into one of the private examination rooms on a gurney. “Is he going to be all right?” she asked Micah, watching the door close behind them.
Micah shrugged. “I think he’s just been knocked out cold, but it’s too early to say. The doctor needs to look at him.”
Thomas rebuffed Micah’s attempt to lead him to an examination room and sank down into one of the plush burgundy waiting room chairs. Adam had disappeared into one of the other rooms, probably to await the doctor like Thomas. Clearly, she needed to deal with Jake first. His injuries were the worst.
A nurse approached Thomas, but he waved her away. “I’m fine, see to Adam first.” He sounded grouchy. The nurse nodded and moved away.
“Thomas—” Isabelle objected. He didn’t look fine to her, covered in blood, wincing, bruised, and limping.
He held up a hand. “Really, Isabelle. I’m okay. I didn’t break anything…I don’t think.”
“Great. You don’t think. Stubborn,” she muttered, shook her head and gave up. “Tell me about this guy Jake and how he came to be Boyle’s prey.”
Thomas adjusted his position for more comfort, trying not to jar his leg. Micah had taken a chair nearby. “We went to the Red Rock. It was our last stop for the night.”
“We all thought the troll for Boyle was a wash…again,” Micah added.
“But as we were leaving we heard sounds coming from behind the building. When we went around to investigate, a woman was there, beaten nearly unconscious. We recognized her from the bar, but she’d been with a man—”
Isabelle stopped chewing her thumbnail to ask, “Jake?”
“Yes. We could smell the demon had been there. That damned stink of turned, scorched other-Earth was in the air. So when she pointed to the stand of trees nearby, we went for it.”
“I stayed behind to help the woman on Thomas’s orders,” Micah interjected. “Adam and Thomas went in.”
Thomas shifted again and closed his eyes for a moment. Isabelle battled the urge to call for the nurse. “We fought the demon. He kicked our asses, but I managed to lay one good swipe into him with my sword—a swipe that gave him that allergic reaction, or whatever it is. It made him leave immediately…without Jake. Maybe I laid into him so deep whatever he did to give himself resistance to the copper couldn’t work. I don’t know.”
Isabelle nodded. “So you think the demon was lying in wait for Jake as his next victim and you interrupted the abduction?”
Thomas nodded. “That’s what I think.”
She glanced at Micah. “So when you were finished helping the injured woman, you came back and found them?”
Micah nodded. “I called the Coven and they came out immediately.”
Isabelle turned away, Boyle’s words echoing in her head. I will come for you when I am ready. I have work to do before you. How many others were to come before her? When would Boyle come for her?
“Isabelle, are you all right?”
She turned to see Thomas’s concerned expression. “I’m sick of this, sick of being one step behind Boyle.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. Thomas looked weary and she knew it was from more than a simple lack of sleep or his current physical condition. “Me, too, Isabelle. If we hadn’t found Boyle when we did, Jake would have been the next victim.”
Isabelle wrapped her arms around herself and hugged. “And who knows if the demon hasn’t already chosen a replacement.” She swallowed. “Maybe two of them.”
Thomas’s jaw worked as he probably gritted his teeth. “I know. Takes the shine off stealing Boyle’s prey tonight.”
All three of them fell silent. In the other room they could hear the doctor and her assistants working on Jake. Urgent, raised voices, beeping machines, shuffling feet.
Apparently Jake was worse off than Micah thought.
“Damn it. I have to get out of here.” Thomas pushed up from the chair onto his bad leg and winced. “I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat.”
Isabelle gaped. “What? You need to be seen by the doctor.”
Micah blew out a frustrated sounding breath. “Don’t be dumb, boss. You’re bleeding all over the place and your eye is almost swollen shut.”
Thomas touched his forehead. “The bleeding has stopped and my injuries aren’t as bad as Jake’s or Adam’s. Anyway, she’s going to be a while. I can grab a bite and be back before she’s ready for me.”
“You stay here. Let me go get you something, Thomas.” Isabelle moved toward the door, but he caught her wrist in his iron grip.
“We’ll go together. I’m sick