Read His Darkest Salvation Online

Authors: Juliana Stone

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Man-Woman Relationships, #Romantic Suspense Fiction, #Paranormal, #Supernatural, #Paranormal Romance Stories, #Shapeshifting

His Darkest Salvation (5 page)

BOOK: His Darkest Salvation
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He opened his mouth to speak, but her voice sliced through the dark, effectively silencing him.

“I’ve had them for three years, Castille. You do the math.”

Chapter 4

J
aden closed the door and leaned against the cool surface. Her chest felt tight, but as the seconds ticked by, the iron band loosened and she was able to breathe normally.

What the hell had she just done? Why on earth did she spill to Julian about their bond? It wasn’t like he gave a shit. It wasn’t like she
wanted
him to give a shit. She was doing just fine without him.

She pushed away angrily, pissed at herself and her lack of control. A shower would clear her head.

Her shoulder was killing her, but the antidote was working. She felt the pain receding as the poison slowly left her system. Underneath her feet, the jet hummed, its energy vibrating with a subtlety that tickled her bare flesh. She knew they’d be wheels up within the hour.

Julian Castille would be long gone.

She grimaced as she slid out of the oversized T-shirt he’d given her. She could smell him, his tangy, earthy scent teasing her nostrils. It had been months since he’d worn it, yet it still called to her.

For a jaguar, smell was a powerful thing, more potent than visual memories. She hated that his scent tortured her, riding her hard with a sense of unfulfilled need.

It was an ache she’d come to know well, but she’d deal. She’d been doing just fine without the bastard for the last three years.

Her hands fell to the waistband of the pants that she wore, and she was about to drop them when the door crashed open behind her. Nico’s angry growl echoed into her quarters, but it was not he who stood inches from her.

“What the fuck did that mean?” Julian’s furious words ripped into her. “We’re mated? I don’t want you,” he began, “we can’t . . .”

Jaden cocked her head to the side. “No shit,” she whispered hoarsely, as his words swept across her like physical blows. She knew they had no future, but still . . . to hear his denial, his dislike, was like a kick to the gut.

She felt his anger. It was in the coldness of his voice and the subtle vibrations that lingered in the air. Inside, her jaguar stirred, and her skin began to burn as she clenched her teeth tightly.

“I am going to enjoy throwing your ass off this plane.” Nico’s threat was met with harsh laughter.

“You could try,” Julian answered.

“Leave us, Nico,” she said quietly, and held her breath. The warrior was a wild card at best, and she didn’t have time to referee the two of them.

She felt the chilled air against her back and fought the urge to grab the newly discarded T-shirt. She was naked from the waist up and was suddenly very much aware of the fact. Her nipples puckered into hard pebbles, a reaction to the cold, and she crossed her arms over her chest, glad the men were behind her.

“We leave in ten minutes,” Nico said, his voice angry, barely controlled.

Jaden winced as the door slammed shut. Lately, the warrior had become more than a little protective of her. She would never claim him, and his attitude wasn’t good for either one of them.

She forced a calm over her body, one that she wasn’t feeling, and walked to the closet that held her clothes. She felt Julian’s gaze upon her back, knew that he watched her closely. She pulled the door open, loosened the tie at her waist, and let the trackies fall to the floor.

She heard Julian hiss as he exhaled loudly. Her heart began to beat heavily inside her, and she felt the electricity in the air begin to tingle, jumping over her bare flesh in small pulses.

She grabbed a robe, slipped it over her shoulders, and took a few moments to tie it properly before she turned to him.

His eyes were dark, the irises’ bleeding into gold until they glittered dangerously. They bored into her with an intensity that left no doubt as to what he was feeling.

Julian Castille was in a dark place, and his anger was focused solely on her.

What fucking nerve.

“Are you going to explain to me how a DaCosta jaguar is mated to a Castille?” His tone was harsh. “On what planet is that even possible?”

“Apparently on ours,” she snapped back.

He raked his hands through the thick mess of hair atop his head. “How in the hell did this happen?”

She arched her eyebrow. “For Christ sakes, Castille, do you really need me to explain the fine details? Did Daddy never explain the birds and the bees and the warrior mating rituals?”

