His Darkest Embrace (28 page)

The portal. If he could, he’d destroy the goddamn thing himself.

When his eyes slid to the tall man nearest her, he felt the blackened rage inside of him push to the surface and he growled loudly, wanting to kill, maim … do anything to get Skye away from him.

He knew without a doubt it was the Azaiel. His body began to burn and his eyesight blurred as the beast inside of him threatened to explode. Jagger hissed at the pain that ripped across his body as he forced his jaguar into obedience.

“That one’s mine,” Declan said as he pulled abreast of Jagger. He paid no attention. All of Jagger’s energy was focused on Skye and he felt alarm rush through him as he saw her begin to chant.

In an instant he knew what she was attempting and without another thought he rushed forward, yelling loudly as his machete sliced cleanly through the neck of the shifter closest to him, severing the head from its body.

All at once he heard the cries of his brothers and the power inside of him fueled his body. Everything except Skye faded from his view and he rushed forward, swinging his machete and firing off rounds from the Glock.

He was aware Declan had broken off to the right and that Finn was close on his heels. Other than that, the only thing he saw was the woman who meant more than his own life. And he would give it, if he had to, in order to protect and keep her safe.

He’d just cleared the perimeter, when he was knocked to the side. Snarling, he went with it and rolled, bringing his gun hand up and shooting straight into the serrated mouth of a large demon.

The head rocked back but the bastard held on, black liquid oozing from the gaping hole at the back of its throat as its heavy weight landed on his chest, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs. Jagger brought his other arm up and stabbed the end of the machete deep into its neck, trying to force it through.

Still the demon held on, its deadly teeth dripping with black saliva that burned as it fell onto his skin. He heard another grunt and tried to twist his body as a jaguar warrior climbed up the back of the demon and smiled down at him.

He kept driving the machete deeper into the demon’s neck while twisting to avoid the serrated teeth that snapped closer to his face. He was just about to try and fire the Glock when the warrior screamed in pain.

A large machete sliced his back and poked out through the warrior’s chest. The jaguar grimaced and fell into death’s grip as he tumbled from the demon’s back. Jagger shot the demon yet again and used every ounce of strength that he had to plunge the machete clean through.

With a mighty heave he pushed the demon from his body, his eyes meeting Finn’s. The eagle warrior looked fierce. “Get to my sister and toss me the portal. I’ll cover you.”

Jagger jackknifed his body and was on his feet in an instant, his eyes seeking out Skye as she stood pressed up against the stone shelter. Her lips were still moving and in that moment her eyes opened and met his.

The shock and surprise that flashed across her face was replaced in an instant with heart-wrenching sadness. She looked at him and nodded slightly, her eyes telling him good-bye.

The air around her began to shimmer and he saw her smile through the tears that fell freely from her eyes.

I love you,
she mouthed and the pain that lashed across his chest propelled him forward.

He rushed toward her, feeling the heat of bodies flying at him, enemies that were downed by the strength of the eagle knight at his side. The rain continued to pour, blurring her image as his eyes filled with water. Or tears of rage.

He shook his head and kept on, his body building speed until he was there. In front of her.

Her eyes rolled up and he feared he was too late.

Jagger grabbed her and wrenched the portal from her hand, not hearing the scream of rage that echoed in the wet air.

All around him the battle raged, and he whirled around, gripping the hot, electric disc tightly in his fingers, searching with his eyes for Finn.

The eagle knight jumped over the fallen bodies of their enemies, leapt up high into the air as Cormac did the same.

Jagger saw his chance and tossed the disc into the air, watching as it rotated slowly. It began to glow in earnest, and as Finn’s fingers closed around it, he was grabbed from behind.

Loud shouts and echoes of pain and terror rent the air as a great blinding light flashed across the jungle. It sizzled along an invisible conduit, showering the entire area in sparks of energy that glowed brightly.

Jagger pulled Skye close to him and covered her with his own body in an effort to protect her from whatever the hell was happening. He felt the heat at his back and he fell to the ground as the earth trembled and the smell of burning flesh rode the air.

Seconds later, all was quiet and he slowly lifted his head and looked around. The faces of those left standing looked shocked and they melted into the jungle, retreating like the cowards that they were.

Bodies lay strewn about and as he met the eyes of his brother Jaxon, he knew something terrible had just occurred.

Skye began to stir and then went limp. She was alive though unconscious. He needed to get her to safety. He rocked her gently in his arms and stood up, holding her close to his chest.

Jaxon closed the distance between them, his expression pained, confused. “They’re gone,” he said. “I don’t know what the hell happened. There was a flash and they disappeared into thin air.”

Jagger felt his throat tighten as he asked, “Who?”

Jaxon paused and the pain in his eyes was beyond words. “Julian, Cormac, Declan, and the tall one with the fucked-up eyes.” Jaxon shook his head. “What the hell did she do? Did she close it? Are they lost to us forever?” he whispered hoarsely.

“They’re gone, but not to the hell realm.” Finn limped toward them, his right leg bleeding profusely. He grimaced. “The portal is not sealed. It’s still out there.”

