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Power clung to the man like the scent of a lover; she felt the thickness of it in the air. But it was tainted.
It should have repulsed her. It didn’t. Instead, it fed something that answered in kind, and she shifted, uncomfortable and angry.
He moved toward her but she refused to budge. When he stood inches from her body, she looked up at him, her actions measured, precise, while inside, her jaguar scratched, wanting out.
“Apparently your security measures are subpar.”
Was that anger in his voice?
“I had no problem at all.” He glared at her. “It was much too easy.”
Angry and accusatory. Where the hell did he get off?
Jaden swallowed hard, her throat dry. Damn, but she needed a drink.
She regarded the warrior in silence and shook her head. “Why are you here?” she asked again, not interested in the how, only wanting to know his reason.
He smiled, yet his eyes remained cold, flat. His hand swept upward, and though she tried to remain still, she flinched as his fingers fell across her cheek. The spark of energy that sizzled along her flesh awakened a need so intense that, for a second, everything blurred. Her animal was all kinds of agitated, and a hiss escaped from between her lips.
She yanked her head to the side and pushed him away, a low growl vibrating from deep within her chest.
“Stay the fuck away from me, Castille,” she bit out, furious at her reaction, “and answer the question.”
He cocked his head, an arrogant tilt, and said nothing.
Jaden clenched her hands and took a step toward him once more, visualizing her fist connecting with the perfect lines of his nose. It would give her great pleasure to break the fucking thing, and she flexed her fingers at the thought.
“I came for you.”
She blinked in surprise and shook her head. “Excuse me?”
The smile left him, and the way his eyes glittered had her gut twisting hard. There was no more pretending. Julian Castille was seriously damaged, and the predatory gleam that flickered briefly had her hackles up instantly.
The man was freaking insane if he thought she was going anywhere with him. He was on the edge, and she had enough to deal with.
“It’s simple really,” he began, his tone conversational as if they were buddies, friends. “You and I have something in common.”
Her eyes narrowed. What the hell was he getting at? “The only thing we have in common is our mutual dislike for each other and a fondness for whiskey, but we’re not going there . . . again.”
“We both want the portal.”
For a moment, Jaden was speechless. The portal?
“Ah no”—she shook her head—“no, no, no.” Was he on drugs? “I am so not going there with you,” she retorted, as her mind worked furiously, trying to figure out his angle.
“You will go there with me”—Julian bared his teeth—“or else.”
“Do not threaten me, Castille.” Jaden was so angry she could barely get the words out. The fucking nerve. “I am not someone you want as an enemy.”
“I will get my hands on the portal, Jaden.” He dismissed her as if she were nothing more than a nuisance and moved away from her. “I’d prefer it sooner rather than later.”
Fury rushed through her, hot and sharp. She pushed it back, knowing she could not let him get to her. She needed a cool head.
She watched as his hand crept up to his chest, and an image of his scarred, damaged skin flashed in her mind. What the hell had happened to him?
“So,” she began carefully as she put more distance between them; her mouth seemed to work better the farther away she was. “You want to work together to retrieve the portal?” It was hard to keep the sarcasm from her voice, and she watched as he arched a perfect eyebrow and cocked his head.
“You will help me.”
