by Jaymin Eve
“Focus.” Braxton halted their bitchfest before it started.
Jacob continued to look murderous as he stared down the grinning Tyson.
I blinked a few times, willing my eyes to stay open. “We need the trolls. They rule the underground and they’ll know, either by the fact it’s spelled or off limits, or because trolls are part of the secret keepers.”
There were a few nods. Tyson started swirling magic in front of him. “First thing tomorrow, we will see if we can snag ourselves a troll to chat with.” The wizard sounded a tad creepy when he spoke like that. I’d been saying it for years, but if there was ever another supernatural war, the Compasses were dead set going to be the cause.
“I’ve got to get some sleep.” I was plenty relaxed now after the truly orgasmic pleasure Braxton had induced in me with just a simple massage. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Three sets of eyes followed me as I started to drag myself down the hall toward the room which was unofficially mine. I expected to be out the moment my head hit the cloud-soft pillows, but it was then that all of the worries piled in on me. How would the talk with my father go tomorrow? Would Lienda be there? Could I truly accept a sister after all of these years thinking I was an only child? What was with the dead fey and all of the council’s secrets? Could Mischa be a dragon-shifter?
Eventually I had to call on my wolf for help. Animals don’t sweat the small stuff, acting mostly on instinct, and right now she knew we needed sleep. Within moments my worries fuzzed away and the blissful release of sleep claimed me.
I wasn’t one for dreaming. Mostly I slept like the dead, and had no memories of anything from the moment I closed my eyes until I opened them again. But tonight I seemed to be mimicking my sister and was plagued with dreams of dragons.
The dream started out with my wolf running across a field, sunlight glinting off her midnight black fur. The area didn’t look familiar but I wasn’t afraid or curious. Then out of nowhere a dragon appeared above my head, circling me a few times before coming to rest right in my path. I had no choice but to stop, skidding to a halt about twenty feet from the massive animal. It was a light blue color, the sun reflecting off the scales, and more delicate than Braxton’s dragon form. I shifted back to human. I wasn’t surprised by this appearance. Instead, anger flooded me.
“What do you want?” I yelled, hands on hips.
A thump behind had me spinning around. Another dragon was coming in at my rear. One more thump and I was surrounded by three massive dragons. Shit, this was not good. The dream world kept the panic at bay, but still every beat of my heart seemed extra loud as I tried to figure out what was going to happen.
“You must join us or die.” In the spot the original aqua dragon had stood was Mischa.
I shook my head. “I cannot be a part of this, I refuse.” I took a step closer, both of my hands held aloft. “You’re wrong, there’s no way this can come to pass.”
“The shifter law is truth and you know it. They’re an anomaly and must be stopped. We need you.” My sister tried again, but I shook my head, my hair bouncing on my naked shoulders.
“I can’t let you go, Jess, you know that. I’m oath bound.”
“Find a way around it,” I warned her.
“Shift to dragon and we’ll decide this in the old manner.” One of the other females, a short curvy redhead, transformed long enough to speak before turning back into a black dragon.
I simply stared at her, and then in a heartbeat I felt the energy consume me, but instead of my wolf … I became a dragon. My scales were the blue of my eyes, and as I spread my wings the other two dragons launched into me, except for Mischa, who was still human. I clawed and bit back, but was vastly out-dragoned. The pain felt real as they proceeded to tear me to shreds.
Screams pulled me from sleep and I realized they were my own, my fear so very real and pungent that the scent coated the inside of my room. Before I could blink or pull the sweaty shirt off my body, there were four men in my room in varying stages of undress, holding weapons. Tyson had magic energy gathered in his hands.
“Jessa,” Braxton said, as he lifted his head and scented the room. He moved in a blink across to me. In the same moment I was in his arms.
I struggled against him, tears pouring down my cheeks as I fought the fear overwhelming me.
Maximus was growling as he reached the side of the bed. “What the fuck? Is she crying? Who do I have to kill, Jess babe? Tell me what happened.”
