His Darkest Hunger (20 page)

The anger he felt was immediate, as well as the sinking and empty feeling of a mission not completed. The DaCostas had fled like the cowards that they were. He would not have his revenge.

His com unit began to cackle and he grabbed it. “Jax here.”

He waited for the static to clear, but her words only confirmed the worst. “You guys need to get the hell out of there. We’ve got two blackbirds coming in fast, loaded with explosives.”

“God dammit!”

Fear for the safety of his team and all the civilians left in the compound flooded his mind. Adrenaline pumped through his veins at a vicious pace as he ran for Declan, his mind working furiously. He needed to get those women out of the building because he sure as hell wouldn’t be party to their innocent deaths.

His com unit was crackling and he could hear Ana fading in and out.

“We’ve got maybe two minutes before this entire compound is blown to bits,” he told Declan, and pointed to the women who were huddled together in a confused and scared circle. “I don’t care what you do, just get them the hell away from here. I’m going for my brothers and Cracker.”

Declan was moving toward the women before he finished his sentence, and Jaxon sprinted out into the dark night. Smoke was heavy in the air, and his long legs carried him across the compound in seconds. He spied Cracker, who held his com unit high in the air, indicating he was aware of the situation.

Low-lying clouds had converged and helped make an already dark night thick black and deadly. Jaxon spotted a golden jaguar and ran toward it, shouting at the animal as it cornered several men against an outbuilding he’d not noticed before.

“Julian! We’re under attack.” The cat froze, his long tail flicking back and forth, a testament to his agitated frame of mind. The large golden eyes caught
and held Jaxon’s as he signaled for the animal to retreat deep into the bush.

His senses were on full alert, but with the number of humans present, and their mixed emotions coloring the air, he couldn’t lock onto his other brother’s trace signature. Wildly, he looked around, and as he began to move away, he shouted out into the night air, “Jagger, retreat!”

Off in the distance his ears picked up on the speeding aircraft that were locking in on them, and he turned to follow his older brother out into the jungle. Cracker was close on his heels, and Jaxon’s lungs felt about to burst as he ran hard and fast.

He hoped Jagger had heeded his warning and fled.

When the blasts went off, they scorched the earth in a series of massive explosions that lit the night and rocked the ground violently. Jaxon was thrown forward with such force his body hit a stand of trees. Even though he tried to fight it, he began to slip away, then lost consciousness.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out when the persistent cackling of his com unit brought him around. His entire body ached. He was pretty sure he’d bruised a couple of ribs, but all in all he felt extremely lucky to be alive.

Jaxon looked to his left and spied Cracker slowly gaining his feet, and he pulled the com out from under him and clicked the receiver.

“—find her?”

“Ana, you’re breaking up, what was that?” His voice was raspy and he hoped she was able to read him.

“Libby! Have you seen her?”

Jaxon stilled at the vampire’s words and felt everything melt away. Every sound that echoed in the jungle, his anger and hatred for the DaCostas…all of it ceased to exist.

“What the hell do you mean have I seen Libby? She’s with you.”

There was a long pause, and Ana’s voice broke as it echoed into the night. “No, she’s not. She left not long after you did and was heading your way.”

I
ntense pain wrapped its way around his heart and choked his airway. Jaxon reeled and fell back against the tree, his heart pumping like mad, fueled by a spike of adrenaline. He was dizzy, and fought against the thick blanket of fog that threatened to overcome him.

Libby! Here? Would she have made it this far?

He groaned at the thought of her anywhere near the compound, and as his gaze traveled to the smoking ruins, he turned to the side and heaved, emptying the contents of his stomach onto the moist earth.

It passed, his moment of weakness. And was quickly replaced with a steely determination that blackened his mind to any possibility other than the survival of the woman he loved.

Cracker’s feet slowly shuffled toward him, and
he focused on them, waiting as a cool calm began to slip into his bloodstream. He would find her. He would claim her as his once and for all. He would not take no for an answer.

And then he would kill her.

How dare she defy him? And take such a chance with her life? The woman was fucking insane.

And that’s what you love about her
.

Jaxon pulled his body up from the ground, savagely shaking his head, but the truth was there, buried deep in both his mind and his heart. A lot of things had changed over the last three years, but several things had obviously not.

Libby Jamieson had always irritated the crap out of him, she’d angered him on a daily basis, most times never listened to anything he said, was pig-headed…and he wouldn’t change one damn thing about her.

He needed to get to her in a way that hurt and cut him sharper than a blade.

His heart was pounding loudly now, and Cracker looked at him, sorrow lining the tired wrinkles around his eyes. He’d heard the conversation with Ana and was awaiting his instructions.

“Do you think she was capable of trekking through this jungle in the shape she was in?” Cracker’s voice was soft, but the concern was evident.

Jaxon shook his head ruefully. “Nothing that woman does surprises me anymore, and truthfully, she’s been out in this jungle for three years. If there’s anyone who can survive and find their way around, it will be Libby.”

