The woman snapped her fingers, and two men appeared on the porch with an unconscious Hazel between them. I gave the Collector her air back immediately. She coughed and gasped for air while glaring at me.
“Leave her alone and I’ll let you live,” I threatened, knowing I could as long as the redheaded bitch didn’t say any other words to deter me otherwise. She coughed and gasped for air while glaring at me.
“I was contemplating keeping you, but I think I’ll just kill you instead.” I had no time to react as the Collector pulled out a gun and fired twice.
A familiar burn laced my body, and I fell to the ground.
“Let’s go. I’m tired of the game with these two. I’m collecting my prize now.” The woman snapped her fingers and they walked to two large SUVs parked farther down the driveway.
“Fuck!” I cursed as hot blood soaked my shirt. I couldn’t let them take her. I reached out with my power, struggling to find the full extent of it ready to respond. Their cars shook and trees swayed around them, but none snapped. My vision blurred, and the burning sensation in my shoulder and torso grew. Shit, shit, shit.
They drove off, and the anger in my system mixed with adrenaline. Slowly and in pure agony, I crawled to my med kit in the tent. I didn’t have everything I needed but it might be enough to stop the bleeding. I cursed with every movement and felt my consciousness waver.
I stretched in pain, reaching for my bag on top of a portable table.
“Come on. Fuck!” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reach it. My hands grasped the metal legs of the table, with clenched teeth, I pulled it over and the contents scattered on the ground.
My body weakened, and my sight dimmed.
I needed blood and a damn medic right now. Suddenly a bright light flashed. Was the end near? If there were such things as ghosts, I was coming back as one to haunt that bitch and protect Hazel. Not even death would keep me from her. I reached for the packaged tongs and looked away from the brightness. I needed to get the bullets out of me, then stop the bleeding.
“I think I’ll take that.” A deep voice broke through my pain-riddled brain, then a tan hand came into my view. Hands gripped my torso and flipped me over carefully. I tried to rip the air from the newcomer’s lungs, but then I saw a familiar face.
“Dorian.” I coughed and felt warm blood coat my lips. Double shit.
Dorian’s normally stoic face descended into a grimace. His brown hair and brown eyes assessed my injuries with thousands of years medical experience.
“I’m going to get the bullets out, then I’m gonna heal you with my blood. It’s gonna hurt. Nothing I can do about that.” He dug through a bag I hadn’t noticed before and pulled out a bottle of wound disinfectant. He cut my shirt off, then poured it on the wound in my shoulder and then at my hip.
“Fuck!” I wished I had something to bite into, but I’d moved the majority of my shit into Hazel’s house once we started sharing a bed. I’d done my research on Dorian, the infamous villain-turned-good-guy but I’d never met him before. He worked with the Hero Society when he wasn’t at the hospital. He twisted the tongs into the hole in my shoulder without any bedside manner. However, I didn’t need him to be nice right now. I needed him to fix me up so I could get my girl.
“One down.” He pulled out the 9mm bullet and tossed it in a dish from his medical bag. He immediately got to work on my hip and had me cursing and nearly passing out.
“Stay awake.” Dorian jerked the tongs out and the last bullet clanged into the dish. He quickly poured more disinfectant on my wounds, then on his left forearm. I could barely lift my head to watch him and my eyes fluttered.
“Drink this.” He lifted his arm to me. Red and golden liquid ran down his skin like little rivers of blood.
“What?” I mumbled. Fuck, I hated feeling this weak.
“Drink my blood. I’m the son of Apollo. My blood will heal you.” He forced his arm to my lips, and I drank the golden-laced blood for Hazel. I promised I wouldn’t leave her, and if drinking Dorian’s demigod blood helped me deliver on that promise, then I’d do it. After a couple mouthfuls, he pulled back his arm and began cleaning up.
“Why did you help me?” I whispered, unsure why he had come. Dorian packed his bags and looked me over.
“A better world and all. Griffin isn’t the only one with future sight, and I want you to survive so I’m here. Although I’m sure he would have sent me to fix you anyway if I didn’t make the decision myself.” He kneeled down, his probing gaze fixed on my wounds like he was waiting for them to close up.
I didn’t feel different. The burning inside intensified with every breath.
“I haven’t healed anyone with my blood in a while. It’s probably going to feel like your body is on fire.”
“No shit.” I clenched my teeth, trying not to cry out as the pain of a thousand suns ravaged my body.
Chapter Thirty- Three
Hazel
Well, I guess we could add being kidnapped to my life resume now. Apparently having been homeless and sexually assaulted wasn’t enough.
I groggily woke up in a foreign yet luxurious room. Half of me expected to have been placed in a prison cell with rats running around and shackles hanging from the walls. The bed had satin sheets and a down comforter on top. There was a TV mounted on the wall, and a light-blue loveseat to match the blue-and-gold theme of the room. The vibe was like one of the luxury hotels I stayed in while touring.
