Chapter 69

“Kaos, dear, it’s Mary. They called me from the hospital, as I’m his next of kin. I got here as fast as I could.”

“Oh, uh, that’s great, Mary.” Kaos must’ve seemed wide-eyed, because Emil and Makai looked at him with obvious amusement.

“Yes, well, I thought I’d let you know I’ve my knitting and my book, and I let the sheriff go home to the missus. I’ll call you if there’s any news, but so far they say there’s a small bleed in his brain that should be fine. It’s not as scary as it sounds.” Her no-nonsense voice was a female version of her brother’s, and somehow that made Kaos relax.

“Is he conscious?”

“Your boy is asking if you’re conscious,” Mary’s muffled voice said.

Padraig obviously said something, and then his voice came through. “Kaos?”

“Oh God, Padraig,” Kaos breathed out the words, tears starting anew.

Padraig’s voice was scratchy when he rushed to reassure him. “It’s going to be all right, sweetheart, I promise. Is Hestia okay? I can’t quite remember.”