Drivers were lunging for luggage, trying to outdo each other in a bid to capture a tourist for their next fare. When John saw them approach, he flicked the cigarette he’d been smoking and smiled broadly.
“Welcome to Belize, man.”
The drawl was soft, full-bodied, with an island roll that caressed his words. He quickly helped load their gear and stowed it in the back of the van. Once they were all inside, he pulled away and they began the trek to San Ignacio.
They followed the Western Highway as it headed out into the lush tropical countryside. The town was approximately seventy miles away, but the roads were busy, and despite John’s aggressive driving style, the ride took almost two hours.
Jaxon’s eyes swept along the brush that crept up to the road and he felt a sliver of excitement as he recalled visiting the Jaguar Wildlife Reserve. He’d accompanied his mother and older brother. Jagger hadn’t been born yet, so he knew he must have been a toddler, but it was still clear to him now.
He remembered shifting with his mother, and the three of them running wild for days, intermingling with several wild jaguars that lived on the reserve. They’d made several trips throughout his childhood, but it seemed so long ago. He smiled at the memory, and caught a glance from Julian in the rearview mirror.
He wondered if his brother was thinking the same thoughts. They used to come here, to this wild and untamed place, to mingle freely with true animal jaguars. The mighty predators had once ranged from Belize all the way up past Mexico and beyond, into the southern states. Sadly, with their habitats slowly eroding, there weren’t many protected environments for the big cats to live and play in. The Jaguar Reserve in Belize had afforded them the opportunity to do just that.
The sun was high in the sky and crossing over into late afternoon by the time they arrived in San Ignacio. They stopped briefly for food and to pick up a few more supplies. The plan was to continue along and make base before the sun set.
Jaxon tried to keep his distance, but he was concerned about Libby. She had changed on the plane, and a feeling of déjà vu spread through him at the sight of her dressed as if she were part of his unit once more.
She was still favoring her left side, and he looked to Declan as a thought struck him.
“Can’t you work some magick to make the pain go away? A charm? Spell? Something?”
Declan looked to Ana and lowered his voice before answering. “It doesn’t work that way, Jax. And we don’t have the time for me to attempt a healing charm.”
Jaxon grimaced, causing Declan to raise an eyebrow.
“Look, none of us thinks she should even be here. I can appreciate her need for closure, and the desire for revenge. Really, I can relate. But she’s not in great shape physically or mentally.” Declan shook his head and looked away. “She’s gonna get us all killed.”
“I was just asking a question,” Jaxon snapped, “not looking for a lecture.”
The mood darkened considerably as they climbed aboard the van and headed south along Mountain Pine Ridge Road. It would eventually dump them deep into the Cayo district. They traveled through a large reserve that was abundant with lush flora and fauna. These forests were famous the world over, full of pine trees that seemed out of place in the middle of its tropical locale. In the distance, large waterfalls could be seen shimmering as they cascaded down, some well over a thousand feet above the ground.
They soon left the reserve behind, continuing along Pine Ridge Road. The journey remained both quiet and tense, until eventually they came upon the Mayan ruins located in Caracol. It was indeed a sight to behold, and Jaxon felt the enormous weight of history beat at him as they parked and slowly stretched their limbs, deep in the shadow of the impressive ruins.
His fingers radiated energy, filled with a new and frenetic excitement that was hard to explain. This…this is what was real to him: being out in the jungle, deep in the heart of jaguar land with a thousand warrior ghosts urging him on.
He had to use superhuman effort to keep control of his emotions, and as he looked to his brothers, he knew they felt the call of the wild as deeply as he did. Jagger’s nostrils were flared and his eyes had darkened until not a speck of green remained.
The sun was beginning to set, and its direct rays no longer affected Ana. She’d dumped the shroud but looked miserable as the heat curled her hair wildly, and her clothes stuck to her body. She quickly pinned her hair back, her arms trim and pale, and Jaxon was startled at the raw emotion that crossed Declan’s face as he too watched the vampire.
The man looked haunted, pained even, and Jaxon turned away, not wanting to be privy to such private revelations. Libby was off to the side, her back to him, and he made his way to where his brothers stood.
John returned and confirmed that he’d talked to the person in charge of the site, an archeologist. They would be allowed to leave their vehicle and proceed out into the jungle. Jaxon wasn’t sure what he’d told the archeologist and he didn’t care. They were here in the heart of the Cayo and would be close to the DaCosta compound in just under twenty-four hours.
They grabbed their gear and Declan radioed his contact. He pointed to the west, and the group hiked nonchalantly around the edges of the ruins before disappearing into the Chiquibul forest that surrounded the ancient Mayan temples and buildings.
They were swallowed up by the jungle immediately, and their eyes adjusted quickly to the dim interior. Howler monkeys trumpeted their advance, and Jaxon felt the eyes of the jungle’s inhabitants on him. Cracker led the way, with Libby at his side, with Jaxon content to watch her from several paces back.
Julian fell into step beside him and they carried on for a while in silence.
“Are you all right?” his brother finally asked.
The question surprised Jaxon, and he flashed a quick grin and nodded. “Yeah, once we reach base, I’ll have a look at the satellite images we managed to pull…not sure if they’ll do any good with all this cover, but we’ll come up with a plan and they’ll never know what hit them.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m talking about Libby. Jagger filled me in. I know there was a child.”
Jaxon’s face whitened and he kept his gaze focused on the slight shoulders that were covered in a tumbled mess of blond waves. He shook his head at Julian, “It’s her I’m worried about. She thinks that the child is alive. She even named him. Logan.”
He couldn’t begin to describe the sorrow that stabbed him as his older brother hiked along beside him.