Jericho

by Nini Church

  All of them – every last one.

  He and Annabelle were leaving together.

  Amadan needed to do her – in a big way – a life long dream and the very reason why he had broken Giaa's chain and gone rogue. He would not be denied this time.

  Secretly and not, he had watched and drawn her into his web as she grew from a babe into a young child. When she turned five summers, he could wait no longer and began to show her what he needed. Then abruptly – without notice or warning – she disappeared. He knew Giaa had hidden her away and without fail she was never without elite guardians when she did appear in public.

  But he had never forgotten the fire that raged in him when he looked upon her nor did he deny that he deserved her.

  It was meant to be to have her as his own – maybe only briefly for he was sure he couldn't hold back with his Princess – and perhaps he would regret that after.

  Now that he was sure he had her, Amadan made an oath to himself that he would try to take his time with her – enjoy the moments of blood and gore, fists pounding every soft surface on her body. He meant to take a detour to a place with all the stuff he needed for a little fun. A place to play out his fantasies.

  Then maybe up to one of his secret caves where he could play with her longer.

  If she was still alive...

  Yeah, it stoked him.

  Two thick blackened chains braced his chest and another wove around his waist, all clattering together as he lifted a powerful hand, index finger pointing at his Princess. “You are under imperial order to return with me.”

  Abe stood unflinching. Amadan sickened her. He always had, creeping around, spying on her, forcing her to watch as he pumped himself to ejaculation a good number of times. She had been barely five summers when it first started and finally so badly frightened by such a monster, she told Mamam. Promptly, she was deposited into a godforsaken sliver of forest and left there in stasis. Pure, but lost forever.

  Amadan, as far as she could tell, had never suffered any consequences for his vile deeds.

  That Mamam sent him was a clear message. Yet, Abe questioned why she would do that – they had agreed to a truce. Eyes narrowed, she wondered.

  Mamam wasn't a nice, gentle or sweet mother – no, she was harsh and punishing. Abe recalled a few of her nastier punishments from some of her earliest memories. If Mamam sent her Destroyer – that meant he could have his way with her, likely leaving her half dead. As a child she had heard stories whispered about him. They were enough to fuel a young mind’s worst nightmares.

  In a sing-song tone, Zulu's voice carried as he stepped up. "Liar, liar. You stink." His beads clattered as he peered up and down the big Destroyer. Zu liked a challenge. "You fucker are rogue.”

  Frustrated, Reno sighed loudly and Conn snuffled out a lewd grunt. Both knew that when Zulu got riled, his language barrier always got the better of him. For a long time, there was hope it would get better – but it didn't.

  Amadan sought out the one who dared. When his dark eyes landed on Zulu, his smile turned pure evil as he motioned the warrior to come closer. “What a pretty little male you are.”

  Zulu gave him the middle finger and a smile that added an extra fuck you.

  Abe twitched an eyebrow up. There was something different about the Destroyer. But rogue? Amadan? Maybe Mamam hadn't sent him? He was always under her complete control. Wasn't he?

  Revolving around Jericho’s mind was one question. A key question. Where the fuck was mommy dearest? As soon as he found out, he was gonna wrap his fucking hands around her throat and not let go for unleashing a Destroyer on his mate. Rogue or not. Even though they all thought – hell assumed – Abe's agreement with Giaa was genuine – it simply wasn't. Evil bitch.

  He and his team had heard about Destroyers, but none had ever met one. Roald revealed Amadan was the leader of the Destroyers. Taken at a young age, Destroyers were stripped back until nothing remained, using pain, torture – whatever it took – to rebuild a killing machine without thought or remorse.

  Both Roald and Jericho slid off their jackets, stepping up on either side of Abe. He reached for his mate’s hand and she clutched his without hesitation.

  Softly, she informed them, “His greatest weakness is his ego. I’m destabilizing his chains and drawing on his body elements to slow him down.”

  Amadan, brows down hard over flat black eyes, glared at Jericho then Roald. Who were these males? Fools one and all! He was a Destroyer. Name said it all. No need to explain. Yet they stood next to his Princess, one even touching her!

