Page 49 of Mortal Mate (Shadow Shifter)

Raine followed him. “Stand at the edge of the shadow. Allow your essence to seep in, but don’t leave the park. If a reaper is close, he won’t be able to ignore your lure.”

He dissolved into the night, but she could feel him. His hunger. His anger. His lust. He hated what they were doing, using her as bait, but he would go against his protective instincts for her.

Dannika placed a foot inside the dark pathway. It reached up her leg, with tendrils of blackness that wrapped around her limb. Her sneaker disappeared as the pull of the shadows increased, lulling her into a false sense of security. That was the shadows. They embraced you like a loving mother, making you believe nothing could touch you, until ripping you apart from the inside out.

She teetered the precipice of oblivion. The instinct to run through the shadows like a fish through a rushing stream seeped into her adrenaline-laced blood. The pain of holding herself in a partially corporeal form took its toll. She hissed, moving further into the shadows.

Though she couldn’t see him, Raine’s molecules whispered along her skin. She closed her eyes and imagined they were alone and in each other’s arms, a decadent fantasy to keep her grounded and in control; a prize if they were successful in their hunt.

“Do you think the Bokor tricked us? I mean, why would he? He hates them. I guess he hates us too.” She was aware she was talking to herself. The men could hear her, but they couldn’t answer her from the shadows.

Colton emerged from the mouth of the shadow. “I believe the Bokor wants something specific from me.”

Dannika nodded. “Me too. Steele is going to freak out when he discovers your deal with Hakim.”

Colton shook his head. “Don’t tell him. This is my decision. Whatever the consequences are, I will pay them. If there’s a way to revert the reapers, then my death is worth the price.”

Dannika stepped from the shadows. “No, it’s not.”

Raine emerged behind her. “I hate to admit this, but Colton is right. This opportunity is unprecedented. If we could bring the reapers back, it would change everything.”

Dannika glanced between the men. “How?”

Colton took a deep breath. “No reapers means no new attacks. No unsanctioned transitions. The shadows wouldn’t turn if there was no reaper clan to turn to. Feeding on a human would mean solitude. Even reapers need a clan.”

Growls echoed in the night.

Dannika turned, looking towards the dark forest.

“A reaper,” she whispered.

Colton and Raine dissolved into the shadows without a word.

She swallowed her fear and excitement, putting her hand to the edge of her mouth. “Simon says come out of the dark.”

He did as she asked, his red eyes and black leather jacket identical to the day they met. “I was hoping I would see you again.”

Her heart stuttered. This wasn’t any reaper. This was the one who attacked her at the shelter. The man that took her human life.

The one reaper she wanted to kill.

CHAPTER25

Adrenaline-laced blood raced through her veins. Her wolf and her shadow bucked at the constraints, attempting to break free. Raine and Colton were counting on her, so she plastered a confused look on her face, sniffing the air as if she were trying to discern if her attacker was alone.

“I assure you, the feeling isn’t mutual. You ruined my life.”

The reaper glanced around. “I wasn’t supposed to bite you, but your transition has redeemed me in the eyes of my leader.”

She waved her hand. “Whatever. I’m of no use to you now. Move along before my friends arrive.”

The reaper’s eyes sparked with red fire. “Human friends?”

She put her hand on her hip, rolling her eyes. “None of your business. Screw off.”

He took several steps toward her. “Why are you alone, little girl? Where is your mentor?”

“Raine is not my mentor. God, I hate that word. He will be back soon though, so I suggest you run back to the pit that spawned you.”

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