Elemental Compass (Supernatural Prison Book 7)

by Jaymin Eve

  Looked like the humans were no longer going to find themselves separate from the supes. Control was slowly slipping through their fingers, and they could thank President Caine for that.

  "How did you explain away the loss of soldiers and special forces?" I asked, my guilt trying to rear its head. Jacob was in my mind knocking it down though.

  "We magicked bodies and evidence of a mass explosion during a special forces training exercise," Louis said lightly. "The world was devastated and will be mourning with America for months. All involved received the highest medal of honor."

  My chest clenched. Those men and women would have families … children, and I'd just stolen them away.

  "I wonder if I can reverse the spell?"

  Louis slowed—we were near the Compass's house now, early morning light washing over the large wood cabin.

  "They're not supernaturals,” he said, breaking it to me immediately. “They will have suffocated and died in the gems. We must let them go and lay the blame squarely where it deserves to exist. With a greedy, corrupt, power-hungry human. You did what you had to."

  My eyes met Jacob's, and he shot me a lopsided smile. Yeah yeah. He'd been saying the same thing, but if I didn't feel guilty for what I'd done, I'd be a monster too. And I refused to ever walk that path.

  "Jacob!"

  The cry was wrenched from a throat hoarse from crying, lips parched from sadness, and a face blotchy with despair. Jessa flung herself down the stairs, tears streaming along her cheeks, and when I expected her to launch into Jacob's arms, she instead looked like she was going to punch him in the face.

  He'd anticipated this, side-stepping her swinging fists as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Jessa babe," he said, holding her tightly. "I'm so sorry. We came back as soon as we could."

  She was muttering something, but it was too garbled to make sense. I felt and understood her pain though. If I'd thought one of my family was dead for days … weeks, I'd be a hot mess too.

  Maximus, Braxton, Tyson, Mischa and Grace followed behind Jessa. Three of them had toddlers in their arms, the little ones rubbing at their eyes like they'd been woken early.

  "Uncwle Jakey!" a baby shouted, and Jessa finally released her hold, allowing the rest of their pack to surge forward and hug Jacob. It was nice to see so much love around my mate, because he deserved that and more.

  "Justice," Grace choked out, holding me with a desperation that I'd never felt from her. "I thought we lost you."

  I returned her hug, my heart swelling until my chest felt tight. "You almost did."

  After that, it wasn’t just Jacob being loved … it was me as well. Hugs, and tears, and true happiness at our return. It was so much more than I’d expected that my cup runneth over.

  "Come on, we should make some food," Jessa hollered. "We have a lot to celebrate."

  Jacob and I were exhausted, but there was literally nothing else we'd want to do right now. This was the life I'd dreamed of … one filled with family, and friendships that stood the test of time.

  And one day babies of our own.

  I snorted, shaking my head at him, lips twitching.

  Maybe. I could see some beautiful blond babies with your face and my attitude.

  His let out a short bark of laughter. Yeah, on second thought, I don’t think my heart could handle the stress.

  You can handle anything, mate.

  Truth be told, we weren’t ready. Not today. But we had hundreds of years ahead of us to make this choice. For now, we would get back to living our lives, between the two worlds.

  I will spend my life loving you, Justice. For there is no greater honor or gift than being your family.

  Dammit.

  Jacob Compass, I cannot cry one more time today.

  He hugged me so tight that my ribs protested, but I didn’t care. This was the best day of my life.

  So far.

  And that was the part I loved the most.

  It was only just beginning.

  Bonus Scene- Jessa

  Jessa Lebron-Compass

  I'd been through a lot of shit in the last few years. But in all ways that mattered I had everything I needed right in front of me. Jacob and Justice had returned safely home.

  My pack was complete, under my roof, and I currently had a huge plate of food before me. Finally I could eat and enjoy it without worrying that my life would never be the same again.

