Shifter Wars (18 page)

“Jason is opening his shirt right now and…” I gasped.

“What?” Doc demanded.

“His right side is bruised.” I answered. “Why would he be bruised already?”

Doc didn’t answer my question. “Is there blood anywhere on his torso?”

Jason spoke up. “Not on his front, but there’s blood on his shirt. Hold on a sec.” Jason ran his hand under Griffin’s shirt around his back. He took out his hand and blood covered his fingertips. “He has some shrapnel sticking out of his back.”

“Don’t remove it,” Doc barked.

“I’m trained in combat first aid, Sabrina,” Jason barked back.

“Sorry, what else do you see?”

Jason ran his hands over his legs and arms. “I don’t feel any broken bones in his extremities.”

“Are you closer to our facility or Griffin’s estate?”

I answered. “The estate.”

The sound of a door slamming followed by a car starting came through the phone. “I’m heading to Griffin’s estate. I’ll contact Doctor Jensen and have him meet us there. How long will it take you to get back there?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s not safe right now to leave. It’s bad he’s unconscious, isn’t it?”

“Actually, no, it’s not,” she answered.

“What do you mean?” Jason asked.

“When shifters are badly hurt, their natural instinct is to change into their animal form, so they can heal faster.”

“Then why is it better he’s unconscious?” I asked.

“He has a head injury and is in shock by now. He probably wouldn’t survive the transition. If he wakes up, you have to keep him calm.”

I rested my hand on Griffin’s arm. “What should we do for him in the meantime?”

“Put pressure on his head wound and keep him warm. Jason, secure a towel or something around his back to keep the shrapnel from moving as best you can. Right now, it’s really all you can do.”

“I’ll go find something in the kitchen,” he replied.

I held my breath and watched the rise and fall of Griffin’s chest, willing him to keep breathing. I yanked off my coat and covered him with it, mumbling, “He doesn’t look good, Sabrina.”

“Shifters are stronger than you think. If you can get him back to the estate, he has a chance.”

“We can’t exactly move him if more bombs go off.”

“I haven’t heard any explosions while you’ve been talking to me.”

I stood slowly and peered out the hallway window. It had grown eerily quiet. Jason ran back into the room, carrying an armful of dishtowels.

“Kyle, are you still there?” Doc’s voice echoed across the hall.

“Yeah, I was checking outside. I think maybe they’re gone.”

Jason handed me a towel, and I held it against Griffin’s head while he worked on his shoulder. After a minute, he sat back. “I’ve got it as secure as I can for right now.” He glanced over at me. “Kyle, you’re bleeding.”

“Tell me where she’s hurt,” Doc demanded.

Jason looked me over. “She’s okay. She just has a small cut on her neck.”

“Jason, are you okay?” Doc asked.

“I’m not hurt.”

The door started to open, and Jason dove for my gun, aiming it toward the entry. Misha brought his hands up in surrender. “Don’t shoot, Pilgrim.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “Are they gone?”

Misha scowled. “Yeah, we weren’t able to find them. How’s Griffin?”

“Not good,” I answered. “We need to get him to the estate.”

“Jean Luc is bringing the van around back. I’ll carry him out.”

Doc’s voice sounded from the floor. “Careful of his back, Misha. He’s got some shrapnel in his shoulder blade. Kyle, call me again if you need me.”

Misha squatted down and lifted Griffin as if he were a Chihuahua, not a six-foot-tall man. I grabbed my phone off the floor, and we moved toward the back of the house, through the kitchen. The smell of leftover party food assaulted my stomach, and I took a couple of breaths through my mouth.

Jean Luc pulled the van over the lawn, parking just two feet from the door. Misha placed Griffin on the backseat and I climbed in beside him.
 

“Jason and I will stay until the cops get here. I’m not sure how we’re going to explain this one. I’ll call Captain Morrison and see if he can help us.”

Misha shut the door, and I turned toward Jean Luc. “We need to hurry.”

“You’re hurt.” Jean Luc stared at my neck for a second and his pupils went black. After a moment of indecision, he reached for the first aid kit and took out a gauze pad. Before he was able to lay it against my neck, a feral growl erupted from the backseat.

Griffin was awake.

Jean Luc froze, and I turned. Griffin’s teeth were bared, and he glared at Jean Luc as if he was going to be his next meal.

I spoke quietly. “Griffin, look at me. I’m fine. Jean Luc is trying to help me.”

I wasn’t sure if I was getting through to him, especially when his eyes kindled. Shit, was he going to change in the van?

I continued staring into Griffin’s eyes. “Jean Luc, you need to get out of the van.”

“I won’t leave you.”

“He won’t hurt me. Go get Misha to drive instead.”

I heard the door open, and he stepped out. I reached for Griffin, cupping his face. “I’m okay. Just breathe and let the rest go.” His eyes focused on mine, and I attempted to smile at him. “We have to get help for you. Will you allow Misha up front to drive us?” He closed his eyes for a second, and when they opened again, they were sea green. He nodded and then passed out, his head rolling to the side.

Chapter 23

What they hell was taking so long?
Griffin was still in surgery. A lump lodged in my throat, and I swallowed hard. News of the explosion was already spreading like wildfire through the supernatural community. Bea had been sitting with me for a while until she couldn’t sit still any longer. She finally went back to the main house to help with what I assumed was crisis control.

I paced the hall waiting for news. At least I was warm. Bea had loaned me a jogging suit. She was a head taller, so I had to roll up the pant legs and sleeves. I must have looked like a little girl playing dress up. I rubbed my hands along my legs, and the material wrinkled under my fingertips.

