On the Move Read Free Page B

confronted Xavier, he thought there might be hope. For his clans, yes, but for him and Addison as well.
    He would fight for her, as he’d never fought before. And if he died, he would go to his Gods knowing Kade would not have Addison either. Ramos was strong and he would make sure of it.
    But he wasn’t going to think about that. He wanted to think about Addison, to imagine the first night with her as his mate, as the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.
    Griffin watched the wheel of the sky turn, the brilliant stars passing overhead, as they had when his ancestors looked up at them. He sent prayers to the Gods, to each one individually, asking for strength, for courage, for the fortitude to see this through. To fight as he had never fought before.
    It was almost dawn when he finally dozed off. His prayers had become mumbled as his eyes grew heavier, his head dropping. He should sleep. Ramos would come for him, when it was time.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    “Addison? It’s Daphne.”
    Addison opened her eyes in the darkness of the hut, then sat up, wincing as her she straightened her stiff limbs. “Have you gotten used to the beds yet?”
    “Takes a bit of time, granted. But you’ve had worse accommodations on digs, haven’t you?”
    Addison stood and stretched her arms overhead, then bent forward, palms lightly touching the floor. It felt good to move, and she realized she missed walking, trekking behind Griffin as he’d led them through the jungle.
    “I have. I guess it’s the circumstances. On a dig, I’m not being held captive by a clan of jaguar shifters.”
    Daphne nodded. “Good point. Come. I’m to take you to get ready.”
    Addison’s heart sank. “What exactly does this preparation involve?”
    “You get a bath, which is nice. No hot water, but it’s still a bath.”
    They crossed the small clearing, heading down a thin trail through the dense jungle. Daphne led the way, talking over her shoulder.
    “There are some lovely oils they use for anointing. I’ve been trying to find out what they are, but I don’t have any samples. I just remember having the crazy thought during the preparations, that I’d make a fortune in the perfume business if I could decipher what was in those oils.” She laughed, stopping on the path. She turned back to Addison.
    “It’s just rubbish sometimes, isn’t it, what you think when you’re in the middle of a crisis?” With a shake of her head she continued on.
    They reached a larger clearing, and Addison caught sight of a platform, lashed together with vines, standing in the middle of a trampled circle. She stopped and Daphne turned to her before looking back at the platform.
    “You stand there, in the center. They dance around you. And then they fight.” She took a step forward, eyes on the platform. Addison realized it was where the girl would have stood, not long ago.
    “The grass is still flattened, scratched where they dug in with their claws.” She turned to Addison. “You know, they fight as shifters, as jaguars. For some reason, that was a total shock to me. I thought they’d fight as humans, like boxers, you know? But they all shifted into jaguars and then they fought.” She turned away, walking slowly toward the platform, stopping a short distance away.
    “They really do revere you, you know, while you’re up here. And they really do care for their women, Kade excluded. Ramos was gentle, kind, treated me like royalty. Coya. Ramos said… it means Queen.”
    Daphne sighed, a sound full of longing, maybe loss. Then she turned, eyes bright with unshed tears, and held out her hand toward Addison.
    “Come. Xavier will get very angry if we’re late. He’s worse than any spoilt child.”
    They walked through the clearing, to a small hut, or what was left of a hut. It had no roof, just thatched walls and an open doorway.
    “Storm damage?” She looked at the building. It was losing thatch in places and the floor was splintered with age. In