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“We’re looking for them everywhere. They can’t escape us.”
The demon began to laugh, and as his voice deepened, she felt his energy shift. A series of clicking noises erupted from deep within him. He was trying to change into his true form, but with the dagger spreading poison throughout his system, he was having difficulty.
She knew there was nothing more to gain from him.
She closed her eyes and unleashed her power. Her hands yanked hard on his hair, she pulled him toward her, and, with one quick stroke, severed his head from his body.
Jaden jumped back quickly and tossed the head as black liquid spewed everywhere. She’d been burned by the nasty stuff before and had no plans to experience that again.
The remains began to smolder and break down as an ungodly stench drifted up her nasal passage.
She ran, disregarding the shouts to stop, and knew by the time the security guard reached the demon there would be nothing left but a puddle of crap. The poison would work quickly to dissolve the demon flesh.
Tess had done a great job.
Her animal was enraged, wanting out, but Jaden tapped into the power of her jaguar, and her legs flew over the terrain. The darkness swallowed her whole, and moments later, she stood before the ruin, the demon and security officers left far behind.
She slowed, staying close to the shadows, and paused as she came upon a stone wall of skulls. They looked eerie in the darkness, the shadows that played upon them sinister and she shivered slightly as she moved forward.
She knew there was a tunnel that led to the unearthed portion of The House of the Eagles, which was part of the temple. She needed to gain access to what lay beneath—because it was there, in the very heart of these ruins, that Toniella had charmed the fallen, Azaiel, from the upper realm.
It was there that he’d made the portal, there that he’d been cursed. And it was there that she was hoping to find answers, anything that would help her not only to find the elusive duo but to destroy them both when she did.
She slipped inside the tunnel, avoiding security, and it wasn’t long before she stood inside one of two adjoining ancient rooms. Her eyes allowed her to see clearly at night, but even she was having problems so far below the surface. The shadows were different here. They were menacing.
Jaden grabbed a flashlight from her bag and felt the enormity of history unfold before her eyes as she gazed around. It was impressive.
Two large statues guarded the far wall. They were amazing replicas of eagle knights, and as she slowly walked toward them, she felt her heart begin to accelerate. She felt a presence, like she was being watched.
She shined the light onto the faces of the statues and hissed softly as they came into focus. The eyes looked real, and the effect was freaky.
Jaden stilled, letting her senses fly out once more as she scented the air; but as far as she could tell, there was no one there.
She was alone, yet she knew that she wasn’t. The ancient magick that inhabited this place was potent, and she knew she needed to tread lightly. One wrong move, and her ass would be fried.
Cool, damp air licked at her heated flesh, and she shivered as she gazed upon the walls before her. Intricate, beautifully done etchings of eagles and nature were abundant, and she shook her head at their beauty. It was incredible, really, that these people, the Aztecs, had been so bloodthirsty in battle yet so refined and talented when it came to the arts.
But enough of that.
She sidled up to the walls, walking along low-slung benches as she eyed the interior closely. Her hands fell along the cool stone, and s
he felt the vibration of power that lived deep within.
She walked the entire area, twice, and stopped in frustration. As far as she could see, there was no way to get to what was below. She knew the sacred temple was there. Hundreds of years earlier, the jaguar warriors had hunted and killed the eagle knights, because of their knowledge. They’d made a point of knowing every detail about the shifters.
It was a dark time in her world. A time when several of the jaguar clans had fragmented off into the darkness. She hung her head in shame and felt a wave of anger rush through her. The DaCostas had aided in the bloodletting, and it was only by the strength of Skye Knightly’s family that the portal had remained hidden.
Safe.
Until Cormac O’Hara.
The son of a bitch had ruined everything.
Jaden shook her limbs out and pushed all thoughts of Cormac and the portal away. She needed to concentrate and find her way inside, or she was no further ahead than she’d been last week.
She wracked her brain for several long moments and cursed softly as she circled the room once more. She should have brought Finn with her. The eagle knight would surely have more knowledge than she.
Tiredly, she rubbed her temples and tried to shrug off the weariness that crept into her bones. Maybe she’d been at this too long. Maybe it was time to accept that her brain was dead, and she was fast losing focus.
