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“He’s not going to do shit. Kalen’s taking care of him.”
Once Nix helped his mate out the window, he stopped only to tug on his jeans. Then he took Noah’s hand and ran for the safety of the forest, and the SUVs beyond. But when he looked back to see if the others were following, he saw Aric running in his direction, yelling.
“Kalen’s down! We need help!”
Nix turned to his mate. “Stay with the vehicles! We’ll be back!”
Somehow, he knew Noah wasn’t going to listen. He was right.
As he reached the front of the house, he saw Kalen and several other injured Pack brothers lying on the ground. Aric, a Firestarter, was trying to torch Jinn, but the bastard just laughed and directed the flames back at him. His friend barely got out of the way in time to keep from getting fried.
Jinn disappeared into the burning house, and Nix followed. And tried real hard not to think of Nick’s vision.
“Looking for me?”
Whirling, he spotted the Dark Sorcerer standing in a plume of smoke. It was like looking at the freaking devil, and his heart clenched in fear. But he wouldn’t show it. Instead, he launched himself at Jinn in a direct attack. The Sorcerer met him in the fight, but just as he reached Nix, he changed form and transformed into a huge tiger. Even bigger than Leo, who’d nearly killed Noah.
Nix quickly changed into his wolf, but he had no chance against Jinn. Leaping, he clashed with the bigger predator, going in low, for his throat. But he was simply overmatched. The tiger swatted his wolf like a fly, sending him crashing into a table. Something cracked in his side, and pain flared. But he went on the attack again, heedless of the fire raging around them. Of the fact that he was fighting a losing battle.
Every cut, gash, broken bone. The tiger bit him, slashing again and again, until there was nothing but agony. He felt himself weakening, and at last, his wolf dropped.
Jinn hovered over him, grinning in triumph. “Your team will never take me down. I’ll just keep coming back.”
He raised a claw-tipped hand, but just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, he looked up and his eyes widened. Beyond the fire, Nix saw Kalen rising, uttering a spell. He flung it at Jinn, but the Dark Sorcerer disappeared for good before it could strike him. Then Kalen fell again.
“Nix!” someone screamed. “Nix, where are you?”
With great effort, he changed back to human form. But he couldn’t move. Could hardly see now. He was more dead than alive, broken and soaked in blood.
“Nix?” Then his mate was there, cradling his head. Sobbing over him. “Oh, God. What have I done? I caused this.”
“No.”
“I did. I ran, and if I hadn’t—”
“Not your fault. Listen to me,” he managed over the roar of the fire. “It’s time. Nick’s vision.”
“What?” Blue eyes locked with his, devastated. “No, I can’t. Please.”
“Use your gift. You don’t have a choice. Zan can’t fix me. If I die this way, it’s over. For good.”
“Nix.”
“Trust me. Trust in us. Do it now.” Nix held Noah’s gaze, pushed down his own fear. He hoped all the feelings he didn’t have time to express were there in his eyes, for his mate to see.
Please, let my love get him through what’s to come.
Shakily, Noah stood. Smoke billowing around them, he focused his power. Slowly, Nix’s body began to rise as his life drained away.
“Nix, I love you,” he sobbed.
“Love you too . . . angel. Wait for me.”
In that moment, just before Noah flung him into the fire, Nix drew his last breath.
* * *
Noah’s hands were shaking as he watched Nix’s body rise from the dirty floor. Fire was consuming everything around him, and would take him, too, if he didn’t hurry.