I almost laughed, they’d die if they knew it was only a dream. Right now they were still talking over my head.
Braxton had started barking orders. “I can’t scent anyone else in here, but her fear is real. Check the perimeter and I’ll search inside.”
“Wait,” I stuttered out. “It was just a bad dream.”
Braxton’s arms tightened around me, his warmth helping to quell the final shudders of paralyzing fear. In the human world, this relationship the five of us had would probably be viewed as odd, but they were my pack. Supernatural packs always stayed close together. It calmed our souls.
“A dream?” Tyson sounded dubious. “You never dream, and even if you did you were reacting to something physical. That wasn’t just your mind, that was your entire body.”
He was right. Weirdly enough I’d reacted as if I’d really been there, not merely mentally creating the situation.
Braxton lowered me back onto my bed, and when I started to shake and hug my legs, the four of them crowded onto the soft surface and comforted me with touch.
“Tell us what happened.” Jacob held my hand tightly. I could feel soothing fey energy seeping into me.
I quickly detailed the dream. As I was putting it into words … well, it didn’t sound scary. But something within that event had created heart-racing fear. I just wish I knew what it was.
“Do you think it means anything?” I asked. “Or was it simply a by-product of Mischa mentioning her dreams of being a dragon.”
“So there was more than one female dragon?” Braxton asked.
I nodded. That’s why all the dragons had seemed so delicate, they’d all been female.
“There were three and … myself.” Because apparently I was also a dragon shifter.
I felt like such a moron. “I’m being stupid. It was just a dream,” I said, waving my hands agitatedly. “Just a dream.”
I forced myself to calm, but the moment the quads moved off the bed panic flooded through me again. I hadn’t realized how much their presence had been keeping it at bay. I bit the inside of my cheek. I wouldn’t ask them to stay. I’d shown enough weakness tonight.
“We’ll stay with you until you fall asleep,” Braxton and Maximus said together. Again it was as if these men could read my thoughts.
Jacob grazed my cheek with his fingertips. “Just close your eyes, the boys will keep you safe, even from your dreams.”
Tyson landed a kiss on my forehead and then those two left the room.
My vampire and dragon shifter sprawled out their large bodies on either side of me, and with a sigh I slithered down under the sheets and closed my eyes. Trust me when I tell you, nothing makes a girl feel safer than a Compass on either side of her. I challenged any scary dream to try to get me now.
The heat woke me. I was so … damn … hot. I tried to move out from under the boulders holding me to the bed. Not a chance in hell of that happening. My eyes opened. Small streams of light were filtering through the large single window. It was morning, and not that early judging by the light low on the wall. A thick arm rested across me, and that’s when I remembered the dream and falling asleep with Maximus and Braxton. No wonder I was so damn hot, those two threw off heat like the roar of a fire. Maximus had rolled away. Vampires didn’t sleep like a pack. But Braxton was all over me, one arm and leg thrown across my body, and his head buried in the crook of my neck.
“Ugh,” I groaned, “get off you hot, heavy-ass dragon.”
I tried shoving him, b
ut by the lack of movement I’d have had more luck moving the house we were in.
“Go back to sleep, Jess, or I’ll bite you,” Maximus grumbled.
I used my free hand to pinch him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I’d never shared blood with him, although he had tasted my blood when he’d healed a cut or two, but for feeding he used his vampire women or other volunteers. There was something quite intimate when a vampire fed from you. Apparently the feelings it spread were … well, inappropriate toward a friend. Even a best friend.
“What’s the time?” I tried to squirm free again. “I have to meet my father.”
“It’s just after eight.” Braxton’s voice was low and husky. I had no idea how that man always knew the time, but he was scarily accurate.
“Shit.” I lifted my head and without thinking bit the muscled arm over me, my teeth leaving marks in his dark skin. Just blunt human teeth. I wouldn’t shift to wolf. That would leave more than a mark. “I’ve got to shower, I stink from my run last night.”
