His Darkest Embrace (Jaguar Warriors 2)

Skye’s eyes singled out a drop that clung to the teeth precariously, and when it fell toward her, she closed her eyes in revulsion, only to cry out in pain as the liquid slid across her cheek.

The burn was intense, the pain sharp, searing.

Skye began to buck wildly, her arms flailing out, and when her hand clamped down upon a rock she picked it up and threw it with all her might at the demon’s head.

He roared in anger and swung his fist at her, striking her with an equally vicious blow.

Skye screamed in fury, frustration, and plain old fear. Her cheek was on fire and her calf felt like there were a thousand shards of glass ripping through it.

The demon began to lower his head and for that one brief second, Skye could honestly say she’d never been more terrified in her entire life. It was all encompassing. Immobilizing.

Frantically, she clawed at the demon, trying to arch away, but it was no use. Even with her enhanced strength the demon was much too strong.

When his mouth closed over hers, Skye nearly lost her mind. The terror that ripped through her was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

The demon moaned into her and went still, but the pull that Skye felt deep inside of her intensified. Her skull was on fire and her head pounded. It felt like her very soul was being ripped from her body and the cold that seeped into her veins was sharp, as if she’d been dipped into the deepest, most frigid part of the Atlantic Ocean.

It was liquid ice.

She struggled still, but Skye’s vision began to blur and even though she fought like hell, she began to lose hope.

A god-awful cry ripped across th

e darkness that had entombed her and Skye’s eyes flew open. The cry had come from inside her mind and she knew without a doubt who it belonged to.

Azaiel.

The demon, Tag, broke away and looked down at her. The fear that hung on his distorted features caught at her.

“I knew not …” the demon mumbled, confused and deathly afraid. He then made a series of choking noises, as if he were being strangled from the inside out. His body began to shake violently and then he collapsed on top of her.

The weight very nearly crushed her and it was all Skye could do to push the body off of her. She rolled to the side, coughing, shivering, and feeling like she’d just died. Dully, her gaze landed on Jagger, still in animal form, his jaguar panting from exertion.

At his feet lay the limp body of the female vampire. From what she could see through the thick haze of fog that was slowly descending upon her, the vampire’s head had been nearly torn from her body.

Skye was afraid of losing consciousness. Afraid that the demon’s kiss would claim her, destroy her. Funny, considering where she was going to end up when she finally sealed the portal.

If she sealed the portal.

The feeling of sadness that washed over her brought tears to her eyes and she struggled to see through them, to focus on Jagger.

The cat jumped over Dani’s body as the mist claimed it and it was Jagger himself who knelt over her. His hands touched her face, fell to her chest and then to the rest of her body.

“Why the fuck didn’t you leave?” His words were laden with a pain she’d never felt before.

His whispered words tore through her and if she could, Skye would have done anything to ease his burden.

She stared up into eyes full of pain. They shimmered as the last of his jaguar left his body, the bright green orbs now solemn and dark.

“I can’t …” The words came haltingly. “ … shift after dusk.”

Jagger cradled her closer, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

Skye closed her eyes and whispered simply, “I didn’t trust you.”

“Of course you didn’t. Why the hell would you?” Jagger’s voice rose and she flinched, though it went unnoticed as his anger kept pace. “Jaguars have been killing your kind for eons.”

He paused then. “How did you …?” He glanced at the demon at her side. His innards were exposed as sulfuric smoke escaped from every orifice. She could tell he was as confused as she was, but when Skye opened her mouth to answer, no words came out.