Authors: Catherine Vale
“Anything stored here has long since rotted, or been looted.”
“It’s such a shame, especially in a place as distinct as this ruin.” She followed Daniel back into the passageway.
The passage turned and Addison thought they’d moved away from the outer wall of the ruin, heading toward the center. It must have been to bring whatever was in these rooms into the main part of the ruin, without coming out into the open. It made sense, especially in the rainy season, or if what they were moving was valuable.
“Here…look.” The passage widened, the ceiling suddenly several meters higher. Dim light filtered in. “There must be an opening up ahead.” Daniel turned off his light and she did as well. They were in a fuzzy, gray darkness, and it made her want to hurry ahead, toward the source of the light.
“Not so fast.” Daniel set a hand on her arm as she moved past him. “You don’t know what’s ahead.”
“There’s nothing ahead. It’s a ruin, Daniel. We’re not likely to find anyone living here.”
“Reckless…and if I had...”
It was the last she heard. Daniel’s words were cut off by the growls and snarls of the jaguars that appeared, as if by magic, to surround them in the passage.
“Daniel!” She turned back, desperate to be next to him, but a large black jaguar stood between them. Two more advanced behind Daniel, and she feared they’d attack him. But they stopped behind him, crouched and snarling.
“Stand still, Addison. Don’t move.” Daniel stood, relaxed but alert, the machete held loosely in one hand. “Don’t run.”
“You will turn and face me.”
The voice behind her was deep and regal, almost melodious. And tinged with contempt. Addison turned to meet the man who’d spoken.
“It’s you.” Her voice was just above a whisper, barely audible above the sound of the jaguars, and the rain.
The man from the ledge stood before her, arms folded across his muscular chest, face in shadow, backlit in an open doorway. He wore nothing but a loincloth and cape, both made of brightly patterned cloth. She tried not to stare, but it was as if she’d been transported back in time, to stand before an Incan ruler. But something flickered in his proud eyes, and she sensed a moment of confusion within the man. Then, as soon as it appeared, it vanished, and he was once again a proud, if contemptuous-looking, Incan.
“I am Griffin. And you are trespassing on sacred ground. You realize the penalty is death?”
Behind her Daniel started to speak. The jaguars’ growls overrode his voice, the sound echoing eerily off the stone walls.
Griffin held up his hand, glaring at Daniel. “I’m not interested in what you have to say. But
you
…” He pointed to Addison and she resisted taking a step back. “Why are you here?”
“I’ve come to find a flower, an orchid. It’s to cure my sister. It’s the orchid the Incas used to cure their own people.”
Griffin’s gaze flickered again with that strange uncertainty again. “How do you know about this orchid?”
“It’s my job, my profession, to learn about flowers, and how they were used to treat illness. My sister—my twin—cannot be cured with modern medicine. I believe only medicine made from the orchid will cure her.”
“So you’re here for family. To save what you have.”
She nodded, not sure if she should say anything else. He seemed satisfied with her answer. Then, to her bewilderment, a subtle change came over Griffin. The imperious attitude remained, but there seemed to be a softening, something giving way inside. His eyes lost a fraction of the hardness. When he spoke, his voice was slightly less harsh.
“Family is all we have, the clan we’re born into, or the clan that takes us in and accepts us as their own.”
Addison took a step forward. Daniel made a noise, but she ignored him. Griffin’s eyes never left hers.
“Will you help me find the orchid? You know where it is.”
“I do. But what will
you
do for me, if I help you?”
“What… anything…what do you want?”
He stepped forward, the light catching his face. Addison saw the scar running along the edge of his eye, and then saw his brilliant green eyes. Her eyes widened, everything she’d seen coming together.
“You…the jaguar on the path, and the ledge. It was you, all along. How…”
The smile that crossed his face was less friendly than tolerant. “For being so educated, you know very little.”
She bristled. Jaguar, or Inca, or not, he’d hit a nerve. “I know enough. I know I need that orchid.” What she had to say next took all her resolve. “And I know I need your help.” Admitting that was harder than anything she’d ever done.
“You may not know everything, but at least you’re honest.” He took another step forward, eyes traveling over her. She felt she was being evaluated for something.
“I have a proposition. Accept, and I will help you find your orchid. Reject, and, if I’m feeling generous, you will be escorted out of our territory. If I’m not feeling generous, then…” He shrugged, an elegant and chilling gesture.
“I accept.” It didn’t matter what he wanted. What
she
wanted was more important. Griffin’s eyebrows rose, then came down in a deep frown.
“Addison, don’t be insane.” Daniel hissed his objection. She turned, putting a hand up to silence him, shaking her head.
“I need this, Daniel. I don’t care what he wants. I’ll do whatever it is.” She turned back to Griffin. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”
“You are either extremely foolish, or very brave. Come with me. Only you.” He pointed to her, then turned away, striding toward the open door. She took a step, then turned back to Daniel.
“Wait.”
Griffin turned back, his scowl deepening. “Do not try my patience. Come.”
“I have a condition of my own. Only one.”
There was a moment when she thought he was going to leave her, to walk out. But he walked back slowly.
“And what is this condition?” He drew himself up tall, looking very imposing, and crossed his arms over his chest again.
Addison pointed over her shoulder at Daniel. “He is not to be harmed, by you, or your…jaguars. Or anyone else. He is to be here, just as he stands now, when I return.”
Griffin looked over her head at Daniel. She didn’t turn, didn’t want to see the expression on Daniel’s face. For a long moment, no one moved, or spoke. Even the jaguars were silent. Then Griffin looked at her, brows drawing together briefly, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. She had the distinct impression no one spoke to him this way and lived to talk about it.
