Page 153 of Finch

“I need my Finch and I need him now.”

Close on Hugh’s heels was a resigned-looking Geoffrey, an amused Everard, and a

bespectacled Harrison, who was mercifully lizard-free.

The second Hugh spotted Finch, he rushed toward him. “Finch, my darling. I’ve been looking

everywhere for you!”

“This is the most interesting day I’ve had in centuries,” Atticus said to the room in general.

“This is a nightmare,” Geoffrey muttered at around the same time. “I knew it would be, and

here I am, proven right yet again. Why does no one ever listen to me?”

“It’s because you’re a prat,” Everard called out over his shoulder.

Geoffrey fell into a sulky silence, Willoughby looked thoroughly affronted, Atticus amused, and

Hugh had the most determined look on his face that Finch had ever seen. It was worse than

the Funfetti incident.

Hugh came a few steps closer to Finch. “Darling, are you well?”

“I—” Finch said again. He had no idea what he should say and it was far too late to hide under

the desk.

“You look flushed. I say, Everard, don’t you think Finch looks flushed?”

Everard turned toward Hugh and Finch and pierced them with a magenta glare. “Perhaps,” he

allowed, and strode over to them.

“Should I have them all thrown out, sir?” Willoughby asked Atticus. Although how Willoughby

proposed to carry that plan out was beyond Finch.

Atticus ignored his butler and addressed Everard. “You’re the whelp doctor, aren’t you? Well,

look at my secretary. I think he’s peaky. And then we’ll let Finch rest and we’ll sort this all out.”

“No.” Finch tried to shout, but it just came out as a tired moan. He didn’t want dragons deciding

his fate, and he couldn’t go back to living with Hugh. Not and retain his sanity. But he’d been

nothing but ill the entire time he’d been in England, and it felt like his very cells cried out for

Hugh despite his mind knowing it was impossible. Going to his dragon would be like curling up

in bed under sheets still warm from the dryer.

Before Finch could give in, Everard shouldered Hugh aside. “Let me see to your omega, you

lummox. I can’t determine his health with you hovering so close.”

Hugh moved away, but not far. He was still within Finch’s sight and from there, Finch drank

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