Braxton slowly lifted his face, hooded eyes locked onto my face, black hair tousled all over the place. How did the Compasses look so good when they first woke?
“Did you just bite me?” he said, his tone low and hypnotic.
Both of his eyebrows raised, and his lips lifted in a half-curved smile. I immediately felt like prey and I had to fight the urge to run. Braxton could be a scary mother when he locked you in his gaze.
“Um, no, it wasn’t me.”
“Lie.” He growled, dropping his head back into my neck. “You’re lucky I love you. And you smell fine.”
He moved his body then, letting me escape to the bathroom. I rolled free. Three minutes later I was blasting myself awake with a freezing cold shower. I had clothes everywhere through this house from all the years of staying over, so I wasn’t surprised to reenter the bedroom after my shower to find a stack on the end of the bed. The bed which was empty of men.
I dressed quickly. I was starving. This stupid talk with my father better not ruin breakfast.
That was something I wouldn’t forgive.
Chapter 5
The dining hall was packed. Supernaturals were everywhere. The groups were distinct, each sticking to their own races. Vampires were in the back right corner, shifters to the left, magic users outside on the open deck, with the fey close by them, and the demi-fey scattered throughout. The council members, along with other advisors, chiefs, alphas, the head mage and so forth, were in the center of the room. All that power in one spot was quite a shock if you walked too close.
I grabbed a tray and started moving through the buffet, making sure I checked under each hot cover. Before I’d even reached the end, my plate was overflowing. I glared at the three covered dishes I hadn’t gotten to. I refused to look under them, just in case they were better than what I had. Nothing worse than seeing what I couldn’t fit on my tray.
I mused as I moved toward my usual spot: Were they making these plates smaller? I swore I used to be able to fit more on them. I took a seat at my usual table, close to the council but not within hearing distance, except maybe for the vampires. My father would find me here. A tray landed next to mine. I grunted and flicked my eyes to the left, but I’d already scented who it was.
“Seat’s taken,” I mumbled, having started eating a piece of toast.
The lion shifter ignored my reticence and rested his hip against the side of my table. “I thought you’d come over last night.” Jerad, who had been my bed partner last month, leaned closer and locked on to me with his golden brown eyes. I swallowed loudly, before meeting his gaze.
He was a big alpha shifter, tall, with wild golden hair a shade lighter than his eyes. I’d been trying to get rid of him for weeks now, but he was like a reoccurring virus. Just when I thought he’d taken the hint to leave me alone, he’d pop back up again. Sure, our hookups had been fun, but I was done. Our little dalliance had run its course. He was … five shades of needy, wanting me over all the time. I already had too many demanding men in my life.
“I’m sure you heard about the family drama.” I reached for my coffee. The way I felt right now this cup was nowhere near big enough. I gulped a few large mouthfuls of the sweet, creamy liquid. Ah, gift from the gods. “And I’ve told you before, I’m no longer interested.”
On top of his neediness, lion shifters liked it rough and ready. I was sick of claw marks on my butt. Not that wolves didn’t occasionally leave them too, but lions were the worst. Claw-happy bastards.
I waved my coffee at him. “If you don’t mind, I’m meeting my father,” I said. “I’ll catch up with you later.” I had no real intentions of meeting with him later, but my words didn’t scream lie because I knew, in a town this size, we’d run into each other eventually.
He brushed back his mane with both hands. “I’ll be a little busy. You don’t show up, I replace you. You know the rules, Jessa.”
He had to be kidding me. Was insanity part of lion shifters’ DNA?
I narrowed my eyes as I slowly dropped my coffee onto the table. “Well then what the fuck are you doing over here interrupting my breakfast?”
He’d better go away now.
Tyson fell down into the chair beside me. “I believe the lady’s had enough of your shining personality, lion.”
I’d already lost interest in Jerad. Now I was trying to figure out how Tyson seemed to have even more food on his tray than I did. Must have used magic. Damn wizards were so lucky.