  Chains trembled over his big body as raging anger turned into an inferno.

  Again and again, Abe siphoned off inherent elements within the metal chains he wore, weighing them down. With a little extra concentration, she also tapped into the water in his body, reducing it and dragging energy from him. So quick, he didn’t notice, his focus honed on Jericho and Roald.

  Almost instantly, Jericho realized this big bad Destroyer was so full of himself that he turned a blind eye to his opponents and that made him bait. In any battle, one had to be fully aware of every facet of one’s opponent. It was one of the first things taught to every warrior. Yet, Amadan’s high opinion of himself made him ignore Jericho. His first fatal mistake.

  Jericho signaled Roald and both of them stepped past Abe as Reno reached out to draw her back, safe next to Matty and Esh. Conn, Zulu, Caleb and Rad closed ranks. More armed warriors layered in around the tight group while keeping six on their King.

  On fucking point, Reno changed his focus, moving out in front not far behind Jericho and Roald. The females were safe – anyone wanting at them was gonna have to go through a couple thousand pounds or more of killer warriors.

  Roald glanced at Jericho – if the Destroyer got a chance to use his chains – they were goners, but both males accepted the risk. As Masters of the 12th Art, Jericho and he trained many long hours together in hand to hand combat without any weapons as was Jericho’s preference. Both were skilled enough to take down anything.

  Even a Destroyer.

  Jericho heard Abe’s heart beating loudly along with another, only distant and just as strong. It was strange, but now wasn’t the time. Everything shut down except his focus.

  Amadan laughed coarsely. “You’re nothing but gnats on the arse of the universe and willing to die for what? Let me have the Princess and I’ll disappear.”

  “Well then, you must be shit and should be long gone by now,” Jericho threw back. He cringed when hearing Abe demand softly, “Stand down, Conn, I mean it. I need justice here. Amadan’s mine even if Jericho wants to rough him up first.”

  Quietly, Eshter added her two cents. “You go, girl.”

  Amadan’s laser black eyes caught on Abe, his wicked crooked smile evil with dark and hideous intentions. “You whore – you’re fucking mine. I’m gonna make you bleed and beg for my mercy. Gonna break you once and for all!”

  Holding steady, Jericho’s eyes blazed pure purple, no hint of blue remaining. Muscles bunched, fists clenched, he waited for the signal. In any fight – to death or not – one waited for opportunity and emotions played no part. But, Abe was his and only his. No one was gonna ever say different. And live.

  Roald lifted his left shoulder, signaling to Jericho to take the first round.

  Jericho knew there was only gonna be one round.

  Amadan wasn’t expecting anyone to approach him as he looked down to wind his favorite black chain, thicker than the others to do more damage, around one big leather clad fist. Damn it was heavy! He shook off his concern, ready to battle, craving the scent of fresh flowing blood filling his nostrils – right now anyone would do.

  One last yank on the chain to give him wide leverage, Amadan’s mouth dropped open as several loud grunts burst out of him.

  Jericho went at him, fists flying so fast they were invisible, blood spraying as he pounded him in the head a dozen times, then rapidly another dozen in the face.

  J
ericho shifted to Amadan’s massive upper body, workin’ it hard, breaking ribs and damaging organs as a cloud of air erupted from the huge Destroyer.

  Face swollen and almost blind, Amadan couldn't tell how many were coming at him – pounding on him as pain scored his body, lancing his mind and not in a good way. Pain he normally would have relished and enjoyed, but not this – it was too much at once and his body and weapons were so heavy, dragging on him.

  Chain still gripped in his fist, he snapped his wrist, the deadly weapon circling around him in a punishing arc, hitting only furniture and several life size cherubs as shattered gold plated glass flew everywhere.

  Expertly, he slowly dropped his arm as the chain swung low around his feet – waiting for his face to heal and his eye sight to return – then swirled the thick black chain slowly upwards and still made contact with nothing substantial.

  It confused the hell out him because fists drilled into his chest and incessantly popped deep into his gut. Repeatedly – over and over. So fast that he couldn’t get a single breath to steady himself or a sight line on how many opponents he was facing.

