Jericho

by Nini Church

All eyes were on her and yet Abe didn't shy away. Her whole life she'd been a princess, but never once felt like one. Until she met Jericho. If there was ever a time to be true to herself, it was right now. Jericho’s eyes were drilling into her as were Con’s and Zulu’s. Reno had his arms crossed, peering at her under heavy blonde brows like a bug under a microscope.

  Still, she felt the need to stall, meeting everyone's eyes, seeing the confusion and even a hint of Jericho's anger.

  How? Just how? – did she begin to explain the position she had put them in let alone who she was. It had been so much easier just forgetting all about it – pretending to be somewhat normal. "Mamam?”

  “Search parties are still out there trying to find out what happened to you. Your, er… mother felt your spark dim. Jericho explained you lost your memory, which is what your mother probably felt. Broke some kind of connection between you two. Never seen her like that before, it tore her apart that you might be dead, that she may have lost her daughter. She’s changed because of it.”

  “Not for long and not once she knows I’m alive.” Abe clung to the valuable tidbit Roanoke shared – her connection with Mamam had been broken when she lost her memory. "Did she send you?"

  "Hell no, Annabelle!"

  "I'm sorry, Roanoke. Then why are you here?"

  "Jericho asked for me."

  Hard glittering emerald eyes landed on Jericho. "To spy on me?" Her heart sank to her feet and once again her world felt like it was shattering.

  "Piccola, whatever you're thinking – it's wrong. I sent for Noke to find out about Bear. Nothing more. I would never spy on you."

  Face red, Abe dipped her head. Truth rang in his voice. She bit her bottom lip and let the silence play out, her mind full of it all and how ever to explain to them...

  “Abe?” Jericho’s arms crossed his massive chest, legs spread and his head tilted, telling she better start explaining now or he was likely going to throw her over his shoulder cave man style and carry her out of the room.

  There was just that look about him.

  She’d seen it before.

  “I’m sorry Jericho. I’ve put you all in a really bad spot. If only I had remembered….ugh. I’m….” She glanced around, all of them males – hell this was impossible.

  Jericho had no idea what her trouble was until he followed the way she glanced at everyone then shot her eyes away. It was only then he took note that his mate was the lone female amongst his warriors.

  His protective instincts slammed home and he wanted to fold her into his arms and hustle her away. She would detest it and fight it, but in truth her soft side was showing. Big time. Silently, he signaled Zulu to find Matty or Fifi, both if possible.

  She bit her bottom lip, her mind going a million miles an hour. "Okay, so... Well…I hate the name Annabelle. Mamam named me that on purpose I swear..." Emerald eyes afire, she lost herself in the moment. "Please don't call me Annabelle. That would be like calling Reno Hollywood to his face." A stricken look creased her features. "OMG. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me."

  Reno winced as he nodded slowly. "I earned it – I guess I own it."

  Red faced and mortified, Abe looked down, her fingers twined painfully together. "Okay. Ugh…I'm a princess – I hate being a princess. There should be a special feeling to it when you’re a princess shouldn't there? For a long time, I've wondered about that. The whole princess business, it's not for me. I prefer no titles if possible."

  In unison, Reno, Conn, Zulu and Caleb knew exactly what Abe was saying as they recalled Jericho ramming down their throats that it wasn't his Kingship or royal blood that counted with his people – it was him, his drive, his know how – not his title or bloodline. Abe's words echoed those mirrored by Jericho for centuries.

  Noke wore a pained expression, knowing a small bit about her life and what it had been like tucked away from everything in stasis. Locked away by her mother who pulled Abe out of stasis to put her on display for whatever pomp and pageantry Giaa chose. It didn’t happen often and not for long as Giaa would abruptly force Abe back into stasis – a lonely world where nothing ever happened – and no one would see her again for ages. Giaa always explained it away as keeping her daughter safe, but for Noke – and he was sure for Abe – that excuse had worn out long ago.

  It was obvious Abe was struggling and growing more emotional by the minute, all saw the way her emerald eyes glittered with tears.

  Especially Jericho – he hated to think of her crying over anything.

  “Lu-cccy, you got some ‘splaining to do.” Reno mimicked Ricky Ricardo’s voice to a tee all while wearing a wide grin.

