His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

“It’s a long story,” Skye murmured.

“I’m sure it is,” Jaden snickered. Her dark eyes remained fixed on Skye. They made her nervous.

“What?” Skye said, more than a little defensively.

“You do know that the Castille boys aren’t keepers.”

Skye frowned at that. “I’m not looking for a keeper, thanks.” It’s not like I’ll be around for that, anyway. “You know them personally?”

Jaden’s face darkened but her voice was light as she answered. “I’ve read both Libby and Jaxon’s files. The only Castille I’ve ever met in person is the oldest.” Her gaze drifted to a place just beyond Skye as she continued. “Once. A long time ago.”

“You mean Julian … he’s here, in the jungle.”

Something flickered across Jaden’s face, but was gone just as quick. “Julian Castille is an arrogant prick,” she said, her face hard, and then she laughed. “He’s still out here? I’m impressed. Thought he’d go running back to his plush office and endless parade of women.” She snorted. “I can’t see it. He’s too white collar. Christ, the man is totally Hollywood.”

“That doesn’t sound like the person I met. Julian Castille seemed very intense, dangerous even.” Skye shrugged her shoulders and stood up. “They all seem … so complicated.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

Skye paused. “What do you know about Jagger?”

In a way she hoped that Jaden knew nothing. There was no point, really, in knowing more, and as the words left her lips she wished she could take them back.

Jaden stood as well, stretching out long legs and running her fingers through the curtain of dark hair that fell halfway down to her waist.

She turned to Skye and pursed her lips, exhaling slowly before answering. “I don’t know much. He’s the youngest, followed Jaxon into the military, where he was trained as black ops. I don’t think he was ever attached to PATU, instead served his country in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I know he resigned his commission several months ago and has been in the States ever since. Well, until recently, that is.”

“You don’t know anything about a woman named Eden, do you?”

Jaden shook her head. “No, sorry, who is she?”

Skye turned away. “No one.”

“A word of advice?”

Skye stilled.

“Do not get involved with Jagger Castille. It will only bring heartbreak. Look at Libby Jamieson, at how she suffered because of her love for Jaxon.”

“But they’re together. Things worked out.”

Jaden raised an eyebrow. “And you know this because …”

“I saw them together just before I fled Caracol. There’s no mistaking how intense his feelings were.”

“For now,” Jaden said grudgingly. “But at what price? She lost years of her life and nearly that of her child.”

Skye was silent as she studied the shifter. She got the feeling something else was at play but didn’t push as she sighed softly. “It doesn’t matter, anyway, it’s not like I have much …” Her voice trailed off as she thought to herself, time.

“What are you not telling me, Skye?”

Jaden grabbed her arm and sp

un her around.

Skye smiled and shook her head sadly. “Nothing. Everything will work out and be fine once I get my hands on the portal.”

Jaden thought the same as everyone else: that she was going to destroy the portal and life would return to the status quo. If only it were that simple.