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Jagger’s gaze rested on the woman Nico had tied securely to a tree.
She was tall, athletic. She tilted her head and her large dark eyes regarded him in silence. Her long hair was loose, blowing into the breeze like snakes in the wind.
He could just make out the telltale markings along the side of her neck and he paused, surprised.
Not only was she jaguar, she was a warrior as well. It was extremely rare in his world to come across a female warrior, especially one on her own. The males developed their tats in their teen years, when they progressed from boys to men. A female warrior’s tattoos only materialized when they had sex with their mate.
So where was hers? And what clan did she belong to?
He would have asked her, too, but Skye broke from his side and dashed across the small clearing, an unearthly yell breaking from deep inside.
She leapt over Nico, who was crouched on the ground in front of the mystery woman.
With a resounding thud, her fist connected with the jaguar’s cheek. The hit was hard and he watched, shocked, as the woman’s head snapped back and a second later fell forward.
She was out cold.
Skye turned to him, her breaths coming in spurts as she tried to clamp down on the emotion that was running through her.
“What?” she said defensively. “She had that coming.”
Skye hiked up her bag and looked at the both of them, her voice commanding. “Bring her along. I’m not done with her.”
She turned. “Let’s get cracking, boys, we don’t have all day.”
Jagger watched as the most delectable ass he’d ever come across walked ahead of him, back into the jungle.
He looked at Nico, who seemed to be as shocked as he. The warrior shrugged and untied the unconscious woman, hauling her across his powerful shoulders.
A ghost of a smile played along Nico’s lips as he followed in Skye’s footsteps. “Christ, man, I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.” He disappeared as well, his words hanging in the air behind him. “I wish you luck.”
Jagger fell in behind and smiled to himself.
Bring it on, he thought.
Bring it on.
Chapter 18
They continued to hike through the dense jungle, across streams, larger rivers, and deep waterfalls. After what seemed like hours, Nico motioned for them to stop.
“The cave you seek is up the side of that mountain.” He pointed to the largest one in the range. It looked fairly close, but Jagger knew how deceiving that was and how difficult the hike would be.
“We rest, leave at sunrise, and should be there sometime tomorrow afternoon.” Nico’s teeth slashed through the thickening gloom. “Unless we run into another hunting party.”
They found a cave halfway up a steep incline next to a waterfall, one that was hidden beneath a heavy fall of mist. It would provide shelter and a safe place to spend the night. There was no sense pushing forward until they’d had time to eat and rest.
Jagger let his gear fall to the ground, his gaze drifting toward Skye automatically. She’d been quiet most of the way, avoiding his attempts at conversation.
“You all right?” he asked as he moved toward her.
“I’m fine,” she said, but the tone of her voice indicated she was anything but.
“You sure? Nothing you want to talk about?” he prodded.
She nodded her head and didn’t answer. Jagger stared at her for a few seconds and then moved away. Something was up, but Jagger decided to give her some space. A lot had happened in a short period of time and it was a lot to take in.
He crossed over to the female jaguar they’d brought with them. She’d regained consciousness an hour into their hike and had been on her own power ever since.
