Jericho

by Nini Church

  From a distance, it was unmistakeable that the beast was an enormous male bear, mowing through a young forest, destroying everything in his wake as he headed south. The bear’s gait was off a little and it was then they noticed he was carrying something on his back buried in all that fur.

  The ground shook under their feet as they moved in closer and all were awestruck by the bear’s size. Only legends told of bears that big – giant Kodiaks – but they hadn’t existed for thousands of years.

  Roald and his warriors held their breath, waiting until he finally signalled them to begin moving downwind of the massive bear to follow his scent, staying a mile or more behind so as not to crowd him or give themselves away. The beast left a trail of destruction in his wake so he wasn’t hard to follow even if he was travelling at high speed.

  Roald signaled one of his warriors to let Jericho know they'd picked up Abe's scent. He leaned in to whisper, “Tell him she seems to be with a giant Kodiak.” Not knowing if the female was still alive or not – he didn’t want to get Jericho’s hopes up.

  Wist’s brows rose so high they disappeared into his hairline. Giant Kodiak? Was Roald crazy?

  Roald growled and bounded past the warrior shifter.

  A fucking giant Kodiak! Was it even possible? No one and nothing would second guess Roald or tell him any different. He was travelling downwind of the finest of his kind who happened to be – unbelievably – carrying Jericho's female.

  Two miles later, Roald realized with a shock – like a beacon the massive bear was honed on King of the Jinn's compound.

  WTF!

  On the phone for hours now, combing through his closest contacts and taking offers of help from friends, they still hadn’t turned up any sign of Abe. Not a hint of her anywhere and Tess had never arrived home so Jericho had to assume they were still together and that gave him hope Abe was still alive.

  Jericho stormed into the command centre. Cal demanded he come in person, refusing to explain, but baiting him with, You gotta see this yourself, boss. “Caleb, what the fuck?” He didn’t sit, no way could he stay still while Abe was in Tess’ hands.

  Cal pointed to the moving red dot on one of the big wall screens. “Jericho, it’s still about twenty miles out and heading directly for us. Hell, make that nineteen...double hell make that eighteen miles out. Its movin’ like a fucking bullet. Not using roads only traveling cross-country. Isn’t a vehicle or object because it’s giving off heat signatures. Two of them and they’re definitely separate.”

  Caleb got up to outline with his index finger the two very distinct dots. One tiny, nothing more than an edge of a blip of heat on top of an enormous heat signature. “Shit, man, it’s coming at us hard. Now fourteen miles out. A couple more miles and cameras are gonna pick up images. They’re not the best at the six-mile mark, but we’ll have some idea what the fuck it is.”

  Con, Zulu and Reno were strapping on extra weapons they piled onto the conference table, readying for whatever was coming.

  Jericho kept his eyes square on the image and held his breath. Clearly it was two separate entities. What the fuck could it be? After the last string of so many unexpected and mostly unwanted surprises, he’d had his fucking fill.

  In silence, they waited and watched.

  It didn't take long for the big red dot to enter the outer range of their camera zones.

  Zulu, dressed out, shifted from side to side, his leathers creaking.

  Jericho felt warmth filling the empty, desolate place inside and he almost grinned. Abe? It felt like wishing and hoping and he brushed it aside, his heart crushed under the weight of his loss. He shook his head at the tricks of his desperate mind.

  Caleb tapped the keyboard, switching to the security cameras at mile six, right in line with the blip on his heat sensor screen. "Still nine miles out, but moving like a freight train."

  Tense silence descended until Cal cut in, “Cameras at mile six are operational. Here it comes.”

  Jericho was so torqued he could barely lean closer to the screen. Every muscle painfully locked.

  The others crowded around Caleb and Jericho, craning to see incoming images.

  For a split second no one spoke.

  Then, everyone talked at once.

  Jericho's head was swimming. "Fuck, I sense Abe somewhere in the mix."

  “A fucking bear?” Reno quirked a brow high.

  Conn nodded sagely. “Aye tis a fecking bear all right.”

  “Hum, he’s big. Nice steaks offa him.” Zulu liked bear meat. Actually, he liked any kind of wild game, but Jericho rarely allowed him to hunt anymore.

