Zael and Brynne huddled into each other, too. Brock drew Jenna close, tucking her head under his chin.
The entire world seemed to fall into a hush all around them . . . right before the explosion tore through the ship in a burst of blinding, unstoppable force.
CHAPTER 26
Micah opened his eyes and saw only light.
It spread out all around and above him, diamond-bright and limned with a shimmering silver glow.
The ship had vaporized.
No trace of the field of boulders that had concealed it, either.
Micah and the rest of the team now stood in a clearing, protected and unharmed by the blast that had obliterated everything in its path.
Except them.
“What the hell just happened?” Brock murmured.
“Are we dead?” Jenna asked, lifting her head off his chest to look at the dome of light covering them.
Shielding them.
They were all alive because of Phaedra.
His extraordinary, miraculous woman.
His mate, whether destiny approved or not.
“Phaedra, you did this,” Brynne said, wonderment in her voice.
Zael nodded. “This is her light. She saved us.”
She stood in the center of their small group, her arms raised to hold the shield of light in place, though her head was slumped toward her chest. Micah went to her, smoothing her damp hair out of her face.
“It’s over, love. You did it. It’s all right to let it go now.”
She didn’t, or couldn’t, respond. Her head remained bent forward, her eyes closed against her pale cheeks. Worry settled coldly into his marrow when he realized how much the effort had cost her.
“Phaedra?” He stroked her bloodless brow. “Phaedra, can you hear me?”
Ah, Christ. She had to be okay. Reaching for her outstretched hands, he gently brought them down to her sides.
The dome shivered, then fell away like stardust. The Deadlands went dark under the thin moonlight overhead, and Phaedra slumped unconscious into his waiting arms.
“Is she okay?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t know.” Micah scooped her up, panic beating like a caged animal in his chest. She felt boneless . . . almost lifeless in his arms.
He threw a wild glance at the others. “I have to get her out of here.”
“Go,” Zael said. “We’re right behind you.”
Micah didn’t wait. Holding her close he took off, calling upon all of his Breed genetics to speed him back to the waiting helicopter.
He hoped he wouldn’t be too late.
CHAPTER 27
