His Darkest Salvation (6 page)

He probably couldn’t get off the plane fast enough.

She slipped her feet into a pair of soft slippers, wincing as the tender flesh rubbed against the fabric, and toweled the dampness from her hair before heading back to the main cabin.

The tone and feel of the engines had changed, and she knew they were ready to head back to Mexico. Her gaze wandered the cabin until they landed on the men in her unit.

Nico sat facing her, his body tense and his features cold. He’d shown up at her resort one day six months ago, not long after she’d returned from Belize. She’d not asked why he’d decided to take a break from his self-imposed exile, but the warrior was willing to do whatever it took to defeat O’Hara. Over the past several months, they’d formed a solid, tight unit, and had run several successful missions for PATU.

Jaden sighed. Things were never easy with the jaguar. He carried a lot of baggage, but his spirit and strength more than made up for his somewhat cranky attitude. She ignored him, knowing that when he was angry, the best thing to do was steer clear.

Finn nodded, his vivid blue eyes striking as they bored into her. “Castille is looking a little worse for wear.”

Finn Knightly had been sent her way from Jaxon’s unit in Canada. After the shit that had gone down in Belize, Jaxon Castille had been made aware of her undercover status. She ran her own operation but had helped out on several occasions when Jaxon had requested it.

“I don’t think he was holidaying anywhere we’d want to be,” she answered quietly.

Nico snorted loudly, but they both ignored him.

“He give anything up?” Finn arched a brow as he looked up at her.

“No. If he knows where the portal is, he wasn’t sharing.” Jaden exhaled slowly. “Did your contacts have any information?”

Finn shook his head. “Same old. The chatter is loud, shit is gonna hit soon, but no one seems to know where or when.” He smiled up at her though the weariness that clung to him shadowed his features. “No rest for the wicked.”

“No,” she murmured, “there won’t be rest for any of us until this is finished.” She nodded. “Contact Jaxon at PATU when we get back and see what he’s got. Fill him in on our status.” She paused, and whispered softly, “He should know that his brother lives.”

“Will do.” Finn settled into his seat and looked away. The eagle shifter had always been somewhat aloof; they were, after all, natural enemies, but lately it had been worse.

Things had changed, the game had progressed. They all knew the end was near. Jaden slipped into her chair and exhaled loudly. She just wanted it to be over.

“Buckle up, we’re due to taxi to the runway in one minute.”

Her pilot’s voice drifted through the speakers, and she secured the lap belt as she turned to the window. Outside, the vast darkness that blanketed the area looked beautiful as the lights of the city sparkled like diamonds. How deceptive, she thought. She knew what the darkness hid, what evil was out there watching and waiting for the chance to infect her world.

As she settled into her seat her insides twisted. An ominous feeling of dread pressed into her. The tide had turned. She could feel it.

Julian and Declan were back, by what means she didn’t know, but one thing was clear—the shifter was definitely off center. Wherever the hell he’d been had done damage.

There was no way she could trust him. Besides, the man could barely look at her. She clenched her teeth until her jaw ached and as she stared at her reflection in the glass, she made a vow
to not care
.

There was no time for soft feelings and regret. She had a mission to accomplish, and no one was getting between her and the portal.

Not even the man she called mate.

Chapter 5

H
umid air swept across cool tiles and pulled at a melancholy anchored deep within, one that was long forgotten. Julian stopped and let the memory of it, the
feel
of it, wash over him.

The scent of the jungle tantalized his nose, caressed his skin, and slid over him. He felt it, the mystery and magic that lay in the surrounding area, and his jaguar chomped at the bit, wanting nothing more than to shed the cloak of humanity that held him back.

He’d been back in Mexico for several hours and had just arrived at the Night Sky Casino and Resort. The place was impressive, to say the least, covering several miles of prime coastland deep within the heart of the Mayan Riviera. It was a virtual paradise on earth.

He snorted. Yeah, the DaCosta crime family had done a bang-up job building one of the premier luxury resorts in the area. His eyes narrowed. Blood money. The family was rank to the core and this . . . this place of beauty and tranquility was nothing more than a big fucking hoax.

Like the shades that had lingered below in the filth of the demon realm, with their phantom skin. None of it was real.

His gaze strayed to the hordes of new arrivals, and he felt disgust. Business was good.

He tipped his driver and grabbed the small bag he’d brought along for the trip, before entering the main lobby area. Within seconds, he knew where every security camera was located and was careful to stay out of their line of sight as he made his way over to the bar just beyond reception.

The place was busy, but he had no problem grabbing a spot at the bar and ordered a double whiskey while he waited.

As he let the amber liquid burn down his throat, his mind wandered back to the one face that had haunted him for the last twenty-four hours. Jaden DaCosta.

He exhaled sharply and ordered another drink, ignoring the interest from the blonde who sat a few feet away.

His thoughts darkened, and he frowned. He didn’t know what Jaden’s agenda was, but he sure as hell didn’t believe one word that fell from her lips. How could he? She was a DaCosta.

Nervous energy had him itching to leave, but he forced himself to relax. He needed to keep a cool head.

After he’d left the jet and driven back to his condo, his mind had been all over the place, but one thing had become clear. Jaden was the key to everything. It was no accident they’d met three years earlier. He didn’t believe that for one second.

Just as it was no accident that she’d been at his place the night he returned to the human realm. She’d also been in the jungle the night he’d been banished to hell. As far as he was concerned, she was up to her ass in the entire mess. He needed answers, and he needed them yesterday.

His eyes drifted back to the lobby, over to a young couple waiting to check in. Their children laughed and played hide-and-seek while they held on to each other and watched, their faces full of love.

