Pure Blood_ A Nocturne City Novel - Caitlin Kittredge [48]
Later. I could hurt later. Now we had to run.
Outside we were nearly flattened by a ladder truck and an ambulance, sirens screaming. Vaughn the parking attendant stood outside his booth, watching the whole sideshow with a fish-eyed expression.
Two EMTs came running to take Shelby off my hands and my body decided it would be a good time to collapse on the sidewalk. I can’t say I disagreed with it.
CHAPTER 15
Years later, or so it seemed, an EMT crouched next to me, shining a light in my eyes. “Were you inside, miss?”
“Ow! Turn off that damn flashlight! Yes.”
He took it away and strapped a portable pressure cuff on me, nodding at the gauge. He felt my pulse and said, “Your vitals are stable. Can you walk over to the ambulance with me?”
I nodded and attempted to stand. My vision swam and my knees buckled. The EMT caught me by the arm and I screeched at the resulting pain, having forgotten temporarily that I had damaged myself. Only you, Luna, could hurt yourself worse than a car bomb.
“Whoa!” said the EMT. His name badge said “Chen.” “Let’s take a look at that.” He switched sides and guided me to the ambulance, making me sit on the rear bumper while he rummaged in one of the lockers. “Did you fall or get knocked into something during the blast?”
I only dimly heard him, my concentration fading out as I watched the fire. Black smoke was roiling out of the O’Halloran’s garage, and three ladder trucks were parked at the entrance, firefighters running in and out with axes and hoses and oxygen tanks. Down the block, another squad was evacuating the tower, workers clustered on the sidewalk staring in our direction, watching the flames slowly die as the firefighters got the blaze under control.
“Miss?” Chen crouched in front of me again, holding an ice pack and a roll of Ace bandage.
“My partner,” I murmured. “I lifted a block of concrete off her and hurt my shoulder.”
Chen whistled. “You’re Detective O’Halloran’s partner? That took some balls.”
“Too bad I don’t have any.” I smiled weakly. “But thanks anyway. Is Shelby going to be okay?” My survival-driven panic was fading and I was aware of hurting all over, ears ringing, mouth dry as ash. Shelby had to be okay … I had gotten her out of the fire, hadn’t I?
“She’s on her way to Nocturne City General,” he said. “She lost some blood, and her leg needs surgery.”
Knowing Shelby was all right compelled my mental grip to relax and the were burst forth, thrashing and howling at the pain and the adrenaline I’d expended saving Shelby and myself. My jaw started to ache, and my lower back spasmed, the telltale warning that my body wanted to phase.
I couldn’t at this time of the month, but I could fang out and sprout claws, and then I had the distinct feeling Chen would be a lot less enthusiastic to play doctor.
“Fix my shoulder,” I growled.
“You should go to the emergency room…” Chen started.
“Is it broken?” I asked, struggling to stay normal. All of my instincts wanted to bolt and find a safe place to hole up and heal, far from prying eyes.
“No, it’s dislocated, but…” Chen started.
“Then fix it, please. Now.”
He sighed, but gripped my wrist firmly. “Brace yourself. This is going to really hurt.”
I gripped the frame of the ambulance and choked on a scream when Chen jerked my arm violently and my shoulder snapped back into place with a soft thop! A split second of violent, mind-bending pain and I was left with a dull ache and a functional arm.
“Thank you,” I said tightly to Chen. The fire was out, just stinking smoke boiling from underneath the skyscraper now. Police cruisers had arrived, and I saw two unmarked sedans in colors I’d describe as “lightly toasted” and “well done” pull up behind them. McAllister emerged from the first, Matilda Morgan from the second.
Hex me.
Mac waited for Morgan and they walked together, a bad sign. If my lieutenant and my captain were in concert, heads were going to roll.
Morgan looked at me, looked at the fire,