Page 50 of Mortal Mate (Shadow Shifter)

The reaper smiled. “No, I don’t think so. The king has many of his subjects looking for you. He will reward me for returning his prize.”

Dannika doubled over when she laughed, her movements loud and exaggerated. “Are you kidding me right now? The king? Killian needs to be more inventive with his delusions of grandeur.” She waved her hand as if she was trying to eradicate the laughter. “That’s sad, really. I guess you don’t have reaper psychologists.”

The reaper hissed, shuffling toward her. “You won’t be laughing when you’re bleeding at his feet.”

She tapped her finger to her lips with mock concentration. “Yeah, I think I will. Killian leaves a lot to be desired. You should rethink the whole reaper thing. Unless, of course, you like being his bitch.” She flicked her hair. “I hear some men are into that.”

The reaper growled. “You ungrateful wench. You come from an elite bloodline and have no concept of your true power. Killian will help you unlock your destiny.” His lips curled. “But he will break you first.”

Dannika pretended to yawn. “It appears that delusions are commonplace in your species.”

“Enough! Time for you to come with me.” Spittle formed at the reaper’s mouth.

The hair on her arms bristled as Raine exited the shadow pathway. The mist was so thin; it blended into the night fog, dimming the light cast from the walkway lamp.

The reaper lunged at her as Raine materialized behind him. He grabbed the reaper by the neck, bending him backwards. “This is Gavil. He’s a former member of the bear clan. Ryder was quite disappointed when he turned, especially since Gavil here is only fifty years old.”

Gavil hissed, grappling with the arm around his neck. His eyes darted, looking to connect with a shadow to escape, but Raine held him beneath the light. “Ryder is a false leader. Killian is the true king.”

Raine huffed. “Typical reaper bullshit. Tell me, Gavil, why did you turn so young? You were full of life.”

Gavil went limp in Raine’s grasp. “I will talk to you, Raine. I always liked you, even when your own leader didn’t.”

Colton materialized in front of Gavil. “The reaper lies.”

Raine nodded. “They always do. Stupid since they know we can detect them.”

Gavil smiled savagely before he threw a handkerchief in the air. The shadow it created was all Gavil needed. He dissolved from Raine’s grasp and materialized beside Dannika. He grabbed her, cutting into her skin with his claws before his fangs punctured her neck.

Her shadow erupted, growling, before her claws shot from her knuckles and slashed at Gavil’s shoulder. He screamed as blood welled from the cut. The blackened skin and torn tissue were far worse than the wounds she inflicted on Maddock. Gavil clutched the tattered flesh.

“What have you done?” Pain laced his words before his form wavered, only to remain human. He sat hard on the ground, clutching his wound.

Raine grabbed the wounded reaper. “He can’t shift to the shadows. Dannika’s blood has trapped him in his corporeal form.”

Colton inspected Gavil’s wound. “Steele told me about the effect her blood had on Maddock. It appears more severe for the reapers. His healing ability is severely limited.”

“Her blood is more potent on the reapers,” Raine said, “but he will shift soon. Get the sedative.”

Colton took a syringe from the leather bag as a man approached from inside the park.

Gavil screamed in a voice younger than his years, a frightened teen being wronged by those around him. “Please. Help me!”

The man ran over and grabbed Raine. Though Raine never released his hold on the reaper, Gavil’s clawed hand slashed out, connecting with the human’s neck. Black blood sprayed across Raine and Gavil before saturating the ground.

The reaper lost all his human reasoning. He growled, clutching at the fallen human, desperate to get to the source of the sweet nectar flowing from his neck.

“Shit!” Colton dropped to the ground, placing his hand over the man’s neck to stay the crimson river.

Dannika grabbed a syringe from the leather bag. She ripped off the cap with her teeth, then stabbed the syringe into Gavil’s neck. He swayed on his feet, moving to music only he could hear. He looked at her in shock as his eyes turned black and his body went slack in Raine’s arms.

Raine dropped Gavil before they huddled around the muscular man in a green T-shirt.

Dannika put her hand on the man’s stomach as Colton continued to stay the bleeding. “What do we do?”

Raine picked up the silver dog tags attached to the man’s neck. “His name is Stern. He’s military. Judging by his tattoo, I’d say Navy seal.”

“How bad is it?” Dannika asked Colton.

---