Page 12 of Jackal's Pride

Barron’s eyes widened in understanding before he gripped his sword tighter. “I see.”

“Jackal,” my voice vibrated with urgency. “Stop it.”

I had forgotten what the collar did until Jackal planted his wolf behind on the floor like a good dog. One of Barron’s brows shot up. “What did you do?” he asked lowly. When he spoke quietly like he did right now, I knew he was upset with me.

“I got Gavin off my back with this last bet.”

Jackal shifted into his human form and stood. “You think this is gonna hold forever?” His focus was solely on me as he yanked at the collar. “No magical possession will last as long as you and I will.”

As far as Gavin and the others were concerned, the collars couldn’t be broken, but as confident as they seemed I couldn’t help but study the band each and every time he yanked at it. Was that a crack already?

“The moment this breaks—”

“I’d watch what you say next,” Barron interrupted.

“Easy.” I grabbed Barron by the shoulder, and he glimpsed back at me. “I can handle Jackal, but having you raging out on me…um… I’d rather not deal with.”

“Did you know?” Barron asked.

I frowned. “Know what?”

“That Sebastian and Isabella have been searching for Jackal.”

I stepped back, and the creases on my face dug deeper. “No. Why are they searching forhim?” I pointed toward the naked man standing in my kitchen.

Barron shrugged. “A witch told them he may be of help to the…” He glanced back toward Jackal who was being good because he had no choice, but his body was practically humming it was so wound up as he blatantly ogled me in disdain. “End of the world crisis,” Barron finished.

I tossed my head back and laughed as Jackal muttered, “Did you say the end is here?”

“We have plans assuring that doesn’t happen,” I told him.

I didn’t like the way Jackal crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. “How so?”

Why did he say that like he didn’t believe me? Maybe we didn’t have a plan per se but what I did know was there was no way I was dying in less than eight months. I hadn’t even lived two centuries yet. Nor have I tried pizza from Italy to know how different it was from America’s. I still hadn’t lived a life as a human. I figured I’d get around to it, eventually. I could live a double life as a Reaper and sex some hunky human male on the side. Let us not forget that there was no way any of us wanted to see the Devil crawl out of his hole and destroy all the bits and pieces that made the world whole and beautiful.

We also couldn’t allow Harvest to take the Devil’s place.

As much as I adored the darkest places of the Underworld—all the wicked and wrongdoings we shouldn’t indulge in—I loved the light just as much. I balanced the best of both worlds—I was the Grim Reaper’s daughter after all. We walked in the middle of good and bad, light and dark, with no intentions of explaining ourselves to anyone.

“Maybe I’ll get another collar and use it on Harvest,” I muttered hatefully, considering I had no actual clue what we’d do other than fight Harvest and the Devil and possibly fuck shit up.

Barron ignored me. “Is it true you can create plagues?”

“It’s true,” I told him quickly. “Tried to place one on me earlier.”

“Why are you asking?” For someone that slept for thousands of years, Jackal was sharp.

“Can you reverse devastation?” Barron cut straight to the point. Was this the reason they were searching for Jackal? Were they actually looking for him to ask for help?

One of Jackal’s brows shot up toward his forehead. “I’ve never tried to reverse anything. What would be the point?”

Barron took a deep breath, disappointment clear on his slumped shoulders. “Yeah, that’s what I expected.” He turned his head to the side. “Can you handle him?”

I scoffed and turned to Jackal. “Pinch your cheeks.” I really shouldn’t keep poking the beast but as usual I had to prove myself. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing as Jackal did as I said, eyes promising to kill as he glared at me.

Barron observed like he wanted to say something. From his sigh, I knew whatever it was wouldn’t be appropriate, but I was okay with that. I wasn’t in the mood to be lectured from someone I hated disappointing.

“I can’t just leave now that I know what you’ve gotten yourself into,” Barron muttered.