Jaxon nodded toward the flaming compound.
“I need you to make sure our team is intact. Once you’ve rounded up everyone, have them start searching for her.”

Cracker left immediately, and Jaxon ran toward what was left of the compound, sending his extraordinary senses high into the air, seeking out any trace of his woman that he could find. He passed several charred bodies along the way, but was able to ascertain that they were male and didn’t belong to any of his crew.

Poor bastards. The DaCosta carnage continued to pile up.

He sensed movement to his left and whirled around, his stance aggressive. Relief flooded him when he saw it was his brother Julian. “You all right?” He barked the question, not bothering to stop and check himself. The urgency to find Libby was biting at his heels, and he tried to squash the fear that accompanied it.

If something happened to her now, before he was able to make things right, he would never forgive himself.

“Don’t worry about me. What the hell happened?”

“The DaCostas knew we were coming. The whole thing was a setup, and now, apparently, Libby might be around here somewhere.”

“Libby? I thought Declan sleep-charmed her. Shouldn’t that have knocked her out for the entire day?”

“You would think.” Jaxon pounded the air with a fist, his frustration and anger exploding as he realized his own stupidity. “How the hell did I let this happen?”

“Don’t worry about that now. What do you want me to do?”

Jaxon paused. “See if you can find her scent out in the jungle, and if so, where it leads. For all I know, she’s nowhere near here yet.”

His brother immediately turned and headed for the jungle, while Jaxon took off toward the burning compound again. His belly was full of knots as his fear for Libby intensified.

The main building was totally engulfed in flames, and he circled it as closely as he could, hoping to catch Libby’s scent if she were anywhere nearby. He sensed no trace of her, but bleakly knew that meant nothing.

He began to scan the perimeter, and he jumped over blasted bits of what was left of the main building, as well as remnants of the smaller bungalows that had lined the far side of the compound.

He’d begun to make his way in that direction when a familiar sliver of emotion shivered through his mind. It was incoherent and faint, but it definitely was there. It stopped him cold. It was Libby! He had felt it earlier when he was in the main building, but had been too distracted and bent on revenge to pay attention to it.

Fear began to gnaw at him. She was here! And she was alive.

At least for now.

He needed to find her. The soldier that lived deep inside him quickly took over, and his thoughts turned logical as fear, panic, and the ferocity of the jaguar receded. He could deal with the emotions later. Right now he needed to focus.

He stilled and concentrated, closing his eyes and seeking the energy that lingered along the edge of his mind, elusive but so real to him he wanted to physically wrap his hands around it. The smallest trace of her essence drifted through his nasal passage, and his head turned to the left, where he spied two large buildings, one of which was completely destroyed, the other half standing.

Libby had told him they were used for storage, but now, as his mind wandered back, he realized her nonchalant answer to his questions about the buildings were a little too cut and dried. It was obvious she had not wanted him anywhere near them.

Because she wanted them all to herself!

He flew down the length of the compound, Declan joining him in his mad dash. They reached the two buildings, and the smoke was thick indeed.

“Libby?” Declan’s one word question pained the both of them, and Jaxon nodded grimly as her sweetness drifted up at him. She was here, amidst this mess and destruction.

The front of the building had been destroyed and the roof had caved in, pulling the front of the facade and the left side down along with it. The back was still intact, and he savagely began to pull at the smoldering pieces of wood that kept him from ducking inside, frantic to reach the only area that would have provided some shelter from the attack.

He didn’t feel the heat of the fire or the toxic smoke he was breathing deep into his lungs. He was numb to everything except his need to find Libby. Inside, the cat howled, wanting its mate, needing to see the face of its woman.

Declan was chanting softly now, his eyes blackening as his hands furiously drew a spell into the air. The wind howled and picked up, bringing with it heavy moisture that lashed at the flames that had kept them at bay. Within minutes the heat began to subside and pull away as the water drenched the dry wood.

Jaxon made quick work of the debris, and a few moments later they were able to open up a large enough hole to allow the two men access.

Libby’s scent was so strong it was almost overwhelming, and a new fear began to ride him. He didn’t know if it was because she was indeed there or because this was where she’d been kept for the last three years.

She was everywhere and nowhere. Wildly, his eyes crept over every surface. A bed had been placed against a wall, with two long chains that were attached to shackles. From the ceiling hung several more long chains, whose ends held heavy manacles that swung lazily back and forth. Grimly, his eyes skimmed over the entire area and he felt a wave of blackness threaten him; he had to inhale sharply and steady his mind.

But it did no good. His body began to tremble violently.

This was a torture chamber. Evidently the one used to maim and hurt Libby.

Jaxon crossed to the bed, grabbed the chains and yanked them out of the wall with a huge roar. It did nothing to abate his fury, but the sadness that now threatened to overwhelm him was much worse. How had she survived all of this?

Because of the child
…
their child
.

“Jaxon! I think I’ve found her.”

