Page 46 of Crimson Moon Falling

Freda’s jaw tightened. “Will he lose the eye?”

Dr. Park sighed. “I don’t know, but the damage was extensive. He’s conscious and coherent, and the eye is responsive to light. That’s something.”

He gave us a few more details, and the registrar came and went as we tried to navigate the bureaucratic friction of a half-troll and a shifter being treated in a hospital that wasn’t set up for either.

I sat down. “Gunnar will be pissed about having to stay here. He hates hospitals.”

Freda chuckled. “He hates everything.”

“True.” A ghost of a smile touched my mouth.

Freda rubbed the back of her neck. “Jamie’s going to be devastated if he loses that eye. He’s vain.”

“He’s also a shifter. He’ll heal faster than a human.”

She nodded, but stood and started pacing. Freda was a soldier at heart, and soldiers hated not being able to do anything. The waiting was probably worse than the fight.

I took my cellphone out. It sat next to the sat phone, a bulky, utilitarian thing, the kind of hardware that cost more than most people’s cars and did one thing very well. Conall had pressed it into my hands before I left Denver, his expression leaving no room for argument.

“Call him,” Freda murmured. “I’ll wait here.”

I went outside to make the call. The night air was cold and clean, and the mountains loomed black against the star-scattered sky.

Conall picked up on the first ring. “Riley. Thank fuck. I couldn’t get through to you earlier, and one of Drew’s people spotted Marlowe in Wyoming.”

“That’s why I’m calling. We ran into him and his operatives on the trail. I’m so sorry. Jamie was shot, and it grazed his eye socket. They’re taking him to an eye center in Salt Lake City.”

I told him what had happened, including Marlowe having an implant and Compulsor energy. The words came out flat and measured, the implant shutting out my worry and fear. I realized with a jolt that the thing was becoming useful. I shoved the thought away.

“Are you hurt?” he asked quietly.

“Nothing serious.” I didn’t tell him about the bullet grazing my thigh or needing a few stitches. “Mangus took a hit from whatever device Marlowe used. Some kind of taser. He’s recovering, and Athena is fine. They’re with Beau.”

“I’m sending two Betas from the area. Hudson and Lainey Sanders are mated and work a ranch in West Yellowstone. What else do you need?”

“I need a cup of tea, your blueberry pancakes, and ten hours of uninterrupted sleep. Since none of that is practical, I think we’re okay for now.” I leaned against the cold brick of the hospital. “Thank you for taking care of me and for the satellite phone. We’d still be on that mountain without it.”

“I’m coming to Jackson.” I could hear his wolf close to the surface.

“No. You have important Council meetings. The Pack needs you there.”

“My mate was ambushed by the man who tortured her, and one of my best Betas is in the hospital and may lose an eye. The Council can wait.”

“That’s exactly what they want. To pull you away so the Feds can push through those registration laws while you’re distracted. Don’t give them that.”

He growled, low and frustrated. “Riley—”

“I’m safe. I’m in a hospital with Freda, and Beau and his people know where we are.”

“Marlowe is out there.”

I looked up at the brilliant night sky. “Marlowe wants me to go to him. He’s not done with me, but I don’t think he’s after me. He also wants whatever is at Mary Mountain. Finish what you need to in D.C., then come.”

Silence filled the line as he wrestled between the Alpha instinct to protect and the Tracker’s understanding of the bigger game.

“If anything changes, if you so much as smell that bastard, you call me immediately.”

“Don’t worry about me.”