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She opened her mouth to retort but then closed it as she studied him in silence for several seconds. When she did finally speak, her voice was muted, raspy.
“I meant what I said. Our mating means nothing.” Jaden ignored the hard clutch at her chest, the way her belly twisted in pain. “A cosmic fuck-you, really, and nothing more.”
“You think this is natural? That we’re mated?” His voice was cold, his eyes flat.
“I don’t know what it is, but like I said, it means squat.” She flicked a long piece of hair behind her back and shrugged her shoulders. “So I’ll never have children. I’m cool with that.”
He laughed as his eyes slowly traveled the length of her body. “You think to live a life of celibacy?”
She nailed him with a direct stare, her eyebrows raised. “You’re an arrogant son of a bitch,” she said, laughing at his insinuation. “Seriously? You think that after I’ve had you, there would be no one else? I didn’t say that. I just said that since I’ll never let you touch me again, a pack of kiddies isn’t in my future.”
“Because a female warrior can only have children with her mate.” His voice was low, rumbling, as understanding crept into his eyes. He glared at her.
“Don’t worry about me. When my itch needs scratching, I’ve got plenty of options that don’t include you.”
“Like Nico?” he spit out.
His words surprised her, but she took care to stay neutral. Julian didn’t like the fact that she might be having sex with Nico. Interesting.
“He’s one of many.” The lie slipped out, blatant and sharp. She turned from him. “I don’t give a rat’s ass whether you believe me or not, but I didn’t seduce you three years ago.” She laughed a dry harsh sound. “In fact, if I recall correctly, you stalked me like the animal you are and pretty much dragged me back to your room.”
At his snort, she felt her anger triple.
“You screwed me, then made no effort to hide the fact that what I was . . . what I am . . . totally disgusted you.” She exhaled softly. “So get the fuck over yourself, Castille. I wouldn’t want you if you were the last man on earth.” She shrugged. “Which, given our situation, just might become the case.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Well, that’s something we have in common.” She nodded toward the shower. “Look, we’re wheels up in like, five, and I need to wash the demon stench from my skin. So if you don’t mind . . .”
She turned from him and stopped as his voice slashed across her, his fury barely contained.
“But I do mind.”
She felt the heat of him at her back though he was careful not to touch her.
“My chain is being yanked, and I’m not liking that one bit.”
She hesitated, her heart beating a meticulous rhythm as she composed herself. “We’re all being played somehow, but that’s not what’s important. The portal needs to be destroyed, or we can kiss life as we know it good-bye.”
She reached for the bathroom door. “That is what I know. I will find it, and nothing will stand in my way.” Her head cocked to the side. “Not even an arrogant prick back from the dead.”
Jaden closed the bathroom door behind her and released a long, torturous breath. Christ. Julian Castille was a complication she so didn’t need.
The robe slipped from her body, and she stepped into the shower, letting the water soothe her heated, frustrated self. She stood there for a good long while before grabbing the soap and cleaning the last remnants of demon from her flesh.
When she stepped from the shower several minutes later, her bedroom was empty. Julian’s scent lingered in the air, and she wrinkled her nose as she quickly dressed.
He probably couldn’t get off the plane fast enough.
She slipped her feet into a pair of soft slippers, wincing as the tender flesh rubbed against the fabric, and toweled the dampness from her hair befo
re heading back to the main cabin.
The tone and feel of the engines had changed, and she knew they were ready to head back to Mexico. Her gaze wandered the cabin until they landed on the men in her unit.
Nico sat facing her, his body tense and his features cold. He’d shown up at her resort one day six months ago, not long after she’d returned from Belize. She’d not asked why he’d decided to take a break from his self-imposed exile, but the warrior was willing to do whatever it took to defeat O’Hara. Over the past several months, they’d formed a solid, tight unit, and had run several successful missions for PATU.
Jaden sighed. Things were never easy with the jaguar. He carried a lot of baggage, but his spirit and strength more than made up for his somewhat cranky attitude. She ignored him, knowing that when he was angry, the best thing to do was steer clear.
