No doubt it was her reaction to the shock tearing through her, but the severity was concerning him. And it was concerning Chelsea as well.
The other girl was on the phone; if he wasn’t mistaken, she was talking, if not to her uncle, the president of the Navajo Nation, then to her father, Terran Martinez. There would be no time to have the blood and saliva samples taken from Claire Martinez that Jonas wanted, in the hospital by certified technicians who could testify to having collected it, before the Navajo healers reached her.
It wouldn’t surprise Stygian to learn the healers were waiting at the hospital. There were forces definitely determined to stand between the Breeds, and Liza and Claire.
Fortunately, Rule had raced her straight to the heli-jet and would take the samples himself before arriving at the hospital, just to ensure they were collected.
It wouldn’t be exactly what was needed, as the supplies needed wouldn’t be in the heli-jet. But what was there might be enough for Jonas to collect those samples needed for the deep-level DNA testing.
As Ashley stepped forward with the blanket and helped Stygian wrap it around Liza, she quickly drew his attention.
“Unable to heli-jet,” Ashley whispered, her voice low enough that he doubted Liza heard her. “Navajo intercepted Rule. Transport is by Navajo Nation law enforcement with Rule and Dog following to ensure arrival.”
Stygian’s brows lifted.
Now that was damned unusual. So much for getting samples in the heli-jet.
But it wasn’t the first time it had happened.
Getting Breed doctors in to take care of Isabelle Martinez after her attempted abduction by Holden Mayhew had been nearly impossible.
Like Liza, he was beginning to wonder just what the f**k was going on.
Tightening his arms around the woman he knew in his soul was his mate, and swallowing the taste of the hormone easing from the glands beneath his tongue, Stygian lifted her gently into his arms and moved to the bedroom Chelsea had informed Emma was Liza’s.
He wanted her away from the commotion and the knowledge of the dead bodies being removed from Claire’s room. He wanted her calm and warm and able to talk.
He wanted to know why his mate was suddenly attracting Genetics Council Coyotes and soldiers when he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that for the first time in his life, someone was exactly as she seemed.
Faults.
A dark past.
Mistakes made that he knew caused her pain now.
It was all there.
And she would be all his.
Soon.
CHAPTER 9
She had to be dreaming.
Liza pinched the tender flesh on the inside of her arm.
Fuck, that hurt.
Looking down at the mark, she glared at the reddened area of skin the small wound had left.
Okay, so a pinch could actually hurt in a dream. She would go with that.
What else could prove it was a dream?
When she was younger, she had tricks she had used, just to assure herself that she was actually alive and not just a figment of someone’s imagination.
Or one of her parents’ nightmares.