people. “Is she…?”

“She’s fine.” Zenona pulled him back into the seat. “I checked her out just to be safe. She’s with Amelia and the others.”

Zenona moved in closer, taking his hand and gently turning his wrist to examine the scratch underneath.

“How are you?” Her voice was quiet, her focus on his injury.

“I honestly don’t know.” He felt a quiet buzzing in the back of his head. “Amenmose—the mummy—was a monster, but I…I think I started to understand him a bit by the end.”

Zenona swiped an alcohol pad over his wound, and Oliver hissed. When she met his gaze, he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. “I understand how you feel.”

Then he remembered Dr. Graham, the late-night coroner Zenona had been close to. And who also happened to be a vampire. He’d died battling the ancient vampire who had turned him, helping to save the rest of them. At the moment, he had no words that seemed fitting, so he simply nodded.

Robin sat beside him. A bandage had been applied to the cut near their hairline, and most of the blood cleaned from the side of their face. They leaned in and hugged each other.

“You doing all right?” Oliver asked.

Robin shrugged. Their eyes darted from one place to another. “I don’t know.” They looked back at him. “That was completely chaotic.”

Oliver snorted. “That is the best way to describe it.”

Clarabell approached them, shaking her head. “You know how to throw a party.”

“Don’t expect an annual repeat.”

“I’m going to drive Robin home,” Clarabell said. “Call me if you need anything.”

Oliver watched them go, surprised by sudden tears.

“How bad is he hurt?” Eileen’s rough voice was like a soothing blanket across Oliver’s frayed nerves.

He felt her hand on his shoulder and tipped his head to the side to lay his cheek on it, wincing as pain shot up the back of his neck. “I’m fine, Grandma. You okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m an old, hardened broad. No goddamn mummy is going to take me out.” She slowly lowered herself into the chair beside him and clutched his hand tight. “You’re really okay?”

He made a seesaw motion with his free hand. “Can I get back to you?”

“What happened to it?” she asked.