His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

She stepped up onto the ledge and focused her mind on the disc. Gently she reached for it and when she picked it up in her fingers, the earth trembled. Electricity flew from the stone into her hands, running along her body like a conduit until it erupted into the air, showering the room in a hail of sparks.

The power was nearly overwhelming but she defied the weakness that pulled at her legs. Her breaths blew hard from her lips. Something foreign tugged at her mind and she tried to shake off the eerie sensation.

But it was no use, and after a few seconds, words she’d never heard before began to fall from her tongue.

Heat began to swirl up along her body and she felt dazed as the power from deep within her fed the disc in her hand, running back and forth between herself and the portal.

Skye’s vision began to blur and it felt like she was watching the entire exercise from above. As if her brain had separated from her body. In her mind’s eye she could clearly see herself clutching the disc and Azaiel standing a few feet from her.

His image began to pulsate as he wavered between the two worlds that she now straddled.

Terror hit her, but it only seemed to feed the power of the disc. It began to glow bright red and the heat was scorching against her skin. The wind rushed into the small stone structure and a great roaring began to infiltrate her skull. It sounded like the very depths of hell were loose inside her head and she cried out as an intense pain ripped into her mind.

A million screams were let loose and she closed her eyes in anguish as the pressure inside her head intensified until she thought she was going to come apart. Darkness crossed over, encircling her body, and a great sadness welled up from within. Anguish and pain like none she’d ever experienced before enveloped her, and Skye wanted nothing more than to fade away and forget all of it.

And then it was over.

Skye trembled, her limbs shaking violently as her teeth chattered loudly. She didn’t know what the hell had just happened, but she was pretty sure the mission had just taken a header south.

Like way south, into the shitter.

Her skin began to tingle, and she was aware that she still clutched the disc hard against her chest.

Warm breath along her cheek startled her and her eyes opened. She tried to scream but couldn’t. Her vocal chords were no longer working.

A hand, strong and warm with flesh that was fueled by blood, cupped her chin and turned her face upward.

Somehow Skye found the strength to wrench free from him and she stumbled back several steps.

“What happened?” Skye croaked. “What the hell are you?”

“Patience,” he whispered into the space between them. His handsome face opened wide as he smiled at her. “Hand me the portal.”

She ignored his command, her thoughts confused and whirling into a mad bucket of soup. “Oh God!” she said painfully. “What have I done?” Her hoarse whisper echoed into the silence and faded away as she stared at him in horror.

Her eyes were wild now. She hadn’t sealed the portal. She’d let something out!

He laughed at her then, the sound booming. It grated against her skull and she felt anger begin to unfurl deep in her gut.

“I’m one of the fallen.” He smiled once more. His voice was gentle, as if he were talking to a child, but his face was stern as he took a step toward her. “The portal belongs to me.”

“The portal belongs to my people. It is our burden to bear,” Skye said, her voice high as she continued to feed from her anger.

His manner changed in an instant and he snarled.

“The portal was made with these hands.” She watched as he held his palms out toward her, saw the bizarre markings that crisscrossed the skin in crimson detail. “It belongs to me.”

Azaiel’s eyes were focused on her, the gold receding until they were opaque black. His voice softened and he smiled.

“You belong to me.”

Chapter 25

Jagger awoke disoriented and full of the heavy weight of fear. For a moment blinding panic threatened to overwhelm him. He’d not felt this way since Iraq

and he railed against it, forcing it away as he sat up quickly.

He groaned loudly. His head was pounding like a calypso band was having a party inside his cranium. His fingers gently massaged his temples as he cracked open his eyes for a peek around.