Jackson snarls down into my face, though I don't budge an inch, completely unafraid. Because even if fear and anger ripple through him at that confirmation, I know that none of this is for me. For my grandmother, perhaps - but not for me.

"Hey," I whisper, reaching a hand up and cupping his cheek in my palm. "This one? This stupid mate? I hate him."

Jackson stares at me for a long moment before a laugh pulses through him. "Seriously?"

I nod vigorously. "He sucks, Jacks. He's really mean, and he murdered his cousin tonight, and he punched me earlier -"

Jackson stands up straight, his eyes flaring. "He punched you?"

I smirk a little, turning my face to show him my bruised jaw. "The regicide is okay, but the punching is where you draw the line?"

He snarls, deep and true, as he leans close to me and wraps his hands around the bars. "Come on, we're getting you out of here, and then I'm coming back to kill him."

"Jacks,” I say, a little frantic, my hands covering his on the bars. At least, as much as they can. "Not - not yet."

He whips his head up to look at me, again shocked. "What are you talking about? We have to go, Ariel!"

can see how deeply we're feeling it. "I just – there's so much more happening, Jackson. Can we just take a

Ariel?" Jackson asks, bending forward to lean against the cage, to bring his face closer to mine.

bite my lip and shrug.

shakes his

his hands on the iron and I smack at them. "It is my job! It is - these are my people and my

that they've got in a

head at him too. "Please, let me just...tell you everything. And then

and hangs his head. "You

cupping his cheek in my hand. He sighs and leans his face against my hand, filling

and then glances around.

say, shaking my head. "They're really busy tonight

pass. "If anything weird happens, Ariel," he says, his voice low and serious.

agreeing

I do as I'm told, settling down across from my mate and beaming at him through the bars of my cage. "I hate this

for listening to me," I say, reaching forward and taking

of my hands to his mouth, kissing it. And I

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