Jericho Read online

  Elron piled plastic bags into his arms and set off after his wife. “We’ll unpack the trailer in the morning. Good night one and all.”

  Waiting patiently for Fi and El to be long gone, Jericho stared at Abe. “You were saying?”

  Noke nodded vigorously, eager to wrap this up.

  “Uh, okay. So, Mamam is leader of the Earth Family. I’m her only daughter. I ran away, got hit by the wall, forgot who I was and here I am.” Abe let a long sigh out.

  “Not gonna happen, myn lykyng. Tell us the whole of it. We know the part you just shared, now we want the rest.”

  Everyone nodded. Curiosity set light to Con’s hazel eyes.

  “Have to agree, Abe, sorry.” Matty patted her shoulder.

  “So, I took off. Escaped. Had to or die there. Mamam means to keep me from living any sort of a life. Never mind normal. I suffered a bad experience when I was six summers...and well, it's her, uh…sheesh – her intention to keep me pure and, er… ugh.” Face flushing deep red, Abe refused to duck her head or shy away from the truth about her non-existent life. Feverishly, she prayed Jericho wouldn't demand she spell it out.

  Silence descended until Matty blurted, “Oh gawd! Are you saying she wants to keep you pure as in virginal? Ewww. Like your whole life? Fuck that’s one mean momma you got there, girl.”

  Abe nodded unable to look at Jericho, but she caught Reno’s wide grin. Zulu smiled gently, no doubt agreeing about females and purity. Con’s face was as red as hers and Caleb didn’t seem to hear or he didn’t care, never lifting his eyes from his roid.

  “Geez, what kind of mother would do that to her own daughter?” Matty was all big brown eyes as she asked the room at large, “What’s life without sex?”

  “Really, really boring.” Abe piped in. Tension broke as howls of laughter and grunts of utter agreement rang out.

  Jericho could add a few choice words of his own: relentlessly fucking hard for forever – to the point his balls were always slightly swollen. He had taken matters into his own hand and came away more unsatisfied than before.

  Thoughts of Abe consumed him and then there were the erotic images always playing in the back of his mind, the two of them together…all day long. All night long. It was another first for him. When he got an itch, he found someone to scratch it and moved on. Never had he been in the state he was now – totally unfulfilled and the female he wanted more than anything right in his fucking orbit.

  Abe looked to Jericho. “I don’t have much time.”

  Noke nodded. “Your mother’s elite guards are probably close, Princess.”

  “Roanoke, tell me something I don’t know.” Abe winced. She wasn’t usually rude or sarcastic, but she was at the end of her rope. To go back to the slice of forest her mother had allotted her for living and stay in stasis for eternity would be her undoing. Only those her mother chose could enter, except her mother never chose anyone. It was only Abe and Bear.

  There were times when Mamam had even taken Bear away, punishing her for some unknown infraction – truth was Mamam had turned mean long ago and just liked to punish her. Those times were very, very lonely – soul-destroying lonely. That’s why she ran away. It wasn’t about purity for Abe, it never had been.

  “Okay.” Noke smiled at Abe. “I’ve been working on an idea. Maybe even a plan.”

  “Really?” Abe was all emerald green eyes and big ears.

  A small smile in place, Noke glanced at Jericho before turning back to Abe. Tongue in cheek, he said, “It’s gonna take King of the Jinn to step in and throw his weight around a little. It's a tall order to ask of him. If he choses to go along with our plan, it can change a hell of a lot for you. He’s powerful. Any question of pedigree will never enter the discussion since yours is equal to his – or better. Before you ask, the reason why petitioning King of the Jinn might work is because Jinn's have laws even your mother can’t interfere with.”

  Abe caught the gist of it, irritated they now had to find this King and ask – hell beg for his help – double hell – his protection too. “I know nothing about the Jinn race, Roanoke, so I’ll trust you on that.”

  Zulu's attention snapped to her, brows furrowing, he huffed twice. Conn appeared a little incredulous while Reno kinda worked a half grin. Caleb's curious hazel eyes lifted to stare briefly at Abe and then dropped back to his roid.

