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Alex’s spine straightened to the point of snapping. How dare this conceited jerk accuse her of quitting after everything she’d been through? She wasn’t quitting. She was being loyal to the man who’d saved her life, something a leader who ruled through fear and intimidation would know nothing about.

She dug her nails into her palms. “But Liam—”

“Liam agrees,” Jericho’s deep voice rumbled behind her.

She hesitated to face him, finding it hard to meet his eyes. Just moments ago, she’d literally thrown herself at him—and been rejected.Because you’re a responsibility and nothing more. How many ways does he need to spell it out for you?

Jericho crossed the room to stand at her side, and her apprehension built with every plodding step. You’d think he was walking to his own funeral.

“You can’t be serious.” She rose from the chair on wobbly legs. Surely, she’d misunderstood.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, looking haggard. “Liam thinks you’re better off without him. He said you need more protection than he can give you.” Jericho paused. “And he’s right.”

Alex opened her mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. Wait, what? Jericho agreed? “But you promised. You said you would do everything in your power to return me to Liam.”

Jericho’s gaze leveled with hers. “Alex, he doesn’t want to reclaim you.”

Each word stomped on her heart.

Hot tears blurred her vision. “So now what?” She glanced between the two silent men who had so casually decided her fate, forcing words past her tightening throat. “I’m to remain Jericho’s Chosen indefinitely?”

Victor’s head dipped, lowering with the finality of a gavel.

Emotions churning, she lifted burning eyes to study Jericho’s face. “Surely, you’re not okay with this?”

His expressionless mask was all the answer she needed—and precisely what she’d expected.

She tilted her chin, hiding the pain that sliced through her chest. “That’s what I figured.” She spun, storming to the door.

How she hated this. Hated that her life was no longer her own. How could Liam side with Victor? She was sick and tired of being pushed around by men who thought they knew what was best for her.

But most of all, she was mad at herself. Because, for just a moment, she’d dared to hope that Jericho wanted this—wanted her. God, she was pathetic. What had she been expecting, some kind of declaration of love from one of the loyal knights on Victor’s chessboard?

“Alex, wait.” Jericho’s command spurred her to move faster.

Liam. She just needed to get to Liam before she lost control and turned into a hysterical mess. If Liam wanted her to remain with Jericho, at the very least, she deserved to hear it from his own lips.

Blinded by tears, she threw open the office door. Two steps into the hallway, she crashed into a muscled torso. Her head snapped back, and something metallic scraped her arm. It was like hitting a brick wall.

“Hey, easy there, Little Rebel.” Firm hands held her away. “Don’t want to poke you with anything below my belt now.” Male snickers echoed Slade’s comment.

“What?Eww.” She glared at the heavily armed male in front of her. What looked like a machete hung from his narrow hips. Throwing daggers filled a leather harness slung across his chest. His uneasiness flickered over her senses before her blocks slammed into place. The emotion was a strange contradiction to the evil grin on his face. Was he afraid of her? Good. He should be.

“Nice dress,” he said to her cleavage.

“Go to hell.” She brushed past him and plowed a path through the handful of men gathered at his back—men who were probably just returning from the scene of a rogue attack. The reminder quickened her desperate pace.

Adam, ever the gentleman, shoved the others out of her way. “You heard the lady. Give her some space.”

“Better hustle, Jericho. I think your pet snapped her leash,” Slade taunted as Alex broke free of the group. “Although, maybe you’re the one wearing the collar.”

The sound of a large male slamming into the wall thundered down the hall. Alex refused to look back.

Seventeen

“Jericho.”Alex gasped, jolting upright in bed. The haunting nightmare lingered.“Help me, Alex,”his voice echoed in her head, stroking fears into reality.

Sharp breaths wheezed in her chest. She clutched the blanket while searching the shadows. The darkened alley of her nightmare faded, replaced by the safety of her bedroom walls. She wiped her cheek, surprised to find wetness there.