  Abe burst out laughing. “I do, don’t I.”

  Conn offered, “A cup of tae, lass, oughta do fine. Get you comfortable and then you can explain. We’re in need of some enlightening we are.”

  In disbelief, Noke stared at Conn. Tea at a time like this? Were they all mad?

  Abe glared at Roanoke, “These are my friends. They take good care of me. I’m grateful for that.”

  Conn held out his arm, crooked at the elbow, and Abe tucked her hand in, giving him a sweet smile.

  Jericho froze – she was touching Conn! But couldn’t touch him? Tersely, he barked, “Abe, you can't do that."

  Conn sniggered when Jericho’s voice rose on the end of that a tad shrilly.

  Over her shoulder, green eyes emerald brilliant, Abe cryptically admitted, “No touching with you. I’m lost if that happens. Mamam was right about that.”

  Jericho well aware this was playing out in front of everyone – didn’t care. Confused as hell, he couldn’t get a handle on what Abe said; being lost if he basically fucked her? Yeah, images came, his balls clanged and his lengthening cock crawled up his belly at her open admission she might just be thinking about him too.

  Blue eyes hooded, he got it under control. The confusion that is, not his cock. Nah, it stayed at full mast, weeping like a banshee, forever waiting. Was it ever gonna happen?

  She was a complicated beautiful package.

  Fuck! Abe – where she was, what she was fucking doing twenty-four seven – took first priority. Now even more so.

  No way in hell was he losing her – she’d never be lost again. It was then he felt it – that space that Abe filled within him – pounding through him, his blood pulsing. Beyond any shadow of doubt, Jericho instinctively sensed that without Abe, he was nothing, not even half of nothing – just nothing.

  Noke shook his head, wise eyes planted on Jericho. “Her mother will kill you if Annabelle isn’t pure.”

  “She’s pure,” Jericho shot back, all but admitting he hadn’t fucked her yet. That made him pause. Is that what he wanted – to fuck Abe? It felt wrong somehow. He plowed through his mind trying to decipher what it was he wanted to do to Abe.

  The answer that came shocked him.

  Jericho went very still inside.

  He didn’t want to DO anything to Abe.

  He wanted to share with her, pleasure her, make her his gently and with deluxe care. Him – a male who never took an interest in any female and when he did it was for relief rather than satisfaction. His rep was centuries long rep for bedding them and always moving on. Yet when he first took Abe into his arms, he had sensed a new chapter beginning. A new world – the world of Abe. The only world he wanted to be part of.

  His temper rising at what Noke said, a mean grunt erupted and intense purple eyes landed on the big native as Jericho spoke slowly. “Noke, I’ll rip your fucking head off so fast you won't know it's gone if you ever speak about Abe like that again.”

  Noke nodded easing back, knowing he’d riled Jericho a little too much. A male he liked and respected, trusted and admired. A male he answered to and took orders from at certain times, a male he called friend. A male – if rumor were correct – who could move faster than imaginable and kill before anyone saw or knew what happened – oh yeah there were a few rumors out there.

  More than edgy now – not sure what was
gonna happen next especially with Princess Annabelle right here – Noke glanced around, everyone tense and out of sorts – not in a good way.

  Still that pervading underlying aura of comfort clung to the room, warmth even – a no rush ambiance that didn't sit well with Noke. He read signs and there were a few neon fuckers flashing. This was the time to man the battle stations – get a plan going, map a few angles.

  Except in this case – unbelievably it seemed – a cup of tea was in order for the Princess Annabelle.

  Safely ensconced in, of all places – King of the Jinn's compound.

  Jericho Sullivan easily bore the mantle of an incredibly powerful First Blood, First Order unsurpassed male Jinn – as in no one alive had bested or seen the truth of his power – who was born to be King with strength beyond imagining and an army of thousands upon thousands at his command. Hell yeah, he was formidable – maybe even beyond that – no one knew the true extent of Jericho's powers.

  And yet, he was a known race rights crusader – a champion for those who had no voice. A male of his word and worth – when he put it out there, others usually paused – knowing he was a force to be reckoned with when crossed. It didn't happen often. Few dared.

  Noke almost choked on the laughter bubbling up his throat. Giaa, mother to Abe, might have her hands a little fuller than expected.

