Chapter 17

Damien led Lucian forward with purposeful steps. "How did you know I was in the hospital?" Celeste asked, her eyes showing a hint of caution as she watched them. "A friend at the hospital told me you were admitted for emergency treatment, so I brought Lucian to see you." Damien's face darkened. "Don't you know your limits? Was there no security at the orphanage? Did it really have to be you—an outsider—who rushed in to save lives?" His words hung in the air, thickening the tension around them. "That's no way to talk, Damien!" Annie quickly stood up, positioning herself between him and Celeste's bedside as she grumbled, "Security hadn't even arrived when Celeste got there. Was she supposed to stand there and let the kids trapped inside die in the fire?" "All I'm saying is, she doesn't have the training for a rescue. She almost got herself killed, and in the end, she just created more work for the first responders. Wouldn't that have made everything worse?" "Exactly!" Lucian cut in