His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

He turned without a word and slid into the darkened interior. Jagger motioned for her and without hesitation, she grabbed her satchel, slung it across her shoulder, and followed suit.

There were no words spoken on the long, arduous trek. The pace Nico set was tremendous and it took everything in her to keep up. Skye didn’t complain once, but when they finally stopped for a break, several hours later she fell to the ground, exhausted.

They were along the banks of a small stream, one of many that fell from the great Maya Mountains around them, weaving their way across jungle and rock as they ran toward the rivers that would eventually dump into the Caribbean Sea.

The air was heavy, thick with moisture. Skye knew there wasn’t much time until the rainy season was upon them.

She watched tiredly as Nico left yet again, melting like a ghost into the trees that surrounded them. They’d covered a lot of area, making their way south, deeper into the Toledo district.

“Where’s he going?” she asked, curious.

Jagger’s eyes followed hers and they narrowed. “He’s running a perimeter, there’s something off out there.” He rolled his shoulders. “Can’t you feel it?”

Skye shook her head. “No,” she murmured softly. But then again, she’d been distracted all morning by her thoughts. None of them pleasant.

“Do you remember anything?”

Startled, she looked up at Jagger.

“About the demon attack.”

She held his gaze and answered, “Not really.”

And that was a total lie.

She’d remembered the ferocity of the demon attack in minute detail as they’d trekked through the jungle. But it was the other memory that gave her pause.

Azaiel. His rage and power had been earth-shattering.

Skye wasn’t sure what freaked her out more: the fact that she’d almost been cut to ribbons by a ten-foot freaking demon, or that she suspected Azaiel had destroyed said demon.

Was it possible? How else could she explain what had happened?

It scared the crap out of her to think that he had such an ability, to transcend dimensions.

Jagger studied her in silence and eventually she looked away. She’d never been good at lying.

“Nico seems a little …” When in doubt, change the subject.

“Crazy?”

Skye shook her head. “No, I was going to say ‘damaged.’ ”

Jagger shrugged his shoulders. “He’s got some issues. Hell, he’s still the grade-A prick he’s always been, but considering what he’s been through, I’ll cut him some slack.”

“Has he said … I mean, did he mention anything about my brother? About crossing paths with another eagle shifter?”

“No, that hasn’t come up,” Jagger said gently as he crossed to where she sat. “Once we get our hands on the portal, I’ll contact Cracker. Maybe they’ve come across him. Jaxon might have some intel as well. Even without the full arm of PATU available to him, he’s got a hell of a lot of contacts.”

Skye looked away, lips tight. She doubted she’d ever see her brother again. Hell, she didn’t know if he was alive and even if he was, there was no time.

She had to shut down her emotions, because when she took the time to think about the state of her life and the role she needed to play in the coming days, it was just too much.

She bit back the bitter tears that threatened and tried to keep her composure.

“Hey, you all right?” Jagger’s hand caressed her cheek and she leaned into the warmth of his touch.

“I’m fine,” she managed to say. “I’m fine.”