Phoenix Reborn (Alpha Pack, #7.5)(25)

“How do you know that? Did you see it in a vision?” Nix demanded.

The commander nodded. “Jinn has Noah. A Halfling like your mate would make the perfect slave for a creature like him, because he’s just come into his power and he’s malleable. Plus he’s been rejected, and Jinn will use that pain as a lever to take over Noah’s mind, get him on his side.”

Nix couldn’t comprehend the terrifying ramifications. “Christ, that’s what Noah meant when he told me on the phone that he sensed power coming from Lucius—only it was Jinn in disguise. We have to stop him. Do you know where he is?”

“No, but if you have a hairbrush or comb that belongs to Noah, Kalen can help track him. He needs something organic, like some hair.”

“He’s got something in my bathroom. I’ll get it.” Hoping against hope, he dashed for his quarters. By the time he returned with the hairbrush, Kalen was ready at the conference table.

Standing back, the others watched him work. The Sorcerer plucked a piece of blond hair from the brush and placed in in the middle of the table. Then he waved a palm over it, chanting a few words. In an instant, the hair vanished. Kalen stood silent for a moment, eyes closed. When he opened them again, he nodded.

“Got his location. Ready?”

The team assembled quickly, and was on the road in seconds. Nix rode in Kalen’s vehicle and wasn’t reassured by what the man was saying.

“You guys remember Jinn—I sure as hell do, since the bastard nearly killed me once. There’s no way you can battle him, so leave that to me. You guys spread out and find Noah.”

He didn’t have to repeat that order to Nix. As much as he longed to kill Jinn for touching his mate, even he wasn’t stupid enough to think he could battle a dark Sorcerer and survive.

The drive took less than a half hour, and they found themselves near an old, abandoned house that Jinn was apparently using as a base. They got out, the Pack fanning out around the house to do surveillance. From his position in the trees, Nix could see that Jinn was the only one moving around. That wasn’t much consolation, considering the creature’s power.

Nick gave the signal and they moved in closer, tightening the net around the house. Nix slipped from window to window, determined to find his mate. And he finally spotted the slim, blond figure bound to a bed in a back room.

The sight enraged his wolf, and he wanted to kill the one who dared treat his mate this way. Who dared touch him.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the house. He knew Kalen had made his move, and the fight was on. Nix’s only job was to get Noah out of there, fast. Changing to wolf form, Nix ran full speed toward the window. He smashed through it, landing in the middle of the floor next to his mate.

“Nix! The ropes!”

Rushing over, he worked on the bindings with his teeth and claws. They were his best tools, but it still took precious minutes to get Noah untied. When he was finished, he led Noah to the window, urging him up. The noise from the battle was horrific, and smoke was beginning to fill the house.

“We have to get going,” Noah said urgently.

Nix shifted back to human form. “You hurt?”

“No. Just scared of what that creep was planning to do to me.”

“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.