I sank into the nearest chair, dropping my head into my hands, but I didn’t stay that way for long. My fingers reeked of antiseptic soap from scrubbing off Griffin’s blood.

“No news?”

I jerked at the voice, then looked up into Jean Luc’s concerned face. “No, they took him to surgery right away and haven’t been out since.” I gestured at the surroundings. “I didn’t know that Griffin had a medical center on his property. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Jean nodded. “He is a good leader.”

Tears threatened to emerge, and I blinked. “Did you find out anything else at the house?”

“The driver of the limo was killed instantly. When the first explosion occurred, we thought it was some type of timed device, but when the other explosions followed, we discovered it was demonic. It would take a higher-powered demon to be able to launch fireballs of such magnitude.”

My chest tightened. Paul was dead. “How in the hell do demons figure into this?”

“I do not know. Misha is researching right now to learn if this M.O. fits any demons for hire.”

I rubbed my eyes. “This is turning into a helluva mess. I think someone is trying to stage a coup. We need to figure out what’s going on before someone else gets killed.”

Jean Luc sat down beside me. “How are you?”

I placed my fingers on the bandage on my neck. “Misha cleaned it up. It wasn’t bad.”

“I do not mean your neck. I meant how are
you
?”

I tried to smile. “I’m okay. You know how much I hate sitting around, and this is taking a long time. Don’t you think it’s taking too long?”

“I think Griffin could not be in better hands right now. He is strong. Shifters are incredibly resilient.” He grasped my shaky hands, and warmth radiated up my arms.

“I’ll forgive you this time for using your thrall on me.” I cleared my throat. “Why didn’t Griffin want you in the car today?”

Jean Luc looked away for a second, and when he turned toward me, his eyes filled with despair.

My heart almost stopped. I had never seen him look like that. “What’s wrong?”

“He was protecting you.”

“From what?”

“Me. He did not want me near you because he could sense my hunger.”

I gaped at him.

“Your blood. When I saw it running down your neck… Since I have tasted you before, the temptation is greater.”

Jesus.
“I know you wouldn’t hurt me Jean Luc.”

“Never.”

“But Griffin knows it, too. I’d already told him why you bit me.”

Jean Luc grimaced. “He was hurt. His animal self was overshadowing his reason. His primary concern was your safety.”

Before I could respond, footsteps echoed in the hall, and I turned. Doc walked toward us.

I jumped up. “How is he?”

“He’ll be okay. We got the pieces of metal out of his back and stitched up his head. He has a concussion. The bigger area of concern was the bruising on his side. He had some internal bleeding we had to deal with, but he’s doing fine now.”

“Bea’s up at the house.”

Doc nodded. “Doctor Jensen went to speak to her.”

“Can I see Griffin?”

“He’s asking for you. But don’t let him get out of bed.”

I followed her down the hall. When I opened the door, I steeled my face before I entered, but it didn’t matter. Griffin was asleep. His face was pale, and with his eyes closed, his long eyelashes brushed his cheek and made him look like a young boy.

I sat down in the visitor’s chair and watched the rise and fall of his chest as he slept. Suddenly I was beyond tired, my adrenaline deserting me. I rested my head against the back of the chair and closed my eyes. I woke some time later to find someone had draped a blanket over me, and I turned to see Griffin watching me with his sea green eyes.

His gaze moved over me, stopping at my bandaged neck. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How are you feeling?”

“Better. Who else was hurt?”

“Paul was killed. Everyone else is safe.”

He bowed his head for a moment, and when he looked up again, an emotionless mask had dropped over his face. “I need to get up and figure out what happened.”

I sat up. “Whoa, you’re not going anywhere. You just had major surgery.”

He scowled at me. “I have a responsibility to protect my pack.”

I scowled right back. “How are you going to protect your pack if you kill yourself?”

“Shifters are not as fragile as humans. We heal quickly. I should be able to transform, which will help with the healing process.”

I stood up, the blanket falling neglected to the floor. “There will be no transforming! You have a head injury. Doc said you shouldn’t change.”

“I’m fine now.”

“And how do you know this? Do you have a medical degree? Let me get Sabrina, and you can ask her if it’s okay.” I marched toward the door, jerking it open. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Jogging down the hall, I found Sabrina asleep in a chair, her feet propped up on an end table. Jason was sitting next to her, watching her sleep. I stopped abruptly, feeling as if I had interrupted something private. Jason smiled when he caught sight of me. He stood and walked over.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah. Have we learned anything else since Jean Luc was here last night?”

“Misha had the car hauled off by a demon in his clan who runs a towing service. The cops and fire department showed up not long afterward, since someone lodged a noise complaint. We told them someone had shot off fireworks. Not sure if they bought it, but they didn’t have much to go on.”

I gestured toward Sabrina. “How long has she been asleep?”

“Not long. Why?”

“Griffin thinks he should change into his animal form to speed his healing, and I told him to talk to her first.”

“Can it wait?”

I shook my head. “You’ve met Griffin, aka Mr. Impatient, before, right? I’ll go look for Doctor Jensen.”

“You don’t have to, I’m awake,” Sabrina mumbled.

“Sorry.”

Sabrina stood and stretched. “No problem. I need to check on him anyway.”

We walked down the hall and filed into Griffin’s room, and he sighed when he saw there were three of us. “I see you brought reinforcements.”

I glared at him. “Someone has to talk some sense into you.”

Sabrina walked to the side of the bed and tucked a stethoscope in her ears. “Let’s see how you’re doing.”

She listened to his heart and his side. He flinched slightly when she ran her fingers over his ribs. She then took a light out of her pocket and checked his pupils.

“Well?” Griffin and I asked simultaneously.