His eyes opened and he gasped. A low growl rumbled in his throat and his hand reached out to grab her wrist in a fearsome grip, pulling her hand away from the injury. The strength of his grasp hurt, cutting off her circulation.
Selene bit her lower lip, pushing back the pain. He didnt know what he was doing. Shh...Im here to help. We have to stop the bleeding. Let me help. Tears stung her eyes as his grip tightened. She stared into his face, trying to read his expression, the shadows blurring her view.
If he squeezed much harder, hed snap her bones. Such strength in an injured man was extraordinary.
She sent soothing thoughts into his consciousness.
Deme skidded to a halt behind her. Let her go, her sister said to the man.
Its okay, Deme. Hes delirious, he doesnt know hes hurting me. Selene sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. Please, let go. I need to stop the blood. Do you understand? Otherwise youll die. Please, I only want to help.
His eyelids drooped. Tired. Cant hold on.
Thats right, let go. Selene peeled one finger loose, then another. We need to get you help.
No hospital, he whispered. Then his hand slackened and dropped to the ground.
About damned time he passed out. I was going to have to knock him out so that you could help his stubborn ass. Deme dropped to her haunches and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. Ill get an ambulance here.
No! Selenes response came swift and sure. From where, she didnt know. All she knew was that this man wouldnt want to go to a hospital, no matter how injured he was. Help me get him back to your vehicle.
Are you kidding? He must weigh close to two hundred pounds. There are stairs and...
Please. We have to get him out of the cold and bandage his wound before shock sets in or it wont matter. She pressed the wad of material to his shoulder. Give me your scarf.
But its my favorite.
Selene held out her hand.
Deme unwound the scarf from around her neck and reluctantly handed it to her, a frown creasing her brow. You dont even know this guy. Whats so special about him?
Selene didnt answer, instead wrapping the scarf around his shoulder and knotting it over the wound to apply more pressure. Then she stood and grabbed him beneath the injured arm.
Deme took the uninjured side.
The man growled again, guttural and animal-like.
Get up, Selene said in a strong voice any drill sergeant would envy. Get up! With her sisters help and the efforts of the half conscious, half naked man, they got him to his feet and led him to the stairs.
After nearly losing him twice, they got him up the steps and onto the street above. Selene leaned him against a light pole to help hold him up as Deme ran for the vehicle. She pulled up beside them and they guided him into the backseat, bumping his head and shoulder in the process.
A low roar ripped through the car, startling the women.
Deme stared across at Selene. No man should make that kind of noise, I dont care how delirious.
Just get him in. Selene lifted one of his legs, shoved it in and closed the door quickly. She climbed into the passenger seat and twisted around to watch him.
Deme eased into the drivers seat and stared into the rearview mirror at the man. Sure you dont want me to drop him off at a hospital emergency room?
No. Selenes jaw set in a hard line. Take me home.
Deme shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. Im not leaving him at your place.
You have to. Selene shot a pleading glance at her sister. Im his only hope.
Look, Selene, you dont know this guy. He could be a mass murderer or a rapist. He could be the person who jumped the woman from your vision.
Hes not.
How do you know?
I just know.
He was in the same area, Selene.
He didnt hurt that woman. Selenes words were low, intense.
Deme stared into her sisters eyes for a long, hard minute. Okay, then.
Selene breathed a sigh as the SUV pulled away from the curb and headed back across the river toward her apartment. Why shed insisted on taking him to her home, she didnt know. Hed insisted no hospital. Why?
Selene stretched out her mind to read into his thoughts, but the more she pushed the more frustrated she became. So many questions spun through her own thoughts, she couldnt see into his.
The man in the backseat moaned. Hed lost a lot of blood and from the looks of him, had gone into the river, a very unsanitary place. If he didnt die of exposure, the bacteria from the river water might kill him.
Could you hurry? Selene urged.
Deme shook her head, but the SUVs speed picked up. A red light ahead made her slow the vehicle enough to look both ways before blowing through.
In what seemed like an interminable amount of time, but had been less than ten minutes, Deme pulled up in front of Selenes shop.
Were here, now what? Deme cast a glance into the backseat, where the man lay semicomatose. How are we going to get him in the basement? Assuming I agree to this plan of yours.
Selene bit her lip. I dont know. But we have to.
Deme reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Cal can be here in fifteen.
No. Selene put her hand over Demes phone. Id rather we kept this to just you and me.
What? You and me carrying a large unconscious man into your basement apartment?
Selene nodded. Yes. And I dont want Cal to know that hes even here. I dont want anyone else to know. Not even Gina and Aurai. Especially not Brigid.
Were your sisters. Why keep it from us? Look, just let me take him to the hospital. Let them handle him. They have big strong burly orderlies that
No. A deep voice cut into Demes words. The back door to the vehicle opened and the man got out.
Selene ripped her door open, but not in time.
One second he was holding on to the door, the next hed crumpled to the ground.
Her heart beating hard against her ribs, Selene dropped to her knees. Are you all right?
I dont need your help, he said.
Deme stood over them both, her fists planted on her hips. Like hell you dont.
I wont go to a... He lay still with his eyes closed, his breathing shallow, almost nonexistent.
Selene slid one of his arms around her neck. Help me get him up.
Deme sighed. Stubborn witch.
Selenes lips twitched. Shut up and get his other side.
Deme lifted his arm to drape over her shoulder, but as soon as she moved it, he jerked, growling like a rabid animal, his teeth peeled back over sharp incisors. With her head down to get the arm over her shoulder, Deme didnt see the pointed fangs.
But Selene did. Her stomach flip-flopped and she ducked her head to avoid Demes gaze. Just get an arm around his waist and help me haul him to the stairs. To him she said, Could you manage to stay with us long enough to help yourself down a flight of stairs?
Must get below, he said through gritted teeth.
Thats where were going, just help us get you there. Selene glanced across at her sister. Ready?