His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

He stepped back, astonished as mist began to curl over her, twisting around her frame, and swirling into a storm that wrapped her entire body in magick.

Seconds later, Jagger stood stunned as a large golden eagle flew from the mist, long deadly claws aimed straight for his head. He had to drop and roll in order to avoid a hit, and when he finally righted himself he looked up into the sky in wonder.

Skye Knightly was an eagle shifter.

And she was leaving him.

Jagger leapt to his feet, his eyes sweeping the area, looking for something, anything he could use to bring the eagle back, and when his gaze fell upon her satchel, he couldn’t help the laugh that came from his lips.

The eagle was still circling overhead, her triumphant cry echoing eerily into the humid air.

But when he held the leather bag aloft and grinned up at the magnificent creature, its cries were silenced. Jagger swung the bag around his shoulders and grinned up at her.

“Forget something?” he shouted. He then saluted, before turning toward the mountains in the distance.

Beyond the vast ridge was the promise of warm shores and sandy beaches. The Caribbean Sea was calling to him and he was surprised that there was no reluctance to answer its call.

It was time to go. To leave this place he’d called home for the past three months.

With Skye’s precious satchel held firmly in his hands, he cracked a smile and began to move.

He knew she would follow; the eagle couldn’t fly forever.

When she eventually came down he’d be waiting.

Chapter 6

Skye’s moment of jubilation—that second of hell yeah, fuck you—disappeared as quickly as it had come.

She watched helplessly as Jagger held her satchel.

She cursed in silence as he saluted.

And she continued to circle in frustration, feeling impotent rage engulf her, as he smiled up at her wickedly.

When he began to head east, she had no choice but to follow.

What the hell had she been thinking?

She’d not been thinking. That was her problem. She’d reacted entirely on emotion. The jaguar got under her skin, big-time, and like an amateur she’d let him goad her into making one of the stupidest mistakes ever.

For the second time, no less.

Furious, she cried loudly, ignoring the answering laughter that floated on the wind from below. She’d follow the bastard, get her stuff back if it was the last thing she did.

If only she knew where the hell her brother was. Or if Finn was even alive.

Despair threatened to overwhelm her once more and Skye fought it off. There was no time for pity, sadness, or anything other than the task at hand.

She needed to locate the portal. And she needed to do it, like, yesterday.

Things were heating up and there wasn’t much time. For Kragen to be involved at this point, Cormac was gearing up for the impending war. Of that there was no doubt.

The stink of demon was already drifting into the human realm, and if the portal was opened, the consequences would be horrendous. Unimaginable.

As she continued to float on the wind, easily following the jaguar below, Skye tried to keep her thoughts focused. But it was so hard. She really had landed smack-dab in the middle of the most important war that would ever affect the human world.

And they had no clue.