  "Abe?" Cal asked softly, eyeing Jericho, wondering if the boss had finally lost it. They all knew it was coming ever since Tess took Abe.

  Jericho’s piercing blue eyes landed on Cal. "I’m getting a sense of Abe.”

  He turned back to his keyboard. “Five mile cameras activating,” Caleb announced, bringing up new images.

  It was a fucking bear all right. Reno couldn’t believe it. A big fucking bear. “He’s huge. Man, he’s got some kinda shit all over him. What the fuck is it?” He spoke to the room at large.

  Cal interrupted, "Boss, Roald's trying to track you down. Urgent."

  Jericho pulled out his cell wedged into his front pocket and put it on speaker. "Talk."

  "Wist here. Ro wants ya to know we’ve got a faint trail on the female’s scent, but uh, well it seems there’s a Kodiak bigger than you can ever fucking imagine – he’s uh, part of it. And he’s heading directly for your place. We're tracking him downwind a mile or so behind. Last thing anyone wants to do is spook him." The line clicked dead.

  Silence settled over the room, even Zulu froze in place.

  Jericho leaned into the wall monitor. “It’s blood. He’s covered in fucking blood…” The lump the massive beast carried on his back could be anything until he spied two bloodied legs. No shoes. The figure, buried deep in thick fur, wasn’t moving. When he spied wild blonde hair, he blurted, “It fucking can’t be,” into utter silence.

  Was Wist right?

  Everyone leaned forward, attention riveted on the images.

  Harshly, Conn sucked in a big whack of air. Zulu’s head was going up and down so fast it might bounce off.

  All big hazel eyes, Caleb grunted. “Heat signature indicates our small dot is running at 101.3 degrees. The weight ratio to the bear tells the small red dot weighs approximately a hundred and twenty-five pounds.” Cal eyed the monitor as four more red dots appeared on the screen, tracking behind the massive beast at a safe distance. “That’s gotta be Roald and his team.”

  “Yeah, my man. Wist was true – Abe’s riding the back of that big ole bear. Look,” Reno pointed at the little lump in the image becoming more defined by the second. “She’s still got your t-shirt and gym shorts on. No shoes of course, but that’s our Abe.”

  Jericho could only gape at the screen. “I’ve got to get the wards down,” he was turning on his heel when Caleb’s words froze him in his tracks.

  “No need, boss, he’s mowing through our outer wards like butter. Don’t know how he’s doing it, but none of the wards are stopping him.”

  “How soon?”

  “A few minutes, boss, maybe five tops.” Caleb tapped the keyboard as the beast moved rapidly through camera zones, closing in fast.

  All anyone heard was Jericho’s shit-kickers hitting wood planks like thunder claps as he raced up the stairs and ran outside.

  Reno spun around. “Shit! Fuck!” He gathered extra weapons and dashed out of the room, Zulu and Conn right behind.

  “They just passed the two-mile mark. The bear seems to be speeding up if that’s even possible. Be careful…” Caleb’s words trailed off in the empty command centre as he switched to com-link.

  Once out the front door, Jericho shot directly up into the air as he vaporized. None of his team followed, but instead shot diagonally, then upwards to chase after Jericho. Few had the natural born tricks their King did a
s a First Blooded Royal Jinn of the First Order. Even when he tried to teach them, they couldn’t master it.

  CHAPTER 11

  Shit-kickers digging in deep, Jericho landed hard outside the compound walls, well away from the strongest wards closest to the house.

  His heart beat so fast it might explode.

  Only one true emotion lightened his soul.

  Hope.

  It filled him to the brim and threatened to wash free.

  Yet, he lived in a hard, cold world and it was real difficult to try to believe – no, fucking impossible – to believe it was Abe and not some horrible fuck up.

  Jericho already knew in the deepest part of himself that he couldn't live without Abe and if he had to, it would be blatantly obvious that his spark was gone, stamped out and killed with her.

  Although he never said it, he was heartbroken and deeply dishonored that he hadn’t protected her better. Repeatedly over the last twenty hours, he had shoved away ugly thoughts – not capable of fathoming that Abe may be lost to him for all time. Never knowing how much he wanted her – hell needed her – she was his air, his blood and his future.