  Jericho’s mind travelled at light speed, moving all over the map, considering and rejecting until his head swung up, dark blue eyes drilling into Noke. “The Council of Nine are aware she’s here under my protection.”

  “And?” Noke waited.

  Brow quirked high, impatiently Abe asked, “Can someone explain it to me?”

  Dark blue eyes met hers. “I haven’t cancelled that order. As of this moment you’ll remain under my protection, Abe, on an ongoing basis. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, Jericho. But how does that help? Don’t we still need King of the Jinn? And how do we find him? Does anyone know him? Roanoke?”

  Noke stared, no expression on his face. Inside, he was thunder struck. Annabelle had no fucking clue who her benefactor and protector was! Man, this was turning out to be way better than his meditations in the forest.

  Matty reached in, cupping Abe’s shoulder, asking, “You okay? Did you take another knock to the head?”

  “No!” More minutes ticked by and Abe was getting real edgy in the dead silent room. Idiot. Again, she’d missed something important, but was too embarrassed to ask what.

  Jericho paced back and forth, his mind a million miles away as he slowly realized what Noke hinted at was precisely what he wanted.

  Abe.

  A fucking princess, exactly what he knew for sure he never wanted. Yet, she was unlike any princess he had ever met – so loving and giving, so kind and caring it made his heart ache.

  Eyes surveying the crowd, Caleb’s index finger paused on his roid. “Maybe nobody said anything. I know I didn’t. Actually never occurred to me to mention it. Touchy subject that.”

  Abe didn't have clue what he was talking about, but studied faces.

  So touchy that Matty bit her lip and glanced away.

  Reno grinned as did Conn. Beads at his temples clattering softly, Zulu shifted from one foot to the other.

  Jericho’s rich laugh caught everyone off guard, even Abe. She had no idea who he was and that was the fucking biggest first by far.

  He'd always wished secretly to meet a female who didn't know his station, didn't recognize his royalty, just saw him as a male. Hell, yeah – Abe was it. “Noke, I get the second part of this plan of yours. I’ll discuss it with Abe privately. How much time do we have before mommy dearest storms my compound?”

  “No telling. She’s a powerful force and she always gets what she wants. Your protection will only last so long. The Council of Nine will come calling to nail down the exact reasons for your continued protection. If you don’t have what they need to make Giaa back off, you lose.”

  “I don’t intend on losing. Abe remains under my protection.”

  Abe gasped. “You don’t want to make her angry. When it comes to Mamam it’s the simple things that will undo you. Your home is made of elements and we could be sitting in a pile of rubbish and dust in seconds. I’ve seen her do it before. Be very careful, Jericho. If I must I’ll go home.”

  “Abe, this is your home. And trust me, it's warded tight. By me. Before you make any decisions, we'll talk privately.”

  She slid off the high stool sideways having found the knack to doing it. Jericho was at her side in a flash, hands gripping her waist and easing her onto the stone floor. “Where are your shoes?”

  Noke laughed heartily. “Good luck with that. I, for one, have never seen her wear any."

  Grinning, Abe walked out of the room beside Jericho. One big hand slipped around her waist, pulling her in to fit against his hard body. More than glad the no touching rule no longer applied, he wasn’t sure why, but took it as a good omen.

  Perhaps i
t was his open declaration to Noke. A clear statement to one and all.

  Abe was his.

  No holds barred.

  Forever.

  The hallway warped and a loud snap echoed as the wards closest to the house came down.

  Jackhammering came from the front door.

  Caleb shouted loud enough to be heard at the back of the house. “What the fuck! They just appear?”

  Jericho flew up the back hall with Abe right at his side.

  “How many?” Reno roared as he thundered through the dining room, Zulu and Conn hot on his heels.

  “Fuck man, there’s eight of them. All geared up too.”

  Reno waved Jericho and Abe back as Conn and Zulu rushed by.

  Jericho leaned down and whispered to Abe, “Follow my lead. If you’re not sure give me a wink. If I ask do you agree, please do.” He placed her out of sight of the front door. “Noke go hide somewhere unless you want to be seen.”

