Page 57 of Sacrifice
Relief makes my knees weak.
Emil steadies me without making it obvious.
"Can I see her?"
"She's sedated, but yes. Room 314."
I start to go, but Emil catches my hand. "I'll be right here. Take your time."
"You'll call?—"
"Already texted Magnus. Prospects are on their way. I’m calling Ivar now. She'll be protected." He squeezes my hand. "Go. She needs to hear your voice."
Elfe looks even smaller in the hospital bed, machines beeping around her.
I sink into the chair beside her, taking her hand carefully.
"I'm so sorry," I whisper. "This shouldn't have happened to you. You got hurt because of me, because someone wants to get to me." My voice cracks. "But I promise, we're going to find who did this. And Emil... Emil's going to make them pay."
Her fingers twitch in mine—maybe a response, maybe just reflex.
"You were so brave," I continue. "Fighting back. Not letting them... God, Elfe, I'm so sorry. I'm going to make this right. Somehow."
I stay there for an hour, talking to her about nothing and everything.
Telling her about dinner with Emil, how he speaks Thai, how Mrs. Suwannarat hugged me. Normal things, like this is just another Friday night gossip session and not me sitting vigil over my best friend's hospital bed.
When I finally emerge, Emil's exactly where he said he'd be.
Waiting. Watching. Ready to catch me if I fall.
Two prospects flank the hallway—Aren and Gorm, both looking serious and alert.
"She's okay?" Aren asks.
"She will be," I say, hoping it's true.
"No one gets in without authorization," Emil tells them. "I don't care if they claim to be doctors, nurses, anyone essential—everyone gets checked."
They nod, taking positions on either side of Elfe's door.
The sound of running footsteps echoes down the hall.
Ivar rounds the corner first, his normal calmness as the club’s road captain completely shattered, with Starla right behind him.
Helle brings up the rear, her face streaked with tears, looking younger than her twenty years.
"Where is she?" Starla's voice breaks. "Where's my baby?"
"Room 314," I manage. "She's stable, she's?—"
Starla crashes into me, pulling me into a fierce hug before I can finish. "Thank the Gods you weren't home. Thank the Gods you're okay." She pulls back, cupping my face with shaking hands, then turns to Emil. "You found Elfe? You got her here?"
"Yes ma'am," Emil says quietly.
"Thank you." Her voice cracks completely. "Thank you for taking care of my girl." She squeezes his arm before rushing past us toward Elfe's room, Ivar following with a grateful nod to Emil.
Helle lingers, wrapping her arms around herself. "Was it... was it bad?"
