Jac stared at Coridan’s corded back for the next several hours afraid to speak for fear her anger would come raging out. He was so much like Ares, yet so different. While Ares was gruff and rough around the edges, with the most amazing pair of jade colored eyes, Coridan seemed amiable, as if he gone out of his way to be pleasant. He held branches so that she could pass. He retrieved water for her when she indicated she thirsted. Picked her up when she slipped, unable to make it over a five foot high log.
Damn but all his chivalry was getting on her nerves.
“So how do you know Ares?” She choked on his name.
Coridan shot her a glance over his shoulder, but kept walking. “He is part of my tribe.”
Jac gritted her teeth. She’d figured as much. She couldn’t believe she was about to ask this. “Are you part of the Atlanteans?”
He nodded again.
Jac shook her head. It was such a pity. Coridan and Ares were so handsome, yet so utterly insane. “Is he a friend of yours?”
She caught a slight smile at the question. “I wouldn’t say that.”
Jac’s brow rose. “An enemy?”
“It is difficult for me to describe our relationship.” Coridan laughed. “I guess the best word I could use would be challenged.”
Jac joined in with Coridan’s laughter. She could definitely see Ares and Coridan having a ‘challenged’ relationship. In the short time she’d been around Ares, she’d found him quite challenging. Her heart thudded at the thought of Ares. I do not miss him.
She latched onto Coridan’s words. “That’s a kind way of saying he’s a pain in the ass.”
Coridan shot her an amused look. “So why did you join with him?”
Jac stopped dead, almost tripping, a liana snapping beneath her boot heel. She could feel heat rising in her face. The muggy perfumed air refused to give her a breath. How much did she want to tell this man? How much should she tell him? It really wasn’t any of his business what she and Ares had shared.
Coridan turned back and approached her. “Forgive me.” He bowed his head. “I have upset you and that was not my intention.”
“It’s all right.” She shifted uncomfortably. “No harm done.”
“I noticed his scent on you and assumed you had chosen to become his mate.” His jaw locked.
Jac shook her head. “Well think again, bucko. I may have joined with him, but I’m not anyone’s mate.” She poked Coridan in the chest. “Got it?”
He nodded and rubbed the spot she’d touched, but Coridan looked way too pleased for Jac’s peace of mind. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but he could stop it right now.
“I’m looking for my friend.” Jac didn’t know why she felt the need to explain herself. Normally, she didn’t get defensive. She continued walking, Coridan met her stride. “As soon as I find her, we’ll get the hell out of here, and out of everyone’s hair.” Jac glanced to the man beside her.
For a second Coridan’s face shifted to a hard unreadable mask, but he said nothing.
Her gut clenched. Something wasn’t right here. He wasn’t telling her everything. “Rachel’s okay, isn’t she?” Jac put her hand out to stop him.
Coridan stilled. “The Queen is well. Her babe develops quickly. In another week it will have strength enough to be able to operate the transport from within her womb.” His eyes flashed again, but this time in what looked like anticipation.
“Did you say b-baby?” Jac sputtered. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. The sound of the creatures in the jungle faded until all she heard was her heart as it stampeded in her ears.
“Are you—?”
“I’ll be fine,” Jac cut him off and waved him away. She simply needed a second to let everything sink in. Then she’d be able to formulate a plan. Yeah, that’s what she needed, a new plan. Rachel was pregnant. Jac swayed and then shot Coridan a quick look, her gaze narrowing to slivers of ice. “Who’s the father?”
Please don’t say Ares. The thought swept through her mind before she could stop it. Her stomach threatened to rebel.
“’Tis not Ares.”
Ares was an obvious guess on Coridan’s part considering their earlier conversation. Jac let out the breath she wasn’t aware she held. Relief surged through her veins. “W-who’s the father?”
“Our King, Eros.”
Jac weighed his words. “No wonder you call her Queen.”
