I cursed under my breath.
“We need to get you back to the house,” Veronica said. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,” I said, then hissed in pain as the burned skin on my forearm rubbed against my leg. My shoulder throbbed from where the arrow had punched into me. “Okay, maybe I’m not fine,” I groaned. “But I’m more worried about you. Are you all right?”
I touched her ribs softly, probing with gentle pressure. Just thinking of that asshole punching her filled my aching skull with renewed anger and rage.
“I’m fine.” She pushed my hand away and helped me to my feet. “You took the brunt of the damage. I can do some healing work on you, but we need to get out of here first.”
We retrieved all my weapons, then I leaned on her as we walked back to the car. I collapsed into the passenger seat and looked over as she climbed behind the wheel.
“Do shifters know how to drive cars?”
She shot me a look. “Really?”
I shrugged, and the movement made me wince. “I thought you guys all ran everywhere.”
Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. “Just rest. Let’s get you home.”
15
VERONICA
“Here we go,” I said, putting my arm under his uninjured shoulder. “Big step.”
He groaned. “I’m not a toddler, you know.”
“Yeah, sure,” I said, pushing the door open of the safe house.
“Check the street,” Declan said, gritting his teeth. “Make sure no one followed us.”
Sighing, I glanced up and down the road. “I’ve been checking since we left the strip mall, like you told me. We’re good. No one followed us.”
Once we were inside, I helped him to a seat near his plant, which we’d stuck in a corner near the living room window. Declan let out a sigh of relief, holding his burned arm away from him, so it didn’t touch anything.
“Do you know if you have baking soda here?” I asked.
“You gonna bake cookies or something?”
“No.” It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. “I need it for a poultice for your arm and shoulder.”
“Oh. I think there’s a box in the fridge. Hope you don’t need it fresh.”
“All good.”
I got the half-empty box and a bowl, then set everything down on the coffee table.
“I saw some dandelions, purslane, and stinging nettle out in that little thing you call a yard. I need to go grab some. Is that okay?” I said.
“Thanks for pointing out my poor landscaping skills.” He grimaced as he pulled his pistol from his holster. “Take this in case.”
I took the weapon, though I prayed I wouldn’t need to use it. I’d only be outside a minute or so. I glanced at the dark road. Spotting nothing suspicious, I yanked the medicinal weeds out of the earth, then hurried back inside, making sure to lock the door behind me.
I mixed everything together in the bowl, using a spoon to crush it into a dryish paste.
“I need an offering before I recite the spell,” I explained, and gave Declan an awkward shrug. “It needs to come from you. Since you’re the one being healed.”
“What do you need?”
