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The portal. If he could, he’d destroy the goddamn thing himself.
When his eyes slid to the tall man nearest her, he felt the blackened rage inside of him push to the surface and he growled loudly, wanting to kill, maim … do anything to get Skye away from him.
He knew without a doubt it was the Azaiel. His body began to burn and his eyesight blurred as the beast inside of him threatened to explode. Jagger hissed at the pain that ripped across his body as he forced his jaguar into obedience.
“That one’s mine,” Declan said as he pulled abreast of Jagger. He paid no attention. All of Jagger’s energy was focused on Skye and he felt alarm rush through him as he saw her begin to chant.
In an instant he knew what she was attempting and without another thought he rushed forward, yelling loudly as his machete sliced cleanly through the neck of the shifter closest to him, severing the head from its body.
All at once he heard the cries of his brothers and the power inside of him fueled his body. Everything except Skye faded from his view and he rushed forward, swinging his machete and firing off rounds from the Glock.
He was aware Declan had broken off to the right and that Finn was close on his heels. Other than that, the only thing he saw was the woman who meant more than his own life. And he would give it, if he had to, in order to protect and keep her safe.
He’d just cleared the perimeter, when he was knocked to the side. Snarling, he went with it and rolled, bringing his gun hand up and shooting straight into the serrated mouth of a large demon.
The head rocked back but the bastard held on, black liquid oozing from the gaping hole at the back of its throat as its heavy weight landed on his chest, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs. Jagger brought his other arm up and stabbed the end of the machete deep into its neck, trying to force it through.
Still the demon held on, its deadly teeth dripping with black saliva that burned as it fell onto his skin. He heard another grunt and tried to twist his body as a jaguar warrior climbed up the back of the demon and smiled down at him.
He kept driving the machete deeper into the demon’s neck while twisting to avoid the serrated teeth that snapped closer to his face. He was just about to try and fire the Glock when the warrior screamed in pain.
A large machete sliced his back and poked out through the warrior’s chest. The jaguar grimaced and fell into death’s grip as he tumbled from the demon’s back. Jagger shot the demon yet again and used every ounce of strength that he had to plunge the machete clean through.
With a mighty heave he pushed the demon from his body, his eyes meeting Finn’s. The eagle warrior looked fierce. “Get to my sister and toss me the portal. I’ll cover you.”
Jagger jackknifed his body and was on his feet in an instant, his eyes seeking out Skye as she stood pressed up against the stone shelter. Her lips were still moving and in that moment her eyes opened and met his.
The shock and surprise that flashed across her face was replaced in an instant with heart-wrenching sadness. She looked at him and nodded slightly, her eyes telling him good-bye.
The air around her began to shimmer and he saw her smile through the tears that fell freely from her eyes.
I love you, she mouthed and the pain that lashed across his chest propelled him forward.
He rushed toward her, feeling the heat of bodies flying at him, enemies that were downed by the strength of the eagle knight at his side. The rain continued to pour, blurring her image as his eyes filled with water. Or tears of rage.
He shook his head and kept on, his body building speed until he was there. In front of her.
Her eyes rolled up and he feared he was too late.
Jagger grabbed her and wrenched the portal from her hand, not hearing the scream of rage that echoed in the wet air.
All around him the battle raged, and he whirled around, gripping the hot, electric disc tightly in his fingers, searching with his eyes for Finn.
The eagle knight jumped over the fallen bodies of their enemies, leapt up high into the air as Cormac did the same.
Jagger saw his chance and tossed the disc into the air, watching as it rotated slowly. It began to glow in earnest, and as Finn’s fingers closed around it, he was grabbed from behind.
Loud shouts and echoes of pain and terror rent the air as a great blinding light flashed across the jungle. It sizzled along an invisible conduit, showering the entire area in sparks of energy that glowed brightly.
Jagger pulled Skye close to him and covered her with his own body in an effort to protect her from whatever the hell was happening. He felt the heat at his back and he fell to the ground as the earth trembled and the smell of burning flesh rode the air.
Seconds later, all was quiet and he slowly lifted his head and looked around. The faces of those left standing looked shocked and they melted into the jungle, retreating like the cowards that they were.
Bodies lay strewn about and as he met the eyes of his brother Jaxon, he knew something terrible had just occurred.
Skye began to stir and then went limp. She was alive though unconscious. He needed to get her to safety. He rocked her gently in his arms and stood up, holding her close to his chest.
Jaxon closed the distance between them, his expression pained, confused. “They’re gone,” he said. “I don’t know what the hell happened. There was a flash and they disappeared into thin air.”
