Dragon Marked: Supernatural Prison #1 (7 page)

BOOK: Dragon Marked: Supernatural Prison #1
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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, but 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 stormed 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.

I closed my eyes then as a sweep of power washed over me. My father had
arrived and he wasn’t alone. Rumbles were trying to burst from my chest, but I
forced myself to stay calm. After a few rounds of counting to ten I could even
open my eyes and pretend the new arrivals weren’t there. From the corner of my
vision I was locked in on everything that was happening. I wrinkled my nose
when Lienda took the seat next to Mischa, laying her delicate fingers onto my
sister’s shoulder. Jonathon took the chair beside her. They were both nursing
coffee, but I’m guessing they would’ve had breakfast hours ago.

Lienda swept her gaze around the table. “I’m very happy to see you all
eating together,” she said. “I appreciate you helping Mischa adjust to her new
life.” Not that I was looking at her, but it was hard not to notice that the
woman had really weird eyes, like they couldn’t make up their mind. One minute
they looked blue, the next green.

Her long blond hair was stylishly cut, in layers with a sweeping side
fringe. She looked young, early twenties, but we all did until we reached at
least a hundred years of age, and then we looked about thirty in human years.
It was a slow aging process. I wanted to stare at Lienda, examine every tiny
detail of the mother I’d never known. I forced myself to stare at my hands
instead.

No one at the table said anything. The Compasses were not giving her
particularly friendly glances.

“I know this is difficult, Jessa.” Jonathon’s voice was even, but there
was something under the calm tone. I scented the air. It was very subtle; he
was nervous. “But you need to hear the entire story before you judge either of
our actions. Lienda and I made the decision together, there were no other
options.”

So he had lied to me in the hall. He had known.

It hurt deep in my chest when he admitted he was part of this entire
scheme to keep me in the dark about my family. When I was a little girl, I
asked him all the time why Mom had left us, but he’d never say anything. It was
from others in the community that I’d heard the multitude of rumors of why
Lienda abandoned us. I figured Jonathon was too heartbroken to speak of it. They
were a true-mated pair and losing Lienda would have felt like losing his heart
and soul. I’d never understood how she could leave her mate, hence my immense
hatred for her. Jonathon had been a dark man for my younger years, but over
time he seemed to heal a little, until finally I had a father again. But for a
long time I was alone, except for the Compasses. The way they rallied around
me, keeping my spirits high, nurturing my wounded soul – not to mention their
stupid shenanigans – gave me countless opportunities to laugh my ass off. For
all of that they had my eternal gratitude.

Jonathon’s voice was low as he continued. “This is not the place for this
discussion though.”

There was definitely no hiding anything in this hall. We were under more
scrutiny right now than the human president at election time. Yeah, we didn’t
vote, but we watched television.

Lienda leaned forward. “Let’s take a walk through the forest.”

I tilted my head to the side, still not meeting anyone’s eyes. “I’m not
quite finished with breakfast.”

I heard a few cleared throats. Tyson was actually squirming as he tried
to contain his laughter.

Jonathon was either hiding a grin or fighting the urge to throw me across
his knee and smack me, but since I wasn’t a kid anymore he was going to
struggle with that. “I’m sure you’ve had enough, Jessa.”

What was he talking about? Okay, yes there were three empty plates,
numerous scattered tubs, three mugs, two glasses, and two dessert bowls stacked
in front of me. But … breakfast was important.

With a sigh I stood, slamming back my chair with my calves. It screeched
across the floor, drawing even more attention in our direction. “Let’s get this
over with, then we can all resume our normal viewing stations.” Something told
me I was kidding myself. These interruptions were permanent and my life would
be forever changed.

 

We walked
in silence, just the four of us. I’d made the boys stay so they could finish
their food. Braxton had shot me hooded eyes; he wasn’t happy. Oh well, he’d
give me grief when I got back but that was okay, I knew how to handle him. Despite
the fact the quads were my pack, I knew Dad wanted to do this with just the
four of us. His wide grin when I stopped the Compasses was a bit of a giveaway
there.

The deeper we went into the silence of the forest, the easier it was to
breathe. The cool, earthy scent surrounded us. The canopy was thick in some places
and let in beams of sunlight in others. Wolves don’t like crowds – too many
avenues for attack, too many scents disturbing our sensitive noses. Out here
felt right and safe. Reaching a small alcove, Jonathon stopped and, reaching
out, linked hands with Lienda. I choose to be a mature person and ignore it.

I sucked in a deep breath and almost had myself convinced that I could
handle anything that came out of his mouth. Right up until he said:

“You two need to know the truth. You’re not just sisters, you’re twins.”

BOOK: Dragon Marked: Supernatural Prison #1
13.04Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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