Coridan cleared his throat.
“Sorry,” she said absently and pulled her gaze away.
Coridan said nothing, but there was no mistaking the hurt in his aqua eyes.
Jac knew she had to do something to sooth his ruffled feathers. “I could really use your help,” she said, batting her eyes, something she’d never bothered with in New York, but found effective nonetheless.
The hurt from her inattentiveness disappeared and Coridan smiled. “What is it you wish?”
It was Jac’s turn to smile. Men were so easy. She pushed her skirt down just enough to reveal the tattoo around her waist. “I don’t understand Atlantean culture. Would you happen to know what these markings mean?”
“When?” Coridan’s eyes darkened as he studied the tattoo around her waist. His jaw worked from side to side as he traced the design with his fingertip. His nostrils flared and he glared at Ares.
Jac saw the gleam of satisfaction on Ares’s face. She’d seen enough pissing contests in her day to recognize one in progress.
“Why did you let him do it?” he asked, hurt in his voice.
“I didn’t have a lot of choice. He wouldn’t let me leave the hut without it. Do you know what they mean or not?” Jac asked, trying to quell her rising panic.
Coridan gave a short nod.
“Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?” her voice dripped with sarcasm.
“’Tis a claiming chain,” he said through clenched teeth.
“A what?”
He ran his fingers along the symbols as if that would somehow erase them. Coridan’s lips thinned. “’Tis what a warrior from Ares’s line uses to identify their mate after she’s been tamed.”
Jac’s eyes widened, but she said nothing. The blaze in the center of the compound was nothing compared to the one building in her gut. So Ares thought that he’d tamed her. Boy, was he in for a surprise.
“The marks are used to warn other warriors away from his claim, it states that your body is his alone. And should he find any man trying to enter his domain, he reserves the right to kill him.”
She swallowed hard, torn between utter outrage and giddy excitement. Jac went with what was familiar, safe. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Ares. You won’t have to worry about the warning, because I’m going to kill him.” She rose before Coridan could even move and started around the fire to where Ares had been earlier.
Eros stood with Rachel, nuzzling her neck and rubbing her pregnant belly. Jac cursed. Where in the hell had Ares gone? She scanned the crowd, searching for the one dark-haired man in a sea of light. She found him standing next to the tree line, talking to Ariel.
Jac’s stomach sank as the Seer stepped closer, placing her slender hand upon Ares’s chest. She stroked one of his scars, then clasped his bulging bicep. He flexed beneath her fingertips. Her anger toward Ares fizzled, then was quickly redirected to the human blow up doll. If Ariel didn’t back off, she’d make the Seer sorry.
She realized the ludicrousness of her thoughts and feelings, but Jac couldn’t seem to stop them. Ares had painted the damn belt of symbols on her, not the bimbo, and it was high time she reminded him of the fact. The Seer’s laughter floated on the air as Ariel tossed her head back sending waves of blonde falling over her slender shoulder and down onto her rounded bottom. She leaned in closer until her ample breasts brushed against Ares’s arm.
That was it! Jac had, had it. Rage blinded her, destroying all logic. It was one thing for her and Coridan to fake affection, it was quite another for Ares to behave in such a manner.
“Do you see this fucking belt around my waist, lady?” Jac shouted, stopping all activity in the camp. Her fingers pointed at the tattoo for emphasis.
Ariel turned, her hand still clasping Ares, a sensuous smile pulling at her pouty full lips. Her eyes sparkled in the firelight, then she arched one sculpted brow. “I see no claim upon this warrior,” the Seer said, pulling back from Ares enough to look him over from head to toe. “He bears no mark of a mate.”
WTF! Did the tattoo thingy only work one way? If so, that was messed up. Jac stared at Arial, but sensed no deception. Pain blossomed in her chest, she’d been a fool. She had no actual claim on Ares. He was free to do what he wanted and be with whom he wanted. She didn’t have the right to say a word. Hell, a minute ago she’d been thinking about leaving him. But that was then, this was now. He didn’t need a blonde Barbie bitch from hell for a mate, even if Jac went back to New York City. Ares could do far better than Ariel. She scanned the camp, but none of the women fit her definition of what Ares needed by his side. Jac glared at Ariel. The Seer didn’t back down. She knew she’d lost the fight, lost Ares.
