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, Selene remarks dryly

mouth shut this time. Bending my knees, I wriggle and strain, trying to get my feet underneath me so I can

shape, but right now I feel like

short break, dear?" Mrs. Elkins calls out from her perch, a camping chair someone brought the elderly woman so she can watch in relative

course everyone's fallen in love with her. Especially Selene, who admitted

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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 give

Nope, not happening.

abs quiver with the effort of holding myself upright. "Just

accuses. You forget

here. I know she means

just screwing with me,

I'm screwing with you.

I knew it.

Or the training yard, as it were. Granted, we're just on a vast field of grass, but it's where

out now, not with Jericho watching me like

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 I'm about

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207 Ava: Falling Again

right back

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. Jericho nods, something almost resembling approval

at the tree in question-a good twenty

He can't be serious.

he prompts, making a

gesture.

trying 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 the

and I'm positive sheer. force of will and

keep my entire body balanced. It's amazing how much your arms do for balance. Now that I'm little more than a human worm, I regret not

dramatic, as I tend to be

don't have all day,

Selene encourages.

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