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.

1/6

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.

giving him ideas,

get my feet underneath me so I can stand. My muscles scream

in shape, but right now I

to take a short break, dear?" Mrs. Elkins calls out from her perch, a camping chair someone brought the elderly woman so

to Cedarwood, but of course everyone's fallen in love with her. Especially Selene, who admitted last night that Mrs. Elkins has been feeding her entire plates

216

<

207 Ava: Falling Again

food leftovers.

glass of soda, ten minutes in the shade... But then I catch sight of Jericho's face, his eyebrow arched expectantly. Waiting for me to

Nope, not happening.

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

forget I can

concentrate here. I know she means well,

just screwing with me, blissful in

I'm screwing with you.

I knew it.

but I 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

point is, there's no way I'm tapping out now, not

plant my feet as best as I can and push off the ground, grunting with the effort. My thighs tremble and my

3/6

207 Ava: Falling Again

right back into

still tied behind my back, my legs bound together at the ankles. It's not pretty, but I'm vertical. I'll take it. Jericho nods, something almost resembling

stare at the tree in question-a good twenty

He can't be serious.

making

gesture.

forward, trying not to picture what I must look like. Some deranged cross between a bunny and a

over, and I'm positive sheer. force

balanced. It's amazing how much your arms do for balance. Now that I'm little more than a human worm,

I'm a little dramatic, as I tend to be under

don't have

Ava, Selene encourages. Just a little

4/6