by Jaymin Eve
I was doing everything I could to not think about the boys. I kept having some sort of panic attack as my brain conjured up images of what might be happening to them in the prison. Sure, they could look after themselves, but for all I knew this entire setup was to take them off and kill them.
Shit. Stop thinking, Jessa. I focused back on the room.
Sitting next to Louis was Torag, the council member of the demi-fey and loyal friend and supporter of my father. It had been him in the crowd to call Kristoff out. And lastly were the Compass parents: Jo, their very tall, black-haired and stunningly beautiful vampire-sorceress mother, who was tightly gripping the hand of Jack, their very blond lion shifter-fey father. He was built like a tank and it was easy to see where the boys got their size. Yep, Jo and Jack, simple of name but huge of presence and power.
“We have to get them out.” Jo’s voice floated softly around the room. Her pale, creamy features were scrunched. I could scent her desperation. “They have enemies in there, criminals they’ve detained.” Jack pulled her closer, his hands running soothingly over her.
She was right, although the boys weren’t officially hunters – we hadn’t even finished school yet – they’d been involved in a few arrests. As future council members they were not supposed to take part in risky missions, but hey, they were the Compasses, they lived for dangerous shit. Generally, they didn’t hear the word “no” much. So all of them at one time or another had left the protections of Stratford. I’d been waiting to reach twenty-five to be able to head out with them. Jonathon had laid down the law. I couldn’t leave Stratford until I was legally a supernatural adult.
The Compasses used to go out together, but the last time all four of them left the community the vampire had tried to usurp my father from the council. It was then we realized their presence added some protection to the Lebron home. They never left me alone again; at least two of them were in Stratford at all times. Which made it doubly hard right now. I felt their loss like a missing limb or organ. No wonder my chest hurt. It felt as if my heart had been ripped from its cavity.
I jumped to my feet, both of my hands flying to my hips. “You have to tell me where the prison is.” I was trembling as I raised my chin at Jonathon.
He shook his head. “I won’t. Firstly, it’s forbidden and I’m spelled to prevent unauthorized location revelation. And secondly, I will not enable you to get yourself killed trying to free them.”
I huffed in and out. Each breath felt strained, like my lungs weren’t filling. I narrowed my eyes. “I can’t leave them there. I will find the prison. Don’t you think for a moment you can keep me from helping the boys.”
Jonathon and I locked eyes, neither of us backing down. I could not let him dominate me this time. I loved and respected my father, but if he didn’t fight for the Compasses then we were going to have a big problem.
He finally sighed. “We’ll get them out, Jessa, but we have to be smart about it. Going in guns blazing to one of the highest security prisons in the world is foolish.”
His words had my heart rate slowing a little. Was he saying they weren’t giving up, they were going to get them back?
“What do we do first?” Mischa seemed almost as anxious as me, which I found odd, but was too stressed to really think about.
Louis spoke then, and like magic everyone froze and locked in on him. “They’ll hold the trial in six days.” His voice was low, and energy seemed to float through the air following each note. “We know it will be a farce. I have no doubt that Kristoff is involved. His cravings for power is reaching dangerous levels, and he knows his time on the council is almost over. He doesn’t want to lose the boost from his people.”
Jonathon nodded. “Desperate people do despicable things, and right now Kristoff is more desperate than I’ve ever seen him.”
To become council leader you had to be the most powerful of your race at the time of choosing. Then, on top of already having incredible power, the leaders also received small portions of energy from everyone under their lead. Which, as you can imagine, increased their power monumentally. This was what Kristoff was afraid of losing. Louis had been the mages’ council member fifty years ago, and now he was a chief, an honored place for those who had served as leader.
“I will defend the men,” he said, his voice calm and smooth, and it seemed he was staring right at me when he said it. “I have gathered evidence from the scene and have no doubts that this was a staged murder.”
“I will also defend,” Torag said. “The trolls not like this deception.”
Ignoring the sorcerer’s probing gaze, I strolled across the room and hugged the small, robust troll tightly. “Thank you … thank you.”
Over his shoulder I met Louis’ eyes. I didn’t know him well enough to hug him but I gave a single nod. Which he returned with a wink … which was curious. His features definitely softened and he looked … friendly. Was he flirting with me? I couldn’t scent interest, but he’d only reveal what he wanted to.
Jo was on her feet too. “Where are they holding them? Will we be able to see them before the trial?”
Jonathon attempted a reassuring smile. It fell far short of the mark. “The prison has a special cell for those awaiting trial. They boys won’t be in with the rest of the sentenced criminals. The trial will be in the town hall and you’re permitted to attend. The morning of the trial, we’ll meet here at 8am, the doors will be secured at 9am. That gives us plenty of time.”
I felt a little better knowing that the Compasses weren’t in with all of the hardcore criminals. I could only imagine the fights they’d get into there.
After an hour or so of discussion and comforting for Jo and Jack, everyone left.
Except Mischa and Lienda.
Louis said the privacy dome on the house would last until the morning, so we spoke freely.
Jonathon stepped over to Lienda, reaching out and linking their hands together. “Your mother and sister will be staying here from now on, Jessa.”