“My mistake,” she said, her voice cracking. “If you want him so bad, you’re welcome to him. I won’t stand in your way. Just take good care of him.” Jac didn’t wait for a response. She turned on her heel and marched into the jungle.
Tears blinded Jac as she stumbled over lianas in the dark. She had no idea what direction she was going in and didn’t care. She just needed to get away from the pain tearing her apart. Ariel’s intentions had been clear from the start. She wanted Ares. End of story. The Seer had done everything short of fucking him in the clearing to let him know. She was probably screwing him now. Jac stubbed her toe. “Shit!” she said, bouncing on one foot a couple of times before continuing on.
Her whole plan had blown off course. Somehow a simple rescue mission had turned into the Poseidon Adventure and there wasn’t a damn thing Jac could do to stop the ship from going down. She’d given her word that she would stay until the challenge ended. Not that it mattered anymore. They might as well end it tomorrow. Ares had made his choice. She thought about Coridan. Maybe she should’ve taken him up on his offer. He was a good man and Jac had little doubt she’d have a problem controlling him, but when it came right down to it, she only had eyes for Ares.
Men, they’re all bastards, every last one of them. One minute they want you as their mate, the next they’re whispering sweet nothings in a bimbo’s ear. Typical.
Jac walked for twenty minutes more, slowly coming to the realization that she was lost. She should have arrived at the hut by now, but it was nowhere in sight. She’d intended to gather her things and leave. She didn’t want to cause another scene. It was easier to simply disappear. She looked around, with the growth and darkness she doubted very much that she’d be able to find her way back to the village. She growled in frustration and plopped down on a nearby stump. There was no use going any further. Hopefully when dawn struck, she’d be able to spot a trail. If not, she’d find the river and not look back.
It had taken every fiber of Ares’s being to keep from going after Jac. He’d started to do so many times, but Ariel had stopped him.
She needs to sort out her emotions, she’d said.
Ares glared at Coridan. This was his fault. He wouldn’t have considered using Ariel, if he’d not seen the young warrior hanging all over Jac. She thinks I have chosen you as a mate over her. How could she believe such a thing, when she bears my mark?
She does not understand our ways. Ariel said.
I need to explain. Tell her that I have not rejected her.
Let her go. Give her time. The Seer left him after imparting those words, then joined Coridan by the fire. Ares had considered it unusual but his mind was elsewhere.
Time passed slowly. Despite Ariel’s reassurances, Ares found himself scanning the trees, listening for footsteps. He wanted Jac back in his arms, in his bed. He’d only flirted with Ariel to show Jac how she’d made him feel when she’d sat with Coridan. Well, the plan had worked, better than Ares had anticipated. In a few short minutes, he’d somehow managed to destroy everything he’d spent the last three days building.
Guilt and anger squeezed his chest. His warrior woman had pointed out the tattoo on her body to remind him of his claim, yet he did not respond. Ares let her believe that the markings meant nothing to him or the trib
e, when they meant everything. Then he’d allowed her to escape into the jungle.
Ares cursed beneath his breath. He had to find Jac, explain, apologize, and if need be, beg. He wasn’t beyond doing so at this point. When he’d seen Coridan’s mouth linger upon her breasts he’d felt rage unlike anything he’d ever experienced, a beast reared its ugly head, demanding blood. His body had shook with such intensity, it had taken all of Eros’s strength to hold him back, although he doubted anyone but the two of them realized it. He’d half expected the young warrior to pull her to the ground and mount her. Ares had no doubt that he’d have killed Coridan if he had.
What had started out as a prideful game between potential mates had turned into a competition to see who could inflict the most pain. In the end, they’d both lost.
