Authors: Catherine Vale
Chapter Eight
Griffin thought for a moment she was going to strike him. It tore at him to watch the joy in her face fade, replaced by a darker emotion. Anger; anger at him.
“You are still bound by our agreement. And you will not leave until that agreement is met.”
“What the hell is he talking about now?” Daniel’s voice rose and the men standing around the edge of the dig moved forward. The swish of knives being pulled from sheaths cut through the air. Griffin glanced at each man and they held their ground. Even though this human had desecrated sacred ruins, he was important to Addison. He would not have him killed…yet.
Addison looked up at Griffin, confusion and hurt mixing with the anger on her face. “But I need to go back. I can’t stay.”
“You gave your word. And I am holding you to that word. Do you not honor your word?” He dropped his voice, directing his next words to her only.
“I know the agreement has not been met. Trust me when I say you are still bound by it.”
The effect of his words on her face tore at him, a mixture of distrust and loathing. More than anything he wanted her to stay, because not only was it the right thing to do, but because he’d nurtured the tiny hope that she might care for him.
But that obviously wasn’t the case. She was the same head-strong, willful human he’d met just a few days before. Their nights in the jungle, and what had passed between them, meant nothing more to her than a means to an end, a way to get what she wanted.
Addison turned to Daniel with an almost-pleading look. “Daniel. I can’t…go.” She turned back to Griffin. “Not just yet.”
There was a moment of silence. The distant sound of the rain came to Griffin and for a moment he wished he could shift, here and now, and run into the rain, to forget this entire mess, to forget he’d ever met Addison.
But he was the leader of his clan; he could not run. It was his responsibility to make things right. And if that meant, at the moment, forcibly restraining Addison, then so be it.
He gestured toward the nearest guard, speaking quickly in his native language. The man strode forward, reaching for Addison’s arm, pulling her away from Daniel.
Before Griffin could even finish his command, Daniel stepped up to face Griffin. The man radiated anger, frustration, contempt, and Griffin held himself ready for a fight.
But Daniel stopped, and when he spoke, his words were not what Griffin expected to hear. “Addison can stay. I’ll take the orchid back to the Museum.”
“Daniel…” Addison tugged desperately against the man holding her. Griffin glanced at the guard, and he let go of her arm. She crossed to Daniel.
“I can’t ask that. This is my responsibility.”
“You’re not asking. I’m telling you, this is what I’m doing. You can’t be in two places at the same time. And it’s obvious he thinks you’re staying here.” He thrust his chin in Griffin’s direction. “And I will leave the bones in the ruins. They belong to you.” He said the words reluctantly, and Addison wondered the price it cost him to say them.
Griffin remained silent, watching the tableau unfold in front of him. Perhaps he had misjudged this human, this man. He was willing to put aside what was important to him, to take care of Addison. It also gave him an elegant solution to the other problem: how to mate with Addison, have her conceive his child. It would have been impossible to do that with Daniel still there.
“I will allow him to leave, to take the orchid. He will be protected until he is safely returned to the human world.”
* * *
Addison stood on the flat roof of the ruins, watching as Daniel was escorted down the side of the ruins, and then through the jungle. He had the orchid safely in his pack, and she’d told him who to find at the Museum, the botanist who could decipher her notes, who could, if it were possible, make a cure for Grace.
At the last minute, Griffin had allowed Daniel to photograph the bones. Something had changed in Griffin; some kind of grudging respect seemed to have sprung up toward Daniel. Griffin was still distant, imperious, watching over every move Daniel made, but he hadn’t interfered as Daniel carefully photographed the remains.
The jungle quickly swallowed Daniel and the other men. She looked at the place where they last stood, sighed, and turned. Griffin was standing behind her.
“So now what?” She was exhausted, in body and mind. And she was irritated with Griffin, angry with his alpha-male posturing, and with Daniel, although she was amazingly grateful for his offer to return to the Museum. But it seemed everything that had happened between her and Griffin didn’t matter, made no difference.
“Now I take you to my home. We leave the ruins. And you stay with me until our agreement is complete.”
“How do you know…how can you tell that I’m not…”
“That you have not conceived?” The smile he gave her was grim. “I live much closer to those kinds of things than you do.”
“Fine.” If nothing else she’d learned that arguing with Griffin was pointless.
“It’s not far. You will have your own hut, a place to rest that is more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.”
She nodded. “I’d kill for a shower and a change of clothes, to tell the truth.”
He made that sound she’d grown used to, something between a snort and a snarl. “You’ve been in the rain.” He gestured toward her, taking in her sodden clothes. “If you didn’t cover your body with layers of cloth, the water could reach you, and you’d be clean.”
“As much as I want to be clean, I’m still not ready to parade through the jungle naked.”