That made sense in a surreal kind of Alice in Wonderland sort of world. Rachel had conceived with a King. Her unborn child would soon be able to operate a transport. Transport? What in the hell is a transport if an unborn baby can operate it? Jac’s head began to pound harder. They were all insane. None of this Star Trek shit made sense. She needed to stick to the facts. The truth never let her down. It held no real surprises. If Jac could do that, then everything would be all right.
It had to be.
Rachel couldn’t be happy down here with these delusional people, who believed they were Atlanteans’ and several thousand years old. “No way,” Jac said aloud.
If Rachel was pregnant and happy, then Jac had come all this way for nothing. The next thought almost knocked her legs out from under her. What if I’m pregnant? Jac swallowed hard and refused to consider that possibility. It was unthinkable.
She tossed her hair back and lifted her chin in challenge. Conflict was safe, familiar, and she needed the tension desperately. “So do you think you’re over three thousand years old, too?”
Coridan threw his head back and laughed. “I see Ares is showing his age.” He shook his head, sending blond hair over his broad shoulders. “I am not that old.”
“I didn’t think so.” Jac bit her bottom lip.
“Ares has always boasted of his accomplishments.” Coridan’s lips pulled tight over his teeth.
Jac watched him. Envy, jealousy, and something else swam in his blue depths. There was definitely no love lost between the two men. He vented and she had the sudden urge to do the same.
“He’s the most arrogant man I’ve ever met,” she added.
Coridan stopped and turned to Jac, his blue gaze serious as he scanned her face. “You could always teach him a lesson,” he said hesitantly.
She didn’t like the look in Coridan’s eyes, but Jac figured she’d hear him out. After all, Ares could stand to be brought down a peg or two. “What kind?”
Coridan swallowed and he licked his full lips. “’Tis your right to not accept his proposed mating, if a challenge is set forth.”
Jac snorted, throwing her arms in the air. “Who in their right mind would challenge Ares?”
His expression did not waver. “Me.”
“Are you serious?” Jac placed her hands on her hips. “Why, what’s in it for you?”
Coridan clenched and unclenched his hands. “I too, would like to see Ares bow to defeat, just once.”
Jac ran her fingers through her short hair. “What exactly would have to happen?”
“I would challenge Ares for the right to mate with you.”
Jac’s gaped, a second before her anger returned. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Didn’t I just tell you I wasn’t interested in having a mate?” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Did you listen to a word I had to say?”
Coridan waited for her to finish, before speaking. “I heard your words. I would not take you to mate, unless you allowed it.” His eyes wandered to her breasts, then lower. He didn’t even try to hide his hunger. “I could make it mutually beneficial for the both of us.”
Jac’s eyes narrowed and she fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. Any other time if a man looking like Coridan had propositioned her, she would have jumped at the chance to be with him. But now, after all that had happened between her and Ares, it wasn’t appealing. It didn’t feel right.
Damn it. She had to snap out of this. Get over it Jac. She owed no loyalty to anyone but Rachel. Coridan stood befo
re her, offering an opportunity to change her circumstances and Jac wasn’t going to be a fool and pass it by. She steadied her voice. “Beneficial, how?”
Coridan held his hands out as if showing he had nothing to hide. “I would get to see Ares defeated and you could return to your people in the end, if that is what you truly wanted.”
“That’s all? You wouldn’t want a little extra?” Jac arched a brow. It sounded too good to be true, there had to be a catch.
He cleared his throat. “I do not deny that I find you pleasing and would love to sink my rod into your channel.”
Coridan glanced down and Jac followed his gaze. She could see his hard-on from beneath his loincloth. Great. These damn men were too virile for their own good. Her gaze shot back to his face.
“What about Rachel?”
Coridan blew out a heavy breath. “Queen Rachel would have to make her own decision on whether to remain with Eros or return with you.”
Jac gulped. She was afraid he would say that. Her heart hurt thinking about leaving Rachel behind. If Eros looked anything like Ares and Coridan then Jac was in big trouble. To stay or go wouldn’t be a tough decision if Rachel carried Eros’s baby.
