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Above, the eagle circled once more and then disappeared into a fog of twirling mist that enveloped it whole. Seconds later two men appeared before them. His brother, Jagger, and a tall blond man, who, he was guessing, was the missing eagle knight, Finn, Skye’s brother.
Jagger looked at them, his face bleak, and Julian felt his belly tighten. He’d known Jagger was headed for heartbreak. Had Skye managed to seal the portal?
“So,” Jaxon said softly. “You need a haircut.”
“And some clothes,” Declan said. “Again.”
Julian watched in silence as his brother Jaxon crossed to the youngest Castille and gave him a hard hug. “Been way too long.” The two brothers stared at each other, the silence between them full of words they couldn’t articulate.
“Where’s Skye?” Julian asked, wanting to know even though he dreaded the answer.
“My sister is gone.”
All eyes turned to the blond stranger. He stood alone, aloof, and the energy that surrounded him was full of anger.
Declan moved to Julian’s side and quipped, “Gone where? She on vacation? Out shopping, getting her nails done, dunno, maybe hooking up with Cormac, what?”
The stranger hissed and took a step toward Declan, and Julian immediately tensed for battle. He could feel the darkness brewing, percolating and waiting to explode.
Jagger shoved his way in front of the stranger and snarled at the sorcerer. “Screw you, Declan,” he said roughly. “I don’t have time for your freaking comedy show, and you’d best watch your insults.”
Julian watched his younger brother struggle to gain control of his emotions and not for the first time, he wondered if it was all worth it. To give your heart to another, to love unconditionally … what the hell was so wonderful about that?
“This is Finn, Skye’s brother,” Jagger said, nodding toward the tall eagle knight. “He knows where Skye is.” Jagger winced slightly. “Or at least where we think she might be.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed. The tall stranger remained quiet and glared at them all.
Jagger exhaled heavily and asked no one in particular: “Got something for me to wear?” A hint of a tired smile played around the corners of his mouth. “I don’t particularly feel like trekking through the jungle with my junk hanging out.”
“Well as much as I’m enjoying the show, boys, I vote you cover up.” Ana arched her eyebrows and ignored the dark look Declan shot at her. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and I for one don’t need any distractions.”
Julian went through his bags and threw some clothes toward Jagger and Finn. A shifter always carried extra clothing. He threw them each a pair of pants, thinking there was no point, really. They’d be as soaked as his in minutes.
“Is that all I have to do to snag your interest, lady? Walk around and be at one with Mother Nature?” Declan’s tone was light yet the hunger and irritation in his eyes was anything but.
Ana didn’t take her eyes from the men as she answered. “Snag my i
nterest, Declan?” She laughed softly. “To do that, I would have to at least like you … a little bit.”
Declan flipped his middle finger, but the vampire had already turned away from him.
Julian watched as Jagger pulled on a pair of ratty old jeans and then he walked over to his brother. He had no extra boots, however; the two of them were going to have to rough it.
“You all right?” he asked. He could feel the cold fury that sat heavy upon Jagger’s shoulders. His brother was wired tight and about to explode.
“I’ll be good once I have Skye back.”
Julian frowned, hating to point out the obvious, but he felt the need to have some clarity. “You do know what she needs to do to seal the portal.”
Jagger turned to him. His face was thunderous, black with anger, and he snarled. “Yeah, I do. So what are you trying to say? I just leave her out there at the mercy of some fucking dream demon?” Jagger was breathing hard, his breaths ragged as he shoved his finger into Julian’s chest. “That I don’t at least try to stop her from doing something totally insane? My God, there has to be another way.”
Inside, Julian’s cat began to growl and he felt the familiar burn begin once more. He paused, centered himself and pushed back. Now was not the time to fight against his own blood.
“Jagger, I—”
Jagger continued, cutting him off. “If one hair on her head is harmed I will tear Azaiel apart and burn his flesh from this earth.”
“Azaiel?” Alarm ripped through Julian. He knew that name. It tugged at the edges of his memory and it frustrated him greatly that nothing tangible came up.
