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He continued to watch the cat as it barked, growled, and when it stood, looking as if it were about to plunge headlong into the water, Jagger’s breath caught, and a pain long forgotten wrapped itself deep around his heart.
He had no time to react, however, for with a mighty roar the cat plunged into the water, its powerful limbs carrying it forward.
Jagger pushed Skye away, shouting at her to get out of the water. He felt her hesitate. Would the woman never listen to him?
He turned around, shouting, “Now!” his eyes already glowing with the change as mist began to crawl up his limbs. Once he was sure she would listen, he turned back, his body now completely enveloped deep within the magick that pulled the skin from his frame, leaving in its wake a beautiful, glossy black pelt.
He barked an answer to the challenge and bared his teeth at the spotted jaguar as it swam to within a few yards of him. The other cat’s eyes were glowing a tawny, golden color and it growled loudly, hissing in anger.
It swung its massive head toward Skye and Jagger attacked, his long powerful body propelling him forward at blinding speed.
Jaguars were naturally great swimmers and his body sliced through the cool liquid with ease. Jagger bumped heavily into the spotted jag and took a swipe with his paws before twisting just out of reach of the counterattack.
He kept going, swimming toward the far side of the bank, knowing that the other jaguar would follow.
How could it not? The animal’s quarrel wasn’t with Skye. It was personal, its anger directed solely at Jagger. And he couldn’t blame the cat. Hell, if he was in his position he’d be mad as hell.
It wasn’t every day that you found the younger brother who’d basically evaded you for three long months.
Julian Castille had every right to be pissed. Jagger had successfully hidden from him, Cracker, and Declan.
Jagger had initially been injured, but when he’d finally cleared the fog from his brain, he’d decided to say a big fat, fuck you to the human world and all the pain and suffering that went along with it.
Guilt ate at him, but it had never been enough to bring him out of hiding. He couldn’t even explain it to himself. It just had been what it was.
And now his brother was hot on his ass, full of anger and feelings of betrayal, and Jagger had no one to blame but himself.
He reached the opposite bank, his sharp claws digging in deep as he hauled his body from the water, leaping up it in one graceful move. He began to head into the thick underbrush, knowing that Julian was hot on his heels. There was no need for Skye to witness the airing out of his family business.
‘Cause it sure as hell wasn’t gonna be pretty.
He’d barely cleared a hundred feet when the sting of claws ripped at his hindquarters. Jagger twisted his body as he whirled around in the air, kicking out with his powerful hind legs.
He managed to get Julian off balance and a low, mean growl erupted from deep within his chest. The smell of blood drifted in the air. His blood. It fed the demon that was always just underneath the surface and he charged at his brother, teeth bared, his mind black. The battle had just started but he’d had enough.
They hit each other, midair. The loud thump reverberated in the still night. And it was indeed quiet. All the nocturnal sounds of the jungle ceased. The only things that could be heard were the growls, barks, and savage wails that each of the jaguars spewed forth.
The two animals rolled over, falling down a small incline until they came to rest against the base of a large pine tree. Jagger’s head hit it hard and he momentarily saw stars.
He snarled savagely, his hefty paws striking a line of red across Julian’s chest as he shoved his brother away.
Enough! he roared, the word slipping from between his lips in a strange guttural way as the mist overcame him and he stood panting, staring down at his brother.
The golden jaguar hissed, moved away and began to pace back and forth slowly. Jagger could tell his brother was trying to calm the beast that was very much alive within him.
A strange thought that, considering less than four months ago, his brother had been leading the life of a rich and powerful corporate CEO, running Blue Heaven industries, the company their family owned.
Very white collar and a world away from what stood staring up at him.
Jagger shook his head. His father would have a fucking heart attack if he saw what his golden heir had become.
He continued to watch his brother in silence as the mist crept up and over the powerful cat and when Julian emerged from deep within the ancient magick, Jagger couldn’t help but feel joy.
Slowly, the brothers took stock, each noticing the many changes the past few months had wrought.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Julian spit out, his face white with anger. “We’ve been looking for you. Cracker, Declan, all of us, busting our balls out here, looking for a sign, anything that would tell us you hadn’t been blown to bits when the compound was attacked.”
His brother glared at him and Jagger had the presence of mind to remain quiet.
