"You have one week," the president said. "Don't force me to use the documentation against you."
Jacob smiled. Terrifyingly beautiful, showing his perfect white teeth. If predatory grin had an image, that was it. "I'm going to need to see the evidence as well," he drawled. "You know, not that I don't trust you or anything, but let's be real, lying isn't exactly foreign to presidents."
Red tinged John Caine's cheeks as he nodded and said, "Provide me with a secure email or server to load it, and I will send it right over. Along with all the details of my proposition."
Well, well, wasn’t he just the picture of respect and integrity now he was getting his own way. It was lucky I wasn’t on the supernatural council and had to decide this. At this point, I’d cut my nose off to spite every fucking supe face, and take the risk that the humans would war against us, because I truly hated being manipulated.
It was a character flaw. Whatever.
"We will be in touch in a week," Jacob said. "We're walking out of here now. Do not attempt to follow us."
The president looked like he wanted to protest, but he never got a chance, because Jacob had already reached out to grab my hand, half carrying me out of the room. When I got my feet under me, I tried to pull out of his grasp.
“Dude," I said seriously. "Don't fucking manhandle me."
Jacob squeezed his eyes closed, and when they opened again, the green was dark and murky. "I’m not a man. And I’d appreciate it if you shut up until we got out of here. I’m already on the edge of losing control again."
Okay, then. Looked like there was another fuck of a face I was going to have to punch. His was so pretty that it would be a shame to bang it up, but a girl had to do what a girl had to do. And I didn't take disrespect like this.
Thankfully at this point he’d loosened his hold, and I was able to walk at his side like a person and not a possession dragged along. I was being deliberately obstinate about it, but men were prone to this shit and I wasn’t okay with it.
Two soldiers at the gate let us out, no questions asked, so someone had already radioed to let them know. It was nice not to have to fight another battle. Of course, we were in a war-torn city with no immediate way to get home…
Except.
"Want me to try and open a step-through?" I asked. Jeweled princesses had that ability. Last time I'd had my jeweled sisters with me, but there was a chance I could do it alone. My power was definitely there, as previously demonstrated, even if I didn’t have the best control over it.
"It's okay," Jacob said shortly. "I'll call Tyson."
And I was annoyed all over again. There was no need to act like I wasn’t capable, but since I already had too many battles to fight, I let that one go.
We left the compound behind; the streets were still and silent. The attackers and army were gone, and any locals would have scattered at the first sign of gunfire and explosions.
It was eerie, as if all life had ceased and we were the last two in the world.
All of a sudden Jacob spun, and once again his hands were on me. This time I was jerked closer, and I managed to get my elbow up, cracking him under the chin with it. He didn't even flinch.
One thing I would never deny was how tough he was—a fact that both scared and enticed me. Because I was damaged like that.
"What the fuck are you doing to me?" he demanded, his eyes still murky. "I never lose my cool and lately it's been every single day you're near me."
Our bodies touched in all places, except the small space where my elbow was still lodged against the base of his throat. It would be a simple thing for me to shift it higher, cut off his ability to speak…
But I wanted to hear what he had to say.
Only ... he wasn't saying anything else, and me being me, decided to push his buttons. "Are you saying that I'm the reason we're in this mess?" My voice got low and flinty—just the thought of that flicked my bitch switch on. "Like when a woman is raped and the man claims it was her