Page 121 of Suffer No Fools
"So much for a trial," Efren said with a snort.
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Stan
The air weave pinning them to the wall vanished. Stan ran toward Hugo, not caring how wobbly his legs felt.
Hugo dropped to one knee, both hands wrapped around the hilt of his sword. He started to list to one side. Stan caught him before he slumped to the floor beside what was left of Coryn.
"I've got you, baby."
Hugo grinned up at him, his eyes open a crack. He wrapped his arms around Stan's neck, but then they flopped to his sides. He'd passed out.
"He'll be all right," Klaus said when Stan carried him over to Vadim for healing. "He's not burned out, but his power's depleted."
"All of our power has been depleted," Stan said.
"Where are we supposed to go now?" Yvette asked.
"Stan and Tovey will take Hugo to his room to rest." Vadim's command rang with authority. "Nola and Efren." They both outranked Vadim, but they stood at attention. "Find any guards who are left. Question them to determine they are loyal to Hugo, and station them outside his room until he recovers."
They nodded and left the room.
"Until then, Klaus and I will stand guard." Vadim patted Hugo's head. "Yvette, can you and Niall find the kitchen?"
Klaus shook his head. "I'll find the kitchen. Niall will stay here with you."
Vadim frowned at him.
"I still have my seeking ability," he explained, "and I can't use a sword for shit."
"To be fair, neither can Niall," Vadim said under his breath. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Klaus kissed him, and Stan squeezed Hugo a little tighter in his arms. Seeing his friends happy made his heart hurt. He and Tovey were already being replaced as Hugo's bodyguards. Soon, the people meant to guard Hugo would take over, and he and Tovey would return toStarlight Specter,and home to Aquarion, without Hugo.
He followed Vadim to Hugo's room. Tovey and Niall trailed behind them like a funeral procession. Stan shivered in the drafty hallway and pulled Hugo closer, hoping to shield him with his warmth for a few more minutes.
Hugo's bed was almost as large as the one back on Aquarion, but it was dwarfed by the much larger living space. Tovey pulled back the covers, and Stan lay Hugo gently among the pillows.
He whimpered and reached for Stan's hand as he turned toward the door.
Stan met Tovey's gaze, which was just as sad as his."Staying will only make this harder,"Tovey shared through their bond.
Stan kissed Hugo's knuckles and tucked his arm back inside the blankets.
Vadim chastised them at the door. "Where the fuck do you think you're going? You're both almost dead on your feet. Get some rest!"
"We can take another room," Tovey said. "One meant for servants, or guards, or whatever."
Vadim glowered at him. "You're lucky I have barely a trickle of power left. There's a secret passage into his bedroom. He needs guards with him at all times. That's you, or have you forgotten?"
"How can we guard when we're sleeping?" Stan asked. "He'll be fine until the new guards arrive."
"For fuck's sake," Vadim said through his teeth. "He loves you. If you're not there when he wakes up, you'll break his heart, and I will have to kill you. Get back in there."
"He what now?" Tovey shook his head. "No. He's ... no."
"He bonded the empire," Stan said. "It's not just us."
