Tangled

Unshift 207

Unshift 207

207 Ava: Falling Again

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.

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207 Ava: Falling Again.

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.

Igroan, picturing the bruises those sessions will paint across my

body.

need to stop giving him ideas,

knees, I wriggle and strain, trying to get my feet underneath me so I can stand.

getting more athletic and in shape, but right now I feel

Mrs. Elkins calls out from her perch, a camping chair someone brought the elderly woman

of course everyone's fallen in love with her. Especially Selene, who admitted last night that Mrs.

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207 Ava: Falling Again

food leftovers.

would kill for a break right now. An ice cold glass of soda, ten minutes in the shade... But then I catch sight of Jericho's face, his eyebrow arched expectantly. Waiting for

Nope, not happening.

my abs quiver with the

You forget

to concentrate here. I know she means well, but her

with me, blissful in her artificially created

I'm screwing with you.

I knew it.

Elkins frowns, looking between me and Jericho uncertainly. Bless her heart, but I wish she'd read the room. Or the training yard, as it were. Granted, we're just on a vast field

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

little energy I have left, I plant my feet 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, I teeter, sure

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207 Ava: Falling Again

back into the

I find my balance. I stand there, swaying slightly, hands still tied behind my back, my legs bound together at the ankles. It's not pretty, but I'm vertical. I'll take it.

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

He can't be serious.

he prompts, making a 'get

gesture.

not to picture what I must look like. Some deranged cross between a bunny and a worm, probably. Each hop jars my bones and makes

I almost fall over, and I'm positive sheer. force of

as I struggle to keep my entire body balanced. It's amazing how much your arms do

dramatic, as I tend

have

Ava, Selene encourages. Just a

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