“I do admire your need to fight, little jaguar.” The sun god stood inches from her, yet the pain that had settled along her back took away much of her focus. Her eyes dimmed, and she struggled to hold on. She called upon her animal, even knowing that she couldn’t shift.
A haze of red clouded her vision, and she snarled as Nanauatl grinned down at her. His mouth thinned, and his voice deepened as his hand reached for her.
She could do nothing to avoid it and ceased struggling. There was no point.
She looked up at him, her body on fire, and she was surprised that she was able to speak.
“You had a chance to make things right,” she managed to get out. “To get over your small-minded vendetta and help humanity.”
His breath was flames across her face, but she refused to look away, and when his hand closed around her neck, she stilled.
“I care not what happens outside these walls,” he whispered. “Not anymore.”
Jaden closed her eyes, fighting the tears of helplessness that hung at the back of them. His fingers dug in deeper, spreading his special brand of pain along the flesh there, and she yelped as it burned bright.
Inside her body, the jaguar erupted in anger. She felt the flood of power once more, infusing her cells with such a rush that she reacted instantly, yelling her warrior cry as she jerked her arms and began to struggle in earnest.
Nanauatl gripped her hard and yanked her upward until he held her in the air like a puppet, her limbs moving erratically as the dagger fell from her fingers.
Deep, guttural sounds escaped from between her lips, and as a red haze infiltrated her vision, she met his eyes one last time. She felt shame at her weakness and sadness for an end that would come much too soon.
A realization came to her. Was there really honor in such a death? One that would leave so many things unfinished? She gritted her teeth and prepared herself, pushing the despair from her mind.
And she knew the bastard would enjoy her death immensely.
Chapter 15
Julian knelt, his nose wrinkling at the otherworld stench that hung in the air. He grimaced and looked up at Declan. The entire area was rank with it.
“A fresh kill,” Declan observed, his eyes scanning the area around them. “She’s definitely here.”
Julian stood quickly. He was anxious, on edge, and his animal clawed beneath his skin. He wasn’t used to feeling, and much preferred the cold wall of nothing he’d enjoyed over the last six months.
He rolled his tense shoulders, his eyes slowly sweeping the area as he did so. They’d made damn good time, all things considered. The jet had been a no-go. Jakobi was still in the area, and it would have been a red flag. They’d cut some time by driving to La Corone, and from there, they’d chartered a small flight.
It was eerily quiet. He glanced down at his feet once more. They might be too late.
Finn and Nico came jogging up from the other side of the ruins. Julian ignored the warrior and focused on the eagle knight.
“Any sign of Cracker?” They’d contacted Jaxon and learned the operative had been dispatched the day before, when the first reports of demon activity had surfaced.
His conversation with his brother had been short and to the point. There’d been no time to fill Jaxon in about his whereabouts over the past six months. That would have to wait. It had been enough to hear his voice and to know that Libby and Logan were safe, as were Jagger and Skye.
The tall blond man glanced at the goop that lay in clumps along the ground before meeting his gaze.
“No.”
Nico grunted, and Julian arched an eyebrow. “Care to share?” he asked, though he ignored the warrior and spoke to the eagle. He felt the other jaguar’s glare, and it pleased him to know that he was irritating him, even if only in this one small manner.
Finn smiled wryly and shook his head. “It’s freaky quiet. We caught a security guard partying it up with two ladies; but other than that, nothing.”
“Are we going to sit here all night or are we going to find Jaden?” Nico exploded. “She’s here. I can smell her.”
Julian turned his attention to the warrior, his golden eyes dark, his mouth set into a hard line. He felt his beast stir once more, and the urge to pound his fist into the jaguar’s face was heavy. He took a step toward him, growling as he did so.
Nico’s tone was possessive and touched on something inside Julian he didn’t care to explore; however, he couldn’t help the way it made him feel.
“She’s mine.”