“You don’t get it!” he exploded, and he moved so fast, she felt the wind against her cheek as he stood in front of her. Jaden was startled at his speed but held her ground, her dark eyes meeting his boldly.

“There will never be anything between us,” he spit out. “I will not accept your claim.”

Jaden smiled and shook her head, swallowing the bitterness that hung in the back of her throat. “Don’t worry about it. You made that more than clear three years ago.” She nodded. “Move back. You’re crowding me.”

Julian bared his teeth. He was on edge, the strange darkness that clung to him rising to the fore. It agitated her cat something fierce, and she trembled slightly at the force of it.

“I mean it,” she said forcefully. “Back off.”

His hand reached out, and, inside, everything stilled. She could hear her heart beating heavily against her chest, felt the pace quicken as warning bells began to explode.

Her breath hitched, and her mouth went dry as his fingers settled over her clan tattoos. She felt them, burning beneath his touch. Another chunk of humiliation to add to her armor of shame.

“So beautiful,” he whispered harshly.

Jaden flinched at his tone.

“So deceptive.”

She wanted to rip his hand from her flesh but refused to let him know how affected she was by his touch. Instead, she smiled up at him and let her tongue run along her lips.

“I’m also the best piece of ass you’ll never have again.”

His breathing changed, slowed, and the air around them stilled. Jaden’s heart leapt crazily, and a wave of dizziness circled her brain. She was dancing with the devil, and that was always a dangerous game.

His hand moved up from her neck to grip her jaw. She refused to look away, though the cold glint in his eye left her stomach tight, nauseous. He looked like he wanted to strangle her.

“You do not want to mess with me.” He smiled, a cold slash of white. “I’m not anything like what you remember.”

No shit.

His anger and dislike were meaty, tangible. Jaden kept her face blank, but inside she fought the bleakness that lay there.

His lips thinned as he spoke. “Our meeting three years ago was no accident. You will tell me what your agenda is.”

He leaned close to her, and Jaden closed her eyes as his scent slid over her flesh, caressing her skin. “If I’m satisfied with your answer, I might let you live.”

Her eyes flew open at that, and her flesh burned as a wave of anger hit her hard.

“Take your hands off me,” she said carefully.

His grip tightened as he smiled down at her, a cruel bent to his lips.

“I could snap your neck right now if I so chose.”

She was hot, on the cusp of change.

“You could try.” Jaden’s words were stilted, her mouth dry. “But you won’t.” She sensed his thin control.

He arched an eyebrow and brought her closer to him, so close that she could see the tiny veins of his eyes. Her skin was burning, the animal inside enraged at his blatant show of force.

She wanted to punch him in the face, break his aristocratic nose.

She wanted to feel his lips on hers, taste the warmth and eat the danger that clung to him.

“Don’t be so sure, little cat.” His breath was warm against her flesh, and as it slid across her skin, she ached inside. “You have no idea what I am.” His voice lowered. “What I’ve become.”

“Well, one thing is the same.” She inhaled a cleansing breath. “You’re still an ass of epic proportions.”

Jaden snapped her head back and brought her knee up into the softness between his legs. At the same time, she jabbed him hard, right above his heart, where she knew his skin was tender. Damaged.

His grip loosened, and she was away from him in a flash, a blur of long silky hair.

He didn’t make a sound though his dark eyes stalked her from across the room. His mouth was tight. She knew he was in pain, but she was cool with that.

He totally fucking deserved it.

Yet an image of his raw, ragged flesh flashed in front of her eyes, and she swallowed thickly, hating the small sliver of remorse that slid through her. Her robe was gaping, and she angrily drew the ends tight together, hissing at the sly tilt that tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Underneath her feet, the jet’s engines rumbled.

Suddenly, she felt defeated. Tired of all the bullshit.

“Look, I don’t have time for this crap because seriously, this is way bigger than the two of us.” Jaden ran her fingers through the loose hair that fell around her shoulders, and she shook her head. “I’m tired, Julian, and pretty much fed up.”

“Join the fucking club,” he snarled. He was seriously pissed off.

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.

BOOK: His Darkest Salvation
9.98Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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