His Darkest Hunger (Jaguar Warriors 1)

“Ana, you’re breaking up, what was that?” His voice was raspy and he hoped she was able to read him.

“Libby! Have you seen her?”

Jaxon stilled at the vampire’s words and felt everything melt away. Every sound that echoed in the jungle, his anger and hatred for the DaCostas…all of it ceased to exist.

“What the hell do you mean have I seen Libby? She’s with you.”

There was a long pause, and Ana’s voice broke as it echoed into the night. “No, she’s not. She left not long after you did and was heading your way.”

Chapter 20

Intense pain wrapped its way around his heart and choked his airway. Jaxon reeled and fell back against the tree, his heart pumping like mad, fueled by a spike of adrenaline. He was dizzy, and fought against the thick blanket of fog that threatened to overcome him.

Libby! Here? Would she have made it this far?

He groaned at the thought of her anywhere near the compound, and as his gaze traveled to the smoking ruins, he turned to the side and heaved, emptying the contents of his stomach onto the moist earth.

It passed, his moment of weakness. And was quickly replaced with a steely determination that blackened his mind to any possibility other than the survival of the woman he loved.

Cracker’s feet slowly shuffled toward him, and he focused on them, waiting as a cool calm began to slip into his bloodstream. He would find her. He would claim her as his once and for all. He would not take no for an answer.

And then he would kill her.

How dare she defy him? And take such a chance with her life? The woman was fucking insane.

And that’s what you love about her.

Jaxon pulled his body up from the ground, savagely shaking his head, but the truth was there, buried deep in both his mind and his heart. A lot of things had changed over the last three years, but several things had obviously not.

Libby Jamieson had always irritated the crap out of him, she’d angered him on a daily basis, most times never listened to anything he said, was pig-headed…and he wouldn’t change one damn thing about her.

He needed to get to her in a way that hurt and cut him sharper than a blade.

His heart was pounding loudly now, and Cracker looked at him, sorrow lining the tired wrinkles around his eyes. He’d heard the conversation with Ana and was awaiting his instructions.

“Do you think she was capable of trekking through this jungle in the shape she was in?” Cracker’s voice was soft, but the concern was evident.

Jaxon shook his head ruefully. “Nothing that woman does surprises me anymore, and truthfully, she’s been out in this jungle for three years. If there’s anyone who can survive and find their way around, it will be Libby.”

Jaxon nodded toward the flaming compound. “I need you to make sure our team is intact. Once you’ve rounded up everyone, have them start searching for her.”

Cracker left immediately, and Jaxon ran toward what was left of the compound, sending his extraordinary senses high into the air, seeking out any trace of his woman that he could find. He passed several charred bodies along the way, but was able to ascertain that they were male and didn’t belong to any of his crew.

Poor bastards. The DaCosta carnage continued to pile up.

He sensed movement to his left and whirled around, his stance aggressive. Relief flooded him when he saw it was his brother Julian. “You all right?” He barked the question, not bothering to stop and check himself. The urgency to find Libby was biting at his heels, and he tried to squash the fear that accompanied it.

If something happened to her now, before he was able to make things right, he would never forgive himself.

“Don’t worry about me. What the hell happened?”

“The DaCostas knew we were coming. The whole thing was a setup, and now, apparently, Libby might be around here somewhere.”

“Libby? I thought Declan sleep-charmed her. Shouldn’t that have knocked her out for the entire day?”

“You would think.” Jaxon pounded the air with a fist, his frustration and anger exploding as he realized his own stupidity. “How the hell did I let this happen?”

“Don’t worry about that now. What do you want me to do?”