Being forever practical, Jac weighed the odds. She had better stick with Coridan for the time being, he was biddable and could be controlled. Ares on the other hand was dangerous, a wildcard who popped up out of nowhere, completely unpredictable. And let’s not forget, savagely sexy, completely dominant, and way too tempting.
She took a deep breath. Yep, it was better to go with Coridan’s plan. She’d at least see Rachel again and get in a little payback on Ares for his high handed ways. Her heart sank. It was best not to think about her jade-eyed Tarzan. He was probably tracking her right now and by the time he caught up, Ares would be pissed. She shuddered and her clit ached when she considered what kind of punishment he would come up with.
* * * * *
Ares picked up Jac’s scent along with an all too familiar one. The shock caused him to slow. He clamped his teeth together to the point of pain and sniffed the air once again. Rage bubbled beneath the surface as he registered Coridan’s male musk. He’d made no mistake. Coridan had found Jac and they headed toward the village. The muscles in Ares’s body tightened. He was convinced that they’d snap.
Ares came upon the remnant of the snare. Had Coridan stumbled upon Jac or had he trapped her? What was he doing so far away from the village?
Ares scanned the area, searching for any signs that they might have joined. His heart slammed so hard in his chest, it was nigh unto bursting. How could Jac betray him like that? Had he not shown her of his feelings? Pain ripped through Ares, knocking the breath from his lungs. If he could get his hands on Coridan right now, he’d kill him. There was no doubt in his mind.
He raised his hand and sent out an energy burst. A tree exploded thirty yards from where he stood. Monkeys screamed and leapt to nearby branches as bits of wood fell to the ground. Ares raised his fists to the sky and roared. Anguish from deep in his core, bellowed out, spewing to the heavens.
His mighty body shook and his vision blurred. He wiped a palm across his face. It came away with wetness. Ares stared at the moisture—entranced. Never in all the years of his existence had he ever shed a single tear. Jac did not deserve his tears, nor did she deserve his love. But even as the wayward thoughts trickled through his tormented mind, Ares knew he’d fight with his last breath to get her back. He could have no other.
Jac was his…only his, and she had held his heart from the moment he’d set eyes upon her.
Chapter Seven
At dusk, Jac and Coridan arrived at his village. The last of the sun’s rays crept behind the cover of the trees leaving everything in gray shadow. Jac couldn’t believe it. Blonde, Aryan looking people with curious aqua eyes watched them. The group gathered in the center of the encampment, around a huge fire. No one came forward in greeting—their expressions were of shock and surprise.
Jac held her head high and met all their gazes. She was about to stop Coridan when she heard a scream. All heads turned in the direction of the sound. A small brown haired woman pushed past the people until she stood in front of the group, facing Jac and Coridan.
“Jac! You’re really here,” she shouted and rushed forward, stopping short as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
Shock slammed into Jac. Her mouse of a friend, Rachel, had transformed into the goddess Jac always knew she could be. Her long brown hair hung loose, falling down her back like an enchanted fairy. She was bare from the waist up, with only two gold hoops accenting her nipples. Jac shook her head. Surely her eyes deceived her. Rachel wore a long sheer, aqua colored skirt low on her full hips. Unbidden tears sprang to Jac’s eyes and she quickly brushed them away. Rachel reached her and threw her arms around Jac’s neck.
“I’ve missed you so much,” tears streamed down Rachel’s face.
“You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily, did you?”
“How’s Brigit?”
“Fine, but really worried about you,” Jac laughed, but the sound was pained. “Of course, not so worried that she’d skip Lunacon, you know Brigit. All I have to say is she better water my poor plants while I’m gone.”
Rachel giggled, pulling back from the hug, a smile beaming across her face. “You and your urban jungle.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re really here.” Rachel bit her lip, her chocolate eyes sparkling with moisture in the fading light. “I didn’t mean to worry you guys.”
“Yeah, well…” Jac shrugged. “I hear you’re going to be a momma?”
