Grimm Consequences Read Online Free Page B

used to be colleagues. But his appetite for death and destruction was uncontrollable. He was stirring things up between the mortals just to get a fix. So he was given a choice—become a Judge or go to his final torment. Not surprisingly, he chose to become a Judge, kept under tight control, only unleashed in the most severe of cases where the potential punishment will release such pain and suffering that he’ll be satiated.”
    â€œBut he released the Jabberwocky instead of coming after you,” Tess pointed out. “Why? Why not just come at you straightaway? What does he gain by that?”
    I shook my head. “I think releasing the Jabberwocky was just for fun, a teaser. I wasn’t sure until the Jabberwocky’s trail vanished. The monster couldn’t have gone underground like that on its own. Demetrius is hiding it somewhere, waiting until the perfect moment to unleash it again. Our earlier encounter, my poisoning . . . that was just a warning of what’s to come.”
    Tess sat down next to me on the edge of the bed, her chin lifted defiantly. “Fine. Let the Reapers try to come in here and start something. They’ll end up leaving with a boot up their collective asses.”
    That’s my Tess. Feisty to the end.
    Grinning, I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “And would that boot be cherry red by any chance?”
    â€œI’m serious, Nate,” she insisted. “They want to get to you, they’re going to have to come through me.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m afraid of.”
    She huffed, frustrated. “Nate—”
    â€œDemetrius knows me well,” I interrupted. “He knows that I’m not afraid of what’s coming for me. But there’s always more than one way to bring a man to his knees, sweetheart, and I’ve showed my hand. He knows my weakness.”
    â€œMe.”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œWe’re stronger together, Nate,” she reminded me. “And this fight is now mine as much as yours.”
    God, I loved her.
    Even though she hadn’t yet told me she loved me, the look in her eyes said it all. I’d seen how fiercely Tess could fight when someone she cared about was at risk. And I understood that kind of love—it’s what had gotten me into this mess in the first place. But there was no way in hell I was going to let her put herself in harm’s way for me. I pressed my forehead to hers for a moment and closed my eyes.
    â€œBaby, this is a fight you can’t win,” I said on a sigh. When she started to protest, I took her face in my hands and gave her a look that probably appeared as fierce as it felt to me. “Tess, listen to me, damn it! When they come, you have to stay out of it and let me go.”
    She shook her head, her lips pressed into an angry line. “Bullshit! If you think—”
    â€œNo!” I roared, my voice echoing off the bedroom walls and bringing her up short. She blinked at me in surprise, actually cringing a little. Shit. I’d scared her. Her. Tess “Red” Little, who wasn’t afraid of anything.
    I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, recomposing myself. Literally. In my moment of fear, I’d let the shadows come and felt my mortal form slipping out of my control, the darkness taking over for a split second.
    â€œWhat the hell was that?” she breathed, inching back just a little, probably without even realizing it.
    I muttered a ripe curse and lunged to my feet, pacing the rug in agitation. “Just promise me you won’t pull any shit when they come for me, Tess.” When she didn’t respond, I halted and met her puzzled gaze. The confused and wary expression on her face wrung my heart, fate’s merciless fist squeezing out the happiness that had only recently come to me. “Please. I need you to trust me on this one, sweetheart. I’ve been punished before.