Page 5 of Jackal's Pride

I tossed my head back and chuckled. “You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll never let him beat me.” That sense of pride burst through my belly like a tsunami and with it, I got that heady sense of satisfaction that I chased after so much. “He’s scum, and I’ll never let him have what he wants.”

“And what’s that?”

“Me.”

“Maureen.” I whipped my head around when Newt called my name.

“Talk to you later, Molly.” I slid off the stool.

“Tell that son of mine to come visit me when you see him.”

“Ah, you know Payne, he’s all work and no fun,” I said good-naturedly. Her expression was sad as I walked away. I wondered how long it’d been since Payne had visited his parents for her to look that way.

I had bigger things to worry about though. Namely catching the entity called Jackal before Gavin, or I’d be getting to know that cock of his. And I did not want any of what he had to offer. Not that I worried about losing. That was laughable. I never lost.

I sauntered over to the bald warlock gleaming until I heard Gavin behind me. “I see you beat me here, Maureen, but you won’t beat me to Jackal.”

I groaned. “I’ll eventually feed you to River and Ruby one of these days.” They were twin dragons that roamed Dad’s woods.

Unbothered by my words, Gavin stopped beside me and looked to Newt. “So you finally found him, have you? It’s been two weeks too long.”

“Give me credit.” The warlock’s eyes skimmed over me and a pleased expression crossed his face. “I have found what even a Reaper couldn’t.”

Acid burned a hole inside me. I hated when someone spoke above me, and I especially hated when someone’s superiority collided with my curse. Placing my hand on my hip, I tried to tamper down my anger. “I never even tried to search for him. I left that part for you.”

“Mm-hmm,” was all he said, but it was enough to make my skin crawl.

“Are you saying I’m lying?” I bit out. “In case you two have forgotten, the end of the world is near and some of us are trying to prevent it.”

“Exactly why I plan to win this bet and finally make you mine before there’s no more Maureen.” Gavin pulled the cigar from his mouth and blew a puff of smoke my way. “News of the Reapers impending fate has reached every corner of the Underworld. Everyone knows when the Devil rises out of here, you guys die. It’s prophecy—your fate to die when there’s nothing good left to protect, am I right?”

I materialized my twin blades—dubbed Ben and Jerry,hello,because that was my favorite ice cream brand—simultaneously, letting them hover in the air at my sides while grabbing him by the neck so quickly that I was a blur to everyone around us. I clenched my teeth together as I knocked him to the ground. I grabbed my floating swords and crossed them at his neck, then I stood over him as he smirked. “Watch your mouth. I think you know more than anyone that my family and I don’t lose. I hope I don’t kill you before you get to see us defeat this fate thing just like I do you at every bet.” I spat on the ground next to him, barely missing his face. “Fucking vamp. One strike and your head is off.”

“Enough, Maureen.” Newt exhaled behind me. Reluctantly, I stepped back and let Gavin stand. “He said what he did to get a rise out of you.”

“Just tell me where Jackal is so this bet can be done.” I glanced over at Gavin when I said, “Once and for all.”

“I won’t let you win this time,” he promised, rubbing his neck pathetically.

“You know what happens when I win this time.” Because I couldn’t say no to a bet. I couldn’t back down from anything. He knew this and took advantage of my curse. I would no longer allow him to bet me with this final wager. That made me all the more excited.

“Jackal is located in a northern cave of the Underworld,” Newt interrupted us. I faced him. “The problem is the cave has been concealed. What or how, or even why the Jackal hasn’t moved from that cave in thousands of years, I couldn’t tell you.”

“Okay… We need coordinates,” Gavin said. “And how are we supposed to find something that’s concealed?”

Newt ran his hand over his head. “Now if I helped with that, where would be the fun? Figure it out on your own.”

I smirked. This was a cakewalk for me. If I knew exact coordinates, I could fade right into the cave.

“I’ve written it down for both of you,” Newt continued. “I’m giving each of you slightly different coordinates so there are no spats between the two of you when I’m not around to be the voice of reason.”

I rolled my eyes and took one of the papers from his outstretched hand. “Now then.” As I glanced up, Gavin blew something into my face.

The particles flew up my nose and immediately I knew what he did. “Mother f—”

Everything went blank.

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