  Jericho was not a Jinn to make an enemy of. And right now, Giaa was Jericho’s enemy. He’d called Abe myn lykyng. It came from a very ancient language and told much about Jericho and any position he would take when it came to Abe. For the words were deeply rooted in the language, holding their own natural power. A form of binding in the gentlest way possible.

  Indeed, Jericho was very smart, recognizing what he wanted – he bound her to him – and named her as his.

  Only problem was, his hand was gonna be found square in the cookie jar.

  CHAPTER 14

  In minutes, English Breakfast tea scented the air, wafting through the kitchen, but it didn’t ease Abe as it usually did. Wasn’t surprising really. Roanoke just dropped a bomb – Princess indeed. She wanted to sniff, but didn’t while avoiding Jericho's glare.

  Someone had roused Matty out of bed and she came into the kitchen looking slightly bedraggled, but made a beeline for the stool beside Abe. A bright smile in place, Matty nudged her shoulder lightly.

  Abe turned, acknowledging the whole – females are stronger together theme. It was a good start to have Matty here for support.

  Caleb’s roid beeped. He flicked a screen, then another. “Fifi and Elron are back and they’re haulin’ a big trailer.”

  “Abe.” It wasn’t a question it was a command.

  Bottom lip out, she pouted at Jericho. “I hate when you do that.”

  “Enough stalling. Get on with it.”

  “Okay. So here’s the deal.” She smiled, but it wasn’t genuine. Starting off light seemed to be the ticket, but she shriveled inside – it was awful to admit what her life was like, why she ran away. “I’m a... Mamam is…she’s… Ugh this isn’t easy.”

  Silent and patient, everyone waited, hanging on every word. Jericho moved to the empty seat on Abe’s right, sliding his arm around the back of her chair as he leaned in. “This is comfort, not touching.”

  Loudly, Noke snorted. “You’re not the one whose gonna be judging.”

  “It’s okay Jericho, you can touch me. Mamam’s rules really don’t matter right now. And, Roanoke, you’re not helping with your snide comments.”

  In her mind she tried to line up how to spill the truth. “Mamam leads the Earth Family. She’s called Giaa. I, uh…sheesh! I took off, ran away or rather escaped. Doesn’t matter now. I can’t be who or what she wants anymore. She kept Myk, my er…brother in stasis as punishment for talking back to her. That’s who she is – mean and hard and always refusing to listen to others.”

  Abe blew out a long breath. “Mamam is also obsessive and spoiled. She always gets her way." Abe’s smirk turned into a big smile of delight when her emerald eyes landed on Roanoke. "Bet it burns her I escaped. I’d lay money on it."

  Noke’s grey eyes twinkled.

  Jericho was proud of her when she once again used humor to wade through a difficult situation.

  Head tilted, emerald eyes glossy and far away, Abe began to process everything. Mamam couldn't be far – she was integrally connected to her warriors, paid and not, and her Destroyers. "Roanoke, how long do I have?" Abe hid it, but she craved his reassurance, praying for a respite.

  Roanoke as always gave nothing away, his wise gray eyes crisp. “No telling, but there's time to get a plan in place.”

  As if he didn’t hear Noke, Jericho shot towards him, holding the big male tightly by the front of his shirt – Jericho moved in up close before shoving the big native hard against the wall. It happened in less than a blink.

  Twice, his massive fist pounded a hair from Noke’s head, shattering a large hole in triple layer drywall. “I’ll fuckin' take you down, right here, right now if you ever call the dogs in on Abe. True.”

  Noke shook his head, grunting as Jericho locked one powerful hand around his throat.

  As Noke choked out, Reno stood next to Jericho ready to roll with whatever happened next.

  Abe didn’t budge from her stool, eyes big as saucers, shocked by Jericho’s rage and the way he was taking it out on Roanoke. “Listen to me, Jericho. Do you think Mamam gives Roanoke or anyone else a choice? In her world, the only choices are hers. Trust me on that. Roanoke is simply one of her paid pawns.”

