His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

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?”

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; “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.