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“I’ve got you.” He wrapped his arms around her, settling her back on her feet. “Are you okay?” The glint in his eyes promised he’d level the room if her answer wasno.

She nodded and leaned her forehead into his chest. His fury vibrated over her nerve endings. The tension in her body eased, and her brain grew fuzzy. Even humming with anger, the connection between them still managed to soothe her. She gave in to the urge to burrow her face into his shirt and draw in his clean, sandalwood fragrance.

Jericho tucked her under his arm. He guided her past Slade before pausing at the doorway, saying over his shoulder, “Rest assured, Victorwillhear about this.”

Slade glared back at him, irritation underlining his words, “Who do you think sent me to challenge her, dumbass?”

Jericho tensed.

The link she’d forged with Slade lingered like a bitter aftertaste. In it, she sensed the truth. “He isn’t lying,” she confirmed.

Before Jericho could mask his reaction, betrayal burned through her senses. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

Twelve

Jericho leanedagainst the countertop while Titan crunched dinner at his feet. The television flickered in the background, unwatched by the female curled on the sofa. She’d been that way since returning to the firehouse, withdrawn, unfocused, hardly saying a word.

Victor did this.

Jericho gripped the granite countertop, his fingers like vices.

Slade was a conniving asshole, but he wasn’t a liar. Victor ordered Slade to confront Alex in that library.

For centuries Jericho had followed the clan leader. Fought his wars, obeyed his commands, believing he was a male of honor and integrity. While Victor rose through their ranks, Jericho stood at his side and supported him.

The male he’d sworn his allegiance to would never inflict harm on a vulnerable female. Never use an innocent to further his agenda. Things had changed. Despite numerous victories, Victor had only grown more demanding over the years, hungrier and more determined. At times, Jericho barely recognized him.

Now, with the magister breathing down the clan leader’s neck, challenging his authority, Victor would be even more ruthless. If Tiberius found Zion before they did, he’d compromise Victor’s standing with the Council.

Titan licked his empty dish, then padded to the sofa. He eyed the silent woman and sniffed the blanket covering her legs. Alex stared at the television, seeing nothing. The hound heaved a sigh and laid his blocky head on the cushion next to her, close but not touching. The scarred beast wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how.

That made two of them.

With a frustrated huff, Titan paced back to Jericho. Gray eyes gleaming, he peered up at him, insisting hedo something. Jericho held out his hands in a helpless gesture. He didn’t know what to do any more than Titan did. His Chosen didn’t want to eat and refused to go to bed, grumbling excuses about bottomless wells and nightmares.

Titan shuffled closer with a demanding “woof.”

“Fine.” He pointed a finger at the beast. “But if this doesn’t work, I’m telling her it was your idea.”

Jericho strode to Alex’s side and tugged the blanket from her lap. She blinked and looked up at him as if she’d just remembered he was in the room. He swept her legs from the couch and hauled her to her feet.

“Jericho,” she groused.

“Come on.” He grasped her arm and steered her to the steps.

“Where are we going?”

He towed her toward the bedrooms upstairs. “I know just what you need.”

* * *

Alex’s discardedclothes lay scattered on the floor, forgotten in her haste to strip out of them. She released a soft groan, savoring the cascade of heat on her bare skin. Just as Jericho promised, this was exactly what she’d needed.

She leaned her forehead against the cool ceramic tile while the spray from the oversized showerhead pounded her shoulders. Her fingers and toes had pruned a while ago, and still, she lingered. Water snaked down the tile beneath her nose. If only she could wash down the drain. Float away from everything waiting for her beyond the bathroom door.

All day, she’d struggled to remain strong, to put one foot in front of the other, to keep pressing on. But here, alone, her walls were cracking.

Victor’s words continued to haunt her. Was there some way she could have saved her dad?