Tyson bared his teeth at the lion. “Time to hurry home and groom your mane.”
Lion shifters were not only delusional but really proud – kings of the jungle. It pissed them right off that the council leader was a wolf shifter. They hadn’t had a representative for at least the last four councils. Jerad straightened, the affable personality disappearing under the storm clouds crossing his features. He was striding toward Tyson right up until Braxton’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Move.”
It was enough for Jerad to grab his tray, turn, and stalk away.
Braxton dropped down on the other side of me. “You need better taste in men,” he said.
I glared before reaching across him and stealing his coffee. I needed more caffeine. Somehow my cup was empty. I didn’t even remember finishing it. “You know I gave him the boot ages ago, he’s just having trouble understanding how anyone could not want him.” I flicked my free hand at Braxton. “And you make it hard to find good men. You scare away any but the most alpha shifters and they’re always arrogant dicks.”
“We alphas are confident, not arrogant,” he said, as he picked up another cup off his tray and waved it in front of me. “Now give me back my coffee.”
I moaned as the scent of hot chocolate hit my nostrils. I love chocolate in any form. It was at the top of my food pyramid. In reality, it was pretty much my entire food pyramid.
I reached out my hand that wasn’t clutching the coffee. “Give me,” I said, waggling my fingers. “Don’t make me chase it, you know that only ends in tears.”
“Coffee first.” He held the cup just out of my reach.
Boys are mean.
I reluctantly parted with his coffee and was rewarded with heaven in a glass.
“Forget sex, I’ll just have hot chocolate,” I moaned again.
“Keep eating chocolate like that and sex will be the last thing anyone wants from you, fatty.”
Giselda Krass, BEF, strolled past my table. She was tall and that anorexic-looking skinny, which I found unnatural and repulsive. With her long red hair and deathly pale skin, I had a sneaky suspicion that she was one of the dangerous magic users, those who dabbled in the darker side.
She was sneering so prominently I couldn’t help but laugh loudly. “I know you’re confused, Krass, considering you weigh about the same as an eight year old with the curves to match, but I have hips and boobs.” I tapped my chin. “Who knows, it might happen for you one day too.”
With a huff and glare, she st
ormed past with the rest of her witchy coven of evil cows.
Tyson clenched his jaw. “Giselda’s friggin’ creepy. And she stinks of death.”
I tightened my fist around my fork. “If she starts talking about animal sacrifices again, I’m going to kill her.” Shifters didn’t take too kindly to the disrespect of any species. We shared a soul with our animals and rejoiced in their intelligence and beauty.
The three of us were quiet as we finished our breakfast. The boys let me pick bits and pieces off their plates. They knew it was easier than fighting with me. In the end they’d finish my leftovers. If there were any.
I glanced up from my tub of yogurt as the chair across from me scraped. Maximus stood there with a pale-faced Mischa beside him.
“Look who I found,” he said, before pulling out a chair for her.
She set her tray down. My eyes widened as I took in the dismal selection. There were only like … five things on her plate, and one was granola.
“Where’s the rest of your food?” I asked.
She shrugged as she sat. “I don’t eat much for breakfast.”
I’m sorry, what? Who was this crazy lady? Breakfast was the most important meal of the day, closely followed by lunch and dinner and three or four snacks in between.
Tyson’s dimples appeared as he smiled. “Are you sure they’re sisters?”
I ignored him. “Where’s Jake?” I asked Maximus.
I was a little worried about him. He was taking the fey death very personally. I didn’t want him going off half-cocked trying to find the killer.
“He’s over at the council table,” Maximus said. “Trying to get some more information out of them.”
That reminded me. “We need to have a chat with a troll today too.”
Mischa’s green eyes widened as she glanced around the room. My words seemed to have reminded her of Stratford’s various inhabitants. Many of whom did not appear even close to human. Because they weren’t. Today was her first full day in the community. It must have been a little overwhelming.