They had no fucking clue what walked the earth and what waited beneath. He gritted his teeth and drained the glass.

No fucking clue at all.

“I’ll buy you another.”

Julian turned to the blonde. She’d moved closer and was smiling at him. Her eyes were unnaturally green, her generous breasts on display, pert and firm. Her overlarge lips were wet as she ran her tongue over them in an open invitation for a quick fuck.

She was all kinds of plastic.

His sensitive nostrils flared. He smelled her interest.

He smiled at her, then glanced up at the clock perched above the bar. It was early. He had more than enough time to ease the ache that had taken hold the night before.

She moved closer and signaled to the bartender.

“Two more of what he’s drinking.”

Christ, even her voice was controlled, the accent in her words uncomfortable, as if she were trying desperately to be something other than what she was. The woman was the total opposite of Jaden.

A vision of the dark-eyed witch burned behind his eyes. She’d been magnificent fighting the demons, and as he let his mind settle on an image of her, with her hair flying everywhere in the heat of battle, he was instantly hard. The blonde giggled as she slid up against him.

“You ready to go, tiger?” She opened her mouth and laughed. A practiced line to be sure. “I have an hour before the bus arrives.”

Julian looked down at her, and even though his body was aching and unfulfilled, he knew she wouldn’t cut it. There was no way in hell the woman could satisfy what he needed.

She wouldn’t even come close.

Julian stared down into the empty tumbler and frowned viciously. He was pissed off. He had no time for this shit. No time for complications.

No time for emotion. He much preferred the blank canvas that had draped his soul for the last six months.

“My name is—”

“I don’t give a flying fuck if your name is Cleopatra; it ain’t gonna happen.” The words were ripped from his throat, and it gave him perverse pleasure to watch her green eyes fade, her smile fall.

“Are you for real?” she retorted, embarrassed, confused, as her long lacquered nails fluffed the blond strands of hair that fell around her shoulders. She looked around as if afraid they’d been overheard.

Julian couldn’t explain the fury, the rage that flushed through him. It left him panting as he struggled to control the darkness that sank into his head.

“Lady,” he whispered hoarsely, “you should go.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“He’s been called worse.”

They both turned as Declan O’Hara slid up against the bar. “He wouldn’t be any good anyways.” The tall Irishman smiled at the blonde and winked. “Trust me, he hasn’t had sex in a seriously long time; I doubt he’d last more than two minutes.”

The woman’s mouth fell open, and she stuttered, but no words came from within. She shook her head and turned on her heel, disappearing into the crowd within seconds.

“Nice,” Declan murmured.

Julian scowled and pushed away from the bar. “What took so long? Thought you were going to meet me at the airport.”

Declan’s eyes narrowed though he kept a smile pasted to his face. He ordered a cold beer.

“I had a visitor.”

“More demons?”

“Nope.”

Silence fell between them as Julian stared at the sorcerer. He was tight-lipped and tense.

“You gonna elaborate?”

Declan grabbed the coldie from the bartender and took a long, hard swig. “Ana.”

Julian let that information settle a bit. The vampire was not someone the two of them discussed. Not once in all the time they’d been trapped in hell had Ana been mentioned.

But Julian knew how deeply Declan’s feelings ran.

“Didn’t take long for her to hunt you down,” he said carefully.

Declan finished his beer. “Pretty easy to do considering Jaden contacted PATU and gave them a heads-up.”

PATU. Paranormal Anti-terrorist Unit.

It was the government agency run by Julian’s brother Jaxon and one that Declan had belonged to up until six months ago. Technically, he supposed the Irishman was still a part of the elite unit, but the both of them knew their journey had been altered dramatically the day they’d left the human realm.

“Jaden contacted her?” He was full of disbelief.

“Yeah; apparently she’s one of the good guys.”

Julian snorted. “Sure she is.”

Declan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just the messenger. Ana said she’s been working under the umbrella of PATU covertly for years.”

Julian ignored his words.

“How are they?” Julian asked. “My brothers. Did Jagger make it out of the jungle with Skye?”

“Yeah. They’re good . . .” Declan’s voice trailed off. “They’re all good. Normal and fucking peachy-keen.”

The two men stared at each other.
Normal
was not a word they’d ever be able to use again.

Julian clenched his teeth and let the wave of pain that sat upon his chest ride over him. The tangle of scars burned, pulsated. It was a constant reminder of what he’d lost. Most of the time, he was able to ignore it; but sometimes, like now, the burn was much too intense.

If he let it, it would surely drive him mad.

“And Ana?” he asked softly.

Declan carefully placed the empty bottle on the bar. “The same.”

Julian watched the sorcerer closely, knowing the conversation was over.

“You boys want another?” The bartender drew his attention; Julian shook his head and followed Declan back into the lobby.

His heart rate slowed as his animal gathered tight. He let his senses fly, but as far as he could tell, there wasn’t a hint of otherworld; nor was there any sign of the DaCostas.

“You sure this is a good idea?” Declan sounded doubtful. “I was kinda liking the idea of working this alone. You know, Butch and Sundance, Starsky and Hutch. . . . Bonnie and Clyde.” He laughed softly at Julian’s dark look. “Of course, you’d be Bonnie.”

Julian sighed and shook out his tight limbs. Declan had never lost his sense of humor; Julian just didn’t find anything funny anymore.

“I’m not sure about anything other than the fact she wants the portal as badly as we do.” He continued to study everyone and everything. “We don’t have a lot of time, and she may be the easiest way for us to get our hands on the danm thing.”