Page 28 of Jackal's Pride

Instead of materializing some sort of food for him this time, I cooked. Unsure of what he might want, I whipped up several things—spaghetti, garlic bread, a steak, and a salad went onto plates. I also made a batch of cupcakes all in two hours. When I was finished, I was giddy about what I’d done. This was right since I knew I’d make him do the same thing again tomorrow and every day going forth.

Now that I knew what Jackal could do, I couldn’t give up on him. I could be nice too…when people weren’t watching.

I went to check on him one last time before I covered up the food and left for The Den. Fear would be there tonight.

His presence bounced off the walls making everything all the more wicked in the house of sin. I found him next to Molly at the bar. The two were bickering about something when I placed my ass on one of the stools and grinned.

Fear asked, “Ah, Maureen, where’s the usual crowd?”

I knew he referred to Gavin and the gang, but the vamp was still licking his wounds. Since I won that last bet, he refused to show his face. It must really suck for him to never be able to bet me again. “Who knows?” I shrugged. “What are you two arguing over?”

“Molly got in the ring while I was helping Grim with some demons,” he admonished.

She rolled her eyes and threw the rag down on the counter. “It was just a werewolf. Relax.”

“I will not relax,” he whisper-shouted. “If anyone kills you, it’ll be me.”

I was never sure if they were joking or not when it came to their conversations. The heat went up a notch between the two of them as Fear crept into her space, sliding his finger up the inside of her arm. His gaze darkened as it swept over her breasts.

Molly lifted a brow, grabbing the collar of his shirt and jerking him close, proving how crazy the two of them were. He talked about killing her, and she was pulling him in with a wicked gleam in her smile. “Hush. You’re scaring Maureen. What if she tells Payne?”

“Maybe that’ll make him come around more,” Fear grumbled.

“You’re right.” Molly’s eyes widened, and she grabbed my wrist. Her tone turned serious. “Be sure to tell Payne that if he doesn’t visit soon, Fear will kill me.”

I snickered. “I think Fear might actually shed tears if something were to happen to you or Payne,” I replied. “Can I get a drink? Ryan, you make it. I don’t trust your wife.” Molly shook her head and chuckled.

Fear started making my drink when he stopped and peered up. “You really did find him.” I knew he meant Jackal before his presence suffocated me.

“Finally awake?” I asked. His shadow loomed close by, eating away at me. I tilted my head back and saw him towering over me.

Jackal acknowledged me silently, then his eyes bounced over to Fear. “You have a face.”

Fear laughed. “I guess I didn’t the last time we saw one another.” He slid my drink across the bar.

“You’re different,” Jackal pointed out as his gaze roamed over him.

Fear nodded. “As are you.”

“Then the world truly must be ending.” Jackal sat down on the stool beside me.

“So it seems.” Fear studied him a bit and then said, “Now if y’all will excuse me, I have a ring that needs fighters.”

As soon as he disappeared into the crowd of demons, I leaned into Jackal. “You should really do something else with your time other than following me.”

He pushed me away gently. “You act like I want to follow you.”

Here we go again.

“Are you getting in the ring again?”

I raised an eyebrow. “No, but maybe you are.” I have no idea why I baited him. It wasn’t like he was trying to argue with me.

What was this shitty acidic churn in my gut? Guilt? Or was I miserable with myself that I couldn’t help but to pick a fight with everyone?

“Maybe I will,” he agreed.

My jaw dropped, and then I noticed him eyeing my purple elixir. “Want one?” I offered, and he gave me a solemn nod.