“Thanks, smooth talker, but Omega’s been on watch too. I have to eat and go to the bathroom, and he’s been on watch whenever I had to step out,” Stacia said.

“Between the two of us, Father has received approximately forty-two percent more rest than other patients in this otherwise impressive institution.”

“Also I’ve been really hungry,” Declan said.

“Poor baby needs to be hand fed,” Stacia said with a smirk. Declan grinned and started to shrug but rethought that. Both arms were in slings and he looked pretty helpless.

“I pointed out that Father’s mastery of telekinesis is second to none and he is fully able to levitate food to his mouth without help. Yet she still fed him. I suspect a form of mate bonding.”

Declan looked a bit chagrined but Stacia was smiling, completely unrepentant.

“I suspect you might be right, Omega,” Chris said.

“Heads up. A contingent of officials including the mayor, chief of police, Vermont Senator Harold McCluskey, and Detective Sergeant Schulz have just left an official vehicle and entered the building.”

“Oh? See kid, timing is everything,” Chris said, pulling up a chair and leaning back, feet up on the edge of the bed in a kind of studied insouciance. The little group didn’t have to wait long before Schulz cautiously looked around the doorframe, grimacing a little when he saw Chris. He entered, followed by the others. Mayor Jordan was a middle-aged woman with dark hair, a quick smile, and serious eyes. The chief was dark-skinned, a big man, maybe ex-college athlete, now softening with age, and the famous, well-liked Vermont Senator was a younger guy, white, and deceptively friendly looking.

“Ah, the official thank you committee. Here to award him the key to the city?” Chris asked.

They didn’t respond but body language alone spoke loudly of their discomfort. It was the senator who spoke first.

“People are concerned,” he said, adopting a serious demeanor. “A demonic attack on a campus in a college town.”

Declan tensed up on the bed, but his dangerous, currently bad-tempered girlfriend simply stared at them, one hand idly stroking his brow. Chris shifted slightly in his chair. “Well, Senator, you can reassure your constituents that all of the demons have been sent back to Hell,” he said with a smile, completely casual.

“Yes, but for how long?” Mayor Jordan spoke up.

Chris shrugged. “How long for Burlington? Or how long until another Helbourne comes through? Who knows. Been happening all my life. All of everyone’s lives. Since humans first walked. At least that’s what my case angel tells me.”

They shifted about, uncomfortable with the reminder of his connections.

“The thing is, with… him here,” McCluskey said, nodding at Declan, “there is concern that the city is a major target. Admissions will drop off, people will move away, businesses will relocate elsewhere.”

“Omega?” Chris asked, turning to the nearest drone.