  She drank deeply of her tea, praying its warmth would soothe, but again it didn’t. “The Earth family is matriarchal. I am her daughter, next in line to inherit. She won’t stop until she returns me back to stasis. I’ll die there sure as my name is Princess Annabelle Eloise Evergreen, Regent of the Earth Family, meaning I am next to rule.” A cringe crawled over her skin. If Roanoke dropped a bomb, she’d just taken it nuclear.

  Fifi and Elron took that moment to burst through the back door as Jericho dropped Noke to the floor, stepping away as he dusted off his hands.

  Message clear – don’t fuck with Abe.

  Ever.

  “Well, we’re home!! And, what a trip it was.” Fifi yawned through her last two words, fist punching out to stretch her shoulder as her willowy body arced backwards. No doubt she had been dreaming of her own bed and pillow. Dark circles under her pretty blue eyes revealed exhaustion and her pert glossy hair was mussed and frizzy.

  Elron shuffled in balancing packages and shopping bags. Zulu stepped in to help, piling a load of bags on the countertop.

  A small man, shorter than his wife, Fifi, by a few inches, was quite handsome in a country sort of way. A mop of unruly hair now streaked with grey showed his many years. After thanking Zulu, Elron took in the group, one blue eye and the other green, scanning the crowded kitchen. He met Abe’s stare and automatically bowed courteously.

  Abe, knowing the ancient custom, nodded with a short bow.

  “My lady.”

  “Sir. Well met. Ab….”

  Shrilly, Fifi cut in with clear exasperation, “Jericho, introductions are in order.” The shrillness of her voice was a tell to be sure. Too easily agitated after days of shopping and travelling, exhaustion was taking over.

  “Ma Cherie, we have, well…” Jericho crooned then gulped. He’d almost said Abe was a visitor and she absolutely wasn’t – cause she was here to stay whether she knew it or not. Words escaped him. He turned, deep blue eyes pleading. “Abe?”

  Abe held her hand out to Fifi. “I’m Abe.”

  Fifi’s blue eyes bored into Abe, searching for any hint of lust for her husband and gripped her hand firmly.

  How could Abe tell? Jealousy lay thick over the female who was obviously head over heels for her male and ain’t nobody gonna touch him on her watch.

  It was hilarious. Glancing up, she caught Jericho’s smirk before he turned his head away. Bastard!

  “Welcome, I’m Fi
fi. This is my husband, Elron Everly.”

  “Indeed, it’s very nice to meet you both.” Abe let the smile out then, keeping emerald eyes square on Fifi. Sheesh, she’d have to remember Fifi’s penchant for jealousy and open season on anyone who dared even look at her husband let alone talk to him.

  Matty sidled up, breaking the tension, a big smile in place. “Fi, El, it’s good to have you home.”

  A few guttural howls drifted in from the great room, followed by shuffling and a double slap on stone floor rhythmically bulleting towards them. Sir Randy trundled through the kitchen doorway, skidding to a lopsided stop right beside Abe.

  Elron, without missing a beat, looked to Zulu. “I thought she was getting rid of him?”

  “Me too. I’m shocked like you.”

  Dramatically, Matty gasped loudly totally faking her outrage.

  Easily grabbing the bait, Jericho roared, “No one is getting rid of my damn dog!”

  SR grunted approval or so they thought until a putrid stench wafted from him.

  Fi lifted her pert little nose in the air away from the foul odor. “He only does that when he eats garbage.”

  Matty agreed readily. “Yeah, Fi that’s exactly what he did – it took me almost twenty minutes to clean up his mess this morning.”

  Fi shook her head, eyeing both females. “How did that happen? If the lid is closed, he can’t get at the garbage. Besides, the bin is too high for him.”

  “Not anymore,” Matty shamelessly blurted. “I’m afraid Sir Randy learned some new tricks when he was with me, like getting the fridge open and eating at will.”

  Fifi frowned. “Oh dear. That could be a problem. Elron you’ll have to fashion something to dog proof the fridge.”

  “Yes, dear. It’s called a collar and leash tied up to the farthest tree in the backyard.”

  Zulu huffed twice, agreeing readily.

  Reno snickered knowing full well no one could get and keep a collar on the basset hound. SR’s leash antics were even worse. Wasn’t going to happen.

  Obviously distracted, Fifi agreed. “That’s fine dear. We’ll discuss it tomorrow. I’m off to bed. I’m exhausted.”