Page 49 of Tempting the Tiger
“Copy that.” Ethan turns around and meets my eyes, waiting until I give a sharp nod before he speaks again. “Lower the stretcher. Over and Out.”
Jet remains next to us while Ethan goes to retrieve the stretcher now being lowered on the winch.
“Ready, Doc?” I ask.
He gives a tight nod. “I’ll help as much as I can, but Bryn needs to initiate his shift.”
As soon as I stop touching Bryn so I can sign, he refocuses on me. ‘I need you to shift back so we can get you out of here. Doc P’s going to help you.’
I’m not sure if Bryn understands me, especially when he closes his eyes. Doc P hurriedly rummages in his messenger bag and removes a gold disc about the size of his palm. He places it on Bryn’s chest, his hand over the top.
A moment later Bryn lets out a roar that becomes a pained cry as he shifts to his biped form. It leaves me too far from his head so I scramble over and strip off my borrowed jacket. Bryn’s work hoodie is soaked with blood and his eyes are open, his chest heaving. I lay the thick waterproof jacket over him, well aware that he’s generating plenty of heat and that even injured he’s not going to freeze, but my tiger is insistent that we cover him in our scent.
It takes longer than I’d like because Bryn weighs a ton, but between us we manage to get him onto the stretcher and loaded into the helicopter. The moment we’re all on board, Skye gets us out of there.
I stroke the fuzz of Bryn’s hair as I watch the hypnotic rise and fall of his chest. I barely notice the hard plastic chair or the chill in the small treatment room.
We’re currently imposing on the kindness of the local branchof the PRN while Bryn recovers enough for the flight back to the UK, giving us a chance to find out exactly what’s going on over here. I should probably be out there, interpreting for the team as needed, but I can’t bring myself to leave Bryn’s side. He passed out in the helicopter and hasn’t woken up yet.
Doc P said he’d managed to boost Bryn’s immune system enough that he’d be able to heal on his own. I’m not exactly sure how the doctor did it, but at this point I’m not questioning it. Doc P looked pretty drained afterwards, so Jet ushered him off to get breakfast and some rest. I still need to have my immune system checked as well, but if it takes that much out of Doc P to solve the problem it can definitely wait until he’s recovered.
I don’t even realise I’ve closed my eyes until movement under my hand jerks me back to awareness. Bryn’s awake and watching me, dark circles under his pale blue eyes.
‘Treasure,’ he signs, his hand movements sluggish.
My tiger surges, desperate to shift and curl up beside him. Since that might risk hurting him I resist the impulse, just like I’ve been doing for hours.
A lump forms in my throat. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Like I flew a thousand miles then crash landed on a shipping container.’ It takes him a while to sign it, but then he smiles softly at me. ‘I’m glad you’re here. Wherever here is.’
‘We’re in Wroclaw. The local branch of the supernatural government have been extremely helpful.’
I lean over and scent his neck as I kiss him gently, beyond relieved that he’s awake and able to communicate. I hope this means his body is mostly healed, but I definitely want Doc P to check him over again.
‘Thank you for rescuing me.’ Bryn’s hand movements are slow but emphatic, his eyes intense.
‘Always. Besides, I owe you one.’
Not that I’m keeping score. His instinct was to protect mewhen we hardly knew each other, at huge risk to his own life. I’d go to any lengths to save him.
I send a quick message on the group chat to let everyone know Bryn’s awake, then another to Doc P.
There’s a knock at the door a minute later. Ethan comes in with the head of the local division, who I met earlier. He’s a male wolf shifter with dark hair, a thick beard, and a welcoming smile despite us descending on his facility in the middle of the night.
‘This is Wojtek, the head of the facility here,’ I tell Bryn. ‘Do you feel up to a conversation?’
Bryn nods, taking in Wojtek with an assessing gaze.
‘May I interpret for you?’
Another nod. ‘Thanks.’
Ethan comes over to stand beside me, facing Bryn. “It’s good to see you awake. Do you need anything?”
Bryn’s eyes harden. ‘To find out who attacked me.’
Wojtek folds his arms across his broad chest, looking like he could be Ethan’s younger, paler cousin. “There is a group hidden in the mountains, they call themselves Zbrodnia Smoka. We believe they are responsible.”
