Alpha Warriors of The Cause - Tamara Rose Blodgett Page 0,27
that male's prick off.”
He was. He still wants to.
Jeb inhales deeply, and his lungs feel bathed in fire. “So what's to stop me from finishing the job?”
Slade's flat-black irises blink back at Jeb, unnerving him. “Because she might take exception to you killing her father.”
Jeb staggers back a step, his gaze riveted to the Bloodling bleeding out on Beth's stone floor.
They don't look alike.
Jeb stares.
He's wrong. They look so much alike. If he took away the Boodling’s gender, size disparity and the ashy skin, they could be twins.
Slade smiles, folding his massive arms. “Now you're in a little predicament, hopper. Beth believed she was an orphan until a half hour ago. Now you will make it a reality. Claim her all you wish. I do not think Beth Jasper is a forgiving female.”
He doesn’t know the half of it. Beth is many-layered. If Jeb inadvertently kills her father, she might forgive him the mistake.
But would she ever forget?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Slade
Slade could not be more pleased. He’s put Jeb Merrick soundly in his place.
The only portion spoiling the entire event is that a great warrior might die. Then Beth would be truly alone—except for himself, of course.
If Dimitri thought Slade would hand her over to him for a mate, his mind was well and truly gone.
No. Beth Jasper is his. She is the tiny frog meant only for him. And by exquisite coincidence, he might have removed two who would have stood as obstacles.
Slade flexes his hands, relishing having shed the tight Reflective “suit.” However, now that the magic that made the covering is gone, it simply means Slade must return to One. Appearing in front of the entire command of Reflectives as one of them with the renegade Gunnar at his side wasn’t so risky. That might have looked as though he had imprisoned a One. After all, what Bloodling would be foolish enough to jump to Ten with only the two of them? But if he and Gunnar were both “out” as Bloodlings in the volatile world, they would face a hundred or more Reflective warriors.
In fact, it is only a matter of time before the collective Reflectives jump to this very spot. Slade estimates they have a small window before the freed Reflectives follow Jeb Merrick's tailwind.
Right now, the love-struck fool is full of Bloodling poison and knowledge of his misdeeds. The circumstance is really too perfect.
Slade's internal musings are shattered when everything goes to hades in a handbasket and aliens move through Beth's door.
*
Beth
Her eyes flutter open.
Jeb.
That was the last thing she saw: Jeb charging to kill her Bloodling father.
Beth sits up, the world sways, and she falls back against the couch.
“Beth,” Slade says, startling her. He's back to looking as he should—like the hardened Bloodling prince she recalls from One.
Beth ignores him, searching the room for Jeb.
Her father and Slade drugged her somehow, and she's not willing to forgive that.
She finds him. “Jeb,” she calls out, but he doesn't listen, heading straight for her father.
“No—don't kill him!” Beth yells, trying to scramble off the couch.
Slade holds her.
She narrows her eyes at him. “Take your hands off me.”
Slade smiles, releasing her. “Whatever you wish, tiny frog.”
Beth knows nothing's ever been about what she wants and stands. The room tilts, and she stumbles forward until her hands hit the armrest of the couch.
Jeb is on his knees beside Gunnar.
The hilt of Jeb's blade is embedded in the Bloodling’s chest.
“Oh, Principle,” Beth says, covering her mouth.
Gunnar's arm swings up to cup her face. “My hopper.”
“Jeb, do something,” Beth says, putting her own hand over his. All thoughts of anger vanish in the face of his impending death.
He looks into her eyes. “I'm afraid I already did—I didn't intend to kill your father, but he stood above you, not wearing pants… I didn't know who he was, the circumstance.”
A hot tear brims, then follows the line of Gunnar's cool palm as it travels down her face.
Voices boom behind them, and Beth looks around as her father's hand slips away.
Jacky and Maddie burst through the door, Reflective Kennet at their heels.
His frantic eyes take in the scene. “Thank Principle. What in hades is going on here, Jeb?”
Jeb sighs. “The Bloodlings—I thought they were harming Beth, and it turns out the opposite was true.”
Beth looks up at Slade, who is stoic, adding nothing. “Slade—please, what can be done?”
He shakes his head. “Unless you have a kindred blood running around”—he waves a dismissive palm at the general vicinity of her domicile—“there is no chance.