Page 2 of Cimmerian

I edged closer toward the bed, trying not to let my relief seem too evident. “We?”

“Yes, Ava,we. If you’re insisting on continuing to put yourself in mortal danger, then we’re going together to find Monica.” He peeked out at me between his fingers, glaring. “I don’t know why you’re so thrilled with the situation.”

I sat down on the air mattress, the bed sinking under my weight and rolling me closer to Jasper. “I’m not exactly ecstatic there’s a demon who wants me.” Jasper cleared his throat at my mention of the demon, but I ignored him. “They already know who and where I am.”

“All the same, I would still rather you didn’t tempt fate.”

“Anyways. I’m just relieved you’re coming with me. I didn’t want to do this on my own.”

Jasper sighed, rolling and propping himself up on an elbow. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Ava, you’re your own person. You can protect yourself. You can make your own decisions. And I willrespectthe decisions you make. It doesn’t mean I’ll like them, but it also doesn’t mean you’ll ever do anything alone. We’re a team.”

I smiled, sliding down to my side to rest my forehead against his. “You’re not bad for a wolf boyfriend.”

Jasper smiled, looking every inch the predator. “Werewolf. And I’m yourmate.”

“Oh yeah?” I breathed. “Can you remind me again?”

“Gladly,” he murmured against my lips, brushing his hand down my hips. I arched my body into his touch.

“Not to interrupt or anything…” Adrian’s voice had us breaking apart, once again glaring at an intrusion. I didn’t realize he was still home, the house had been so quiet this morning. When Adrian was home the house was typically filled with loud music, or the TV running nonstop reality TV shows. His expression was amused, and he obviously didn’t give a shit about what he had just interrupted. These fucking wolves. I couldn’t wait to go home, in my own space, with my mattress that didn’t deflate every time I lay on it. And where werewolves didn’t interrupt my every waking moment.

“How long have you been standing there?” I demanded.

Adrian crossed his arms, giving me an easy smile. “Long enough.”

I groaned, pushing away from Jasper’s embrace. “You’ve been spending too much time with Beau.”

“As I was going to say,” Adrian continued, leaning his lanky frame against the door. “I’m coming with you.”

Beau popped up behind Adrian, swinging an arm over his shoulder. “No you aren’t. You need to stay with the pack because I’m going with them.”

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. If I were lucky, this discussion wouldn’t end with them shifting and attacking the shit out of each other as wolves.

Adrian looked pissed. “Are you kidding me? You just got home.”

“Yeah, but I almost died.” Beau raised an eyebrow at Adrian, who groaned. This had been Beau’s winning argument point ever since he had gotten out of the hospital, no worse for the wear. Didn’t matter there were no lasting effects. If Beau wanted to win an argument, he was going to win the damn argument.

I raised my hands up, attempting to cease the brewing altercation before blood was drawn. “Look. Adrian, someone needs to look out for Duke. He doesn’t even know that Beau is back yet, so it makes more sense than if you come with us.”Duke. Shit. I hadn’t even thought about Duke with everything that had happened, but what the hell must be going on in his mind? Did he know Lucy had left?

Adrian didn’t seem impressed with the situation, but Beau clapped him on the shoulder. “Excellent.”

“Speaking of Duke…” I began, hesitating. Duke was still a sensitive subject, refusing to speak to Jasper. But we needed to make sure he wasn’t in danger, especially with a possessed Lucy running around.

“What about him?” Jasper asked, the muscle in his cheek jumping.

Adrian cut in, usefully for once. “I checked on him this morning. He’s still pissed at Jasp, but he has no idea about Lucy. As far as he’s aware, she’s visiting her sister this weekend.”

I slid off the deflating air mattress, clumsily getting to my feet. “It’s safer for him to think that for the time being.”

Jasper nodded, standing up with a grace I still envied, even after all my training. He made even the smallest of movements look elegant. “You’re probably right.”

Beau was practically bouncing with untamed energy -- I so wished I could bottle his enthusiasm for life. “So when do we leave?”

I tossed a look over toward Jasper, who merely tipped his head back toward me. “This is your show, baby. When do we leave?”

I knew what he was doing. Jasper never stopped training me, ever. This was another test, and like hell if I wasn’t going to pass it. I tucked my thumbs into the straps of my backpack, taking a deep breath in. I could lead. I could do this. And when I saw Monica, I would do what needed to be done. I wouldn’t falter like last time. First things first, we needed provisions. Monica wouldn’t be staying at hotels and inns. She’d be keeping off the beaten path. “As soon as possible. Beau, is all your camping equipment still packed? We’re probably going to be roughing it for a few days.”

“Good, baby.” Jasper’s voice echoed down our bond, and I smiled despite myself.

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