Page 3 of Midnight of Ashes
“Get a hold of yourself. This is the last thing we need,” Cillian barked.
Sirens sounded. I caught the flash of lights in the distance.
I knew Cillian would’ve called our horde’s ambulance. We had it for coverage. If a dragon shifter was injured, there was always a chance they could transform without meaning to. Our ambulance was stocked with a drug that prevented the shift and had medical supplies that were shifter specific.
Every minute or so, Maddox would order Knox to “breathe”. I couldn’t take the command, what it meant. A fresh wave of anguish ripped through me each time.
The ambulance squealed to a stop, and two horde members jumped out. Even they, who had seen more than their fair share of injuries, faltered at the sight of Hayden. They knew who she was to my bond mates. Knew what this could mean.
They hurried over with some sort of machine, connecting pads to Hayden’s chest.
“Clear,” Gretchen ordered.
Everyone moved back.
Hayden’s body jerked in an unnatural motion. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t.
Gretchen pressed her fingers to Hayden’s neck and gritted her teeth. “Clear.”
Hayden’s body jerked again.
Gretchen was back, pressing two fingers to Hayden. “I have a pulse. Let’s move.”
In a matter of seconds, Hayden was being loaded onto a gurney. My bond mates crowded around her in the back of the ambulance, but I immediately went for shotgun. I couldn’t be that close, not knowing that I’d caused this.
Gene hopped behind the wheel and flicked the sirens on again.
“Where’s the caster?” Cillian yelled from the back of the ambulance.
“Waiting in medical and preparing everything he’ll need,” Gene called.
I had a surge of pity for the caster. He was being handed an impossible task, one that when he failed, he’d never be able to stay with our clan. Cillian wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of him.
Gene pressed down on the accelerator.
The ride to our territory was made in half the time it normally took. The gates were already open in preparation, and the ambulance didn’t even slow as we approached. We screeched to a stop outside our house, members of the horde waiting, wanting to do anything to help.
Knox and Cillian lifted the gurney while Gretchen rode on top of it, squeezing some sort of bag that had to be helping Hayden breathe. I followed behind them as if I were a robot and someone else held my controls.
In some ways, that was exactly true. I’d touched Hayden. Skin-to-skin. I’d felt the mate bond flare to life in my system. She had control now, even if the bond hadn’t been cemented.
Cáel and Maddox were practically on top of the gurney as Knox and Cillian guided it down the hall. The moment we reached the medical wing, Marcus, our new caster, was by the gurney’s side.
I didn’t miss how his face paled as he took in Hayden.
“What happened?” Marcus asked.
All eyes in the room came to me.
“Dragon fire. She got hit with dragon fire.” The voice didn’t even sound like my own.
Marcus jerked his head in a nod and began grabbing ingredients, mixing them in a bowl. He chanted in that language I still didn’t understand as he worked. And a few moments later, he looked up. “I need her mates. All of them.”
Panic reared inside me, but a strong hand gripped my arm. I looked down to see Cáel’s tattooed hand.
“If you don’t help her, I will pull your still-beating heart from your body.”
I had no doubt he would. “I’m not going anywhere.” I’d do whatever Marcus needed. I had to.