He smiled, the first smile since they’d been back in the ruins that actually seemed genuine, not mocking or condescending. He held her gaze and for a moment she saw glimpse of the man she’d spent the past two nights with, the man who’d held her, challenged her, and ultimately been her equal.
“Come.” He held out his hand and she took it, and they turned, walking toward the edge of the roof. Behind them two guards were closing up the room Daniel had uncovered, carefully replacing the stones and brittle pieces of wood.
They’d gone just a few steps when there were shouts from the guards, in a language she didn’t understand. Griffin spun around, pushing her behind him. She peered around him, half-expecting to see Kade, or some other jungle creature.
But a man stood at the edge of the excavation, an older man, wearing a flowing cape, a gold neckpiece that covered most of his chest, and a headdress decorated in feathers. Behind him were several men, all of them extraordinarily tall, dressed in similar, but less dramatic, fashion.
The man was stunning, larger than life, and Addison had a difficult time believing this was reality. By his bearing Addison knew he must be someone very important. Confirming this, Griffin released her hand and dropped to one knee, his head bowed. The man looked at Addison, his black eyes sweeping over her in a contemptuous way that set her teeth on edge. But chilled her to the bone as well.
“Rise.”
“As you command, Xavier.”
Griffin straightened, his head still bowed. It was curious to see him in a subordinate role. But it also sent a shaft of fear through her. It was obviously unexpected, having this new, powerful man appear. And the look on his face didn’t bode for good news. The air crackled with tension between the two men, and Addison took a prudent step to the side, away from them.
“It has been made known to me that you have made some kind of agreement with this…” The man waved in Addison’s general direction. “…this
woman
. An arrangement that benefits only you and your clan. I cannot allow this. You must surrender her.”
Griffin’s head snapped up, eyes narrowed. “I will do no such thing. She has conceived.”
“You will, or you will suffer the consequences.” The older man’s voice rang through the ruins, the feathers on his headdress quivering. “You obey me, Griffin, not your own rules. As I command. And don’t think I am a fool. I have a nose; I can scent her from here. She is no more carrying your child, than she is carrying mine.”
A hot bolt of fear lanced through Addison. She was at the mercy of whatever Xavier wanted to do with her, and she didn’t believe anything Griffin did or said would make much difference. For the first time she realized her life might be in danger.
“This plan of yours is wise, and because I recognize that, your life will be spared. But the leaders of the clans will fight for the right to mate with her.”
“No.” She said the word before she’d even had time to think. “I won’t do that.”
Xavier turned to her, eyes blazing. “You will not speak.”
“And you will not dictate what happens with my life.” Adrenaline flooded through her and she stepped forward, ending up right in front Xavier. She poked an index finger into his chest, nail tapping on the gold necklace.
“I came here for my sister, and Griffin helped me find what I needed. I agreed to help him, because of what he’s done for me. But I’m not going to be a brood mare for your kind.”
Xavier’s expression was of pure astonishment. That quickly changed to something very dark and ominous. Belatedly, she realized she’d overstepped her bounds, not by a step, but by a mile. Quickly she retracted her finger, but the damage was done.
“Restrain her.” Xavier’s voice was ice, rising up against the sky. Two of his entourage stepped forward and Addison took a reflexive step back. But she didn’t get far; she bumped into Griffin. His hands grabbed her upper arms and for a moment she sagged against him in relief. He’d keep her safe, make sure this didn’t go any further.
But instead of stepping forward to protect her, he held her until the guards reached her. He pushed her toward the nearest guard, and she struggled to look at him over her shoulder.
“Griffin! Please…”
But his expression was blank, his eyes cold. His voice was even colder. “There is nothing I can do.”
Struggling against the man holding her she wrenched one arm free, turning desperately back to Griffin.
“Yes, there is. Fight for me. Fight for me like you’ve never fought for anything before.”
In The Next Chapter Of The Jagged Lovers Series…
Griffin must fight for the woman he believes is his life mate, but it won’t be easy. The mating ritual requires that all clan members fight for their right to mate with Addison and if Griffin doesn’t win she will never be his again.
Continue reading
“On The Move”,
the second part in the 3-part Jagged Lovers series.
About The Author
Catherine Vale, a Canadian author, has been writing fiction for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until she wrote her very first paranormal romance story that she found herself hooked on the raw, edgy love affair of shifters, vampires and other dominant alpha males, and the captivating women that love them.
Catherine Vale writes both contemporary and paranormal romance for readers who are willing to take a walk on the wild side of love. Her stories always include powerful alpha males, smart and sassy heroines and a happily-ever-after (even if she often puts her characters through hell to get there!)
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Other Books By Catherine Vale
Untamed Hearts (Untamable Series #1)
Untamed Desires (Untamable Series #2)
The Wolves Next Door
A Touch Of Vampire
Taste Of Honey
Twice As Wild
Along Came A Wolf
Scent Of A Mate
See full list of available books at
http://www.CatherineVale.com