The man groans. “Must you use my first name?”
“I must.” She winks at me. “He prefers it.”
“Absolutely do not.”
Rushed footsteps and muffled voices echo outside moments before Bronywyn comes into view in front of me, a woman at her side. She pushes through the doorway and kneels beside me. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. Other than a massive headache and nightmares to last me three lifetimes.” Reaching back, I touch my head—more than surprised when no blood comes back on my fingertips.
“You’re damn lucky that’s all you got.” The detective glances down at the two vampires I killed. “Your handiwork?”
I nod.
“She wouldn’t let me shoot her gun.”
Rainey beams at me. “My kinda woman. Let’s get you checked out.” Reaching down, she helps me to my feet, and Bronywyn stands with me.
“You’re getting checked for a concussion,” she tells me. “Whether you like it or not.”
“Thank you, doc,” Walker chokes out as Shay pulls him to his feet.
I turn around. “It’s my job.”
He shakes his head. “This was not.”
“Seriously,” Detective Astor adds. “You went toe-to-toe with four vampires to save my partner’s life. I don’t know many supernaturals who would have done that, let alone a human. I owe you.”
My cheeks flush, and I nod. “Anytime. How many died?”
Bronywyn exchanges glances with the others, then turns back to me. “Seven.”
“Seven?” I choke out, the loss of life too much to bear. “Seven?” I repeat it, wishing the number would magically shrink by the time I say it again.
“Yes. Three nurses, the rest were patients.”
“I don’t—” My stomach churns as bile clambers up my throat.Seven. I repeat the number in my head this time, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that vampires just came in here and slaughtered seven innocent humans. When I look to Bronywyn, I see the same anguish reflected in her eyes that I know is in mine. “I thought you said they stayed hidden? That humans in busy areas were safe.”
“You are all supposed to be,” she says, softly. “Per The Accords—”
“They’re not following their own rules, anymore,” Walker interjects. “This fucker told us the council has ordered them to slaughter anyone who helps us. Human or not.”