  He let the swinging chain still in his fist as he began defensively ducking and weaving. Just as he came up on a bob, something powerful smashed into the back of his head. Stars exploded.

  Fists together forming one big battering ram, Jericho let loose on Amadan – intent on a deadly mission to break his body down piece by piece. First up – get rid of the Destroyer’s deadliest weapon – his chains.

  Amadan was a killer, a Destroyer – had been forged in the fires of hell – was trained to never give up. Forcing his healing abilities to accelerate, swelling reduced around his eyes. Head up as if he could see, he tried to get a bead on numbers. Dizzy and seeing double, Amadan lifted his left fist, the heavy chain wound tightly, one end dangling just above the floor, his arm muscles taut and bulging when it happened-

  His wrist broke clean from the bone first – his hand only attached by skin and tendon – the blackened chain, his favorite weapon, slid to the floor, pooling at his feet. It was less than a blink of time later when his right elbow exploded, pain shattering him. Mind numb and blackness encroaching, oddly he heard the familiar clinking slither of his chain dragging across the floor. Away from him. Out of reach.

  Nothing would stop Amadan, even weakened and now without a weapon in hand, he was still an evil force to be reckoned with. As a Destroyer, he was trained to eat the pain. His wounds healed fast as he swung his left arm wide, trying to bat his opponents away, but once more Amadan connected with nothing. His right elbow wasn’t healing fast enough – he needed to buy a little more time by not making himself such an easy fucking target.

  Just as the swelling around his eyes went down and his vision began to return – in mere seconds – powerful drilling fists again broke his nose and closed both eyes. Anger rose to an inferno burning within Amadan as a blast of heat seared the room and he roared with frustration.

  Hair flew off Roald’s face. He was keeping six, trying to keep Jericho in sight, but the big Jinn moved so fast it was nothing but a blur.

  Jericho kept at it, moving in and out like a machine, hitting hard into Amadan’s lower gut as the big Destroyer swayed, unused chains rattling as he blindly ducked and bobbed, trying to avoid so many driving fists coming at him from all angles.

  Jericho recognized the vast power building within, growing stronger, itching to step totally outta control.

  In killing mode, there was nothing to stop what was gonna happen.

  Right here. Right now. Right in front of Abe. It made him pause, he didn’t need his mate seeing him kill. He wanted her safe and away from all that.

  At the last second, he pulled up, centering his power, clamping it down, dumbing it. Jericho held on too tight. Only for Abe – did he pull up short of his final goal – intent on honoring his mate’s request: Rough up Amadan.

  Jericho’s powerful voice boomed over the room. “Abe’s my mate. Mine. My female. Anyone who thinks differently, including you, is going through me first.” He drilled down on the big male, fists hammering every weak point until the Destroyer’s organs, gut and ribs were nothing but mashed flesh and bone. “I. Am. Her. Front. Fucking. Line.”

  For now, it had to be enough to knock the Destroyer senseless, keep him off balance to delay his healing abilities. When Amadan hit the stone floor knees first he grabbed onto Jericho by wrapping one arm around the Jinn’s thighs to take him down too.

  Jericho simply reared back, breaking the hold as his fists crashed rapidly and deeply into the muscles around Amadan’s heart before he snapped one powerful fist up to plow into his throat, cutting off his airway completely.

  Hand to hand nobody ever beat Jericho. Not even one of mommy dearest’s legendary Destroyers. Amadan’s arm loosened as Jericho drove a knee into the Destroyer’s sagging chin.

  Head and neck snapping loudly, Amadan plowed backwards, landing on his broad back as his body slammed into unforgiving stone. Raggedly panting, he rolled onto his side to try to hoist himself up before collapsing into a heap of pain and fiery agony – too many injuries to his body – it would take days to heal. Days he didn’t have.

  A hard shove against Conn’s broad chest and he stepped aside as Abe rushed for Jericho, grabbing him from behind, arms looping loosely around his waist, pulling him back from the killing zone.

  Step by agonizing step, Jericho gained control. He wanted to shred the Destroyer – wanted him gone for good. When Abe nuzzled his back, nose buried deep and scenting him – he gobbled in deep breaths, pulling back from the killing edge, stepping closer to her and safety.

