The sound was horrible but he got air. She removed the Macintosh blade, leaving the tube in place. Alli grabbed a stethoscope, placed it against his chest, and listened. Good sounds from both lungs. Seconds ticked by while his body arched as he fought his gag reflex but he breathed through the tube. His coloring returned to normal. She glanced at Moon.

“We need to get him to Medical right now. I need a gurney brought here and once we reach Medical, I’ll get him sedated and hook him to a ventilator while I see if it’s just swelling or if he’s got more severe damage.” She glanced at Rusty. “Good job. Find the light-green packet in there that contains an Ambu bag. We might have to use it if he has trouble breathing on his own. It’s bigger than most of the things in there so it should be easy to spot.”

“What is it?” Moon stared at her.

“It’s a device we can use to breathe for him if he needs assistance.”

“Move!” Trisha’s voice startled them all.

Alli was happy to see the woman, even if she did nearly shove Moon onto his side to take his place next to the patient. The other doctor quickly assessed the situation before lifting her gaze. “Thank you, Allison. Great job. You saved his life.”

“He was getting some air.” Her denial was swift. “He could have made it until you got here.”

Trisha blinked before staring down at Destiny. She smiled, using her best teasing voice to put him at ease and make light of the situation to keep him calm. “You couldn’t stay out of trouble while I enjoyed the park, huh? Just blink once for yes, two for no. Did you strike your head?”

Alli crawled backward to make room as more medical staff arrived. Trisha had the situation in hand. She removed the gloves, just shoved them into her pocket, not willing to hunt for a trash can. Someone stepped next to her and she glanced up.

Obsidian had blood running down his cheek from a source at his hairline near his temple. She spun, facing him, alarmed. “What happened to you?”

He was so tall she had a difficult time reaching high enough to gently tip his chin down to give her a better view. The cut wasn’t deep but it was bloody. Head wounds always were. The clues slammed into her instantly, adding one injured patient with another to link them together.

“You were training with Destiny?” Anger came next. “Who let this happen?”

“I did,” a deep male voice stated from behind her.

She glanced back, staring at Darkness. He scared her a little since the day she’d met him. He wasn’t friendly at all and she knew he worked as an interrogator for New Species. His file wasn’t one she’d been given access to—a warning that something wasn’t right—but she’d heard other Species mention that he wasn’t exactly friendly.

“They don’t like each other.” Her voice trembled a little. “You shouldn’t have put them together.”

His expression remained masked, giving no indication whether he felt remorse or irritated over her lecturing him. “Destiny is correct. You are naïve.” He stared over her head at Obsidian. “I’m taking you to Medical. They’ll want to look at that cut.”

“Alli will tend to me.”

“She no longer works here. Moon will take her home to wait for you but you’re going with me. We live by rules and that’s one of them. Your female doesn’t have access to all those machines they use over there and I have a feeling they’ll want to scan your head since you just recovered from a coma.”

She stared at Obsidian, willing to drop the subject of how it shouldn’t have happened. “He’s right. We need to go to Medical.”

“Him,” Darkness clarified. “You have limited access and unless you are hurt, you don’t have clearance to enter the building.”

It was a slap in the face but she took it. The Species was just being honest, not cruel. “Go to Medical to have that checked out. I’ll be waiting for you at home when you’re done.” She glanced at Darkness. “Please take care of him for me.”

He sighed. “Females. They worry about everything. Let’s go, newbie. We’ll discuss the difference between bad humans and protective Species on the way there. You can’t go around trying to kill your own kind.”

The words sent horror through Alli as her gaze locked on Obsidian, praying silently for a denial that he’d nearly caused Destiny’s death. He avoided looking at her though as he responded to Darkness.

“He challenged me for Alli.”

“True. That just means you beat his ass but you don’t kill him.”

Moon was suddenly there. “I’ll take him to Medical.”

Alli was in shock as she released Obsidian. He could have killed Destiny. He had also gotten hurt. I’m the reason. There was no doubt of that after hearing that it had been some kind of challenge between them regarding her. Her worst fears were coming true.

“Both of you take him,” she mumbled. “I’ll have Rusty walk me home.”

She stared up at Obsidian, unable to look away from the blood. He’d suffered trauma to his head and it could have sent him right back into a comatose state. Or worse, killed him. He needed time to heal and grow stronger, not endanger his life. His domineering feelings for her were also putting a wedge between him and other males. It was imperative to his long-term outlook that he fit in at Homeland.

A new fear crept in. Would Obsidian be in trouble if Destiny didn’t make it? She turned her head to see what was going on with the injured Species. Trisha had her team moving him out of the building on a gurney.