Page 60 of Jackal's Pride

I stepped away but then stopped when I realized what I was doing. “Would you calm down? Look at you,” I hissed.

He glanced at his hand and saw the shimmer of his skin. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed. “I should have taken care of the problem long before this happened.”

“Nothing happened,” I rushed out. “And even if something had, we’re immortals.”

Those words were meaningless. His anger seeped out just like the fear I felt the day Kitty was kidnapped years ago. Being immortal didn’t ease the pain of a loss. That day marked the beginning of the strong bond with my family. We searched high and low for her. Thankfully, she was found.

“You’re not unbreakable, Maureen. Your curse is nothing but a ruse. It forces you into thinking you can’t be who you want to me.” His words had a stinging effect.

I reared back. “I was fine. I’mfine.” I shook my head as all this consuming bitterness came to the forefront. “I don’t know what’s with everyone around me lately thinking that I’m in need of saving, but I’m no damsel. I don’t need anyone.”

I was angry. My curse was provoked, and it wanted a reaction. I didn’t mean a lot of the things I said, but that didn’t prevent them from escaping my mouth. I hated it,hated it.I especially hated anyone, including family, making me sound weak. Yes, I was capable of being afraid. Yes, I was capable of falling into traps. I knew and lived with pain. But I nevereveracknowledged it to anyone. To do that, to allow someone to bring it up, just made my curse backfire on me.

“The curse doesn’t hide who you are, no matter how much you think it does. You’re loving like Mom. You’re strong, Maureen, but you’re no different from Joy, Kitty, or even Prudence. You’re a woman. Deep down, you’re soft—”

“Stop!” He made me so angry. He knew what this did to me and did it, anyway. “Don’t use that shit on me. Being a female doesn’t make me weaker than you.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he gritted out. “We’re not discussing your curse. I won’t sit back and let them live after you were kidnapped. Which ones?”

I ignored him, still seething as he spoke.

“Are they here?”

“Get out of my face.” I shoved him aside.

“I’ll kill everyone here,” he rumbled behind me.

“Go ahead,” I barked as I pushed through demons hoping to lose him. But the demons were pansies. They took one glimpse at my brother and scattered out of his path. He had everyone fooled. Everyone was so terrified of him when in truth he could be softer than me. Sometimes. When he wasn’t raging.

“Maureen.” Oh, damn. I swiveled around to see Newt crossing the distance separating us with a frown. His gaze flicked to Barron then to me again. “Everything okay?”

Barron saw him before a malevolent twitch started in his jaw, and he revealed his teeth. What passed for a smile was all creepy and wrong. “Barron, no,” I said, but he never listened.

“Do you know what your vampire friend did? Yes or no?” Barron’s tone was civil.

“See, I told you he wouldn’t listen and would come without us.” I twirled around to the sound of August’s voice. Sebastian was with him.

“Better just tell him the truth. He gets all skeletal and shit, attacking everyone in his path if he gets too upset.” Sebastian never knew how to make things better, only worse.

August smirked. “Let him loose.”

“Let’s not,” Fear muttered as he stepped around the ring. A lot of demons now paid attention to us.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be out of your hair soon. Just have to take care of some things,” Sebastian said in his typical goofy swagger.

It dawned on me. Barron was never here searching for me. They were all here to eliminate anyone they thought would come after me like Gavin had. I was pissed and didn’t need this from them, but I couldn’t deny the swelling in my heart. This was family.

“Where’s the rat-looking one she hangs out with?” August asked.

“I thought his appearance was more like a rabbit?” Sebastian scratched his chin.

“What’s this about?” Newt was fairly calm for someone moments from death.

“You mean to tell us you didn’t know your pal kidnapped Maureen?” August stalked closer.

Newt’s eyebrows jumped as he looked to me. “What did Gavin do?”

“Nothing,” I gritted out. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Newt had nothing to do with Gavin.”