* * * * *
Chapter Twelve
Ares found Jac asleep deep in the jungle. She lay curled up in a ball, softly snuffling. He lifted her limp body from the ground and carried her back to his hut. It had taken him several hours to locate her amongst the dense shrubbery. For a moment his heart had stopped when he’d come upon her still form. He’d feared the worst until she’d taken a deep breath. Only then did he allow his muscles to relax and his heart to continue to beat. It had been the longest ten seconds of his life.
He took his time, working his way over the trail, trying not to wake her during the journey.
Ares tucked her into his furs and waited for the first tentacles of dawn to brush the sky. The energy burst challenge would be starting within an hour and he’d yet to rest. Instead, he’d spent the hours watching Jac sleep, her pale face gleaming in the soft glow of the fire pot. She hadn’t awoken, not even when he’d placed her on the bed, her lithe body limp from exhaustion.
It was his fault she’d spent most of the night unprotected in the jungle. Anything could have happened to her in those hours and he wouldn’t have been close enough to save her. The thought of that sent shards of guilt lancing through his body, slicing deep enough to haunt him for a lifetime. Ares didn’t know what he’d have done if he had lost her. In the short time they’d been together, she’d somehow become his world.
Releasing a heavy breath, Ares stood to ready himself for the challenge. He splashed water on his face and ate, but those actions did little to revive him. He could feel his strength wane. He strapped on his ceremonial blade, even though it would not be used during the combat. Giving Jac one last glance over his shoulder, Ares pushed the hide away from the door and slipped out. His senses were sluggish as he made his way to the village clearing. He’d traveled about a hundred yards when a subtle shift in the energy field caught his attention.
Ares stilled. He scanned the area around him, trying to determine the direction of the disturbance. It was not exact, but he had a fair idea of the location. His body tightened, going into full alert as he realized the intruder was male. The man wasn’t close, perhaps a day or two away, but drew steadily nearer from the north. The red-haired devil’s face flashed in his mind. Was he the cause of the disturbance? It was impossible to tell. Ares had been unable to pursue the Professor since the taming ritual had started. Not content with Jac and Rachel, it seemed the danger had come looking for his people, too.
He was torn. If he did not hurry and reach the clearing, Ares would forfeit his chance to win Jac. But if he didn’t pursue this new threat, there was a chance he would not be able to locate it again. He shook with fury at the thought of allowing the male to escape, but without Jac there would be no future for him. So with regret, Ares set aside his anger and pushed on, entering the clearing right before the Seer raised her hands to give the victory to Coridan.
I am here. Ares announced to the gathering crowd. The entire village had turned out to see this part of the challenge. Part of Ares wished Jac was here, but thought it best that she wasn’t. He couldn’t afford the distraction. Coridan was younger and faster, but Ares had experience and patience on his side. As long as he kept the young warrior running, eventually he’d wear him out and finish him off with no one getting harmed in the process.
The men stood thirty feet apart, facing each other. With hands at their sides, they waited for Ariel to give the signal to begin. Ares flexed his fingers, preparing for the first strike. The Seer signaled for the challenge to begin. Ares had barely raised his hand before Coridan’s energy burst struck him in the chest. Knocked from his feet, he flew through the air, wind whistling past his head, a second before he landed hard, flat on his back.
The hard ground took his breath away when he landed. Ares struggled to sit up. Rising to one elbow, he caught the satisfied expression on Coridan’s youthful face. The warrior was more of a threat than he’d anticipated. Ares scrambled to his knees and then stood. He brushed at the burning muscles in his chest as if the pain had been nothing, then positioned himself for the next round.
The signal dropped again and another burst rang out, this time catching Ares in the shoulder. His lips curled in a sneer as his eyes met Coridan’s face. I see you’ve been practicing, young one. He growled in his challenger’s head.
The warrior’s smile widened, then he shot back. Jac will be mine, Ares. Your mark means nothing and soon the whole tribe will know. I plan to sink between her welcoming thighs and plant my seed deep within her womb. Coridan’s eyes flared in anticipation. And there is naught you can do to stop me.
That is where you are wrong, young one. I will not willingly give up what is mine while there is breath left in my body.