  Braxton snorted as I started to shovel food into my mouth. "I’ve been worried, babe. For a few days there you barely touched your plate and never even asked for dessert."

  I glared at first, mouth too full to reply. When I swallowed, I wrinkled my nose at him. "I was in mourning, asshole. You know that. One can't have seconds or sweets when in mourning. It’s a rule."

  Jacob laughed from his spot across from me. "Jessa babe, I promise that no matter what happens to me in the future, you can always eat seconds and dessert. There's no mourning great enough to stop that."

  Motherfucker. Narrowing my eyes on him, I noted the distance between us, wondering if I could stab him before he reacted.

  "Jessa has that look, guys," Tyson said, his fingers tightening on his fork. "You should run, Jake. Like … just go, now. We’ll hold her back."

  There was a beat of silence before everyone cracked up, pissing themselves laughing. With a huff, I decided not to kill them. Food was my priority right this second … I'd go back to planning their murders soon.

  The rest of the food disappeared in a delicious wash of contentment, and I made a vow never to take our moments of happiness for granted again. Never. Ever. Because life was not guaranteed, and I'd almost lost every member of my pack over the years.

  Somehow we were still all here, strong and together.

  "So, Louis, are you heading back to Europe again?" Mischa asked, eating her two pieces of toast and eggs like the weirdo she was. Not even any bacon? It was un-shifter of her. Downright un-shifter.

  "Yes. There's some darkness hovering over the academy there. I need to be on hand more to help out."

  "Do you need our help?" I asked, around a mouthful of toast I just stole from Tyson's plate. He hadn’t noticed, seemingly caught up in Grace—as he should be.

  "I saw that, Jess," he said, not even turning to look at me.

  Hmmm, guess he had noticed. Oh well.

  Louis turned his gorgeous face on me, purple eyes brighter than usual. "Yeah, I might eventually need you to fill in as a substitute teacher in combat. Maddison … she needs to learn fast. Something tells me she’s going to be essential in besting whatever darkness is coming."

  He looked toward Braxton. "Both of you.”

  My mate nodded. "Sure. Now that we’ve sorted the human bullshit in our midst, we have time to help with this new issue."

  Something about that statement rubbed me the wrong way. Louis hadn’t come out and said it, but we all sensed that whatever was happening in Europe was worrying him.

  Another fucking world ending issue.

  I didn’t want to think about it. Not today when we had a victory to celebrate.

  The twins pushed their plates forward and I smiled at my babies. "You want more food, sweethearts?"

  Both of them nodded, Evie's serious face cracking into a small smile, while Jackson was his normal cheery little self. They were growing up before my very eyes, and already I wished time would slow just a little.

  We can always try for some more. I think I'd like a big family.

  As always, the rumble of his voice in my head had me desperate to drag him off so we could have all the sex. Our sex life had not gotten any less adventurous since children, but it was definitely a challenge.

  I thought about his desire for more children, and while it was everything I wanted to hear, I had to shake my head. Let's wait until the world isn't on the brink of destruction. I sighed. Our pups have already had to be abandoned too many times in their short lives.

  Sure, we left them with their adoring grandparents, bu
t this life we lived … it wasn’t designed for innocent little lives. It would be unfair to bring more children into our pack until everything was more settled. As much as that truth hurt.

  There was a knock at the door, and in walked Jack and Jo Compass, practically sprinting toward Jacob. He'd called them the second he got his hands on the phone—about two minutes ago when we sat for food—and they’d run straight over. Nash was a few steps behind them, and it was a fucking relief to finally see a smile on his face. Poor kid was way too serious for a teenager.

  "My baby!" Jo cried, and I loved that despite the fact Jacob was half a foot taller than her, she would still refer to him as her baby. “I knew you wouldn’t leave this world easily. Always my most stubborn.”

  I covered my snort, thinking about the Compasses and their varied stubborn personalities. Big call trying to pick the winner of that competition. Jo shot me a wink and smile, like she knew exactly what I was thinking.

