Chapter 29

May was in shock. She had watched the New Species female approach Jericho, and then start going all handsy on him. She was beautiful, tall and strong, with long flowing hair and bright eyes. May's hand had gone up to the back of her head, feeling the bald spot that the nurse at Fuller had given her. She'd pulled her hair half up today, but it fell unevenly. Watching this female made May more than aware of her own physical deficits.

Jericho had stepped away but the female had continued to approach. A feeling of anger and protectiveness had overwhelmed May. Jericho was her mate. No one else was allowed to touch him. She hadn't even thought, then, about her size and fighting prowess, all she had been consumed with was Jericho.

But then he had spoken to her in that angry voice and it was like being doused in cold water. What did he want her to do? What if this female was someone important to him? And the female touched him again!

The female had looked at May like she was a bug, you mounted her? She'd asked, her voice laced with laughter and disbelief, and Jericho had touched her. May's entire body rejected that touch, and without thinking, she'd inserted herself between the two New Species. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in Jericho's arms, and the sounds of hissing and snarling filled her ears.

May stared in wide-eyed disbelief as Hope pummeled the female into the ground. The other female grabbed Hope's hair, trying to keep her teeth from her throat, because, yes, Hope was trying to tear out the female's throat.

"Hope!" she cried out, pulling against Jericho to reach her sister.

"Stop!" he roared, but the females paid no attention to him.

"Hope, please!" May cried, her stomach sick. This was not what she wanted. She did not want Hope fighting other New Species.

The female flipped Hope around, and landed a punch to Hope's temple, "NO!" May screamed, "Jericho," she looked at him desperately, "Please."

But he didn't have to do anything, soon the yard was flooded with New Species, pulling the two apart. The female kicked and clawed at the males holding her, but Hope stood on her own. Once she had been pulled off, she had bent her knees and stayed in what May recognized as a fighting stance. She saw a human standing nearby; he must be one of the men from the Task Force because he was almost as big as the New Species around them.

Hope turned on her heel abruptly and came up to May. She spared a glance at Jericho, but quickly focused her gaze on May, "Are you hurt?" she asked.

May shook her head, nerves starting to overwhelm her and she trembled.

"Good," Hope said, taking May's arm, and pulling her from a surprised Jericho, "let's go."

"Wait," May said, looking back at Jericho.

"No," Hope said, "no 'wait.' He will not protect you. You are coming with me."

"Jericho," May called to him, needing to talk to him.

Jericho took a step toward her, his fangs bared, "Hope," he said warningly.

"No, Jericho," Hope said, pushing May into the jeep and fastening her seatbelt. May attempted to unbuckle herself, but her treacherous hands trembled too much.

"Hope, wait," May said to her, but Hope's eyes were blazing and the look she gave May dared her to argue. May's mouth popped open, it was, completely and totally, the look her mother had given her when May had attempted to argue as a teenager. It was a look that took no prisoners, and May was so surprised, she couldn't do anything but stare.

Jericho moved fast, jumping in front of the jeep, but Hope was faster, jamming her foot down on the gas and peeling down the road. May saw Jericho start to chase them, but Hope went faster, and he soon became a speck.

"He's going to be so mad," May whispered.

Hope snorted, "He doesn't get to be mad," she said, "you can't defend yourself, what was he thinking allowing Kit close to you."

"Kit?" May asked.

"The female," Hope said, "she came with me from Homeland. She is one difficult female. And that's saying something."

May let her head fall against the seat, "So where are we going?" she asked, "I'll give you an hour, maybe, before I make you bring me back."
"You can't go back, May," Hope said, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh, please," May scoffed, "Of course I can. He is my mate, and he needs to explain why that…"
"Kit," Hope added helpfully.

"Kit," May said, "was all over him."

"One thing I have learned," Hope said, "is that New Species males share sex a lot. I'm sure she was hoping to share sex again."

"And you left him with her!" May screeched, "How is that helping me?! Turn the car around, Hope. You pull her hair out and I'll break her fingers."

May heard the shrill ringing of a phone, and Hope reached in her pocket, looking at the number, "It's probably for you," Hope said, sighing and handing the phone to May.

May narrowed her eyes at Hope, "If I'm in trouble…" she warned.

Hope had the good sense to blush as May pressed the button to speak, "Hello?"

"May?" It was Jericho, "Where are you? Are you okay? I'm so sorry. So sorry baby, please come back. Don't leave, please." His voice was quiet, but she could hear his desperation and pain through the line.

"I'm just down the road," May soothed, "I'm letting Hope take me for a ride to calm down and then she's bringing me home."

"I'm sorry," Jericho said.

"We can talk about it when I get home, okay?" May said, "Is Kit still there?"

There was a pause, "Jericho?" May said, "Is Kit still with you?"

"She is," Jericho finally answered, "but so is everyone else…"

"Jericho," May breathed. She shook her head. This poor male didn't have a clue, and though May was angry, seething even, she could sense his confusion and uncertainty, "I'll be home soon. I promise. Just…" she hesitated but then continued, "Please make her go. I don't want her around you."

"I will, she is even now. They just needed to bandage her first," he answered quickly.

"Okay," she breathed, "I'll be back soon."

"May," Jericho said, a tremor in his voice, "I love you. Please don't be gone long."

May smiled, "I love you too," she replied, "but you have some explaining to do when I get back."

"I know," Jericho answered, sounding for all the world like a scolded little boy.

May pressed the disconnect button and handed the phone back to Hope.

"He's in so much trouble?" Hope asked, a little too gleefully for May.

"No," May answered, pressing her thumbs against her temples to ward off a headache.

"No?" Hope said disappointed.

"No," May said firmly, but she did need to understand what was going on with him. From the time they had left the security office, until the time Hope had done her American Gladiator impression, Jericho had seemed off, and May intended to learn why.