Page 54 of Phantom’s Mate

“Done.”

He gave Britt a leg up, and then climbed on the dragon’s back behind her. His connection to Jax was still there—not quite so hot and angry, but strong enough to follow. He projected a picture of the direction into the dragon’s mind. That way.

DB cloaked himself at Nick’s request—he wanted to get to Jax before the searchers did. Flying, it only took a few minutes.

They had to land a little ways away, where the trees split for a creek to pass through. Jax had apparently eluded his pursuers—or killed them—because there was no movement below.

They found Jax lying on the ground a hundred yards away from the creek, a trail of blood leading towards a tumble of boulders where he had probably been hoping to hide. He hadn’t made it that far.

The artifact case and his radio were a few feet away.

The blood was from several bullet wounds. One in particular—in his upper arm—was still bleeding, apparently faster than his shifter healing could keep up.

But bleeding meant he was still alive. Nick bent down to check Jax’s pulse. “It’s faint,” he said. “Barely there.”

Britt was already on her knees. “We need bandages,” she said, tearing at Jax’s shirt. “Your shirt too.”

Nick just stood there, looking down at Jax, his fists clenched at his sides. This was the end of his mission. He wouldn’t even have to kill Jax—he was going to die on his own.

Unless they did something.

He felt paralyzed.

Britt stopped ripping cloth into strips and looked up at him. “Nick.” Her voice was steady, full of faith. “You’re better than that.”

His lips felt numb and stiff. “Am I?”

But before she could answer, he heard a faint chime, and the light from the gold armband on his wrist winked out. Nick went transparent, and the artifact fell to the ground. Its power was done.

At the same time, Britt turned misty, and then with a whoosh, she disappeared.

Nick turned to DB. “What the hell just happened? Where did she go?”

“Where she came from?” the boy said uncertainly. “Back to her place, maybe. By the accident. Should we go look?”He sounded as shaken as Nick felt.

Hell, yes. He needed to know she was okay. That she wasn’t just… gone.

Jax stirred, giving a faint groan. He still looked pretty bad, and Nick knew it was touch and go if his wounds weren’t treated. Britt wouldn’t want him to leave without trying to help. You’re better than that, he heard her saying. He wasn’t really, but he knew she wanted him to be. And he wanted to be better, for her.

Maybe he even would be, this time. But first he had to figure out if Jax was worth saving.

With a muttered curse, he said, “DB, can you go make sure she’s okay? And take the artifacts with you, if you don’t mind.” He used his mental powers to open the case so that DB could put the wristband back in its place.

The case was empty.

Fuck.

Jax had ditched the artifacts. He might even have left them back in the tunnel, using the case for a decoy. It was smart. And brave. Which pissed Nick off, because he in no way wanted to admire Jax.

“Never mind. Just take this one and put it somewhere safe,” he said.

DB picked up the artifact and slipped it on his own wrist. Reaching out in front of him, he made a sharp downward motion with his hand. The air ripped apart in front of him, creating an opening that sparkled with magic around the edges.

“I’ll find Britt,” he promised, and stepped through.

Slowing Jax’s bleeding was a lot tougher using only his mental powers. But finally, Jax opened his eyes.

To Nick’s surprise, Jax’s gaze fastened on him. Jax could see him.