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 sid
e 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.
Natalie’s eyes burned suddenly. This woman couldn’t die, not when she and Grant had worked so hard to save her.
She felt compelled to do something.
Natalie opened up her faeness and aligned herself with the immediate future. Several cramps attacked her spine. She pressed on. What she saw there, startled her but gave her hope at the same time. She returned to Grant.
“You have to come with me.” She drew close, took his arm beneath the elbow and gave tug. “Lean on me if you have to. We have only seconds to save her, to bring her back. I don’t know why, but she’s important to Five Bridges.”
He nodded and rose to his feet. He switched to telepathy. I feel it, too.
She shifted to his opposite side and grabbed his IV stand. He moved slowly, working hard to keep his balance. The nurse caught his other elbow and as a unit they began to move.
When they reached the other room, all the techs had stopped working. Everyone stared down at the woman.
Natalie urged Grant to get close to the bed. She then took his hand and had him touch the woman’s ankle, which is what she’d seen in the future. Because she retained her hold as well to make sure the contact took place, she could feel a ripple of energy pass from his body to the woman. It was the strangest thing she’d ever experienced.
Natalie stared at the monitor.
A second passed, then another.
A blip erupted into the small space.
Gasps fluttered around the bed.
Emma murmured, “Thank God,” then returned her hands once more to the top of the woman’s head.
Grant leaned forward and covered both ankles with his hands.
His voice entered Natalie’s mind. I don’t understand. I’m not a healer.