Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 207 Ava: Falling Again

"If you want your throat torn out and your blood sucked dry, keep thrashing like a dead fish."

Jericho's lovely training flavor assaults my ears in a way that's way too comforting, considering the vitriol that comes out of his mouth.

"I like fish," I pant, giving up for a second. Lucas was right. Jericho's been drilling me on falls again.

This time, my arms and legs are tied.

Because, apparently, "I need practice."

Pretty sure Jericho's an old sadist, but at least he chose bodyguards who don't snicker and smirk the entire time they see their charge getting battered and bruised. Or, in this particular case, flopping like a fish.

Gritting my teeth, I thrash against the ropes digging into my wrists and ankles, chafing my skin raw. They'll be healed by tonight, but for now, it hurts like hell.

"Bend your knees!" Jericho barks. "Roll onto your side and use the momentum to sit up. Then bring your feet under you."

Easy for him to say. He's not the one trussed up like a turkey. After far too long on my back, half-convinced my true identity is a turtle, I manage to flop onto my side, panting. Blades of grass tickle my cheek. From this vantage point, I can see Selene sprawled in front of a portable fan, tail wagging lazily. Traitor.

It isn't even that hot outside. Everyone's just worried about her because she's a husky, like they aren't wolves themselves who understand that she's just fine in this mild weather. All because she pants a lot.

She's milking it—but no one will believe me.

With a grunt, I rock back and forth until I gain enough momentum to heave myself into a sitting position. "Well, at least you haven't tied me to a chair," I mutter under my breath.

Jericho's keen ears pick up on it anyway. "That's next week's lesson." The sadistic glee in his voice makes me shudder.

those

stop giving him ideas, Selene remarks dryly in

trying to get my feet underneath me so I

in shape, but right

Mrs. Elkins calls out from her perch, a

love with her. Especially Selene, who admitted last night that Mrs. Elkins has been feeding her entire plates of food

my eyes, I think about it. Yes, I would kill for a break right now. An ice cold glass of soda, ten minutes in

Nope, not happening.

I wheeze, even as my abs quiver with the effort of holding myself upright. "Just need a

forget I can feel

know she

maybe she's just screwing with me, blissful in

I'm screwing with you.

I knew it.

wish she'd read the room. Or the training yard, as it were. Granted, we're just on a vast field of grass, but it's

no way I'm tapping out now, not with Jericho watching me

as best as I can and push off the ground, grunting with the effort. My thighs tremble and my hamstrings burn, threatening to give out yet again. For a precarious second,

behind my back, my legs bound together at the ankles. It's not pretty, but

his eyes. "Better. Now hop over to

I stare at the tree in question—a good twenty yards away,

He can't be serious.

making a 'get

cross between a bunny and a worm, probably. Each hop jars my bones

fall over, and I'm positive sheer force of will and a lucky breeze keeps