Page 13 of Jackal's Pride
“Jackal’s leaving and so are you.” I smirked. “Right after you tell me your number.”
Barron shook his head. “I only went three over the quota today.”
I stuck my nose up in the air, beaming smugly. “Of course I win. I always win. I went ten over.”
Barron grabbed my shoulder. “You won’t always.” He glared at Jackal. “When I see the vamp, he’s as good as dead and any other being that thought this was a good idea.” He was referring to the collar strapped around Jackal’s neck.
“It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
“It’s not.” I hated the weight in his eyes. The one that took on all our troubles. “And you, stay away from Maureen, or I’ll have fun rearranging your viscera,” he said to Jackal. “I don’t care that you’re an entity, you still know pain.” Barron cupped the wound on his neck which was likely already healing itself. “I already owe you some hurt.” My brother’s eyes gleamed with a menacing promise as he glared at Jackal.
Jackal’s gaze moved back and forth between us, then he nodded as if he’d reached some sort of conclusion. “You’re blood relatives.” He half-smirked at me. “You are, Maureen?”
“And?” Where was he going with this?
“Just coming to terms with something,” was his hushed reply.
I squinted and crossed my arms below my breasts. “And what are you coming to terms with?”
“This thing called patience.” He eyed Barron. “And just so we’re clear, she woke me and put this collar on me.”
“Don’t take it off him,” Barron told me, his eyes locked with Jackal’s. “At least until we figure out what to do with him. Considering what Harvest has done, we can’t predict what this one might do.”
Jackal remained impassive as he had his staring contest with Barron, outwardly unaffected by what he just heard. But on the inside, I was sure the beast was furious. His black essence rippled all around him.
Barron faded without saying goodbye and left me with Jackal. I waited until Jackal’s green eyes were burning into mine before I said, “Do whatever you want. I don’t care. The only one making this difficult is you.”
“Me?” He didn’t even sound upset. Apparently, he had been awake long enough to learn some moderation. “I’ve been collared by a female that simply left without bothering to take it off of me.”
“I am not removing it until I’m ready,” I pointed out. “And with your attitude, I’m in no rush.”
“You’re poking the wrong kind of monster. You have no idea what little control I have over how I feel, especially when it comes to you and my anger.”
I chuckled dryly. “When does anyone ever have control of their emotions every second of each day? If we were meant to discipline them better than what we do then they would be buttons we could shut off when needed.” I’d caught him off guard. I could tell by the bewilderment in his widened eyes as he rubbed his chest. Without thinking much of it, I materialized some clothes on him so I’d stop gawking at his flawless bronze perfection. “As for your temper, I’d advice some anger management. When it comes to me, you better just get use to me. You and I are bound together by that collar until I’m ready to free you.”
I was burning up, and then I realized I was still dressed for a snow day. Time for a quick change. I materialized a pair of tight black pants and a loose blouse. When I glanced up, Jackal watched me curiously. He peered down at himself before ripping off the shirt.
“You think you can dress me as well?” he growled as the remnants of the shirt fell to the floor.
“Oh my Hades, you’re such a Neanderthal.” I groaned. “In this day and age, it’s no longer common to walk around butt naked, even in the Underworld.”
“It’s constricting is what it is,” He said as he took off his pants. “Every creature is born naked. I don’t see the point in covering up what everyone knows is already there.”
I covered the smile with my palm. “It’s called decency. I’m all about getting naked when it matters but you walk around like that, and you’re going to scare someone.”
“Scare?” He raised his head up, back straightening—as if to appear more frightening, and I fought my laughter. “Everyone already fears me.” He went back to removing his pants.
My eyes took in his cock again, and I coughed. “That’s not what I’m referring to. I mean one peek atthat, and everyone’s going to assume you’re out there murdering with it. I mean, that doesn’t look usable—itcan’tbe.” I realized I was still staring at his murder weapon when I saw him watching me.
“I am a killer,” he stated, still not getting what I meant.
I was killing myself. He was missing the innuendo. More accurately, he was totally missing whatitI was talking about.I’m cracking myself up.But seriously, he was hung like a horse and he was soft. I’d hate to see what it looked like in working use. I wasn’t kidding about him hurting someone with that thing. A delightful little shiver snaked down my spine. A totally normal response. The dude was godly. Too bad for me he was the entity known as Jackal.
“You know, I don’t care if you want to be naked. Just go be naked somewhere else.” I waved him away as I concentrated on repairing the wall he destroyed. In seconds the wall was mending itself as I walked over to the sink to pour a glass of water. Using power was effortless—it was an extension of our soul. A matter of one’s will. Mom often mentioned that we were levitating furniture and materializing objects we wanted before we walked.
“I’m not leaving your side.”
I turned off the faucet. I didn’t believe I heard him right. I tipped my head over my shoulder.