"Layla tracked you from one of the airports, and we went from there," Lachlan said. He was all but carrying Apollo still.He held out his phone with a map in his other hand. "I'll tell you everything once we get out of here. There's an entrance not much further ahead."
Apollo didn't feel like he was fully in his body. He didn't know what chemicals were swirling about him, but he was weak and dizzy. He was almost passing out when Lachlan helped him up an ancient iron ladder and out onto a side street. He didn't know what part of Paris he was in, but it was a dark afternoon. He whimpered as cold drops of rain splashed against his overheated skin.
Lachlan carried him to a rental car and tucked him into the back seat. "Just lay down there. I've got you."
Apollo curled into a tight ball and tried not to vomit as Lachlan drove through twisting streets and traffic.
"Where are we going? The family has an apartment here," Apollo said, his thoughts too scattered to remember the address.
"Yeah. About that. Your family is still back in Ireland. We are going to a hotel that's safe for hunters."
"They didn't come for me?"
"They wanted to." Lachlan reached back and touched his shoulder. "Just rest. I'll tell you everything soon."
Apollo dozed until he realized the car had stopped. The back door opened, and Lachlan helped Apollo get out. His vision was blurry again, but Lachlan didn't let him stumble.
They went through a back entrance to the hotel and a service elevator that Lachlan had a swipe card for. A man dressed in a burgundy uniform spotted them and raised a brow.
"Monsieur Ironwood, do you require assistance?" he asked.
"Just helping a friend after a rough night. I'll call with a food order when I get him settled," Lachlan replied and the man only nodded.
"They do know you here," Apollo said. He rested his face against Lachlan's shoulder.
"Stay with me. We are almost there," Lachlan replied and held him closer to his side. Lachlan smelled so good, even after being in the catacombs.
Lachlan got Apollo into a room and settled him down on the closed lid of a toilet. "Are you okay to sit there for a moment?"
Apollo nodded, his head starting to ache. Gods, he was so tired. Lachlan ran a bath and ducked out of the bathroom. He came back with a bottle of water and a thick robe.
"Can you get in the bath, or do you want me to help?" he asked.
Apollo had a few mouthfuls of water, and it helped clear his head a little. "I will be fine, Lachlan. I don't need you washing my back for me."
"I'm still leaving the door open, and I want you to call for help if you need it," Lachlan growled.
Apollo nodded, and Lachlan left him alone. His body still felt awkward and heavy as he pulled his clothes off and climbed into the warm water. Apollo leaned back against the tub, put his hands over his face and sobbed.
"How can I help?" Lachlan asked softly.
"I…I want my big brother," Apollo sniffed.
When he was young, Apollo would always run to Valentine to help him kill the monsters under his bed. Now, he had real ones, and he wanted his brother more than anything to come and kill them all.
"I'll find him for you, Apollo. He should already be in Paris. I'll get him here as soon as I can."
"Lachie?" Apollo whispered, not turning around. "Thank you for coming for me."
"I got you. Now and always," Lachlan said, and that just made Apollo cry harder.
12
Lachlan ordered room service with the landline and used his other hand to text Valentine their location. The Greatdrakes were going to be pissed that he hadn't waited, but Lachlan wasn't sorry he had gone in alone.
He would never get the image of Apollo strapped to the table out of his head as long as he lived. His hands began to shake, and he clenched them tight to make them stop. He had gotten Apollo back. They had gotten lucky.
The Sanguis Vitae wouldn't take the attack on their headquarters well. They would come for Apollo again and wouldn't be subtle about it. They needed to be ready.