  Fuck I loved her. Best mother-in-law ever.

  Jack hugged Jacob too, and then both of them held Justice, welcoming her to their family in the way of the Compasses. With complete and total love.

  All of us watched in contented happiness. Evie reached out and took my hand, her thoughts filled with love and warmth, while Jackson took my other hand, and I tried not to cry. Fucking hell, I was emotional as hell lately, but who could blame me.

  My life was everything I ever dreamed of, and I would not let anyone take it away. Not for a goddamn second. So whatever Louis had going at the Academy, we’d deal with it, as we had everything else.

  Bonus Scene- Braxton

  Braxton Compass

  Jessa's thoughts were still my favorite place to exist.

  My mate gave herself a hundred and fifty percent when she cared, and I was the lucky sonofabitch to have her in my life.

  Jacob caught my eye, and it was clear that for the first time, the dual sides of his nature was at peace, and fuck if that didn’t make me one contented supe. If this shit continued on, I’d be mistaken for something other than a dragon shifter. The bastard was practically purring in my chest, even if we were still mildly fucked off about the loss of our brother bond.

  I felt them there still, so we hadn’t lost everything. The eight of us were bonded in a way that very few supernaturals could claim, and together we would protect what we had with a ferocity that should scare anyone that crossed our paths.

  I’d thought my dragon was protective before, but we had so many treasures now…

  "Daddy?" Evie didn't speak a lot, so on the rare occurrences she did, my chest grew tight as I fought the urge to crush her in a hug. Wanting to hug your child like that was a weird fucking quirk of parents, especially when their children were as adorable as mine.

  Damned near perfect.

  Getting out of my chair, I crouched down beside her. "Yes, baby?"

  She placed her hand on my face, and I saw flashes of the forest, and her need to go for a walk with me. The second female to own my heart, I didn’t hesitate, lifting her from the small chair she used to eat at the table with us.

  Jessa’s eyes bored into mine, and I let my gaze linger on her beautiful face. She had her hair pulled up in a high ponytail, showcasing the heart shape face and defined cheekbones, looking even more stunning, fierce, and proud than usual.

  We'll be back, I told her, my energy trailing across hers in a caress.

  She nodded, her eyes tracking over Evie, checking she was okay. Our baby girl had a perfectly serene expression on her face. I knew she’d tell me why she wanted this walk when she was ready.

  It didn’t matter anyway. If she just wanted to walk, or needed help hiding a dead body, daddy would always have her back. Both of my kids knew that there was literally nothing they could do or say to me that would change my love for them.

  For the rest of my life, they'd have this dragon in their corner, fighting every fucking foe that came at them. Anyone who tried to hurt my family was too stupid to live anyway.

  We left the noisy house, breakfast still being eaten by those slower than my mate—pretty much everyone. Evie led me out across the porch and down the stairs. her little legs having no trouble with the descent.

  "Is everything okay?" I asked, the thought that something was troubling her innocent mind enough to have my dragon clawing at my chest. The beast was no longer purring now, his rage at protecting our young was strong enough to raze cities to the ground.

  She took a moment to gather her thoughts, and I drew on my limitless patience. If I could wait twenty years for her mother to realize I loved her, I could give my daughter the same consideration.

  All of the pack's babies were smart and powerful, with very different personalities. Evie needed her space to gather her thoughts, and when she did, what she said was beyond profound for someone her age.

  Our hands were still linked, so she projected her thoughts in her preferred way to communicate. Daddy. I want another brother or sister. Or more cousins. We need to make that happen.

  A burst of relief hit me, and I shelved my plans to murder some fucker for upsetting my daughter. Pausing where we were in the trees, I knelt down to her level. I liked to look her in the eyes when we talked.

  "Mommy and I love you and Jackson more than anything in the entire world. You are our happiness. Our sunshine and rainbows.”

  Trickles of happy energy trailed through our joined hands.

