Page 8 of Sapphire Flame
When he began to pink-up, though he wasn’t yet conscious, Natalie moved to the other bay to check on the victim.
The team was still working on her and hadIV’s in both arms. The doctor was closing the abdominal damage.Altermedical assistance was very different from the human world. Thealtertransformation gave long life as it stripped the humanity out of each person.Alterscould self-heal and viruses and germs were rarely an issue.
Blood loss, however, was a different matter. The woman was deathly pale. Healing from this kind of mauling was almost always impossible.
Movement to her right shifted Natalie’s gaze. A witch entered the facility on quick, levitated flight. Natalie knew her well. Emma had a facility in Elegance that took in all kinds of strays. Someone had called her in to help.
The differentalterspecies that worked in a variety of refuges and shelters were a loose network. Each territory had several, staffed with people determined to save lives while working against way too many people intent on taking them.
Their world was a mess.
“She’s in here.” Natalie lifted her arm and gestured to the bay, though it was hardly necessary. The blinds were open, and the level of activity was visible from the distant, front entrance.
Emma rushed in. The team made way for her to pass to the head of the table. She placed her hands on top of the woman’s head and let her healing ability flow.
Even in her unconscious state, the woman released a sigh as though her body recognized that the right kind of help had come at last.
Emma was an amazing woman, with beauty to match. She had long, thick auburn hair. The front part was pulled into a top knot that seemed to suit her, while the rest cascaded to her waist. Her eyes were a lovely green.
Natalie?
For a moment, Natalie didn’t recognize the masculine voice in her head. When she realized it was Grant, she left the bay and moved next door. His eyes were open, and his color was much better.
“You rang?” she asked.
His answering smile was weak.
She shifted to stand at the foot of his bed. A second nurse wiped the blood off his arms and chest. Because he was naked from the waist up, and the crisis had passed, Natalie blinked a couple of times. Her thoughts grew completely inappropriate.
Damn, he’s built.Grant had muscles on muscles.
Of course, most of the Border Patrol officers were constructed on powerful lines, especially the wolves.
Natalie ordered her thoughts and lifted her chin slightly. She would rise above her unhelpful lust. Grant was a wolf. The last thing she’d ever do was get involved with a wolf. Every fae cell of her body did a twist of revulsion even at the thought of it.
“How’s she doin’?” He asked. His voice had a gravelly, masculine edge that hit her at the back of her knees.
Wolf. Remember, he’s a wolf.
She steeled herself and finally responded, “Still touch and go, but Emma is here. Do you know her?”
His lips quirked. “Emma and Officer Vaughn run a teen shelter in Elegance. Everyone worth a damn knows Emma.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” She smiled. There was way too much to like about this man.
The monitor in the next room suddenly hit that horrible flat-line sound.
Before Natalie could stop him, Grant had pushed the sheet back and moved to sit up on the side of the bed. There he stopped and planted his hands on the mattress edge. He was white-knuckling it and probably trying not to pass out again. What did he hope to gain?
The nurse tried to get him to lie back down, but he lifted a hand that had an imperious edge. She drew back and stayed silent. He shifted his gaze to Natalie.
“Check on her.”
It was half command, half plea.
Natalie stepped around the corner and restrained a gasp. The woman’s complexion was white, a terrible juxtaposition to the blue flames on her skin. She was dying.
Natalie met Emma’s gaze. Emma shook her head.