“How the hell do you know that?” Jaxon asked as he ran his hands through his hair.

“Only one of purity can open it and only an eagle knight can seal it.” Finn nodded toward the still unconscious Skye. “My sister is still here; the portal is not sealed.”

“Well, where the hell are they?” Jagger shouted, his frustration and anger making him hoarse.

Finn looked at him and shook his head. “I don’t know where, or what,” he said softly. “But it can’t be anyplace good.”

Chapter 27

T
heir plane was wheels up several hours later. It was funny, really, how quickly they’d managed to get out of the jungle. The place he’d called home for the last several months.

Jagger cuddled Skye, tight to his chest, where she’d been ever since he’d grabbed her in the jungle. He studied her face and his thumb traced the soft line of her cheek. She was feverish, still unconscious, and worry ripped at him relentlessly.

“How’s she doing?” Jaxon slid into the seat beside him and Jagger remained tight-lipped as he shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know,” he managed, hearing his voice tremble slightly as Jaxon’s warm hand grabbed his shoulder with a reassuring squeeze.

“She’s tough. Hell, what she’s been through … she just needs some time.”

Jagger nodded. “Any word on Julian?” His heart was heavy at the thought of his older brother.

Jaxon sighed and shook his head. “We don’t know anything. I’ve got my contacts on it and Cracker is interrogating a few of our guests, but so far nothing. We get back to PATU, I’ll be able to dig deeper.”

His brother rubbed weary eyes and grimaced. “Cormac is one slippery son-of-a-bitch, but we’ll get him.”

Jagger looked at Ana. The vampire was distraught. She’d curled into a chair and had not said a word since they’d left Belize.

“She gonna be okay?” he murmured, his mouth nuzzling the top of Skye’s head.

“I don’t know. She’s taking Declan’s disappearance hard.”

Jagger leaned his head back and stared out the small round window, not seeing anything as his mind continued to circle.

“I’m taking Skye home with me.” Jagger blew out a ragged breath.

Jaxon looked at him, surprised. “We could use you at headquarters.”

“I need to take her to the cabin, at least for a little while.”

“But she might need a doctor—” “I will go with them.”

Both men looked over at Ana. The vampire’s eyes were bloodshot but they shone fiercely. “I’ll make sure she’s all right.”

Jagger nodded and Ana looked away once more, her chin trembling slightly as she gazed out her window.

Jaxon stared at Jagger for several long seconds and then nodded. “Take all the time you need, but keep in touch. I have a feeling the shit’s gonna hit the fan sooner rather than later, and we’ll need every man we’ve got.”

The ragged group of survivors made it back to the States several hours later. Jaxon left for northern Canada immediately, taking Cracker, Finn, and their “guests,” the few prisoners they’d taken. Their destination was the new headquarters of PATU.

Ana accompanied him back to his cabin. She was very quiet and seemed almost morose. He’d never seen the vampire in such a state.

Jagger sighed heavily. It was a bitch to navigate, the whole love thing.

They’d been at his cabin for nearly thirty-six hours, and Skye was still dead to the world.

A fever raged through her body and she’d been held firm in the grip of a nightmare for most of it. Jagger hadn’t left her side once, had been quite rude to Ana, in fact, when she’d tried to get him to rest.

Wearily he rose to his feet, stretching his legs as he crossed by the bed and stared out the window. Spring had fled and summer had come to his little paradise. Outside the sun shone, touching the wild array of flowers that bordered his property. Goldenrod and lilies grew in abundance.

He thought that Skye would like them.

He’d had so many plans for this place and after Iraq they’d been shoved aside. He’d been empty, half broken, until Skye had fallen into his life and changed it forever. But now? He had no clue what the hell had happened back in Belize and he didn’t know if she was damaged or whole. His eyes followed the play between two squirrels, a ghost of a smile lifting the corner of his mouth as they tumbled about, foraging for food to store.

“Jagger?”

He whipped around at the sound of Skye’s voice and was at her side in a second. She looked weak and her eyes were dull, shadowed.

He grabbed the glass of water off the bed table and held it to her mouth, gently coaxing her to take the cool liquid between her lips.

“What happened?” she asked as she struggled to right herself. “Where are we?”

“Shhh,” Jagger whispered as he sank onto the bed beside her and gathered her close to his chest. “You’re safe with me.”

He felt her shudder and then bury her head in the crook of his neck. “I had such awful dreams,” she whispered against him.

“Can you talk about them?” he probed gently, not wanting to force her but desperate for any information on what had happened to Julian and Declan.

She inhaled deeply and pushed against his chest. As he looked down at her, Jagger felt his heart constrict. She meant everything to him.

“I was going to do it.” She met his gaze, unflinching, and sat up straighter. “I would have done anything to keep you safe. You need to know that.” Skye paused and took another sip of water.

“I was going to hell for you and I would do it again if I had to.” Her eyes were intense as they bored into his. “You know that, right? To keep you safe from Azaiel I would have done anything.”

“I know,” he said simply.

