Page 44 of Midnight Rain

“Don’t ask Izel,” Orion countered. “When Death released him from his bargain, the bastard took Izel’s powers with him. My mate is still trying to adjust to being just a normal guy.”

Austin still wasn’t sure if they were telling him the truth. Izel used to be a reaper? “So you mated with a skeleton?”

Santee burst out laughing as Orion rolled his eyes. “He looked like he does now. He just wore one of those robes and had a scythe.”

“And reaped souls,” Santee added.

Austin rubbed his temples. The more he learned about Cormac’s world, the scarier it seemed. “I knew there were different kinds of shifters, but a reaper?”

Santee ticked off on his fingers. “There’s also demons, vampires, and something called winged beasts, though I don’t know what they are.”

“Don’t forget about that asshole angel,” Orion said. “Though I can’t be too hard on Gavril since he killed the ancient creature who kept kidnapping me.”

Austin’s head spun. “Please don’t tell me anymore. You two are about to make my brain melt.”

Cormac hadn’t told Austin about any of that when they’d had their many late-night talks. Did he think that Austin couldn’t handle any of it?

Orion patted Austin’s knee. “That’s exactly how I felt when Panahasi showed up in my hospital room and used one of his freaky portals.”

“Didn’t I ask you not to tell me anymore?” Austin stood. “You have to handfeed this kind of shit to someone. Too much at once can cause brain damage.”

Austin felt something sharp and hot hit his shoulder as the window shattered. He cried out, gripping his shoulder as pain tore through him.

“Austin!” Orion grabbed him and flung him to the floor as the other two dropped to their stomachs.

When Austin pulled his hand away, it was coated in blood.

“You’ve been shot!” Santee shouted. “We have to get out of here.”

When Austin tried to roll over so he could crawl out of the room, but he collapsed back down.

“Just stay down,” Orion said. “Shifters have damn good hearing. They’ll know something happened and be here any second.”

“Cormac!” Austin shouted then gritted his teeth, the pain unbearable. “Cormac!”

The sound of footsteps thundering barely registered. Austin rocked back and forth, crying out. He’d never felt this level of pain in his life.

“Austin!” Cormac rushed through the door, and Austin heard another bullet whizz into the room. Cormac dropped, crawling to him. “You two crawl out of here. Keep your head low until you’re in the hallway. Then get to your mates.”

“We’re not leaving him,” Orion argued.

“I got him,” Cormac said. “Go!”

Orion looked at Austin.

“Get out of here,” Austin said, just as Beckett appeared in the doorway, Izel right behind him. More bullets whizzed into the room. Izel snatched Orion from the floor and damn near threw him into the hallway as Beckett did the same with Santee.

“I’m going to pull you out of here,” Cormac said. “It’s not going to be pleasant with your wound.”

“It hurts,” Austin cried.

“I know, baby. You have to let me get you out of here.” Cormac grabbed Austin by his good arm, stood, and pulled him from the room.

As his legs buckled, Austin wondered if an immortal could die from a bullet wound. It sure as hell felt like it.

Cormac scooped Austin into his arms and raced to their bedroom. He lay Austin down. “I’m going to get what I need to get that bullet out.”

“You’re going to do what?” Austin shouted, staring wide-eyed at the guy. “I think I need a hospital. I’m losing a lot of blood!”

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