Page 90 of Reluctant Rebel

As she padded closer on silent paws, Mikhail marvelled at the fluid grace of her movements. Each step was carefully calculated, every muscle working together in perfect harmony. She stopped just a few feet away from him and let out a low growl, her eyes never leaving his. Then, without warning, she roared and pounced on him.

“Eeek!” Mikhail shouted shrilly. Around him, the others laughed as he lay flat on his back with a giant feline predator on his chest.

“If you don’t want the tiger to crush you, make your shield,” Sabre taunted from his left.

Mikhail turned as much as he could with a huge tiger head all up in his grill and glared at Sabre. “How can I form a shield when someone’s touching me? Are you expecting it to push her away and not be able to come back? Or do you expect to shield a freakin’ tiger as well?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t we find out,” Sabre said, her voice deceptively mild.

Before he could say anything else, Sabre moved closer and raised an axe.“You wouldn’t,” Mikhail barked, doing his best to wrap his arms around Jinx’s huge form.

“Wouldn’t I?” Sabre challenged, an eyebrow raised. “I once killed a baby.”

There were several gasps from the soldiers, but none was louder than Draven’s. “Abhorrent woman!” the angel condemned her.

Mikhail simply groaned and closed his eyes, listening for the inevitable fuckery Sabre was about to dish out to her fellow guardian. There was no way Sabre had ever killed a baby. A chuff met his ears, and he opened his eyes to find an amused tiger face.

Jinx's mouth was open in a wide, toothy smile, exposing rows of sharp teeth. Her ears were up, and her eyes were bright with a pleased gleam. “You’re incredible, you know that? In every shape. In every form. And in every way. You areincredible.”

Jinx cocked her head to the side, regarding him carefully. After an intense moment, she let out a contented chuff and nuzzled her head against his face. Her claws extended, and she began to make biscuits on his chest. Mikhail grinned; he was all for the biscuit-making.

“Huh. So, this is what being a human scratching post looks like.”

Mikhail’s happy little bubble popped. How could he have forgotten that they were surrounded by a bunch of ingrates who would tease him mercilessly? Surprisingly, Jinx made no effort to move, and Mikhail was forced to use his only available weapon. His words. “Fuck you, Abraxis.”

“Oohh, not the full name. I’m in trouble now,” Brax said laughingly by his feet.

“You will be,” Mikhail muttered under the weight of Jinx. Brax simply laughed again.

“Well, if you two are done with … whatever this is,” Sabre said, gesturing between Mikhail and Jinx with her axe, “let’s get back to the stabby-stabby.”

“Don’t do it, Sabre,” Mikhail warned when she raised the battle axe for a second time.

Sabre merely arched a solo eyebrow. “Stop me.”

Mikhail's heart raced as he felt Jinx's hot breath on his face, her massive paws pinning him to the ground. He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate despite the overwhelming presenceof the tiger. He reached out with his mind, feeling for the now semi-familiar power. He felt a warmth spreading from his core, radiating outward through his limbs—which was a little different. As he chased the sensation, he became acutely aware of Jinx's heartbeat and her breath syncing with his own.

The forcefield expanded outward from his fingertips, molecules of air vibrating and coalescing into an impenetrable barrier that shimmered over the top of them. He peered at it, realising the translucent dome of swirling energy pulsed with each beat of their hearts. Just beyond the shimmering veil, Sabre loomed, her axe glinting wickedly in the artificial light.

The weapon's razor-sharp edge hung suspended mere inches from Jinx's striped flank, frozen in mid-swing as the shield materialised. Mikhail poured every ounce of his concentration into maintaining the protective bubble because Sabre, being Sabre, didn’t stop at one strike. No, she swung the deadly weapon again and again. The forcefield rippled and undulated under the repeated attacks but held.

Eventually, Sabre was satisfied, resting the axe on the ground and leaning against the handle. She wiped sweat from her brow, saying, “I’d call that a success.”

“Absolutely,” Brax said with a decisive nod. “Think you can do that with more people when we face off against Z? Something tells me it’s not going to be one-on-one.”

The thought itself was exhausting, but Mikhail answered, “Of course. Piece of cake.”

Brax rolled his eyes, no doubt knowing Mikhail was lying through his teeth. But he was smiling. Mikhail consciously released his hold on the shield and went to get up. But he was prevented by a tonne of black and white fur. “Uh, Jinx? You can get off me now.”

Instead of moving, Jinx lowered her head, her whiskers tickling his cheek as she nuzzled him affectionately. Her roughtongue rasped across his forehead, leaving a warm, damp trail. Mikhail couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected display of feline affection. Jinx then pressed her velvety nose against his temple, a deep rumble vibrating through her chest and into his.

“Do you think her tiger is really going to molest him?” Brax’s words cut through the peace Mikhail was experiencing.

“The real question is whether or not he’ll actually let her,” Sabre commented, sounding curious.

“Ignore them, My King,” Phaedra piped up.

Mikhail had no idea where she’d come from, but he welcomed her assistance. That was until the dainty female spoke again.

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