God help anyone who was dumb enough to get in his way.
It was fifteen minutes to sunset when Acheron and Nick arrived at the back door and entered the dark hallway of the club. Talon stepped back, away from the fading sunlight that streamed in through the opening.
"What happened?" Ash asked as Nick closed the door.
Talon struggled with the fury and worry inside him. The emotions were so strong that if his powers hadn't been dampened, he was sure he would have been able to use nothing more than his thoughts to level this building to its foundation. "Camulus broke in with about half a dozen humans. They came loaded for Dark-Hunter and carrying halogen flashlights."
"Are you bleeding?" Nick asked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Looking pale and horrified, he squinted at Talon's wounds. "Jeez, you're bleeding like crazy."
Talon disregarded Nick's nervous tone. "They shot me."
"No, bud," Nick said. "They turned you into Swiss cheese. Ash, look at his back."
Ash growled when he saw it. "Are you all right?"
"I'm sore, but well enough to hunt and plenty able to kill."
"Jeez," Nick breathed. "I thought your powers included healing."
Talon looked at him drolly. "They do, but I heal by absorbing pain and injuries into my body. It's kind of hard to do that when I'm the one who's hurt."
"Nick," Ash ordered. "Go get Talon more clothes. Now."
Nick left immediately to carry out the order.
Ash gave Talon a hard stare with those eerie silver eyes. "You can't go out there covered in blood, with dozens of bullet holes riddling your flesh. I think people might get a little suspicious and wonder how it is you can stand upright and not be, say, dead. The last thing I need is for another Dark-Hunter to make the evening news."
Talon stood firm against the order. "I told you, T-Rex. I'm heading out as soon as that sun sets. Thirteen minutes and counting."
Ash glared at him. "Dammit, Celt. You better get a hold of yourself and think through this."
"I'm fine, Acheron. There's nothing wrong with me that killing a few people won't cure."
Ash's eyes narrowed even more. "Turn around and face the wall."
Unsure of what Ash intended, but trusting him completely, Talon obeyed.
He felt Ash splay his hand against the center of his back. His touch was hot and electrifying, and it radiated heat all the way through his body. Talon hissed as his injuries began to throb even more. Then in the span of a few heartbeats, the bullets worked themselves out of his skin and the bullet holes began knitting themselves shut.
Son of a bitch, he'd never known Ash had this kind of power. He was seriously impressed.
While his wounds were healing, Talon's cell phone rang.
Ash stepped away from him while he answered it.
"Missing her yet, Speirr?"
"Damn you, Camulus. Damn you!"
A laugh answered him. "Tell me, is it better to know love and have lost it or to have never known it at all?"
Talon saw red. "Where is she?"
"Talon?"
His stomach twisted violently at the sound of Sunshine's terrified voice. "Baby, are you okay?" he asked, his voice cracking.
"They haven't hurt me, but they want you to come to a warehouse on Commerce Street. I-"