  The big native nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

  Reno whistled for Rad who responded immediately, pounding down the main staircase as Reno motioned him to the front door. He signaled on the count of three and Rad swung the door open.

  “Stand aside. Let us pass. We seek Princess Annabelle Evergreen on Giaa's orders.”

  Rad shook his wild, unruly hair. “Nuh. Don’t know who the fuck you are, but you’re not storming in. You know where you are. Demands don’t work here.”

  Stoically, the soldier nodded reluctantly. “I am Sir Rundolph, Captain of The Imperial Guard. We seek the Princess Annabelle Evergreen. Is she here?”

  Reno snickered at the same time Zulu huffed softly. Caleb looked like he wanted to let loose, but stayed cool.

  Matty covered her mouth to stop anything from coming out. Although she was noticing this Sir Rundolph had big ear lobes too, really long in fact and his eyes hung down at the bottom, a rim of red showing and almost identical to their resident basset hound.

  Eyeballing Rad like he was the beast from hell with his scarred chest and massive arms on full display, the Captain waited, but soon lost patience with Rad's silent approach. "Let us pass. We have Imperial Orders to detain the Princess. If she is here, you must release her to us."

  Rad inched closer to the Captain. "Imperial orders? Cool. Now get the fuck out of here if you know what's good for you."

  A blast of harsh, hot air shot past the Captain, forcing him to falter backwards a step or two before he caught himself as Jericho prowled up to fill the doorway. Dark blue eyes swirling with flashes of purple, chest and arm muscles pumped, power swarmed off him.

  At sight of the big Jinn, the Captain bowed formally at the waist. "Sir." Protocol dictated he could say nothing more until spoken to.

  Steady blazing purple eyes drilled into the Captain as Jericho stepped in close. Rad shifted to the side, arms crossing his scarred chest while Reno and Conn shimmed up chest to back to Jericho. "Princess Annabelle is here in my compound under my direct protection. She isn't going anywhere. Do you understand me?”

  Abe considered it very strange the way Sir Rundolph immediately and without hesitation said, “As you wish, Sir." Again, he bowed deeply before turning on his heel.

  Rad slammed the door for effect as heavy bolts automatically engaged.

  “That,” Abe glanced uneasily around at everyone, “was way too easy." Emerald eyes stopped on Reno who was nodding. “Tell me,” Abe demanded.

  Cal opted in on defense – working damage control before it even started – his valiant attempt to soften the blow. If Abe really hated the whole Princess deal, then the reveal happening right now was gonna shoot the moon on that. "We don't use it. He doesn't like it. Hell, really doesn't like the title so we never mention it and that's why we never said anything..."

  Abe's emerald eyes drilled into Cal – he was her complete focus until Reno loudly cleared his throat. Abe's eyes caught on Jericho – but he gave nothing away as usual. She might just set herself on a mission to find his tells and almost wandered off into those wonderful thoughts as her attention landed on Reno.

  A wide white smile lit his face and Abe saw the true Hollywood – Reno was gorgeous with a big capital G.

  Feeling the fool and well aware of the heavy silence around her, Abe bit her lip.

  Reno’s smile got even wider. “Princess Annabelle Eloise Evergreen please meet King of the Jinn, Jericho Jaxier Sullivan.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Abe eyed Jericho as he moved towards her. “You’re Jinn? How come I didn’t know that?”

  “You never asked.” Jericho shrugged, prowling closer.

  “And what’s with this King business? Surely someone might have mentioned that to me.”

  “Dunno, Princess.” Smugly Jericho laced his hands around her waist and hauled her against his broad chest. “Care to explain your royal blood, Princess?”

  “No!”

  “Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way. Come, let’s have that private chat.” With her hand in his, he led her down the back hall to the rear of the house. Over his shoulder, he called out, “Keep a definite six on those Imperial Guards, boys.”

  Hoots wafted from the kitchen, following them down the hall.

  In his office, he suddenly realized this was a very delicate situation and he could not order Abe to do what he wanted. Not this time.

  It would take a lot of finesse. Savvy even and that was exactly what he didn't have when it came to a female of true worth.

