Page 10 of Cimmerian

I twisted against her tight grip, trying to look her in the eye. “As far as I was aware, you still need my help. So maybe tone down on the condescension for a minute or two.”

Merrick walked toward us slowly, hands up in defense. Jasper was still crouched, growling, unable to take his eyes off me. “I’m good,” I shot him. “For now at least.”

“I want to rip her limb from limb.” Jasper’s voice should’ve frightened me. There was no emotion, just simple, matter of fact. For him, it wasn’t a question of if, it was a matter of when.

Just not yet. “We need her,” I reminded him. I didn’t know if Orcus needed her alive or dead, but I’d rather not make that mistake too early. Jasper growled and shook his big wolf head. He wasn’t impressed.

Merrick was still maintaining eye contact over my shoulder, with Monica I’d assume. “Mom?”

“If you want to get technical, yes. Now can all of you fuck off so I can have a private discussion with my daughter?”

“Over my dead body,” Beau growled.

Merrick was still walking closer, the insecurity on his face a look I hadn’t yet seen. “Why’d you leave?”

Monica huffed. “Seriously? This is what you want to talk about right now?”

“I waited, you know. After the last time you left. I waited and waited for you to come back and see me, even after Dad told me it wasn’t worth it. I still hoped you’d prove him wrong. Why didn’t you come back?”

“You really want to know why? Okay. I’ll tell you why. I got drunk one night, and you were a big old mistake. Is that the story you wanted to hear? At first I thought you might be a Venator, like me. But when I found out you took after your dad, I dumped you on his doorstep. Are you happy now?” Monica’s voice was like ice, like she couldn’t care less what had happened to Merrick from then on.

My heart was breaking for a young Merrick, but at the same time, he was giving me the opportunity I needed to take advantage of Monica. I raised a brow at Jasper. He’d be ready. He was always ready.

I couldn’t believe I had been dumb enough not to strap my blades back on last night, but it was no matter. I could do this, armed or not. I slid sideways in her grip, and immediately shoved my hand across her face, forcing her head and her blade in different directions.

“Ava!” my mother scolded me as if she didn’t just have a blade pressed to my neck. I forced her arm back further. I just needed her blade. She cried out when I had her arm overextended, glaring at me, but dropped the blade. I snatched it up and ducked out of her reach. “Are you serious right now?”

“Dead.” I held her knife pointed toward her. “You need to come with me.”

She scoffed. “I’ll do no such thing.”

I grimaced, tightening my grip on the hilt. It wasn’t my blade, but it was going to have to do. For now. “As far as I can tell, I’m the one with the wolves and the weapons, and you’re standing there with nothing.”

“Is that really what you think, Ava? Surely you can’t be that dense.” A wild grin stretched across her face, and she reached her arms out wide.

Jasper was frozen, waiting for my signal. “I’m going to keep her talking. You and Beau loop around behind.”

Out of the corner of my eye, Jasper nodded, and Beau crept over to swing his large body on Jasper’s furry back.

I focused on Monica. “What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” she cried, and her face twisted in a grotesque mask of pride. “I can summon the storm.” A crack of lightning sliced through a tree to my side, and I forced myself not to jump.

Thunder boomed in the distance, and somewhere, an owl called. “What have you done?”

“I’ve made some powerful friends.” The rain was starting to grow heavy once more, and I used my free hand to push an unruly lock of hair off my face.

“That’s why we couldn’t track you.”

Monica clapped, a mocking sound that echoed the rolling thunder. “Congratulations.” Behind her, I saw Jasper leap out of the bushes, Beau still on his back. Monica whipped around just before they could land, leaning back and giving Jasper a powerful kick to the chest. Jasper yelped as he and Beau flew across the forest, and I could hear the smack of a tree as they hit.

“Who thefuckdo you think you are?” I screamed, running across the small distance toward her, ready to destroy her. How dare she lay a finger on him? But before my blade could slice through her perfect black shirt, she blinked out of sight.

“Your mother, Ava. And I havesomuch to teach you.”

I whipped my head around, but I couldn’t see where she was hiding. I pointed at Merrick, still frozen where he had stood moments before. “Don’t let your guard down. She could be anywhere.” He nodded, on the offensive at once. Now where the hell was she? Her laugh bounced off the trees, circling and taunting me.

“I’m okay.” Jasper’s soft voice echoed through the bond. Small miracles. I whirled around, trying to pinpoint where Monica’s laugh was coming from.

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