He raced to where Declan was pulling back a huge chunk of debris, and felt his heart literally stop at the sight of a mess of blond hair, intermingled with the unmistakable reddish stain of blood. He fell to his knees, using the strength that only a warrior possessed, and lifted up the remaining slab, his tortured eyes urging Declan to hurry and pull her from the wreckage.

Everything faded to black then. Chaos could be heard from outside, cries lit the night as the wounded huddled out in the jungle, but here, in this tiny enclosed space, all he could see was the matted tangle of blond hair.

He needed her to be alive. He needed her to know he’d never leave her side again.

He grunted with the effort it took to keep the debris from falling back, and watched as Declan gently dislodged Libby from underneath.

There was so much blood. She was covered in it. Thick bile crowded his throat and he felt ill, but still his eyes did not leave her form.

When Declan managed to pull her free, Jaxon released his pent-up breath.

“She’s alive and breathing.”

He rushed to Declan’s side and automatically reached for the limp body, wanting to feel her softness and hold her close.

She was covered in dirt, and so filthy from the black soot that cloaked everything in the immediate vicinity that there was no trace of her milky white skin to be seen.

Jaxon took her from Declan’s arms and they quickly exited the ruined building. He drew air deeply into his lungs, then fell to his knees, cuddling her still form close to his heart.

He held her there, close, his nose buried deeply in the side of her neck. And even before the scent clawed its way into his system, he knew. And it killed him.

The woman he held so tenderly in his arms was not his Libby.

Slowly, he held her away from him, taking in the features covered in dirt and ash. The woman was of similar build, but definitely was not the woman he was aching to hold.

Jaxon sat back, feeling crushed. His head swung back toward the wreckage, and the way Declan avoided his burning gaze pissed him off even more.

“She’s not in there!” He shouted his words into the chaotic night.

“I know,” Declan murmured, before taking the injured woman from his arms and walking away a few paces.

Jaxon’s chest felt like it was slowly ripping away from his body, as if someone had taken a large knife, sliced several chunks of his skin and then peeled it away ruthlessly, piece by piece.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, until nothing existed but Libby. He focused, and her image floated in front of him, her large violet eyes so incredibly expressive. So full of mistrust and pain.

His fucking legacy.

That’s all he’d ever given her. He clenched his teeth together. He would find her. And he would make it right.

Or it damn well would be the last thing he’d ever do, because he now knew if Libby wasn’t in his life, it sure as hell wasn’t worth living.

Jaxon’s eyes flew open and he sprang to his feet. He threw his shoulders back and calmed the beast inside. He needed to think.

His body screamed at him, wanting to plunge headlong into the jungle and find his mate. But he needed to be smart about this. He couldn’t screw this up, not when Libby’s life was on the line.

A soft moan grabbed his attention, and his head whipped around, eyes narrowing as the woman in Declan’s arms began to pitch forward, her eyes wild with terror. Declan whispered into her ear, and slowly the woman calmed, her limbs going limp once more as she fell against his chest.

He met Declan’s eyes and flinched at the knowledge that lay there. The woman had obviously been tortured as well. Bitterly, he thought of Libby out here alone, with no one to help her.

Some warrior he was. How had he not been able to find her these past three years? The bitterness that clogged his mouth made it hard for him to swallow, and his features blackened even more as he watched Cracker and Julian approach. Both men were resigned, and Julian cleared his throat before speaking.

“She was here, Jax,” Julian said. “I caught her scent and followed it to a river that’s about two miles south of the compound. From there I lost it. I swam to the other side but couldn’t pick it up anywhere.” He paused before continuing. “There was a man with her.”

Jaxon growled long and hard at his brother’s words and spat, “Was it the stench of the DaCostas?”

Julian nodded in silence, and they all watched as Jaxon shook his head and moved away from them.

The odd scream echoed eerily on the wind, and the scent of burning wood, vegetation, and bodies filled the air. Darkness blanketed the jungle like a velvety soft sheath of fur, broken only by the glow of fires that would continue to burn for several more hours. The jungle, normally alive with all sorts of nocturnal beings, seemed devoid of life. As if everything with a living, beating heart had been sucked into a vortex and thrown miles from where they were.

Jaxon’s voice was raw when he spoke, but the steel that lay at the heart of the jaguar shone through, and there was no mistaking the deadly purpose he held.

“You need to return to base camp. Pack up and get the hell out of here.” He turned toward the rest of them suddenly, his face harsh, unyielding. “I’m going to get Libby and I’ll join you at the airport.”

He began to move away from his team, his eyes meeting each one, realizing he was one member short.

“Where the hell is Jagger?”

His question was fired at Cracker, and he felt frustration claw at him as the soldier hesitated before answering him.

“He’s nowhere to be found. I’ve searched the perimeter. Julian tried to catch his scent in the jungle but it’s no use.” He shrugged his shoulders, clearly perplexed. “He’s gone.”

“What do you mean gone? How the hell can he be gone?”

Cracker held Jaxon’s eyes, never wavering, his voice steady. “I mean, he’s gone. There’s not a trace of him around. I don’t know what happened to him. He was over by these outbuildings when the planes attacked and now he’s not.”