  In a blink Jericho understood, this wasn’t about him, it was never about him. This was about Abe – what she wanted, how she wanted it and fuck the why. It would take every one of his skills to get her to agree. He wanted to cross his fingers as humans did for luck. Features softening, one corner of his mouth twitched up into an almost smile.

  It did occur to him to be bluntly honest, but he preferred to remain cagey about the physical and emotional rollercoaster he’d been riding since taking her into his arms that first day. Truly, he wanted her to decide without knowing how he felt. If she chose the path he offered, she’d gain freedom, but not quite the way she wished. That he would also hold back. Shit!

  Deep blue eyes swept his office, catching on Abe patiently waiting for him to get his shit – their shit – together. He ran hands through his hair, then scrubbed one over his face. Black hair fell like a curtain around his broad shoulders, splashing down his back.

  “I know how it feels when you’re trying to say something without the right words or rather no place to start. Am I making sense?” One brow quirked, a small smile lighting her emerald eyes watching him closely.

  “Perfectly. It’s true, I’m not quite sure how to approach the subject, as well you’re…damn that just makes it awkward. Shit, you, me, we…us – then hell – your mother! Ah, the no touching you ain’t gonna happen. Gotta touch you. It’s one big cluster fuck, Abe. All of it.”

  Abe bit her lip, Jericho didn’t know the half of it – the other half of her family – Daddio. Still it was hilarious to see the big Jinn, a warrior, a King and leader to many, struggle so ineffectively to get a sentence out.

  Jericho hunched forward before noticing Abe’s shoulders shaking as she tried to keep a straight face. “Did any of that make sense?” He bit back a grin; this was serious business.

  “Not one word.” A giggle burst out then as her emerald eyes lit up with laughter.

  Something warmed inside him, spreading into every cold crevice, melting defenses and the dam of emotions he’d been holding back since taking her into his arms in that collapsed cabin broke wide open.

  No fucking way in hell was he ever letting Abe go.

  She owned him lock, stock, swollen barrel and a couple of hard balls on the side. That was the long and the short of it. He had to convince her the only choice was the right choice. Him.

  “Who is Abe?”

  A winning smile creased her lips. “The truth? I'm relatively normal and quite boring in fact. I like to cook. Try my best to keep t
hings simple in a vastly complicated world. I love adventures and doing things. I love all races, but more than anything I enjoy being free.”

  “You ran away from your mother to gain your freedom?”

  “Uh huh. Where I was, it’s very lonely Jericho. There’s no way to describe how loneliness eats away at you. I had to run or die there.”

  No expression crossed his face, giving away that he personally knew the utter depths of loneliness for centuries. "How did you escape?"

  Abe dipped her head, blonde curls hiding her features. Instantly a lump formed in her throat, strangling her. It hurt to think about and yet her escape had all been so unexpected. "I uh...asked Mamam for..." Tears glistened then rolled down her creamy cheeks.

  Softly, he asked, "Myn lykyng, what did you ask her for?"

  A sniffle escaped and Abe wiped her cheeks, cloudy eyes meeting his. "I asked her for a hug. Just a hug."

  Jericho kept his reaction off his face. Abe obviously craved affection and love from the only person she could ask. "So how did that help you escape?"

  "She had taken Bear from me. It seemed a long time. He’s my comfort and I’m his. When I asked for a hug, it startled Mamam. She was just about to pass through the portal. Oddly, she came towards me – leaving the portal unguarded and as I rushed up to her for my hug I instead ran past her and out of the portal. Thank goodness she taught me how to close them."

  "You locked her in the portal?"

  "Only briefly, but it gave me enough time to get away. I ran for Aunt B's cottage where you found me."

  "Do you remember what happened at the cabin?"

  "No. I recall arriving, getting settled in and then a horrendous stench came through one of the opened windows. It scared me so bad I hid."

  "By hiding you mean no trace on the elements or any other hint of you?"

  "Yes. I was taught to hide like that from a young age."

  That she could disappear at any time and go off on her own left Jericho breathless. “Piccola? Can you pledge something for me?”

  Abe tilted her head, eyes curious, and replied warily, “Yes, I suppose.”