AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For the first time Skye was not only scared, she was beginning to lose hope. Even the months she’d spent in captivity being held by the DaCostas—even then—she’d never given up hope that the eagles would win.
That the portal would be recovered and sealed.
That humanity would be saved from the brink of a demon war.
But now?
Skye was just so tired and burnt out she didn’t know what to think anymore. Was it even possible to win the war? It all seemed so incredibly hopeless.
She closed her eyes and fought the ache that had attached itself to her soul. It pulled at her, dragging her down. She hurt. Everywhere.
She needed to sleep, but was hesitant to fall under. She was scared.
Not of the jaguar that held her—although Skye was pretty sure she’d be changing her tune in the morning—no, it was the promise of something much more insidious.
Her nightmare from the evening before still hovered around the edges of her consciousness, the leftover images and feelings lingering, taunting.
Was Azaiel real? Were the nightmares more than what they appeared to be? She exhaled softly, trying not to move. Maybe she really was losing her mind.
Skye held on and did her best to keep her senses alive, her mind working even as she longed to close her eyes and rest. But as the minutes dragged by she could feel herself losing the battle. Jagger’s heart beat a steady, hypnotic rhythm beneath her and the warmth from his flesh crept into the coldness of her own.
Eventually her mind began to wander and as she succumbed to the kiss of the sandman, a soft sigh of regret slipped from her mouth.
Jagger wasn’t sure how much time passed, but eventually Skye grew limp as the weight of her body fell into the crook of his arms. Her head rested against his chest, but even in sleep, she held herself rigid. Her shoulders were hunched, her body held at an unnatural angle in an effort to avoid his touch.
She felt cold but he had no inclination to offer anything other than the prison of his embrace. He didn’t trust her in the least.
He tried to ignore the scent that clung to her skin. He knew it was potent. Christ, it felt like she was drowning in come fuck me musk. He was angered by the response his body took.
He wanted her. Plain and simple.
Oh, he’d proclaimed his aversion to her charms, how could he not? She was obviously in collusion with the enemy. But the aching throb that lay heavy against his groin told another story.
Jagger felt another wave of loathing wash over him and this time it had nothing to do with Skye. It was toward himself and the weak betrayal of his body. He clenched his teeth together viciously and vowed that as soon as they got back to some sort of civilization, he’d find the first willing female that he could and screw her until his balls turned blue.
Tiredly his mind turned in circles. There was so much he didn’t know and for the first time he felt a sliver of regret. He’d been selfish to disappear, to leave his family fighting a war without him.
He was the soldier, for Christ sakes, not Julian.
He closed his eyes and laid his head against the rough bark of the tree at his back, forcing his body to relax. The nocturnal sounds of the jungle soothed his soul, the clicks, hoots, hisses, and even the shrill call of the occasional howler monkey. They all melted together into a comforting lullaby, and eventually Jagger fell asleep.
At first he wasn’t sure what had woken him. A feeling of unease. A blackness that slid over his skin. It awakened the animal deep inside and Jagger was instantly on guard.
His eyes flew open and his nostrils quivered.
The jungle was now silent, eerily so.
The black of night had given way to the hazy gray of early morning. Shadows shifted in the breeze that blew around him, looking sinister.
He felt his stomach muscles clench. The quiet ate at him. It wasn’t normal.
He was instantly alert, and he pulled in the woman that he held with his arms until she was tight against his chest. There was something in the air but it was unlike anything he’d encountered before. The scent was subtle.
Skye moaned softly and her body began to shake in quick, jerky movements. Her head lolled to the side as her body continued to quiver and it took great effort for Jagger to hold her still.
Her eyes flew open, the blue roundness wide yet unseeing. He watched as her lips began to tremble, soft moans escaping.
His arms held her tighter but that just seemed to aggravate her even more, and her skull connected solidly with his chin as she continued to thrash a
