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

the vampire attack, and all the little truths Vanessa has managed to open

about it doesn't

He sighs, running a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Listen, girl, all young pups make mistakes. It's part of growing

I haven't been called that since I was

but I don't

see countless pups stumble and fall. Done it myself, in fact." "Yourself?" It's hard to imagine him, a grizzled old man of

hard to imagine he

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

gaze intense. "But I like the look in your eyes now. You seem like you've gotten a little

assessment comes as a

embarrassed by how strong I thought I

not so long ago.

Blinded by peace.

mutter, rubbing Selene's head. She's already lowered her head and closed her eyes again, leaving me to Jericho's presence

But I don't have the energy to

mean by that?"

strides. It takes a little time for

"Of what?"

at me, his

face is somehow

because it never changes, never shows

nods and asks questions when he

finish explaining my vague connection with Sister Miriam, he stares at the ceiling in thought, one booted foot tapping against the floor as

girl, my gut's telling me

an ally than

scoot a little further off the edge of my bed. "Why? Lucas doesn't

meet with mine, "no vampire acts like this toward someone they're hunting. No, she has

loyalty in their blood. They don't have the sense of pack that

about vampires?" The question slips out before I can stop myself. Curiosity has me

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

our toes."