Phantom Warriors: Riot by Jordan Summers Page A

know a bear could look exasperated until that
moment.
    “Just get on,” he grit out. I won’t be able
to stand for much longer.
    Against her better judgment, Nina slung her
purse over her shoulder and climbed onto his back. Riot staggered,
then seemed to get his balance.
    “Hang on,” he said.
    His fur was wet with blood, making it slick
to the touch, but Nina did her best to cling to him. She leaned
over her bag and held on to his sides. Despite his many injuries,
Riot took off, leaving the carnage behind.
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
     
    Riot took her deep into the forest.
    “The trees look different here. Familiar…yet,
I’ve never been here before,” she said.
    His big body staggered. Riot couldn’t seem to
focus. The trees swam before his eyes. He could smell the lake up
ahead. All he had to do was make it to the water. “Hang on.” He
groaned.
    Nina sat up. “How far have we traveled? I’ve
lost track, but I know it’s been quite a distance.” She squeezed
his fur. “I don’t see anyone following us and I can’t hear anyone.
You need to stop. You are bleeding too much. I have to take a look
at your wounds.”
    “We’re almost there.” His garbled voice ended
with a moan. He’d lost more blood than he realized. He needed to
shift, but he couldn’t—wouldn’t do that, with Nina on his back.
    The trees parted up ahead. A small lake lay
beyond, mist rising from its placid surface. Nina slid off his
back. Riot kept walking. If he stopped, he’d collapse.
    “Where are you going?” she asked. “Wait! I
have the medical kit right here.”
    He didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Riot stepped to
the edge of the lake, leaned forward, and let gravity take over.
His big body fell into the water, disappearing below the surface.
The splash sent ripples cascading outward.
    Riot swam for the other side of the lake,
switching forms multiple times as he did so. The cool water burned
his skin as the bullets made their way out of his flesh, slowly
sinking down to the murky bottom. He stroked harder. His wounds
were already closing. He was no longer bleeding. In another day,
his injuries would disappear, except for the scars.
    He glanced down and saw his small shuttle
resting beneath him on the lake floor. Riot debated whether to
climb inside. Hiding in his craft would be taking the cowards’ way
out. He knew that, but what if Nina wasn’t there when he surfaced?
What if she was so frightened by everything that had happened that
she’d abandoned him? Then another thought occurred to him, what if
she was there? What if when she saw his human form she was
frightened?
    Sure they’d danced the previous night, but he
hadn’t exactly been honest with her…about anything. Riot didn’t
think he could handle seeing rejection on Nina’s face. Not after
everything they’d been through. He hesitated underwater, knowing
he’d have to surface soon.
     
    ***
     
    Nina stood on the shoreline staring at the
placid surface. She didn’t recognize this lake and she knew all of the lakes in the area. Where were they? Where was
Riot? He should’ve surfaced by now. She scanned the lake looking
for a hint of bubbles. Was he drowning due to his injuries? Pain
sliced her at the thought of losing him. Nina didn’t think, if she
had, she would have realized how ridiculous her actions were.
Instead, she stripped off her clothes and prepared to jump into the
lake to save him.
    The second her toes touched the frigid water
there was another loud splash. This one on the other side of the
lake. Nina looked up, expecting to see the Great Bear.
    A dark head surfaced. Broad shoulders and a
muscled back followed it. Water dripped down the man in rivulets.
As he walked forward out of the lake, it became apparent that he
was naked.
    Nina’s mouth dropped open. “Riot?” She
stepped back from the water and stared. She couldn’t help it. She’d
never seen anyone quite so beautiful. So perfect. He walked onto
the shore and turned toward her. If her