She shook her head. “We don’t even like each other so this, this . . . whatever it is we’re feeling is unnatural.” She pushed at him, harder, and he let her go as the pain along his flesh twisted and burned.
He grimaced as the wave rolled over him and exhaled slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Lady, I’m probably the most unnatural thing you’ll come across, and trust me, we don’t have to like each other to fuck. In fact, considering the world is heading for the shitter, the whole ‘no strings’ thing suits me fine.”
His eyes narrowed, and he flashed a smile at her. “Hell, if you’re sharing your goods with Nico, why can’t you at least give it up for your mate?”
She looked startled at his crudeness, and hissed, “If you need to relieve tension that bad, I suggest you take a long shower and go it alone or hang at the bar because I’ll never let you touch me again.”
Jaden pushed away, and he let her go, not really sure why he was goading her so. He only knew that getting a reaction out of her made him feel alive somehow.
She slammed her empty tumbler onto the counter and whirled around. Her face was dark, the finely arched eyebrows drawn together as she stared at him, tight-lipped. He knew she was pissed. Actually, the woman was beyond pissed and closing in on furious.
“I can’t work with you if you’re going to be an asshole.” She shook her head violently. “There’s too much at stake.”
Her eyes nailed him with an intensity that quieted the demons inside him, at least for the time being.
“We can’t do this . . . play this game. There’s no time, so let’s establish a few things.” Jaden pushed away from the counter and began to pace in front of the window. Behind her, long bands of red and gold stretched across the sky as the sun began to set. It painted fire across the water.
“Let’s forget everything that happened three years ago. None of it matters anymore.”
“The tattoos along the side of your neck tell me otherwise,” Julian retorted, not liking her tone or the way she was looking at him.
“Trust me, Castille. They mean nothing.” Her eyes nailed him.
Liar.
“What does matter is that we find the portal, and by we, I mean myself and a bunch of people, including your brothers.”
At the mention of his brothers, Julian stilled. “I hear you’ve gotten tight with them.”
She nodded and turned to stare out at the landscape below. “I’ve been working covertly for PATU for the past several years. I started out as an independent, working exclusively to bring down the DaCostas. But a few years ago, I was given command of my own team. They’re housed here at the resort.”
She turned to him abruptly. “Your brother Jaxon was in the dark about my work until after Belize. You know, when you, Declan, Cormac, and Azaiel pulled the big vanishing act.” She stared at him for several long moments, and Julian tried to block the images from his mind, but it seemed today was the day for trekking down memory lane.
The scars on his chest began to burn and pulsate, and he tasted sulfur inside his mouth and smelled fear. It left him feeling nauseous, drained. He dragged his hands through his hair and exhaled loudly.
Shit, I need another drink.
“Where were you?” she asked softly. She must have felt his need because she grabbed the decanter of whiskey and walked back to him, pouring another generous amount into his glass.
Julian downed it greedily, letting the fire slide down his throat as he took a few more seconds to compose himself.
“We were in the darkest place you can imagine.” He opened his eyes, but it wasn’t the sunset, or the cool tones of the room, or even Jaden that he saw. Once more he was surrounded by the stench and evil of the underworld. He was ashamed to say that fear rippled along his flesh like a conduit, spreading anxiety along with it.
He couldn’t articulate what he was feeling and turned from her, angry that she’d led him down this path. Even if he could, he wouldn’t share his pain with her . . . a DaCosta. He’d rather she feel it.
> Her family was a catalyst for every fucking thing that he’d gone through in the past six months. The fact that he was half-dead? With half his soul missing? That was all on them.
“We were in hell,” he said harshly, watching her reflection in the window. “And not figuratively. It was the real deal.”
Jaden took a step toward him, then stopped, as if she thought better of it. You should stay far away from me, Julian’s mind whispered.
“Where are Cormac and Azaiel?” she asked hesitantly.
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be wasting my time here with you.” Julian no longer tried to control the darkness that slid over his skin though he knew there would be a price.
Funny how the dark side felt good until you dipped your toe in.