Page 53 of Phantom’s Mate

She couldn’t imagine a world without Nick in it somewhere.

“Maybe the panther god will take me,” he said. But she could tell he didn’t believe it.

Tears poured down her cheeks. “Hold on,” she said, trying to will strength into him as blood seeped through her fingers. “Come on. You have to hold on.”

DB’s dragon head appeared, nosing Nick. Britt looked up frantically at him. “DB! How do I help him? Can you heal him?”

He shook his head, eyes wide with worry.

Nick said, “There’s nothing… you can do. I… love you.” His eyes closed.

DB said suddenly, in her mind,

“What?”

Nick’s eyes fluttered open. “No…”

The dragon said,

Britt didn’t know exactly how that worked, but she didn’t care. “If it will save his life, I’m in. Tell me what to do.”

He put a picture of it in her mind.

Bite him? “Right.” Trying not to think too much about vampires and drinking blood, she focused on that place in her chest that connected her to Nick.

Then she yanked his shirt collar back and sank her teeth into him. You are mine!

A surge of energy hit her. Memories of Nick, the two of them together. His smile, his laugh, his tenderness.

And his anger, his stubbornness, his violence.

His vulnerability, his strength, everything he gave her, everything he needed from her.

I accept you, she told him. I give myself to you. I claim you. You are mine, and I am yours.

The energy flowed through her into Nick. Love and peace replaced the fear and desperation inside her.

She felt the presence of Nick’s panther, his other half. You are ours, and we are yours.

Brittany sat up. Flickers of blue lightning surrounded them, glowing brighter and brighter.

Nick’s wounds began to close, and color returned to his face.

He opened his eyes, staring at her. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

“No,” she admitted shakily. “But I saved you.”

He sat up. Everyone was still dealing with the aftermath of the battle, giving them a wide berth, with sidelong looks at the dragon hovering over Nick and Britt.

Then he heard one of the lieutenants on his radio, trying to raise Jax. “He’s not answering, and nobody’s heard from him,” he said. “Delta team! With me. We have to find him.”

Chapter 25

Nick struggled to his feet, holding onto DB for balance until the headrush was over. If Jax was still out there, so were the artifacts.

“Hey, DB. Jax took off with the artifacts—I’m thinking we need to find him before anyone else does. Can you give me—” He caught Britt’s glare and amended, “give us a ride?”

DB said.