Page 62 of Jackal's Pride
“They’re letting you live,” I told Newt. “In case you were confused.” They were trying to scare the shit out of everyone. Much like I did a few nights ago in the ring. Sometimes tossing around our authority was a necessity. With everything going on, demons tended to step out of line.
“Good to know.” Newt dusted off his shirt as he walked by Barron and stopped in front of me. “I’m glad you’re okay.” His reached up and squeezed my shoulder gently before rubbing his thumb across the flesh. “Have a drink with me.” He gave off the same sensual vibe as the last time I’d seen him.
“You’re acting different,” I pointed out.
“Only a fraction of how I’ve wanted to act around you.”
His familiarity made me uncomfortable, especially with the way his gaze swept over me.
“You’ve been with Jackal.” It was more of an accusatory statement than a question.
“Since when have you been so interested in what I do? Or who I do?”
Newt frowned. “I’m not.” He glanced at my brothers then back to me. “How about we grab those drinks before your brothers change their minds?”
“It’s not like you to be so docile.” Newt followed me as I weaved my way toward the bar. My brothers stood by the cage with Fear. Their staying put only irritated me. We didn’t have much free time with saving the world, and they wanted to spend it babysitting me.
Newt sat on the stool next to me. He flagged Molly and ordered our drinks. “Maureen.”
His tone held my attention. I often found Newt wise. He had a calm, yet brilliant aura about him.
“Life is strange, yeah? How often do good people become bad individuals and vice versa? There’s a certain appeal to what we aren’t. Maybe it’s because we see what we could be in the other. We see in them what we keep under lock and key.”
What the hell is he talking about?
Lifting the glass to my lips, I paused and thought about Newt’s odd words. I had no idea where he was going with this, so I offered a vague response. “I suppose.”
“Jackal’s all wrong for you.” He sipped on his drink.
“I’m not with—” I couldn’t say the words. They tasted like lies straight from the heart. Rotten fruit. My lies reminded me of food spoiling. I always ruined things before they even began, hence the foul taste in my mouth. I couldn’t—no, Idon’twant to say a lie when it came to Jackal. I wasn’t with Jackal but—why not?
“It was wrong for me to send you to him.” He set his glass down and gripped it tightly. “I’m glad you’re okay. Gavin had it coming.”
“He did,” I agreed, watching Newt with uncertainty. “Is everything okay?”
He turned his head and smiled. “Everything’s perfect.” His eyes wandered over my body again. “Well… Almost.”
Shaking my head, I focused on my drink.
“I can put Jackal back to sleep.”
My eyes widened. “You knew he’d been asleep?”
“Just a hunch,” he murmured. “I also see the spell a witch cast inside him.”
Feeling worried, I straightened on the stool. “Why are you talking about Jackal?”
Newt ignored my question. “I’m searching for the ingredients I need to lift it.”
My stomach dropped. The one hundred and thirty-seven hearts gave Jackal his emotions. “Why would you do that?”
“Don’t you want his mark gone?”
I grabbed my neck instinctively. “I… We’re at a truce. He’s helping us.”
“So, since he’s helping you, he’s no longer a threat?”
“That’s not it.” The clue in my stomach grew worse. “Why would you lift the witch’s curse?”