Page 53 of Healing Creek
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haven,Umbria
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.200
Grace was sharing a meal with Samantha in the food hall while the others discussed their course of action. She’d rather have been able to once again petition her sister’s case, but she’d promised Mercury she would make sure Samantha ate enough to nourish both herself and the child growing inside her. When Lo came bursting through the door, a dozen human and Arena Dog heads snapped in his direction. His chest heaved with panting breath.
Grace’s belly cramped and filled with dread. Cold certainty clutched at her. It had to be Creek. Jupiter had gone out after him and had not come back before the others went into the council room.
Grace leaped to her feet and met him halfway across the room. “What—”
“He’s alive.” Lo pressed his lips tightly together before continuing. Strain evident on his face. “The medical center. Go. I’ll stay with Samantha.”
She nodded then ran, barreling through the door and not stopping until she made it to the med-center.
Creek lay on the med-bed, unmoving, with a wooden spike through his shoulder and blood soaking his tunic. She slapped her hand across her mouth to hold in the scream.
Mercury and Jupiter stood next to the bed along with Zachary, who was running a scan. Jupiter had turned and was staring at her with regret and apologies in his eyes. A woman stood on the other side of the bed. As tall as the other Arena Dogs, her features were a more delicate version of theirs. Her shoulders were as broad as the other Arena Dogs, but a slenderer body contained her obvious strength. Grace gulped down her fear.
Zachary said something about blood loss and a skull fracture and brain swelling. A wave of nausea hit her, and she was glad her hand still clutched her mouth.
Zachary shook his head and talked about making Creek comfortable as he set up a hypo-injector.
Lightning struck her heart and she bolted forward. “Creek.” She wedged her body between Mercury and Zachary and laid a hand on his chest. It was moving, barely. His eyes were closed but his face was tight with pain. “Creek.”
His eyes opened, but they were glassy and panicked. He groaned as he turned toward the sound of her voice. He pushed air through gritted teeth. “Neri.”
The word stole the air from her lungs and fisted in her gut. She worked air back into her lungs with tears running down her cheeks. “It’s all right.” Her voice shook. “You need to rest now. Healing sleep,” she suggested.
Some Arena Dogs had incredible control of their bodies and even if he didn’t, letting go of fighting would surely allow him to lose consciousness. A breath rattled free of his chest and his eyes fluttered closed.
Zachary had the hypo against his neck. Grace latched onto his wrist with a whispered, “No!”
Zachary looked over her shoulder to Mercury.
“Do as she says,” he commanded.
Grace released the medic’s hand and gently pushed him back from the table. She turned to the Arena Dog who had trusted her with the care of his pregnant mate and hoped he would trust her through what she intended. She held his gaze, forcing determination into her features.
“I’ll need you to remove the branch while the others hold him down.”
“He’ll bleed out,” warned Zachary.
When Mercury dipped his chin in agreement, she turned back to Zachary. “I need a pressure sealer.”
“It won’t be enough.”
“And a transfusion kit.”
“For who? Do you even know his blood type?”
No and it didn’t matter. “I’m a universal donor.” Not exactly true, but she didn’t have time to do things the right way.
“You’re crazy. There is no need for that. We have blood doublers and plasma, but none of that is going to be enough and it won’t help his head injury. It might even make things worse.” He shook his head and backed away with his hands in the air.
Grace rolled up her sleeve and got things ready. “I need that transfusion kit.”