  After Jericho calmed down somewhat, Abe slipped past him to kneel beside Amadan, holding her palm over his chest. Softly so only he could hear, she spoke to Jericho. “He abused me when I was barely five summers."

  Loudly so all could hear, she proclaimed, "Amadan is rogue. I bring justice.” Her hand dropped to his chest. The Destroyer’s bottomless black eyes flashed open one final time as he turned to ash.

  When Abe stepped back – right into Jericho’s arms – Amadan, or what was left of him, collapsed into a huge heap of billowing ash.

  To break the spell as unbelievable events unfolded, Roald clapped Jericho on the back, laughing loudly. “You coulda at least let me have a fucking go at him.” In truth, what he had just witnessed – he would do the same for his Eshter. Females of worth were truly worth fighting for.

  A loud gasp swept over the room as the shock began to wear off and awe started setting in with the crowd realizing they had just witnessed an epic battle and seen proof that the rumors about King of the Jinn were true.

  Panicked voices trailed up and down, a signal to both Jericho and Roald that they needed to get their females out and fast.

  Several Jinn pushed their way through the dense crowd to step forward and kneel on one knee with fists to their hearts. “All hail our Queen. All hail our Queen. All hail our Queen.” Many other races joined in, voices rising in a singsong chant.

  Roald shook his head, cradling his mate tightly. He was still in shock that Jericho’s mate wanted to take on the role of putting Amadan down. He couldn’t believe she had stepped up to the challenge so readily. He suspected Abe was a true Queen to Jericho's King.

  Abe glared at Jericho as her trite words tumbled out. “Now they’re all on my side?”

  He shrugged casually and gave her a wide white smile. “I told you they were a shifty lot to begin with.”

  For the first time in forever it seemed – Abe giggled.

  Just once.

  That was enough for Jericho. He swept her into his arms, turned to the crowd, bowed his head and informed everyone, “We’re leaving.”

  Abe called over Jericho’s broad shoulder, “Esh, don’t forget to call me. I don’t want to lose you, girl.”

  Esh’s face was splashed with pleasure as her smile widened. “Me too.”

  Jericho made a pledge to himself – he was never gon
na let Abe go, indeed he was never going to let his mate out of his sight if he knew what was good for him. It was that moment when the elusive beat came to him again. Then, again and twice more. So faint he could barely hear it.

  It startled him as he gently placed Abe in the back seat of the limo, not letting her escape to the far corner, but tucking her snuggly next to him.

  Abe shivered as the big car sped away from the estate. It was a fine Gala until Amadan barged in and made a mess of things. She couldn’t begin to consider what rumors and gossip would bring. No matter right now – the only important thing was that Amadan was dead. It was such a massive relief – to her, to many.

  Gone.

  Forever.

  Within the safety of Jericho’s strong arms, Abe silently kept repeating those two words. So many Amadan held as his slaves or hostages would be free from him.

  A good thing.

  A long time coming.

  Abe vowed never to share the true meaning of Amadan’s death or what it meant to so many.

  Free from Amadan’s evil shadow, it was a new beginning for all those tortured souls, including her.

  Jericho held her close on the way home, safe at his side. They didn’t talk, but he was well aware of the details she wasn't sharing. In the mix, his Abe had forgotten about their resident tech wizard, Cal. Through their secure com-link, Cal was filling him in to the max about mommy dearest and her big, bad dead Destroyer – Amadan.

  Yeah, he was aware of the ugly truth – and that Abe didn't want to paw through the details – was totally fucking cool with him.

  Over and done.

  CHAPTER 23

  Six Days Later

  Abe was out of sorts. It seemed to be happening a lot lately. Too often her emotions got away from her and the tears were ridiculous – rolling at will whenever and wherever.

  Off signing treaties and negotiating agreements between races, Jericho was gone now for almost a week, but that wasn’t it. She missed him every second, but that wasn’t it either.

  Shopping online for clothes, Abe had ordered her usual size eight. New jeans, tees and a couple of nice sweaters plus two sweet lacy bra and panty sets had arrived this morning.