Rachel practically glowed. “You heard right. Can you believe it?”
Jac swallowed the lump in her throat and pasted a smile on her face. No she couldn’t believe it. But she’d pretend like she could. “That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you.” And she truly was happy for Rachel. It was the whole situation she found a little hard to accept.
Rachel frowned. “Where’s Ares?”
Jac opened her mouth to answer, when Ares stepped from the jungle like a sleek panther. His jade eyes flared with fire as he looked from Coridan back to her. Yep, he was definitely pissed.
“Speak of the devil,” Jac whispered loud enough for Rachel to hear.
Rachel stared wide-eyed at Ares. “What happened?”
“My Queen,” Ares approached and dropped to his knees before Rachel, quickly kissing her left and right nipple, then just as swiftly rose. A wave of jealousy rushed through Jac, one she instantly crushed.
Rachel’s brows furrowed. “Jac are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
Jac glanced at Ares, her eyes boring holes into him, and then answered her friend. “There’s nothing to tell.” She saw a tic begin in his jaw as he squared his shoulders to face her.
With speed that left her blinking, Ares reached out and grasped Jac’s upper arms. “We need to speak.” He started to pull her away from the crowd, when Coridan stepped forward.
“Unhand, Jac,” Coridan bit out, a warning flashing in his aqua eyes.
Ares’s body tensed and then went deathly still. His gaze swung around to face the warrior, his eyes narrowed, glaring. His lips thinned until his teeth bared. Jac felt the tremor in Ares’s fingertips as he fought for control. He took a deep breath and pulled Jac behind him. One hand released her, while the other slid from her arm, shackling her wrist.
“You dare challenge me for my mate?” Ares’s voice dropped low, menacing, deadly.
“You have not officially gone through the mating ceremony,” Coridan spat. The muscles in his arms flexed and he fisted his hands as if fighting for control. “Ask Jac, who she chooses to lay with in the bed furs.”
Have you joined with Coridan? the whispered question in her head smoldered with anger and…hurt?
“What? No!” Jac trembled beneath Ares’s grip, rage bubbling over.
How dare they fight over her like a couple of stupid bulls in rut? His thumb stroked back
and forth along her pulse, whether to soothe or inflame, she couldn’t be sure. Jac’s heart leapt, sending awareness racing through her body. He brushed her again. With all that had occurred, somehow she knew Ares tried to comfort her.
Unfortunately her reaction to that simple touch also conveyed how much she still wanted him.
“Damn you,” Jac muttered under her breath. “Why can’t you just let me go?”
Ares flinched. You wish to go with Coridan? He asked in her mind, turning to face her.
No, was Jac’s first thought, but she wasn’t about to tell Ares that. She thought about telling him yes, but that would be a lie, and considering his current mood it wasn’t a good idea. “I don’t want either of you,” she ground out, trying to pull her hand from his.
Jac stared at her jade-eyed warrior waiting for a reaction to her words, anything that would indicate he’d heard her and understood. Instead he appeared relaxed, almost relieved as he rubbed her hand once more. Jac tensed, surely he was smart enough to take her seriously. He arched a brow and then turned his attention back to his rival, while Jac struggled to escape from his grasp.
“I ask again, are you challenging me, Coridan Antares?”
Coridan stepped forward. Jac stared at the trees for a moment and counted to ten. They had about five seconds to knock this shit off or she would throttle them both. This wasn’t at all like Coridan had described. It seemed more dangerous, possibly life threatening, instead of a comeuppance.
Rachel’s eyes were the size of saucers when she stepped around Ares. She rubbed her hands along her arms. A huge blond man gracefully stepped from the crowd, strength, power, and authority rolled off him in waves.
Jac glanced from him to Rachel and back. Without a doubt this had to be Eros. His face was such chiseled perfection that he could almost be called pretty, in a masculine sort of way. He looked from Ares to Coridan, then Jac. His gaze narrowed, censuring, but he said nothing for a moment.
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