  He was nothing without her fire, her truth, her belief, her light – his fucking everything all the time – every time. If he got another chance, that was all gonna change. Driven by passion and pure desire – he meant to show her any way he could that she belonged with him.

  Huh! Not belonged to him, but with him.

  An enlightening idea and one he’d never mention again.

  His mind centered on the small lump, he didn’t give a fuck about the bear, but he’d deal with that issue real soon. Like right fucking now. Jericho held his breath, sighting the massive beast in the distance.

  He was one big motherfucker powering towards them. The ground shook beneath Jericho’s three hundred and twenty pounds at last weigh in. A mere gnat compared to that bear gunning directly for them.

  Steady and sure Caleb’s voice came through the com-link. “He’s a giant Kodiak – a lot bigger than most. He’s an anomaly as they died out centuries ago. They weren’t known to be friendly. Systems indicate this one is hauling at least five thousand pounds. Repeat, he’s sizing in at over five thousand pounds of pure torque. Gonna need lotsa room to fucking grind it down enough to bring his shit to a halt. With him hauling that much propulsion, he needs a wide berth. Repeat, give him all the space he needs.”

  A half-mile and closing fast, Jericho stood his ground, arms crossing his massive chest, watching and waiting with his heart beating in his throat. He had to assume Abe was alive, but now Jericho wasn’t so sure. Where had all the blood come from? What the fuck had Tess done to her? “Cal, get Roald out front on this. Not sure we’re gonna be able to handle this motherfucker.”

  Tess was as good as dead. He would grind her to dust with his bare fucking hands. Hands that had never been violent with any female, but for Tess he would change that. His heart clenched hard in his chest. The beast was covered in blood. It was all over his back and spraying out to the sides as he ran full out over rough terrain.

  “Cal. Is there anyone who’d know about this kinda stuff? Animals befriending other races. Shit like that. See what you can find.”

  “Roger. Copy that, boss. What about Noke? He’s native and all about nature and spirits.”

  “Good call. Start there. Tell him I asked for him.” In seconds, Jericho saw the massive beast starting to pull up, ass hauling low. A blonde head lifted away from the back of the bear before slipping back into thick fur.

  The big bear finally slowed enough to grind down, front paws with massive claws digging deep into the earth, creating furrows on either side as he finally came to a stop.

  Huffing great gobs of air, the beast growled a warning low in his throat. In seconds, his massive mouth opened as he pulled in air, tasting it, testing it.

  All of them were aware – and a few flashed back – to the additional four red dots on the wall screens they had all seen traveling behind this beast – and a few cringed knowing that other Kodiak males were in the vicinity.

  Warrior Kodiaks.

  Would their scent set the big bear off or would their downwind position hold?

  No one knew as they waited for the behemoth beast to settle.

  So softly only those closest could hear Jericho’s faint whisper – a hint on the elements – asking his second in command, “Reno? You getting anything?” Jericho refused to move, not wanting to spook the bear who had his head tilted to the side, small brown eyes roaming over every one of them.

  Lips barely moving, Reno replied, "Yeah, he's fucking pissed at all the males present."

  Jericho hand signaled the others to ease back and give the beast more room.

  Roald materialized on the far side of Jericho, hesitantly stepping closer, but keeping it loose. He swung wide of the other males, notifying the giant Kodiak – the likes of which he had never seen before – with a few soft whiffles and low snorts that he was also of the bear clan, but wasn’t challenging or threatening.

  A gimlet eye on the big fucking Kodiak that out weighted him, his fucking warriors and Jericho's entire team – Roald monitored the bear’s breathing, his eyes, his movements. Hell – throw Jericho in and they might come to the half way mark in weight. Fuck, this Kodiak was beyond big and ready to rip apart anyone who got near. Truly, he was a giant of his kind.

  Almost whispering, Roald warned, "Don't anyone make any fast moves. His fight instincts are blown wide open – ain't none of us walking away if he fucking goes for it."

  He whiffled gently, cheeks puffed out and nostrils flared as the bear’s head snapped up, crouching low on his back feet, front paws only inches off the ground.

  Roald watched closely, recognizing the Kodiak's stance – all the beast had to do was bring his weight down on his front paws and thrust with powerful back legs and he'd be right on top of them.

