EUNOIA ━ diego hargreeves

36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
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"I LOVE going on runs," Luther told Freya as the two of them entered the lobby. "It really clears the mind."

"Kind of hard to clear the mind when you were yapping in my ear the whole time," Freya replied, pulling her hair out from the elastic, and it fell right above her shoulders. Viktor appeared at the stairs, making his way over to them. Freya instantly took notice of the gash on his cheek. "Um... what is that?"

"What the hell happened?"

Viktor's hand moved up to feel the wound. "Oh, it's uh, not as bad as it looks."

Luther shot him a dubious look. "It looks as if you're lucky to be upright. Did Harlan do that?"

"We just got into a disagreement."

"Disagreement?" Freya repeated, tensing. "What the hell kind of disagreement leads to him putting a cut on your face? Where the hell is he?"

"Freya," Viktor shook his head, putting his hands out to stop her from venturing further. "I'm fine. Promise."

"So, I just checked the perimeter," Diego announced out of nowhere, coming from the front. "We're good. Now we've gotta take turns."

Luther gasped, spinning him around. Freya's gaze landed on the giant scratch on the back of his neck. Freya, though slightly concerned, was not at all surprised by the sight. She'd gotten pretty used to seeing some sort of battle wound on him by then, even if she didn't appreciate the worry that came along in her chest whenever he came back with one.

"Oh my God!" Luther's eyes widened. "What happened to you? Was it Harlan?"

Diego blinked. "What?"

"The Sparrows are right. He shouldn't be here. He's dangerous."

"First of all, Diego is more than capable of getting hurt all on his own, so let's not point fingers at anyone," Freya interjected. "Secondly, I feel the need to remind you that Harlan literally saved our lives from the Sparrows, which brings me to my next point. Sloane has you whipped, so I'm gonna need you to pull your head out of your ass."

"Don't know if I should be flattered or offended," Diego muttered.

Viktor, at the same time, said: "Thanks for backing me up."

Also at the same time, Luther glared at her. "Shut up."

She raised one eyebrow. "Why? 'Cause I'm right?"

Allison came to stand next to Viktor. Luther seemed close to having a heart attack. "He got you too?!"

Allison ignored him, her concern directed at Viktor. "You okay?"

"Great. You?"

"Never better."

Freya caught the smug look in Diego's eye as he glanced back between Allison and Luther—and she pieced it together. Silently, she rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, a bright blue light flashed next to them, and the next thing Freya knew, Diego was tackling her out of the way as Five and Lila fell through it, sending pieces of the bookshelf they'd just landed on flying across the room.

Diego dropped his hands from around her waist the moment he noticed her sharp look, and she turned her head to watch the two newcomers struggle to get up. Lila pushed Five off of her, and they both climbed to their feet.

"Where have you been?" Viktor asked, breaking the silence.

"Facing my mortality, Viktor," Five said. "I don't recommend it."