“He is to be protected, from all harm. He will be here, as he is now, when you return.”
She let out the breath she was holding, the tension in her body diminishing slightly. “Thank you.” She finally turned to look at Daniel.
“Addison. No. This won’t work.” He took a step toward her and the jaguars slipped into the shadows, but they remained close.
“It
has
to work, Daniel. There can be no other way.”
He reached out, pulling her against his chest. Beneath his shirt his heart was beating fast, almost as fast as hers.
“I’ll be fine, Daniel. I promise… I’ll be fine.”
“You better be. I’d never forgive myself if you don’t come back.” He hugged her hard.
“I’ll be back. Trust me.” She pushed away, turning from him before she changed her mind. Griffin was still standing in the doorway, waiting.
“Come. We have a long way to go.” He went through the door and was gone.
Addison ran through the doorway, catching up to Griffin as he strode down the passageway.
“Stop. I mean, wait.” She was breathless, from excitement, fear, from trying to keep up with his pace.
He turned, one eyebrow raised. “You speak as if you’ve forgotten your place.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” He’d stopped, to her relief, and she stood next to him. This close, he was even more imposing. She caught his scent, deeply masculine, nothing covered or camouflaged with artificial scents. It was pure male, and it was as heady as it was distinct.
“I want to know what I’ve agreed to, what your condition is.”
“Come.” He growled impatiently, and started down the passage, but at a slower pace. She could keep pace with him as he walked, without having to jog.
“You have agreed to provide me with progeny.” He threw her a sidelong glance. “You do know the word? Family, if you do not.”
She gasped, not from exertion, but from his words. “Progeny? You mean you expect me to…that we’re going to…that I’m going to sleep with you?”
“Very good. You understand.”
“But why on earth would I want to do that?”
“It doesn’t matter if you want to. It matters that you agreed to.” He stopped and she almost ran into him.
“You agreed to the condition before hearing it. If you wish to change your mind, you can turn back, and you will be left to your own defenses. I cannot agree to protect you.”
“But…that’s blackmail.”
She wasn’t expecting him to laugh. “Do you always get what you want…it’s Addison, is it not? Does everyone give into what you desire? You have that…
man
…twisted around to do your bidding.”
“Daniel? He rarely does what I want.”
Griffin laughed again. “Say what you will, but you are demanding. And in this case, you do not get your way. I get mine.”
“But why do you need a child from me?”
He walked on for a moment in silence. “Do you know what I am?”
“You’re a jaguar shifter.”
It was his turn to stop, to turn and stare at her. “You know about shifters?”
“Yes. Well, I know a little. I’ve done some reading, I know that some believe that the jaguar cults of the Incas were not just religious cults that worshiped the jaguar, but actually worshiped men who could change into jaguars.”
As she spoke, Griffin’s expression changed completely. The tough exterior dropped, and for a moment she felt she’d finally gotten through to him.
“And you believe this…reading…that you’ve done?”
“I do now. I’ve seen you, remember? On the path. And then on the ledge. You changed, right in front of me.”
He dropped his eyes and she was shocked that he seemed flustered. But that lasted only a second before the imperious Griffin returned. He raised his eyes and fixed her with a stern look.
“I was momentarily less cautious than I should have been. It was reckless. Do not think that I will be that weak again.”
“But why do you need a child?”
They were walking again, Griffin back to his breakneck pace. “If you know of shifters, you know we’re a dying breed. We’ve been hunted, almost eradicated, all at the hands of humans.” He spat the word human as if it were a poisoned piece of food.
“But I’m human. Why me?”
“Because you’re the only woman here. I view this as a gift from the Gods, a way for our kind to continue.”
“Why not take women from the villages in the area?”
He spat for real this time. “I will not taint our lineage with the blood of those who kill us. You…” He pointed at her over his shoulder. “You haven’t tried to kill me, yet.”
They’d come to a larger room, clearly in the center of the ruins. Griffin led her up a steep flight of stone stairs. They emerged beneath an overhanging roof, with a spectacular view over the ruins. Addison stopped, unable to resist taking in what was spread below here. The rain had stopped, but the jungle was alive with the sound of water dripping from the foliage.
“This is amazing.” The buildings were in ruins, but she could see the beauty of the layout of the buildings, the architecture and craftsmanship. “It’s wonderful.”
“And it would still be, if not for your kind.” He stood beside her, and she glanced up at him. Loss and anger mixed on his face, and it touched her. But, as before, that was quickly replaced with the imperious look she’d come to think as his normal expression.
“Truthfully, I can’t argue with you. But my kind, as you call them, don’t kill shifters, or anyone else. It’s the raiders who kill.” Her voice had gone rough around the edges, clogged with memories.
“You’re not the only one who’s lost someone here. I lost colleagues…and friends…in that ruin.”
Griffin stood like a statue beside her, unmoving, imposing. Looking, for all the world, like an Incan ruler, overseeing his domain. She risked no more than a glance at him; she didn’t want him to see the tears in her eyes. The tears were for Rachel and Jeremy, maybe for herself too, but she wasn’t going to have him see her as weak. Being strong in his presence was important, second only to finding the orchid.
“I agree to your condition.”
“You already have.”
“Yes, but now I know the reason behind it. Your family, your clan. My sister. It’s all the same. You get your new start, I get to keep my sister.”
She turned, holding out her right hand. Griffin looked down at her hand as he might look at a coiled snake.
“Shake my hand, it’s how my kind seal our deals.”
Griffin raised one eyebrow, but he took her hand, shaking it gently. She firmed her grip, catching a brief lift of the corner of his mouth.