My bolt flies as Wright charges directly for me, his eyes focusing on my exact location either by dint of my scent or my snarl. He dodges, though, at the last second, when he sees the crossbow bolt flying directly for his chest – His quick movement works and the bolt glances off his arm, ripping t
In an instant, Jackson shifts, his breath heaving in him as he shrinks in on himself and takes his human form again, one leg still spread on either side of my body. “Even!?” he snaps, clearly livid. “You want to call this fucking even!? You were going to kill him!” “Well, we didn’t,” Wright snarls
This gets his attention, and he snaps his face to mine, snarling and baring his teeth. But I just cross my arms, glaring up at him. “Would you listen to me? I know things, all right? And she’s not here.” Jackson goes still, just staring at me. “I’m not tricking you, Jacks!” I shout, frantic myse
I oblige, taking a quick sip from the canteen as Jackson holds one map in each hand looking them over. He gives a swift nod, handing one back to me. “Thanks, by the way,” I say, taking my attention from the path for a moment as I hand his canteen back to him. “For…rescuing me. Again.” Jackson do
“I’m not leaving you behind, Ari,” Jackson spits out, glaring at me like I’ve said something horrible and ridiculous, like we should both throw ourselves off the cliff. “I’m just slowing you down!” I say, throwing out my hands for emphasis. “Seriously, if you hadn’t back-tracked for me, you’d be l
Then, to my shock, Jackson ferrets out a teeny tiny little path up the cliff, balancing on it with incredible grace that makes me wonder if he’s part goat shifter, instead of all wolf. I do my best to follow, clinging to the rock and taking his patient hand when I need to. Twenty minutes later we’re
“What!” I shriek, scrambling to my knees and knocking the fruit and bread out of my lap. “Shh!” Jackson hisses, turning back towards me and holding out a hand, looking at me like I’m crazy. “Don’t be an idiot, Ari! If we’re waiting for dawn to move into the ravine, others are too! And they will co
“What are you talking about?” I growl. “Is that why you’re nice to me?” he asks, and I can hear the wound in his voice now. “Because you realize that…that that’s the only way you’re getting through this? You found the loneliest guy in the Academy and gave him the scraps of your attention, and for