Page 76 of Faith Among Monsters

“Yeah,” he answers immediately.

“Is there food here?” I ask.

His brow furrows. “You hungry?”

“No. For Trip.” I don’t look away from Dax as I speak. “Dax is going to need a lot of blood. I don’t want to mix donors until I can check your records.”

Trip shifts again. “I’m good,” he says.

I shake my head. “You will be. But not if you pass out. Get him food. Juice. Something with sugar.”

Zachs lets out a quiet laugh, lighter than it should be given the situation, but laced with tension. “Sure, Doc.”

As he walks out, I let myself exhale for what feels like the first time in hours. Then, carefully, I crawl onto the bed beside Dax, curling against his side.

His chest barely moves.

But he’s breathing.

And for now, that’s enough.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Faith

Dax walks into the office, drawing my attention like a magnet. His gait is better today, his color stronger. He looks… alive.

“You can come out now,” he says.

I don’t move.

I want to stay mad.

Did it piss me off that he locked me away while they finished the final zombie sweep? Yes.

Did it really fucking annoy me that he ordered me to stay here while everyone else tossed bodies into the ocean? Absolutely.

Did it burn my ass that he left Zachs to babysit me because he didn’t think I’d listen? More than anything.

But it’s hard to glare at a man who nearly died.

I settle for crossing my arms, leaning back against the desk like I’m not still holding on to the adrenaline, the exhaustion, the everything of the last forty-eight hours.

Dax smirks. “You gonna pout?”

“You should be in bed,” I say, ignoring the way his voice slides under my skin, smooth as whiskey.

His smirk deepens. “Only if you’re feeling frisky.”

“You’re an asshole.”

He nods like it’s a fact. “And yet, I’m still in charge.”

That shouldn’t make me want to kiss him.

He crosses the room, stopping just close enough that I have to tilt my head to keep his gaze. “We’ve got an inventory and newbuilding assignments.” His voice is all business now, but his eyes are still on me. Only me.

“You’re with me, Wilkes, Zachs, and Trip in the brass wing.”

---