Even though I thought it was for the best, I still bristled. I hated being told things instead of asked. But I couldn’t begrudge him his mate back, and to be fair the four of us needed time together to try to learn to be a family. If that was even possible.
He was still speaking: “The more I think about it, I doubt this has anything to do with your … special abilities. But still, it’s better to be safe, so try and be cautious. Don’t find yourself wandering through the forest alone until after the trial.”
“So you think it’s usurping of your position on the council?” I asked, tilting my head to the side as I waited for his answer.
My parents exchanged a look, but before I could get a good read he answered me: “No, I think the Compasses are wrong. The more I look at the evidence, the more I’m convinced this is not about our family at all. I think it’s about them.”
My eyes widened. “So what’s with all this secret meetings and shit, making it look like we’re afraid?”
My father grinned, showing all of his teeth. “Just in case someone wants us to think this is about the Lebrons, I’d hate to disappoint them. I want them to keep up appearances for a while.”
I growled so loudly it seemed to shake the foundation of the house.
Lienda finished his sentence. “So we can’t tip them off yet. We’re hoping they’ll trip themselves up. They just need to make one mistake.”
I flexed my hands, forcing the change down. “I don’t like this plan. You know where they’re being held, let’s break them out.” I wouldn’t take the risk that they would end up in the prison. There were thousands of criminals in there, they could so easily be killed.
Jonathon shook his head. “Then all of us will be considered criminals and the entire supernatural community will be looking for us. How long do you think we could run before they captured us?”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity. Fuck. We could not escape the entire supernatural world. They were everywhere, on every continent, and those who searc
hed for criminals … well, they were damn good at their jobs.
I lowered my head as I continued to fight for control; my wolf and the demon inside were warring for me to free them. It was as if a tearing sensation was ripping through my chest, but I managed to hold the seams together. I wouldn’t lose it now. Braxton, Maximus, Jacob, and Tyson needed me, and I would not let them down.
Eventually I calmed enough that I could sit with my family and go over our plans for the next few days. After that, I went up to my room and attempted to get some sleep. I couldn’t help the dark thoughts as I lay in a tense huddle under my cover. Only last night I’d slept between two of my favorite people in the world and now I was alone. A few stray tears dripped from the corner of my eyes, but I refused to let any more fall. Just as I had not let go of my wolf downstairs, I would not fall apart yet. I would fight and I would kill anyone who tried to stop me.
Chapter 7
The next few days passed in a blur of suspicion and pain. I was struggling, worrying myself stupid about the four of them. I wasn’t sure I believed they were just waiting in a cell by themselves. Someone wanted them in there for a reason, and that wasn’t to throw them a birthday party. So far Mischa and I had had no trouble in their absence, besides the pitying looks, and some nasty smirks from my BEF. So it didn’t look as if someone got them out of the way to knock me off. Which meant it was about them. Which, for me, was far worse.
The morning of their trial we had our first snow for the year. Since I loved it when the world was dusted with fresh powder, all white and clean, I was taking it as a good sign for the quads. For once I was the first downstairs, and was sitting at the table in our dining room staring at the piece of toast in front of me. Under usual circumstances my lack of appetite would have me thinking I was dying or at least very ill, Jacob would have already thrown me over his shoulder and charged me to the medical building. I flung my fork down. Damn, this week had sucked balls.
Minutes later, Mischa entered the kitchen. Her hair was free, curling down her back, and she was wearing jeans and a black sweater. Simple. Like my own jeans and long-sleeved skivvy. Despite the fact Lienda and Mischa had ended up here because of the imprisonment of my best friends, I really liked how full our house felt. Before this, Dad and I’d rattled around in here; it had been a bit lonely. Now I wouldn’t feel so guilty about hanging with the Compasses, knowing Dad wouldn’t be alone. When I got them back of course.
A smile crossed Mischa’s face when she saw me, and for a second I thought she was going to hug me. But she refrained. “Did you get any sleep?” she asked, examining me.
I shook my head, raising my eyes to meet hers. “Nope. I’ve been too pissed off all week to sleep.”
Especially last night. I’d spent it fuming and planning elaborate ways to kill whichever assbucket was responsible for the incarceration of the Compasses. I noticed Mischa flinch again as I cursed.
“We’re twenty-two,” I said, unable to help a slight grin, “and you seem afraid of a swear word.”
One corner of her mouth curled up. “Mom never let me curse. Guess it’s just instinct to cringe. I keep thinking a walloping is coming my way.”
Interesting. Sounded like Lienda might have been a tougher parent than Jonathon. In some ways anyway.
Lienda strolled into the room. “It’s a terrible habit.” She was dressed in a severe black suit. It wasn’t hard to tell she’d worked as an executive assistant to a CEO of a huge multi-national business in the outside world. I felt claustrophobic just looking at all of her clothes. “Ladies don’t curse, even if they are wolves in their spare time.”
“Morning, Mom,” Mischa said, raising her cheek for a kiss.
