Page 71 of Titan’s Mate

Without missing a beat, Mari replied, “Then you made him in your image. Good job.” She patted the god on his enormous leg.

For a moment, there was a deadly silence. Then god laughed, the sound like thunder.

He leaned down and breathed on them, magical mist swirling around them and into their bones. You have my blessing. Go where you will, without fear.

Then he dissolved in a whirl of snow, and the icy gateway faded out.

Chapter 31

The demon gates disappeared as well, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Mari threw herself into Titan’s arms once more, and then the whole crew was flinging themselves on each other in a giant group hug.

Including Nick. Brandon—the only one who’d known him when he was alive—gave him an extra bro hug. “Man, it’s good to see you.”

Nick grinned at him. “You see me all the time, fucker.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah. I never had a chance to say thanks for everything you did.”

Colt said, “So can you talk now always?”

Nick shoulder-bumped him. “Only here, I think. Not in the real world.”

“Thank god. Because it’s bad enough having you floating through walls, without making scary noises while you’re doing it.”

Nick smirked. “The only scary noises in that place are your ‘o’ noises.”

Remy snorted. Colt said, “Fuck off, Phantom.” But he was grinning.

Mari asked, “Can you Change back and forth now?”

Nick cocked his head, Changed to panther, then Changed back to human. With clothes on.

Mari said, “He can do that dragon thing! Where he’s not naked! Jealous.”

Kitty said to Nick, “Um, no offense, but are you still dead?”

Nick ruffled her hair, and she batted his hand away. “Yeah. It’s not so bad though. Plus, if you all annoy me too much, I can always cross all the way over.”

He side-eyed Brandon. “Right now, you need me. You’re totally hopeless at taking care of yourselves.” He said in an aside to Mari, “Looking after them is a full-time job.”

She nodded, “Then it’s a good thing you have me here to help now.”

Remy said, “You’re going to protect us with your epic panda cuteness?”

She pointed at him. “Watch it, or I will baby goat you into submission.”

Tyr said, “This is fun and all, and I’m super-happy for you, but as Brandon pointed out, you’re all unconscious in the real world, and your tethers to it are getting a little thin. It’s time to go.” He looked around. “And where is that boy?”

Apparently, Dragon Boy had once again disappeared while no one was paying attention.

“Man, that kid is slippery,” Brock said.

“Who the hell is he?” Tyr asked.

Brandon shook his head. “If you find out, let us know.”