Tangled

183

183

1. 183 Ava: Jericho's Acceptance

Since neither shifter seems very interested in talking, I sit with only my thoughts for company.

Even Selene is silent in my head, though she rests her chin on my leg, her eyes deceptively closed.

She's not asleep, but still dealing with whatever demons are inside of her right now.

Both guards tense as Selene's ears flick around.

Someone's coming, she says, lifting her head to stare at the door. When both guards relax after that distracted look from them linking with someone, she does too, despite sniffing at the air. Jericho, she says, as the door opens and his grizzled head pokes into the room.

Jericho glances around, looking at both guards with clear contempt, before nodding to me. "Girl," he says gruffly.

in

My lips twitch into a faint smile, an unexpected warmth blooming

my chest at his informal address. At least one thing hasn't changed. He still treats me the same, even after everything that's happened.

"Wait outside," Jericho orders the two ill-at-

ease shifters, jerking his head toward the door. They hesitate for a moment, exchanging an uncertain look, but a single raised eyebrow from Jericho has them scurrying out of the room. The door closes with a soft click, and Jerich

Jes

Acceptanés

back to me. "How're you doing? Feeling okay?"

I open my mouth, ready to assure him that I'm fine, but the words lodge in my throat. Am

riot, Todd's mother, the vampire attack, and all the little

about it

over his stubbled jaw. "Listen, girl, all young pups make mistakes. It's

I haven't been called that since I was a

a few times, but I don't

my eyes. I've been around long enough to see countless pups stumble and fall. Done it myself, in fact." "Yourself?" It's hard to imagine him, a grizzled old man of little praise

hard to imagine he even

he just appeared in this world one day, old and cantankerous, yelling at innocent out-of-shape wolf shifters until they

continues, his gaze intense. "But I like

assessment comes as a surprise

embarrassed by how strong I thought I

not so long ago.

Blinded by peace.

eyes again, leaving me to Jericho's presence alone. "I feel like I've already softened up." Jericho's eyebrows raise a fraction. "Are you an idiot?

have the energy to rise to his

mean by that?"

nothing but a curt grunt, he instead takes the opportunity to pace my room in short, slow strides. It takes a little time for me to realize he's inspecting everything, his nostrils flaring as he scen "Nothing," he

"Of what?"

Turning, he gazes at me, his face stern. "Explain what

his grizzled face is somehow easier than I

it's because it never

nods and asks questions

he stares at the ceiling in

my gut's telling me this

ally

little further off the edge of my bed.

tooth. But." and his eyes snap down from the ceiling to meet with mine, "no vampire acts like this toward someone they're hunting. No, she has a pla The doubt

blood. They don't have the sense of pack that we do. It's all power and control in

do you know about vampires?" The question slips

grin. "More than these young pups, that's for damn sure. They've grown up in a

our toes."