“I have provided them with a sit rep as well as camera feeds of the both the fight and current real time. Be advised that the local authorities are planning on taking charge at the direction of the mayor. I will disabuse them of that notion.”

“Easy, Omega. Let’s not burn bridges,” Nika said.

“Nothing will impede my father from getting to the hospital.” His tone had a definite note of finality to it.

“Let’s prep for police arrival,” Chris said to the rest of the team. Immediately both Holly, who had been rubbing her mouth with her paws to remove demon blood, and Devaney began to Change back. Mack, fully used to werewolves, headed to an older model green Toyota Land Cruiser, parked on the outside edge of the Arcane lot. The tailgate automatically opened itself at his approach. Moments later, he was back with sets of clean sweats for the naked weres.

Sirens screaming, three police vehicles came slamming down Pine Street and into the co-op lot.

A big black rental car raced in behind them, the passenger door opening to disgorge Tanya, who hit the ground running before the car even slowed down.

“How is he?” she asked, appearing by Stacia’s side.

“Big bleeding holes, broken clavicles, torn up to hell,” the wolf girl said. “But I think he’s stable.”

Tanya reached down and patted the girl’s hand before smoothing Declan’s hair. Then she stood up and looked at her husband. Lydia, Galina, and Elder Senka were suddenly standing around Chris, watching.

“Father’s heartbeat has steadied, as has his breathing in the fifteen seconds since Chris applied his blood. I believe he remains unconscious. Nika?” Omega asked, speaking from the giant orb.

The eyebrows of all four newly arrived vampires shot upward. Nika nodded at them even as she answered. “Yes, Omega, he’s out. No pain,” she said.

“What’s the status?” a uniformed police officer asked. Detective Schulz was approaching from ten or so yards behind him.

“He’s stable. An ambulance is inbound; I suggest no one get in its way,” Chris said, glancing up at the silver drone.

Both Schulz and the other cop followed his eyes, realization flooding both faces at the same time.

“Yeah, I’m on it!” the patrol officer said, turning and pulling a light from his utility belt to guide in the ambulance.

“The demon?” Schulz asked, lowering his voice as he got close to Chris.

“She has affected an escape to Fairie. But she is severely injured, perhaps permanently disfigured, and I have expressed a small measure of my anger with Queen Zinnia. When Father is better, I’ll have him open a portal and I will settle things with the Summer Court.”

“Your new drone is impressive,” Lydia said.