Lienda complied before moving toward me. She hesitated behind my chair. I tensed, wondering if I could handle any overly familiar contact. We’d kind of been skirting around it for days, trying to find our middle ground. In the end she just ran a light hand over my loose hair. I relaxed. I wasn’t sure I could handle a kiss, but I liked the sense of having a mother. Even if it did continue to take me by surprise.
Jonathon joined us, and when he kissed Lienda gently on the lips, I averted my eyes. I just wasn’t used to seeing my dad show affection for a woman. It kind of freaked me out a little. But I wasn’t a complete selfish ass, they deserved some happiness after all of their years of sacrifice. I didn’t know of course, but I could imagine the torture and pain they’d felt to not be with each other for the past twenty-two years.
We were quiet for the rest of the morning, each lost in our own thoughts. The front door opened at 8am and the very punctual sorcerer entered. Louis was dressed in ripped designer jeans, a white ribbed long-sleeved shirt, and black boots, which added an inch to his already impressive height. He looked like a model, not a hundred year old powerhouse mage. Jo and Jack followed him, both dressed formally. I hugged them. Jo squeezed me extra hard and I could sense her nerves.
“We will get them out,” she whispered to me. “Even if this does not go the way we hope today.”
I loved the Compass parents. They were some of my favorite supes, having put up with me over the years. I’d spent as much time in their house as my own. It was a huge comfort to have them there, no matter which way the trial went.
We sat and waited for Torag, who arrived about ten minutes late, which for a troll was almost early. As a group we left the house and strolled toward the town hall. Somehow I ended up at the back with the intimidating sorcerer.
“So which one of the Compasses is your mate?” His voice seemed to vibrate when he talked, as if he had so much power inside that it even coated his words.
I blinked rapidly a few times, catching his gaze. His purple eyes were stormy today, not to mention unusual and hypnotic. “None of them. I don’t have a mate,” I said, pulling my attention from his compelling force field.
“Right.”
I swung my head back around. That one word had said so much. “What?” I had to ask.
“You act the same way as a mate. Maybe you just don’t realize yet.”
I snorted, the air whistling out through my nose. “Those four have been my best friends for twenty years. I’d die for any of them, but still we’re only friends … pack.”
His eyes hardened then, the purple shifting to almost black. “All true love stories should start as best friends, because that’s the minimum foundation needed to survive the tumult of a relationship.”
There was the echo of years and layers of experience in his wise words. He was trying to teach me something, then the moment was gone.
“If you are not with any of them, I’d be interested in spending some time with you.”
My feet shuffled and then proceeded to trip over themselves. He caught me before I face planted into the road.
I stared up like an idiot as his arms tightened around me.
“What … why?” I stuttered, before slamming my mouth shut.
I sounded like a freaking star-struck idiot. Sure, he was famous in Stratford, and I’d bet all over the supernatural world, and right now he was … asking me out, but still, I was acting like one of those girls.
He continued to hold me, the corner of his lips shifting as if he was refraining from smiling. “You interest me, have since your … unusual birth.” He set me back onto my feet. He made the task seem effortless.
We started walking again, and I mulled over his offer. Of course he knew of my marks, his spell had been keeping me safe. But still … his words were resonating in my head. For my fun dalliances, I tended to stick with shifters; it was just easier. They understood the way I liked to keep things casual and they feared and respected my power. Louis was different, but I couldn’t deny my attraction to him. He was mesmerizing.
“If you make sure the Compasses are freed, I’ll consider your offer,” I murmured, hiding a little behind my loose hair.
He laughed. “I do like a challenge.”
I shivered again at the energy-strength of his words. He was one
scary, interesting, sexy-ass mage. I’d just never imagined sleeping with a magic user. Well, for Louis, I could surely make an exception. Rounding the corner, I forced my hormones under control and focused on the task at hand. Jonathon wanted us to take note of who was present at the trial. He said the supernatural we were looking for would want to see the trial. In fact they were probably involved in the process.
“Stay close to your father,” Louis said, his hand brushing along my arm, and then he was gone.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the darker room. There were about twenty people milling around. I moved across the space to join my family, Torag, Jo and Jack in the front row. Louis had moved to the raised dais, across from Kristoff, who was presenting the evidence against the Compasses.
Supernaturals don’t get a trial by jury. The evidence is offered to our Book of Guidance, a large tome that rests in the center of the dais. This magical guide absorbs all the information and acts as an impartial judge. I’ve never trusted it myself. It’s archaic and seems rife for magical manipulation. Plus, it views all crimes as purely black and white, and we all know there is an awful lot of gray areas in the world. But what was the alternative? To have supernaturals act as a jury left the process open to mass manipulation. There seemed to be no truly fair way to judge these crimes.
I sat up straighter in my hard-back chair before scanning the room. “Where are they?”
“They’ll be here soon,” Jonathon said.
The area behind us, which seemed to be the unofficial Compass-support-zone, was starting to fill with females. Lots of teary eyed, overly primped females. I sighed.
“Is it always like this?” Mischa was warily eyeing the sobbing supernaturals.
I narrowed my eyes. “Yep, unfortunately, hanging with the boys equals dealing with their ladies, and I use that term loosely. Most of them are groupies, hoping to get noticed.”