  “We might give you another brother or a sister one day,” I continued, “when the timing is right. But right now we think that it’s best not to bring more babies into our world."

  "Why?"

  Shit. She'd made an effort to speak again, so I would answer as honestly as I could.

  "Because a lot of bad people are in the world, and they keep trying to hurt our pack. Until it's safer, we will spend our time protecting the family we have now."

  As long as she understood the furious, unending, limitless, unconditional love I felt for her and her brother … for our pack … the rest didn’t matter.

  Her eyes searched mine, holding them in a way very few adults could even do. The dragon in my soul didn’t bother her; she had one herself.

  A pat on my cheek. Okay, Daddy. We will stop the bad guys first. I'm strong.

  She flexed her arms and I pretended to be scared, making her giggle.

  "You're so strong, baby. You’ll help daddy protect our family, I just know it."

  I had no fucking idea who I was these days, but my kids absolutely ruled me, even when I pretended they didn’t. I don’t care how much of a badass you are, if your child hands you a fake cup of tea, you drink that bitch and smile the entire time.

  Jessa appeared a minute later, dashing toward us, and I shook my head. "Guess you were as patient as you could be, babe."

  She nailed me with a glare and it only made me love her harder. Her fire and attitude just fucking did it for me. "You blocked me from your mind. How the hell was I supposed to check in?"

  Evie left my arms, floating over to her mother and wrapping her tiny, pudgy baby arms around Jessa's neck. The look on my mate's face as she held her child close, eyes closed in contentment and joy … it fucking slayed me.

  "We love you so much, baby Evie," Jessa crooned to her child. "And one day we'll have so many siblings for you, you won't know which one to play with."

  That was fine by me, more babies and more loving my mate. Win fucking win.

  Evie let out a shriek of happiness, and in seconds was zooming her way back to the house to let Jack know the good news.

  Jessa stood there, her eyes brimming with tears as she pressed a hand to her chest. "I don't know what I did right, but whatever it was, I'm so thankful for our children."

  "We will never lose them," I told her fiercely, my voice rumbling as the dragon made himself known. We would rip a threat to pieces long before it came near our children again.

  She threw herself at me, and I slipped my hands under her ass, hauling her up into my body, wra
pping myself tightly around her. "I fucking love you," she breathed into my chest.

  Laughter rumbled from me. "I fucking love you too."

  Love was a nothing word compared to what I felt.

  And as always, when words failed me, I showed her by opening my emotions and allowing her to feel everything I did. All the shit I couldn’t put into words.

  Jessa was the only one who saw deep into my soul.

  From the first moment I met her, at two years of age, when she was all baby teeth and attitude, Jessa Lebron held my heart. I remembered that first moment with great clarity, because even though I was a toddler myself, I knew this shifter was going to be important to me. Jessa had heard all of this before, had seen some of the memories as well, but today I gave her everything.

  She needed it after a few years of being battered by the world.

  "You’ve never show me these memories." she breathed. “The connection was strong even then.”

  "Yes, it was."

  Sensing she needed more, memories poured out, and Jessa examined them one by one.

  The first time she'd gotten hurt and I'd raged, beating the shit out of the supe who’d accidentally hit her. We'd only been six at the time, but my need to protect her was ingrained in my DNA.

  She sifted through them, stopping on the ones that meant the most to her. Like when she was ten and had cried over her mother leaving her. I'd held her in my arms and vowed that one day she would feel no loss like this again. I'd promised myself that I'd protect her for the rest of my days. I'd been working toward that ever since.

  More memories flashed forward, my favorite moments with her. Covered in mud. Dancing in the rain. Lost in the forest. Fighting back to back.

  Loving her across the world.

  “Brax, I don’t fucking deserve you,” she said, sucking in a deep breath. “Never leave me or I’ll lose my mind.”

  I laughed. “Love, you will never be without me. That’s a promise that will stand forever. You are my first, last, and only.”