“Is he …?” Skye paused, a look of confusion crossing her features. “Was he destroyed?” “No, at least I don’t think so.” “And the portal?”

Jagger shook his head. “We’re not sure what happened exactly, but your brother seems to think it’s disappeared into the twilight zone or whatever.”

Skye smiled then and in that moment Jagger knew he’d do whatever it took to keep the smile pasted to her face.

“Finn’s alive. I don’t remember much, but he was there …” Skye laughed softly. “He was there.” Her face sobered and she quieted, the blue of her eyes glistening with emotion. “But the others … I have vague memories and recollections of what happened.” She paused and looked up at him, her eyes intense and full of pain.

“The dreams I’ve been having …” She swallowed thickly and shook her head. “Is it true? Are your friends … your brother, Julian …” Her face darkened and she grabbed his arms tightly. “Are they gone?”

Jagger’s hands moved up to her chin and he cupped her face between his large hands, moving until he was so close he could count the tiny veins that fed her eyes.

“They’re gone, yes, but we’ll get them back.”

The two of them stared deeply into each other’s eyes, all the pain and frustration and struggle over the past several days swept away as their longing for each other rose to the surface.

“I feel so guilty,” Skye whispered as her fingers reached out and traced his lips.

“Why is that?” Jagger asked, although truth be told, he wasn’t paying attention to anything other than her mouth.

“Because all around us chaos and uncertainty are the norm. People’s lives are being destroyed, your brother is missing and yet …”

Her heart was beating faster now. Jagger could hear it, and inside, the cat purred quietly as his own began to beat in tandem.

“Yet?” he prompted, his voice low and rough, and he inhaled a shaky breath as his lips caressed the soft skin of her cheek.

“All I can think about is that I’m here, with you, and I’m never giving you up.” Skye turned into him, pressing her body as close to him as she could. Jagger groaned as every single inch of him responded to the woman in his arms.

“No matter what,” she whispered, her eyes transfixed by his own. “I’m yours. I love you, Jagger.” She laughed then. “How freaky is that?”

Jagger lowered his mouth until he was inches from hers. “I don’t know, why don’t you show me?” He groaned and covered her soft lips with his own. The hunger inside of him for the woman that he held was one that would never leave him. As long as he drew air into his lungs she would be his.

He kissed her with an intensity that shook him to his core and his body hardened to the point of pain.

“You are mine,” he whispered against her lips. He felt them tremble beneath his own and he groaned as she opened beneath him, her arms circling his neck. “Whatever the future holds, we’ll deal. Together. Don’t ever leave me again.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said as she offered herself up to the one man who was strong enough to tame her, strong enough to fight for her.

“Take your clothes off,” she commanded, nipping at his neck and falling back onto the bed, giggling as he hurried to do her bidding.

Jagger laughed softly. “You must be hungry. Don’t you want some food first?”

“I’m hungry,” she growled, “but it ain’t for food.”

Jagger slid into bed pulling her along the length of him. She pushed him down and he sucked in a painful breath as she rose above him, every inch of her golden flesh exposed to his hungry eyes as she straddled his body.

Her breaths were coming in ragged spurts and she licked her lips, reaching for him, claiming his mouth with her own as she sank down upon his hardness.

He heard her gasp against him, her body shuddering as his cock filled her fully. Their tongues met in a feverish dance and his hands grabbed her hips, pulling her into him as he thrust upward.

She broke from him, pushing herself up as she began to roll her hips and ride him with an intensity that tore at his heart. Everything was there, in her eyes, for him to see and as the pressure built inside of him, he clenched his teeth and held on.

There were no words, no sounds other than skin on skin and the creaking of the bed as they began to move quicker, harder. He felt the pressure building deep inside and as her head rolled back, his fingers gripped her hips hard and he brought her up and then back down again, over and over, until he felt his release take hold.

She looked down at him then and they came together, their orgasms rolling over them in waves until she collapsed on top of him.

Later, after he’d loved her again, they lay exhausted, their bodies intertwined and their hearts beating as one. Gently he caressed the softness of her cheek and pulled her into the crook of his body.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“We live our lives, deal with whatever comes our way together.”

“Sounds good to me.” She nuzzled his neck and even though she’d used him good and hard, he felt his body respond, and he smiled against her.

“I just …”

“What?” he prodded.

“I’m sorry, Jagger, so sorry about your brother.” She rested her head against his chest, and he felt her sadness. It rolled off her in waves. “About where he is.”

Jagger pulled her in flush to his body and kissed the top of her head, taking comfort in the fact that even amongst all the craziness, they had each other.

That had to count for something.

He wanted to ask, to know more than what her cryptic words told him, but he remained quiet. To know more would break him and he knew he needed to be strong in the coming days, not only for Skye but for his family.

The two of them lay there for several long moments and eventually the weariness took its toll. Jagger fell into a deep sleep that was long overdue. As Skye snuggled into his safe embrace, she tried not to think about what she’d seen in her dreams. She couldn’t go there, not yet, anyway.

Instead she sent a silent prayer to the gods.

And hoped like hell there was someone out there listening.