“That much is obvious,” the PUMA officer said, then he dragged the man away, leaving the Nexus instructor to crouch next to Wren and reach for Teddy.
Wren jerked away, slapping his hand and refusing to let him touch Teddy.
“Hey,” the man said. “I’m just trying to help.”
“I think you’ve done enough,” Wren said bitterly. “Don’t you dare touch him.”
“Allow me.”
Wren breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Trace’s tattooed hands reaching for Teddy, unhooking him from the machine and laying him flat on the floor while Wren gently cradled his head.
“Wren,” Hart called from above him, and he looked up through hazy eyes. “They’ll have to take both of you in for a medical checkup.”
Blind panic rose like a tidal wave and he shook his head.
“No,” he said. “NO! They’ll hurt him again. Hart, don’t let them hurt him.”
“Nobody is going to hurt either of you,” Black said, positioning himself between Wren and Teddy and the medical team accompanying the Nexus officials.
“You can’t stop us from doing our job,” the Nexus instructor said, but Ash came to join Black, with Midas and Avery hot on his heels. They formed a wall between Wren and Teddy and the rest of the world, glaring at anyone who dared to come closer.
“This isn’t productive.” More Nexus officials came to back up their coworker and the cursebreaker wall was reinforced.
Echo. Trace. Saint. Hart. And Heir. Seemingly picking a side. The side of their brother.
“I believe we can come to an agreement.” Fix’s voice rang through the crowd.
Wren wanted to sob with relief. He hadn’t even known how much he’d needed Fix’s steady presence there until he arrived. Large and imposing, holding sway over Nexus in ways none of them did.
“Fix,” one of the Nexus officials said, “they need medical care. Who knows what was done to them or what side effects we can expect.”
“I am aware. But their safety and comfort are also important, and neither of them trust you at the moment. With good reason.”
The man shuffled his feet and glanced at his coworkers, clearly looking for support.
“We will transport them to the Arcstead team’s house,” Fix said. “You can bring all your equipment there. They will be monitored and kept safe in a place that isn’t a threat to them.”
“But that—” the man said, but his words were interrupted by the clicking of high heels.
“I don’t like disagreeable people,” Eerie said, voice monotone. The men stepped back.
“We’ll drive behind you,” one of them said to Fix, who nodded.
“Good,” he said before leaning down. “Wren,” he said softly, and Wren looked up into his kind blue eyes. “I’m gonna have to take Teddy from you now.”
“Please…” Wren cried out, but he was too tired. He didn’t know if he could fight anymore.
Fix cupped his cheek. “Just to get him into a car so we can bring him home. You can come with him. Hold his hand. You don’t have to be apart, but you can’t carry him on your own.”
Wren understood what he was saying. He knew Fix was right, but everything inside him was screaming in agony at the idea of letting go. “I can’t,” Wren said.
“You’re gonna have to be strong for Teddy. Just a few minutes longer.”
For Teddy.
Those words rewired Wren, and he reluctantly let go, standing on legs that could barely hold him as Fix picked Teddy up and carried him out. Blu fluttered next to Wren, brushing his cheek with his wings in comfort.
All around them, bodies swarmed the place like ants. Digging, reading, photographing, making calls, and talking. There was wonder on their faces as they watched their strange procession walk out of the bunker.
