The words bounced around his brain, and he didn’t realize he’d spoken them aloud until Nico’s eyes widened in surprise, and the warrior snarled. “She belongs to no one.”
Julian clenched his fists together as the burn continued to rip along his flesh. The edge of his mind was dark, corroded, and the pure unbridled rage he felt at that moment fed his soul hungrily.
Nico lunged at him, the tall warrior ferocious as his own anger boiled over. He leapt into the air, but Julian was ready, his stance wide, a feral grin falling over his face.
His scars pulsated in rapid, sharp bursts, as they did whenever emotion took over, but he welcomed the pain. It meant that he was still somewhat alive.
And yet, the hit never came. Nico was pulled from the air like a puppet and slammed into the stone wall that was several feet away.
“You boys done playing?” Declan asked softly. The sorcerer stood casually off to side, looking like he was bored as hell. But Julian knew better.
Declan O’Hara was as damaged as he, and the dark, flat eyes that stared at him were but two shades above dead.
Nico snarled, kicking his feet as he bellowed in rage. Declan tossed him an easy smile, though his eyes remained fixed, cold. He arched an eyebrow, slowly walked toward them and, with a flick of his wrist, released the hold he’d had over the jaguar.
Nico’s body slowly slid to the ground, and he landed lightly on his feet, his face screwed up something nasty, pissed that he’d been bested.
And by a magick no less.
Declan spit into the ground and glanced at the warrior. “Oops.” His eyes swung back to Julian’s, and the two men stared at each other. No one would ever understand what they’d gone through.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing personal.” Declan’s eyes lowered, and he studied his fingernails, buffing them against the leg of his pants as if he had all the time in the world. “Seriously, a by-product of my vacation in hell. A little bit of extra mojo.”
Nico was breathing hard, both from the ferocity of his emotions and the bottled-up rage that left his limbs trembling.
Julian could relate. He was barely able to keep it together.
“You’re just like your father,” Nico rasped.
Declan stilled, and, for a second, his true self was revealed. The air around him charged with electricity, and Julian smiled as the power surged forth. It danced upon the air, crackling and stinging their flesh.
Everything went quiet, like the sound had been peeled back, leaving a layer of thick white noise ringing in their ears.
Declan’s face was devoid of emotion, but Julian knew how close he was riding the edge. Hell, he was right there with him.
Declan opened his mouth and was about to speak when a scream rent the night air. It was full-bodied and powerful, and it sang to the dead part of his soul.
It was the jaguar warrior battle cry.
It echoed on the night wind, then died, leaving the four of them in silence. The white noise disappeared abruptly, and everything came crashing back . . . the cool evening, the dark energy, and the need he felt to get to Jaden.
Julian whirled around and flew through the darkness as he ran toward the ruins.
Low-lying fog crept along the ground, mixing with the gray and the dark until the entire area was enveloped in a wall of forbidding mist.
They definitely weren’t alone.
Julian slowed as he passed a wall of skulls, his nostrils flaring as Jaden’s scent reached him. She was near. He could feel it.
“She’s definitely in the temple, the outer sanctum.” Finn spoke quietly, his manner grave. “I have no idea how she made it inside, or else I would have searched there first.”
“What do you mean?” Julian asked harshly.
“The wards that protect the temple are strong, only an eagle can gain access unless . . .”
“Unless what?” Declan stepped forward, his face was tight and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.
“Someone let her in,” Finn said softly. “We need to hurry.”