Page 52 of Spooks & Specters

They disappeared. They literally disappeared into a black hole of nothingness.

Kit blinked. Then he blinked again because he wasn’t sure what he’d just seen. Who was that woman, and what was that tear in space? And Mother of all, werewolves apparently also existed. Wait. He had met her before—hadn’t he?—but he was blanking on her name.

He slowly crept around the desk, and seeing the hypodermic needle, he grabbed it. Last thing he needed was to stab himself with it. “Um, I’m just going to set this down here, you know, out of the way.”

The woman’s gaze snapped toward Kit. “Shit. Shit!”

“Yeah. He knows,” Kage said. “Okay, I’m taking him and Austin to Terry. Denisha, I need you to go after Axel.”

Right. I have met her before.

“But—”

“I know you’re worried about Austin, but I need you to help Axel. Go,” Kage commanded.

“Austin, you be okay, you hear!” Denisha stepped into the shadows.

As much as he wanted to deny what he’d just seen, he couldn’t. Denisha stepped into a shadow and disappeared. Kage had basically done the same thing, except he had steppedoutofone. That shouldn’t be possible, but it was. None of this should be possible, yet it was happening.

“I know this is a lot,” Kage said.

Kit dragged his gaze away from where Denisha had disappeared and made eye contact with Kage. As he watched, Kage took a deep breath, then his human façade reappeared.

Kit blinked several times again. And just like that, Austin’s boyfriend looked like a normal human.

“I know you’re probably terrified, especially since you just saw my true form.”

Kit gulped. Terrified? Where did he even start? All they were missing were the vampires. Oh God, were those real too? What else was out there? No, no, he didn’t want to know that.

“Kit?”

Oh, the big demon was talking to him. Kit leaned against his desk. “You’re fucking scary, yes, but so was seeing that person become me.”

“I’m so sorry, Kit,” Austin said between gasps. “Kage, I’m starting to have trouble breathing.”

Kit snapped his head around. How in the world had he forgotten about what just happened to Austin? What was wrong with him? Oh yeah, that’s right, half of the paranormal world had suddenly appeared in his office.

“I won’t hurt you, Kit, I promise, but I need you to come with me. Bring that needle too. Hurry. I need to get Austin help. Please, Kit. I can’t lose him.”

Right. Austin needed help. Immediately. And Kit was afraid he knew how they were going to get that help.

“I heard.” Kit crept closer with the needle. “Please don’t make me regret this, and please understand that I’m terrified out of my mind.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. Okay, hold my arm and close your eyes. You will feel a moment of disorientation while we’re in the portal. Just remember you’re safe,” Kage said.

“We won’t hurt you,” Austin panted.

Kit closed his eyes as he touched Kage’s arm, and Kage pulled them into the shadows.

AS SOON as they stepped out of that shadow, Kit collapsed. Kage yelled for someone named Terry as he tried to help Kit to the floor. Somehow all three of them ended up on the ground.

“Guess we don’t have to worry about Kit knowing about us. Who’s hurt the worst?”

“Austin,” Kit said, taking note that the man had on what looked like a white doctor’s coat.

“Austin,” Kage said at the same time. “Nox injected Austin with king cobra venom.”

Terry knelt beside Austin. “How long ago?”

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