She shot him a sleepy smile. “Happy to help.” She turned to glance at me studyingly. “I’ll have to come back and visit soon. I definitely need to know more about this… uncanny human of yours.”

I couldn’t help blushing, and Chloe giggled.

“Hey,” she said, “it’s not every day you get to meet someone whose love is strong enough to change everything we thought we knew about the multiverse! You and I must hang out sometime. But… after a nap…”

As strange as she was, I found myself feeling that if she actually thought she could be friends with me, I might like that. I felt Riley’s hand tighten possessively around my arm as Chloe’s eyes wandered over me, but there was nothing judgmental about her childlike look, just benign curiosity. Her gaze paused at the wound on my chest and she nodded approvingly. “Niiiice. That’s going to leave one awesome scar. If you’re lucky.”

“Goodbye, Chloe,” Riley said, and I could feel how he forced his voice to stay even.

She looked up at him with a very genuine smile before punching him playfully in the shoulder. “See ya, losers!” And then with a crack that was like thunder and not at the same time, she was gone.

My gaze fell to examine the raw cuts over my heart. The Seal of Azathoth. I’d almost forgotten it was there. I winced as I brushed my fingertips over the torn skin. Riley caught my hand before I could cause myself anymore pain. He sighed and shook his head at me, but then kissed my fingertips, making tingles run all the way down my arm.

Neil’s voice by the column shattered the sensation. “Speaking of the buffet, looks like you missed one.”

I pulled my eyes from Riley to see Neil prodding Vik’s body with the tip of his cane. A faint moan escaped Vik’s unconscious lips, but he did not move.

Riley’s entire frame tensed and he slowly turned to follow my gaze. “So I did,” he said, his voice low, lethal.

My breath caught as I recognized the look that began to grow in his eyes. The pain over my chest twisted. He pulled away from me and stepped forward, his smoldering gaze locked on where Vik lay. I could feel the power begin to build in him and before I knew what I was doing, I jumped in front of him and grabbed him by the arms. “No!”

Riley froze. His body became granite under my touch.

I heard Neil groan behind me. “Oy, not this again…”

I reached up to Riley’s face, trying to tilt it to make him focus on me instead. “Please?” I beseeched.

“You wish me to spare him.” His voice was cold and dark. It was not a question.

“Please…”