Page 117 of Suffer No Fools
Stan's thoughts came to Tovey in a jumbled mess he couldn't decipher. Death and life. Love and loss. A future without Tovey and Hugo. A lifetime alone and sad.
Tovey couldn't have that. He draped himself over Stan's back where he'd kneeled to be closer to the tree's roots. He wrapped his hands around Stan's thick neck and kissed the shell of his ear, his temple, the corner of his lips.
"What are you doing?" Stan asked. When he stood, he lifted Tovey off the ground by several inches.
"I missed you."
Stan snorted and twisted until Tovey was cradled in his arms. He was far more dexterous than anyone his size had a right to be. "I'm right here. Always have been."
"I know, but you ..." Tovey couldn't explain the overwhelming feeling of loss through their bond. It was as though Stan already saw himself alone. "You're not alone." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel lonely."
Stan shook his head and held out his hand for Hugo, pulling him close and lowering Tovey to the ground so both he and Hugo could nestle against his chest. "It's been you and me against the world," Stan said. "Now, it's all three of us."
"Aye. All three of us." Tovey's chest ached. He'd squandered his chance to make Stan feel special and loved when they'd been together. Now, he had Hugo to help him cherish Stan every day.
Now was not the time to be thinking about his feelings of inadequacy, especially when Klaus tugged on Vadim's arm and said, "They're here."
Tovey had only a moment to wonder if the undead could open doors. The first arm leached through the wall, and he screamed. He shivered as its head and torso followed through the thick stone. They didn't need to open the door. The walls were raised with earth weaves. He almost expected them to crumble with the force of so many undead walking through them, but the creatures passed through them like they were nothing.
Efren and Niall rushed to the door. "We'll stop as many as we can," Niall said before he vanished into the dark hallway.
At the head of the pack was a familiar face. Martiz leered at Yvette before turning his milky gaze toward Vadim. "Mine." He shambled toward Vadim at a faster rate than the others.
"Fuck." Klaus held out his arm toward Martiz, shook it, and howled when nothing happened. "I can't."
Hugo sent a wave of power rippling through the courtyard, setting most of the undead on fire. He froze the ground at Martiz's feet and stared into the undead eyes of the man who had stolen his power when he was a child. "I don't remember what you did to me, but I hope this hurts."
Vadim stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Let me."
Hugo met Vadim's gaze, and Tovey panicked. Vadim had tried to use Klaus's power before, but nothing had happened. Now, the lower half of Martiz's body was encased in ice, but his teeth were as sharp and his claws as jagged as the newly raised undead behind him.
Hugo bowed his head. "He's yours." He led Stan and Tovey toward the corner where the undead still poured through the wall.
Tovey helped without thinking about it, forming ice weaves to hold the creatures in place the moment they crossed the barrier, and letting either Hugo or Stan set them on fire.
"That's the last of them for now," Klaus finally said. "All but this one."
The ice had started to melt as Vadim stared into the eyes of his former mentor.
"I didn't get to kill you," he said.
"I did." Fanidra grinned. "Sorry."
"This is my chance to do what's right." Vadim took Klaus's hand. "I don't know if I can."
"If you can't, I will." Hugo met Vadim's gaze, and they both nodded.
The ice gave out at that moment, and Martiz stumbled forward, claws raised and slashing toward Vadim's scarred eye.
Vadim yelled and raised his hand, planting it in the middle of Martiz's chest and shoving him backward. The former healer fell to the ground, dead a second time.
Klaus clapped. "I knew you could do it."
Vadim glanced down at his hand in awe.
"Ow." Klaus sank to his knees and raised his tunic, which had three gashes through the fabric. Beneath it, three black scratches sprouted tendrils. Tovey watched in horror as they spread across his pale chest.
"It's all right," Vadim pulled Klaus into his lap and waved Fanidra and Yvette over to him. "We've got you."