The smile Coridan gave him was lethal. So be it.
* * * * *
Jac awoke in a bed. Her head throbbed and her muscles were stiff. She looked around in confusion and realized she was in Ares’s hut. She couldn’t remember how she got here. She scanned the hut again, searching for Ares’s presence even though she knew he wasn’t there.
It had to be morning by now, but it was impossible to tell with only dim light illuminating the area. She pushed herself up, brushing the hair from her eyes, then threw her legs over the side of the bed and padded to the water bucket.
After splashing water on her face, Jac’s head cleared. She strode over to the door and threw the hide back. The sun shone bright in the sky. Jac yawned and scratched her stomach before stepping back inside to retrieve her black skirt. Today she planned to tell them that she was leaving. If last night would’ve worked out the way she’d wanted, she would already be gone. She glanced at her hiking boots. She hadn’t worn them since Ares removed them the first day he’d brought her to the hut. Those blissful days of lying in the furs, their bodies entangled, were over. With firm resolve she slipped them on.
Not exactly a fashion statement, but down here, who cared. It would be weird strolling into the compound in broad daylight with only a skirt and shoes on, but she didn’t have much choice in the matter.
Jac proceeded to the village. Maybe she’d get there in time to see Ares get dropped on his arrogant ass once or twice before she left. She heard shouts coming from the clearing. She took off running, her booted feet squashing ferns as she made a mad dash to reach the action.
She pushed through the brush in time to see Coridan raise his hand and send a bolt of energy sailing toward Ares’s face. Ares twisted at the last second but the blast still clipped him on the cheek, jerking his head back, sending his ebony hair flying across his face.
Jac smothered a shocked cry. She’d wanted to see her proud warrior a little embarrassed, but there was nothing amusing about this part of the challenge. An array of bruises covered Ares’s body from his thighs to his head. It looked as if a crowd had ganged up on him and all taken a whack. He was hurt, truly injured. Ariel had said the challenge rarely resulted in death, but Jac had no doubt that Ares would fight to the bitter end. The color drained from her face. She stood frozen at the edge of the trees afraid to continue watching and yet too terrified to turn away.
Ariel raised her hands and the battle began again. This time Ares caught Coridan unaware. He struck a
fierce blow to the younger man’s ribcage, knocking him to the ground. Ares glanced in Jac’s direction, his eyes flicking from her skirt to her boots, and scowled, obviously not happy that she was there. Well too damn bad. He’d have to get over it, because she wasn’t going anywhere.
Coridan picked himself up off the dirt, holding his side, blood oozing from his split lip. He, too noticed Jac standing at the edge of the jungle. Unfortunately, his attention was focused on her when the Seer dropped the signal to begin again.
Ares didn’t hesitate. He fired two bolts at the young warrior, one landing on Coridan’s rump and the other boxing his ear. The young warrior let out a yelp as a third shot hit him in the same spot on the ribcage. Bones cracked. A final lesser blow soared toward his lower abdomen. He moved at the last second and the shot caught him in the groin instead. Coridan fell to the ground, rocking from side to side. Tribal members snickered. A few laughed outright, then took pity on him and helped him up.
Coridan shoved their hands away, fury blazing behind his aqua eyes. He struggled to his feet, his gaze not leaving Ares’s face. “You will pay for this,” he hissed.
Ares stayed, ignoring the young warrior’s heated words.
The Seer walked to the center of the clearing and held up her hands. “The ruling is clear. I declare Ares the winner of the energy burst challenge.”
Cheers rang out around them.
Jac stepped forward, then hesitated. The tension from the two men was oppressively thick. Perhaps it was the heat of the moment, but Coridan looked as if he’d meant every word he’d said. Jac had a bad feeling that the challenge had turned into something else entirely. Maybe it always had been. Coridan’s eagerness to get her to follow their plan had been there long before she’d entered the village. She glanced at Ares. He winced as he walked. She couldn’t leave him like this. No matter how much she needed to.
Atlantean's Quest Volume 1 Page 35
