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Chapter 13
Ashiver tore through Phantom. “You know,” he panted. “I won a bet with Rake.”
I used the end of my skirt to dry his forehead. “What bet?”
“That I’d be the first to feel your embrace.” His smile widened, and he wrapped an arm behind my back, bringing out a tingling sensation where his hand rested.
Normally, I’d be freaking about physical contact. But my mind was too wrapped up in saving Phantom. He’d risked his life to save mine, and I owed him a great debt.
“Which means I get a date with you.” He smiled, his muscles tensing as if restraining the shiver tearing through him.
He wanted a date with me? I wasn’t sure I was quite ready for that. I still had plenty to process. Why did he want me? I was damaged goods.
I glanced over at Shadow, who lay tied up and secured to the tree, then looked over at the dwarves who were hauling Flare onto Teeny’s horse.
“You don’t want a date with me.” I shook my head.
He traced a bloodied finger across my skirt where it covered my knee. “I’ll warm that cold heart of yours.”
Burning up inside at the thought of him thinking me cold, I ripped off the end of my dress, and pressed the bandage on his worst wound to stop the bleeding. This really wasn’t something I wanted to get into right now. “Shhh,” I said. “Just rest.”
Quickly, I tore strips from my dress and wrapped them around his neck. In moments, they were soaked. Color bled from Phantom’s face. He was going to die if I didn’t save him. Panic coursed through me. I didn’t know of any other way to stop his bleeding. Putting my hands to his neck, I prayed to Poseidon, begging Him to save the panther. When no answer came, my anger and desperation grew stronger.
Raging heat blazed inside me. My hands charged with raw power. Pale-gray light illuminated my hands and shone from my fingertips. Hundreds of shards of what looked like glass trickled from my nails. I blinked, thinking I was imagining things, that I was finally going completely mad like poor Kelvin. I squeezed my eyes closed, but when I looked again, the fragments crawled across Phantom’s neck. Light reflected from the tiny, diamond-like pieces. They arranged themselves in a thick lattice that covered his wound. Instantly, the bleeding there stopped.
I flew backward, clasping my mouth.
“What was that?” Shadow asked, echoing my own thoughts.
Flipping hell!Where had that magic come from? I’d never shown a sign of possessing any kind of special powers. Now, all of a sudden, something magical had poured from my fingertips. Where had it been when I’d needed it to fight off my torturer and help me escape my prison?
“I don’t know.” My reply was hoarse.
“He doesn’t look too good,” Shadow said from his position by the tree thirty feet away. “Whatever you just did, you should do it again to his other wounds.”
I didn’t like the way he assumed I could just draw upon a miracle like that a second time. Still, I leaned over Phantom, my hands shaking.
“Come here, you.” Hunter seized Shadow’s good arm and led him to his horse. Aided by Teeny and Axe, the dwarves hoisted him up to lie on his stomach across the horse’s back. Poor Shadow groaned from the pain of his injury, and my heart squeezed for him. This wasn’t his doing. My stepmother had forced him into hunting and trying to kill me.
Shallow breaths pumped from Phantom’s chest, calling my attention back to the younger shifter. Face scrunched in pain, he clamped his eyes closed and squeezed one fist to his chest.
“Err,” I said, flexing my fingers, not even sure if I could repeat whatever magic had sprung from me. “Here goes.”
I pressed my fingers to his torn ear, hoping for the magic to flow from me and into him. Nothing. I tried again.
“Come on,” I said, applying more pressure with my hands.
Still nothing.
Damn it.I knew it. I didn’t have any special abilities. Apparently, the sea god had interceded on my behalf.
Oh, mighty Poseidon, bless me with your wondrous healing powers.
Once more, my touch failed to ignite the power within me. Holding back the frustration bubbling in my throat, I applied more pressure.
Nothing. Scorching fire raced over my back.
“Damn it,” I said, wanting to pick up a nearby pebble and toss it.
