78. (PERCY POV)

(PERCY POV)

Dane fell onto the bed, his clothes tattered and bloody. He was a mess, covered head to toe in wounds and bleeding bite marks. I had never seen a vampire so close to the true death.

It was horrifying.

Deirk and Jo's faces said it all. They were scared shitless. They reminded me of the first days after kids were brought to the orphanage, yanked out of their toxic homes.

The only homes they ever knew.

Seeing that same fear on their faces tore at my heart. The raw panic in their eyes, the way Jo clung to me like a lifeline, and Deirk trembling... it was a mirror image of those frightened kids. The same desperate need for security, the same overwhelming uncertainty.

They were my family now, and I couldn't let them down.

Not like this.

I wrapped my arm around Jo as we watched Deirk undress Dane. He worked quickly, removing the torn clothing and revealing the full extent of Dane's injuries. Each layer revealed more bruises, cuts, bites, and deep gashes that oozed blood.

I