  Not good.

  Not good at all.

  “Where’s Abe?” Jericho took several steps, uncaring he might be pushing limits here. He wanted Abe and he wanted her now.

  The massive bear simply stared at him, growling a warning, while his right front claws dug deep into the earth, shredding it into ribbons.

  Jericho realized immediately the bear was creating a push off point, a tactic he knew well, to lunge directly at him. Slowly, he raised both hands, palms out to show he wasn’t a threat. He refused to back all the way down and kept his eyes locked on the bear.

  The giant Kodiak lifted his nose and scented Jericho for a long time. It reminded him of how Reno behaved when he sifted through the elements. Was the fucking bear doing that to him? Time was wasting and Jericho was very impatient.

  “Back the fuck off, man.” Inching ahead, Roald grunted a few times, greeting the big beast. “Easy, friend,” he crooned, then grunted some more.

  The bear hauled down on all fours, whiffling – cheeks puffed out as air whistled at a piercing pitch – telling he was fucking on point and ready to go at them.

  “Steady now. We’re looking for Abe. You got her?”

  The bear’s head snapped up and down rapidly as he huffed, chest billowing and agitated, his body swaying as his massive left paw swung out in an arc pressed into soft turf and then drew back – repetitively.

  Jericho and his entire team were in awe. This massive animal had nodded his head – he seemed to communicate!

  Stepping back, Roald slipped in beside Jericho. “That there motion he’s doin’ with his front paw is a pre-charge display. Consider it a warning. If he charges vapor like you never have before. It'll be half a second and he'll be on us.”

  Roald moved off to the side, but took a couple of steps closer to the bear, his voice soft and hands loose at his sides, reinforcing he wasn’t a threat. “Abe needs help?”

  Bear grunted in answer and shifting low to the ground, he grabbed tuffs of fresh grass and mulch by the mouthful to create somewhat of a messy pile. When done, belly now on the ground, the
massive beast shifted gently to one side. Whatever was on his back rolled off to land on the hasty pile. He nudged the bloody rags until it moved, shifting away from his big wet nose.

  His once yellow coat, covered with blood, appeared dark brown, while it was clear his paws bore deep red stains too. He had been in a fight, but with what was the question.

  Taking the biggest chance of his life – he’d already been warned not to approach – Jericho moved slowly forward, calling gently, “Is that Abe?” He was talkin’ to a fucking bear. A first for him. He smiled at that. Abe just never stopped coming with firsts for him. Even really unexpected, unimaginable firsts.

  Honey, lemons and rain swarmed over him. His heart clenched so painfully he gasped. There was so much blood mixed with her scent he lost it for a second, thinking she must be dead. This had to be one big cluster fuck of a mistake.

  “She needs help,” Jericho controlled his deep voice, keeping it soothing, unwilling to face a confrontation with a beast he couldn’t beat. With claws like that, he’d lose his head before he even knew it.

  Roald stayed to the side, remaining placid as he shifted closer. He scented the bloodied lump – it was a female and her faint scent was unmistakeable and wholly unique. Yeah, they had her.

  The beast leaned down, nosing the bloody bundle again.

  “Bear, I’m dying here, leave me alone.”

  Yeah, Jericho lost it then.

  "Aaaaabe?” Jericho roared, bringing the Kodiak up onto his hind legs as he stalked in front, protecting her with his massive girth.

  Roald hustled backwards, left arm out at his side as it hit the front of Jericho’s chest and he skidded to a stop. “Shut it, man.”

  “Jericho?” Abe waited a heartbeat. “Not real…already dead.”

  “Never, myn lykyng.”

  “Bear…out of the way…can’t see with your fat ass in my face.”

  Roald gasped loudly at the female's insult to such an incredible beast.

  Bear dropped his full weight, sending tremblers out as he hit hard packed earth. Glaring at Roald, the massive bear turned his back to the males and hunkered down right over Abe, engulfing her in ribbon upon ribbon of fur. He snuffled her face, drawing his nose along the tender part of her hairline to keep her conscious. Bear had done as she asked and brought her to those who could help. He grunted softly and licked her face gently before pulling back. He felt her shiver as he withdrew his heat, but turned a beady eye on the one his girl kept centered in her mind.