His Darkest Salvation (15 page)

Hard.

He cursed loudly, but his arms kept her pinned as a grimace crept across his features. “Like to play rough?”

She smiled up at him. “I told you earlier not to forget who and what I am.” She dug her nails in deep. They were razor-sharp and cut him quickly.

“I am going to enjoy breaking you,” he whispered hoarsely, and the air shimmered around him as the heat was sucked away and replaced with a blast of cold.

Jaden’s power erupted from deep in her gut, and she hissed loudly as she stomped a six-inch heel into the top of his foot. She laughed as she felt it break through leather, and when he drew his arm back and swung it forward, she grabbed it, held it in place, and grinned at the surprise that rolled over his features.

She jabbed him hard in the gut, her long nails piercing skin, then she spun around, putting several feet between them in an instant. She’d moved fast, her body a blur of dark hair and long limbs.

“Let’s try this again,” she spit. “Where the hell is Cormac?” She held her hands loose and ready, her legs wide, pushing the boundaries of the silky material as it strained against her flesh.

She watched him warily as his eyes gave her the once-over and made no effort to hide her disgust. To think she’d considered, even briefly, using him for sex. It spoke of desperation, and in that instant, she hated Julian Castille for everything he’d done to her. Even if it wasn’t his choice.

She was gonna have to become a nun. She thought of the blue vibrator. Or invest in a lot of batteries.

“You really are quite magnificent.” Kragen took a step toward her. “I was telling you the truth. I have no idea where Cormac is holed up. He’s gone dark over the last few months, and from what I can tell, paranoid as all hell.”

He shrugged and ran his hands through the hair atop his head. “He’s waiting.”

“For what?” Jaden let that information run through her mind. He knew more than he was letting on. She was sure of it.

“He’s gathering his forces, preparing for when the shit hits.”

“And when he sends out the call, will you answer?”

The sorcerer shook his head and shrugged. “At this point, my only concern is taking care of my own ass. I have no idea how things are going to shake out.” He pinned her with a direct stare. “O’Hara is one helluva powerful mage. I don’t think you know what you’re up against. You’d best tread carefully. I’d hate to see your lovely ass served up on a platter at one of his parties.”

“We are committed to the cause,” the lie slipped from her mouth easily, “but we don’t trust Cormac.”

“Lady, you’ve no idea . . .” Kragen looked away and for the first time Jaden saw fear shadow his face. That had all kinds of alarm bells banging inside her.

“I need to find him,” she said firmly, “and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that.”

He laughed. “Including screwing total strangers?” He leered at her. “Your father pretty much offered you up for free. A taste of DaCosta meat is what I was after.”

The glow from his hands flashed bright, then disappeared, leaving her temporarily blinded.

“I’m not leaving until I get it.”

A burst of energy hit Jaden in the chest, throwing her off balance. Kragen was there in an instant, his arms going around hers, pinning her tightly. Inside her jaguar burned, welcoming the violence, feeding upon it.

“This is going to be fun,” she whispered softly, her body stilling as her power gathered inside.

“Yeah,” Kragen whispered at her neck, “that’s what I was thinking.” Her skin crawled as his heat swept across her, and her cat recoiled instantly.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” she ground out. “A good asskicking gets the blood moving.”

“Right,” he whispered.

She felt a pull on her limbs, some invisible force tugging at her hands, and she flexed her fingers as heat seared across the skin.

Son of a bitch! The pain was incredible as it roared across her palms.

“The only ass that’s gonna get kicked is yours, but I promise, I’ll be gentle.” His voice was hoarse, and she could tell the thought of violence excited him.

“Fuck you, Kragen.”

His voice was thick, colored with need, and she grimaced as she felt the hard length of him press into her back.

“Yeah, that’s what I was hoping for.”

Chapter 11

J
esus Christ, were all men cut from the same cloth? Did they all think with their dicks?

She gritted her teeth as a fresh wave of anger swept over her, hot, pulsing, feeding the strength inside and agitating her jaguar into a frenzy. Kragen was gonna learn the hard way it wasn’t smart to corner a cat.

He was breathing hard behind her as he attempted to pin her tight to his body, but she arched her back and slammed her foot onto his once more. His yelp of pain made her smile.

“Fucking bitch.”

She smiled to herself as she used every bit of strength she possessed to break his grip. The bastard was strong, but his strength paled next to that of an enraged jaguar.

She whirled around, her arms flying wide, but he threw an energy pulse at her. The force of it knocked her in the chest hard, another burst of searing heat to join the flames that still licked at her hands.

She doubled over, breathing heavily as her eyes frantically searched for a weapon, anything that she could use. Her palms were on fire, but she ignored it, her muscles bunching together tightly as her jaguar continued to make noise.

Kragen rushed her, and she sidestepped at the last minute, twisting her body, throwing her hips into the air as she did so.

Her legs arced upward, and she knocked the sorcerer in the back as he went by and sent him flying. Damn ninjas had nothing on her.

A smile cracked her mouth open wide as her body began to shift, her energy exploding. The mist was already clawing its way up her legs, and she reveled in the ancient magick that took hold.

She rolled to the side, bones popping as fur rippled over her flesh. Seconds later, her dress was in tatters, and she barked a warning as she emerged from the mist to face her enemy.

Her long tail swung back lazily, flicking the air and catching the eye of the sorcerer. Kragen was breathing heavily, his face a dark mask of hatred, and Jaden wondered how she’d ever thought him handsome.

“I’d love to see your sorry ass locked up in a zoo somewhere.”

