dragon-Coal.
“Breathe, Joey. Heather, will you grab some sweats for Dasan to put on once he’s done, ya know, saving Randy’s life and all.”
That seemed to shake Joey out of his stupor. At least for a second, because then a swishing sound came, and a giant flaming circle opened, and a hellhound stepped through. Bailey vaguely recognized him from the day he’d learned about the supernatural world. He managed a weak wave before he grabbed Logan and held on.
“Is that a dragon?” Joey finally managed to find his words, but no one answered him because tires squealed to a stop outside and everyone went on alert once more.
“It’s Scout,” Logan said. “Stand down.”
“Logan, we’re gonna lose him.”
“Randy…” Bailey choked on the word. “Norman shot him. He tried to help, Logan. He came to warn us.”
The hellhound knelt beside Randy and then looked up. His eyes flared red. “He’s alive. We need to get him to the clinic.”
“Gideon needs a visit too,” Scout said. “Wait. It was Norman? I’m so confused.”
“Why does Gideon need a doctor?” Bailey asked.
The vampire looked pale and very unhappy to be held up by Taj. They leaned against the door of the warehouse, and Gideon would probably fall over without the support.
“He’ll be fine,” Logan said. He brushed his nose over Bailey’s cheek and held him tighter. “He needs some blood, but we got to him in time.”
“What is that god-awful smell?” Aleron asked as he shifted back. “Oh wait. Ashley, is that you?”
She growled and flung the staff at Aleron’s head. He caught it one-handed. “Don’t make me hurt you. And I don’t know why this place reeks of my body spray.”
“I threw the bottle at Norman,” Bailey explained. “I figured he couldn’t scent me that way.”
“Good thinking. A stink bomb. I like it.”
“Stink!” Ashley shrieked and jabbed her elbow into Aleron’s side.
The hellhound lifted Randy. “We’re ready to move him. Let’s go.”
Another flaming circle opened, and the hellhound carried Randy through without another word.
“Come on,” Logan said. “We need to go.”
“What the hell is going on?” Will finally spoke after standing there blinking at them for the past several minutes. Bailey’d been keeping his eyes on them, wondering when the shock would wear off. It took a few minutes to process. Bailey knew this from recent experience.
“Dragon?” Joey said again. He pointed at Coal, who chose that moment to transform back into his human form.
“Dragon,” Coal confirmed. “We’ve gotta go. Logan will explain later.”
“My nana’s gonna lose her mind,” Scout said. “So many new people to feed. I swear, Bailey, you’re just like her. I’ve been hoping to introduce you to my family, but not under these circumstances.”
Logan scooped Bailey up into his arms the moment he realized Bailey had a limp. He growled at the others to hurry them up.
“Easy, Alpha. I’ve got ’em.” Aleron herded Bailey’s friends through the circle behind Logan and Bailey, and then it closed.
They appeared in a very nice yard in front of a big house. The hellhound guy carried Randy to a building at the side, though. “Doc!”
A man rushed out, along with a couple of others dressed in scrubs, and they helped him inside. Taj and Gideon followed, and Logan carried Bailey inside as well.
“Did that sign say we’re at a veterinarian’s?” Will asked. “Did I hit my head?”
“Nope. That’s what it said,” Ashley confirmed. “I’m very confused.”
“Jack!” An older woman came around the desk and pulled Scout against her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m good, Grammy. This is… well, my other pack. Everyone, this is my grandmother, Joanne Jerrick.”
“Did she just call you Jack?” Bailey asked.
“Um, yeah. That’s my actual name. Come on, Logan. I think my brother Ben’s around somewhere. He can take a look at Bailey’s face and ankle. He’s technically not a doctor yet, but he’s only got a year left, so, ya know.”
“Jack?” Bailey asked again, this time scowling at Logan.
“What? You didn’t know his name was Jack?”
“Why would we know that?” Heather asked. “You’ve never once referred to him as Jack. Also, hello giant hunk of a… Hi. Hello. Wow. You’re tall.”
Scout—also apparently known as Jack—led in a very tall young man with a very sweet smile. “Ben, this is everyone. Bails is hurt. Can you take a look?”
“Hi. I’m Ben Jerrick. You’re Bailey? Jack’s told me a lot about you.”
“Oh, really? Because he hasn’t told me anything about you. Logan, put me down so I can kick Jack.”
“I’ll do it.” Ashley kicked Scout in the butt, and he scowled at