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!"

my wolf howling her desperation so he can see how deeply we're feeling it. "I just – there's so much more happening, Jackson. Can we just take a minute, and think about it, before we go tearing this cage apart and make our

possibly want to do, Ariel?" Jackson asks, bending forward to lean against the cage, to bring his face closer to

bite my lip and shrug. "Um...destroy Atalaxia

like I'm insane. Then he shakes his head, once, hard. "Nope. Not our job. I'm

"It is my job! It

that they've got in a

beg, shaking my head at him too. "Please, let me

and hangs his head. "You are...killing me,

know, baby," I whisper, reaching up and again cupping his cheek in my hand. He sighs and leans

a laugh and then glances around. "Do we have

shaking my head. "They're really busy tonight trying to solve a murder even though everyone already knows who

raises an eyebrow at that but lets it pass. "If anything weird happens, Ariel," he says, his voice low and serious. "I'm

I say, agreeing to these

he sighs, sinking down to the ground and indicating that I should do the same so that we can talk. I grin as I do as I'm told, settling down

love you for listening to me," I say, reaching

hands to his mouth, kissing it. And

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