She ignored the taunt and moved forward, her movements slow, precise. Kragen was frantically weaving a spell in the air, and she knew she didn’t have much time.

She was about to pounce, her paws digging into the earth beneath her, when a blur whipped by, a golden mix of fur and snarls.

A large spotted jaguar took Kragen down,
hard
, the great cat swiping his paw savagely across the man’s face. Kragen emitted a god-awful sound and began to struggle. The jaguar swiped once more, and he was still.

The spotted cat made a keening noise, deep from its gut as it turned from the sorcerer and stared at her, its golden eyes burning with a madness that gave her pause.

She called the mist to her once more, her eyes never leaving his, letting her anger push her through as the change took hold. Kragen belonged to her, no one else.

Seconds later, she stood in human form, her body tight and humming with an energy that had every single nerve ending on fire.

“Goddamn it, Castille, I don’t need your help,” she spit at him. “I had him on my own.”

She walked toward the downed sorcerer, well aware of the jaguar as it stared at her, studied the naked lines of her body. The cat slowly moved away giving her room, and she bent over Kragen. His flesh had been cut, a gash across the cheek that put her bruises to shame. Blood was flowing freely, but his chest rose and fell. He wasn’t dead, thank goodness, only out cold.

She’d have Nico take him to the hub, and they could interrogate him. Kragen Black would answer their questions one way or another.

The jaguar made a weird sound from behind her, one that pulled deep in her belly, and she shivered as it slid up over her skin, teasing the tattoos along her flesh.

She heard the jaguar panting softly, felt the shift in energy, and tried her best to ignore him as she scooped up the remnants of her dress. The black silk was pretty much in tatters, and she sighed heavily as she fingered the soft fabric. Damn, but she’d done a bang-up job in totally ruining the Cavelli original.

She looked to the side.
Where in hell are my
Jimmy
Choos?

“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Julian’s voice was low, but there was no mistaking his anger. “He could have raped you. Or worse.”

“I was in no danger. Trust me, I’ve handled lots worse than that asshole.”

“I’ll bet you have.”

“What the hell does that mean?” She turned to him, the tatters of her dress forgotten as they fell from her fingers. Why did she let him get under her skin like that?

He didn’t answer.

Julian stood several feet away, his tall form half-hidden by the shifting shadows the wind produced. She’d seen all of him the night before, but still, the sight of his hard, muscled frame made her mouth go dry.

The man was walking perfection. An amazing blend of
GQ
looks with the predatory danger of an animal.

It was wrong. For her to want him as she did . . . all of it.

He hissed, and his chest rose and fell as he continued to stare at her from the darkness.

“Why are you here?” she asked again, curious really, as to why he felt the need to follow, to stalk, someone he didn’t care for. “Are you trying to prove something? Some weird, alpha control thing? None of that shit will work on me.”

“Lady, I don’t need to prove anything to you. I want the portal. End of story. You’re the part of the equation I’m not sure of.”

Her nostrils flared madly, and she took a few steps toward him. “For the last time, you will not question my loyalty or actions.” She was livid. “If you want my help, accept the fact that we’re on the same side or get your ass away from here.”

“So defensive,” he whispered. Julian took the remaining steps between them until they were but inches apart.

Her heart pounded against her chest, the beat heavy and strong. It kept time with the madness that danced along the edges of her clan tattoos, the energy biting, thrilling.

She was tall but felt inadequate next to his six-foot-four-inch frame. Damn but she wished her Jimmys were still attached to her feet.

He changed the subject. “I hate to point out that Kragen had you exactly where he wanted.”

“And where would that be?” she asked cheekily, the words dripping in sarcasm.

“Between his legs.”

She snarled, and her hand flew up, but he caught her fist before she could do any damage, while his other arm grabbed her around the shoulder and held her still. His fingers dug in, but she refused to acknowledge the pain and glared up at him.

“You don’t want to do that,” he whispered dangerously.

“You have no idea what I want to do to you.” She tried to pull away, but he refused to let her go; instead, he jerked her close, and she inhaled sharply as her nipples grazed his hard flesh.

She felt a blush creep up her cheeks as his teeth flashed white, cutting through the gloom. His lips were firm, open slightly, and she fought the insane desire to grab them, claim them as hers once more.

She knew how amazing they felt as they slid along skin.

“I’ve a pretty good idea,” he answered, his long lashes sweeping downward as he gazed at her hard, aching nipples. “Always the little whore, no?” He laughed harshly and nodded behind them. “Magick man not enough for you?”

He bent his head, and, for a second, she was afraid he would kiss her, and she’d never have control over the emotions and urges that were ripping through her relentlessly.

She felt liquid heat pool deep within the softness between her legs and wanted to lash out at the irony. That she should feel such overwhelming desire for a man who thought she was no more than a common prostitute.

She tried to arch away, but he held her firm, and his mouth settled near the hollow in her neck, allowing her a moment of relief. But only a moment, and she shuddered as his warm breath spread shivers of energy across her heated flesh.

He inhaled a deep breath and sniffed along her collarbone, his hands tightening against hers painfully, but she didn’t care.

Inside her body, everything had melted into liquid fire. Her jaguar burned beneath her flesh, wanting the man she’d claimed years earlier.

He continued to slowly move back up the side of her neck until his lips were next to her ear. “Or have you already had dessert?” The energy in the air changed then, as did the tone of Julian’s voice.

His tongue licked along the small juncture between her ear and her neck, and she couldn’t stop the groan that fell from her lips. She shook her head slowly, hating the way he made her feel. The lack of control he pulled from her.