His Darkest Salvation (Jaguar Warriors 3)

“I give you my word,” the soldier answered.

“It’s not you I am concerned with.” The sun god nodded toward their group though his eyes remained on Jaden. His lack of respect and the intensity of his gaze rubbed Julian the wrong way.

He took a step closer to her, not realizing he’d done so until Nico shot him a dark look and stepped between Julian and Jaden. His anger was instant, harsh, and cutting, and his chest rumbled as he bared his teeth.

His control was eroding, faster than he’d like, and it pissed him off to no end that his instability was out there for everyone to see.

Nanauatl turned his attention toward Julian, and he clutched his hands at his sides tightly, holding himself rigid when all he wanted to do was hurt. Someone. Or something. It was irrational, this need to inflict pain. But then, how could someone who wasn’t whole be rational?

“You will leave here, Jaguar, and never return. Find the portal, destroy it, and you might find peace. But before you go . . . a word.”

“Ah, no. Whatever you want to say to him must be shared. The secrets have to stop,” Jaden inserted, her chest heaving as she turned her stormy eyes his way.

“Do not defy me, Jaguar,” the sun god thundered, his voice echoing crazily inside the confines of the temple. The energy darkened, and Julian took a step forward, ready to defend the woman who stared up at Nanauatl with so much defiance.

“My courtesy does not extend to you.” The air shimmered around him as his phantom knights inched closer. Their eyes were lit from behind, small spools of gold, and they began to make low, keening noises, their excitement palpable as the violent energy in the room spiked.

Cracker rolled his shoulders and turned toward the entrance. “It’s best we get going, Rambo. As much as I’d like to see you kick his royal ass, there’s no time.”

Jaden’s dark eyes turned to the sun god, and her lips pinched together tightly.

“Screw you, asshole,” she muttered under her breath as she turned to follow Cracker from the temple. Nico fell in behind her, and Finn left with them.

Declan arched an eyebrow. “Am I invited t

o this party?” he sneered, his hands held loosely at his sides. Julian saw the sparks that lit up the air around them; he felt the energy shifting in the room and knew that Declan was itching to fight.

It was seductive, the need to instigate chaos and cause pain, but Cracker was right. There was no time.

The sun god moved forward, his feet gliding across the earthen floor in a rush until he stood before them. The energy that sizzled along Nanauatl’s body was intoxicating, powerful, and Julian felt the pull of it as he gazed into the eyes of a god.

The emotion held deep within them surprised the hell out of him. Nanauatl was struggling with something.

“Did you see her?” the sun god asked quickly, his voice low, his words rushed as if he were scared anyone should hear.

“Her?” Julian repeated, not really understanding.

The sun god’s face darkened, and the earth began to tremble beneath them. “Toniella.”

An ethereal face flashed before him, one with long, elegant lines, classic features, strong hands that gripped the special dagger. The dagger of pain.

Julian glanced at Declan. The sorcerer was studying the sun god, his cold eyes intense. Declan grinned wickedly as he spoke. “I heard she was hanging down in District three, which is about one step away from where the real nasty shit happens.”

Nanauatl turned his attention from Julian and focused fiery eyes on Declan. “Do not toy with me. I will crush you.”

Declan shrugged his shoulders. “You could try”—he winked—“but I was being serious. She’s down there. Most popular whore there is, last I heard. Demons favorite tramp I think—Gang Bang Toni they call her.”

Nanauatl bellowed his rage, and Julian readied himself for battle as the phantom knights roared along with their god. Time slowed as Nanauatl rushed toward Declan. The noise inside Julian’s head deepened, and his animal shifted, eager to join in the fight.

A wall of energy flew up, a barrier of magick that was incredibly powerful. Julian looked at Declan in surprise, then back to the sun god, who stood inches from them, his visage comical as he tried to break through.

“You’ve been feeding on some heavy shit, O’Hara,” Julian said quietly. He was barely able to contain the animal inside him. The darkness that he was inhaling agitated his animal something fierce, and he was trembling with excitement.

It was intoxicating, every last wretched shot of it.

He watched and relaxed as the sun god struggled with his inability to get to them. His rage and anger penetrated the barrier, but he wasn’t able to break through.

“I will kill you, Sorcerer. Rip your entrails from your body and feed them to my knights.”