Dragon Marked: Supernatural Prison #1 (15 page)

Braxton growled. “You’re pretty damn confident to think there will be a
next time.”

“Be nice,” I said, or slurred.

Cold surrounded me as Louis lifted me away from his body and then I was
in the strong, familiar arms of my best friend. His massive chest cradled me
and heat flashed along all parts of my body touching him. I opened my eyes to
meet his amused expression.

“You’re so hot,” I said, patting his shoulder.

“Holy damn, I need to keep her away from the others,” Braxton laughed.
“They’ve never seen Jessa drunk. They might be tempted to take advantage of
this.”

Louis’ words were short. “Yes, as I said, very cute.” He reached out and
grazed my cheek. “Stay safe and I’ll text you. Thank you for tonight.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. A few tears sprinkled my eyes. “I wasn’t a very good
date and you cooked and everything was so perfect.” My babbling trailed off as
more tears slipped down my cheeks.

I buried my face in Braxton’s chest. “I’m a mess.”

“I’m taking her home now,” Braxton’s said, and he started moving before I
could thank Louis again. “I’ve got my eye on you, sorcerer,” I heard him
murmur.

We crossed out of the secret waterfall alcove and back through the
industrial area.

Braxton sounded amused as he strode without effort. “Louis said you
requested I carry you home.” 

“Yeah, it’s a pretty long way and I’d be too heavy for anyone else.” I
wiggled against his rock hard body. “Wait, am I too heavy for you?”

He tightened his hold on me. “No, Jess, you’re perfect.”

I studied the flawless planes of his face. Maybe it was the alcohol but
he looked different tonight. He wasn’t clean shaven, like usual, which seemed
to increase the bad-boy façade he wore so effortlessly.

“Why were you so close to Louis’ place?” I asked, as he looked down and
caught my eye.

He examined me, I could tell he was carefully considering his next words.
“Louis is very powerful. There’s nothing I could say to make him fear me, and
therefore I couldn’t be sure he didn’t mean you harm on this date.”

“You were protecting me?” My voice was low. Emotions started bubbling up
inside of me, overwhelming emotions.

“Always,” he said.

My heart was racing in pitter-pattering beats. I’d never heard Braxton
use a tone like that, but before I could think too much on it, his smooth
movements sent me off into la-la land.

“Jessa!”

A shrill voice penetrated the haze in my head … my pounding, aching,
heavy head. I was not opening my eyes yet, I just knew that would end up with
me barfing everywhere. Instead I attempted to moisten my dry mouth.

“Water,” I croaked.

The annoying presence left and then my nose caught up and I realized it
was Mischa.

“Here,” she said upon returning. I felt cool condensation coat my hand as
I wrapped my fingers around the smooth glass.

“Thank you.” I lifted it up. I still couldn’t move my head or open my
eyes, so I tipped back, aiming for my mouth.

“Argh!” I shrieked as I poured the entire glass onto my face. I spluttered
a little, trying not to drown.

I heard the distinct huskiness of Maximus’ voice: “Damn.” Then strong
arms were lifting me, water droplets flying everywhere.

I pried open one eye, and through the pain and light haze I noticed the
room was filled with my grinning pack.

“What the freaking hell are you all doing here?” I slurred. If Maximus
wasn’t lifting me I’d have fallen down.

“I figured out how to shift.” I winced at how enthusiastic Mischa was,
her voice rising to a pitch that should have been outlawed in my presence. “And
you’ll be relieved to know I’m wolf, not dragon.”

She had no idea how relieved I actually was to hear that.

“And we think we have found the entrance to the prison,” Jacob said,
distracting my muddled thoughts. I was thankful that he kept his voice low.

Damn, I had to pull myself together. “Bloody sorcerer and fey wine. Curse
them both to hell,” I said as I started to struggle in Maximus’ arms. “Let me
down, I need to shower.”

He sounded amused. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea.” Asshole.

I kicked out, connecting with his side. With a groan he gently dropped me
down to my feet. I still only had one eye opened, but I was in the Compass’
house and I could have found the bathroom with my eyes closed. I took a single
step and then suddenly the ground was moving closer to me. Weird. My face was
about two inches from becoming very acquainted with the carpet when I was
scooped up again. Different arms this time, Braxton had me.

“I’ll deal with Jessa, you all get everything ready and make sure you
okay Mischa coming with her parents.” He shifted me higher. “I don’t need to
deal with a pissed off Jonathon.”

“Hey!” Mischa’s screeching started again, and if I could have moved I’d
have punched her right in the mouth. “I don’t need permission, I’m an adult.”

Tyson spoke this time. “No you’re not. Technically, anyways. We don’t
graduate until we are twenty-five, and my calculations have you at twenty.”

I remembered they didn’t know we were twins, thinking Mischa was even
younger than the rest of us. I managed to get both eyes partly open and I
clashed with twin beams of green fury. She was not a happy camper.

“Misch, just go and get permission. Dad knows the deal, and if you can
demonstrate your ability to shift and control some aspect of your power, there
is no reason he will deny you.”

Almost all of my sentence was clear and legible. There was absolutely no
need for everyone in the room to burst into laughter.

“Damn, this is almost as entertaining as she was last night. Don’t forget
to show her that video we took, Brax.” Jacob ruffled my hair as he left the
room. Everyone else followed suit, leaving just me and Braxton in the bedroom.

“Video...?” I narrowed my already squinty eyes and glared up into Braxton’s
face. “He better be kidding.”

“Relax, little wolf, he’s kidding. I would never let them take advantage
of you in a vulnerable position. I know the best friend rules. We signed them
in blood fifteen years ago.”

Braxton and I had made a pact, and so far neither of us had broken any of
the rules. Which had included no kissing between friends, no embarrassing
videos to be taken, immediate assistance with hiding a dead body – no questions
asked – and a few others which may or may not have included naked body parts.

“Right now I need to get you sobered up, hangover free, and able to help
me find Nash.” The air crackled from his intensity and I could tell it was
eating away at him not to have freed the boy yet. “I need you, Jessa.”

If any words were going to act as a shot of adrenalin, it was those.
Generally Braxton was the one giving help, and he never asked for anything. He
was too tough to rely on anyone other than himself.

“Shower,” I said, patting his arm.

He carried me into the room and hit the lever, turning it all the way to
hard and cold. I was about to protest when he dumped me straight in, clothes
and all. My shaky limbs collapsed under me as the icy water washed away the
last of my haze.

“You’re an asshat,” I groaned, hugging my legs.

He just laughed before reaching above me and shifting the lever to allow
warmth to enter the stream.

“Will you be okay while I grab some food, clothes and herbs?”

I nodded. “Yes, I think I can manage not to drown in the shower.”

I wanted to close my eyes – anything to halt the ache pounding away in my
skull, but I forced myself to stay awake, shaking out my limbs and kicking my
metabolism into gear so it could wipe the last of the fey wine from my system.
I managed to stand after ten minutes and stripped off my soaking clothes. I
brushed my teeth twice, then succeeded in washing myself, and my hair. The door
opened just as I was rinsing the last of the soap from me.

“Everything is sitting on the sink,” Braxton said. “Call for me if you
think you’re going to fall.” He closed the door again.

I shut off the water, opened the glass door and stepped out to grab the
towel. Thankfully, my legs barely shook. I wrapped the massive length around
myself twice before walking across to the wooden bench. Everything was piled
neatly. First thing, I lifted the murky glass of green. Human-made
pharmaceuticals do not mix well with supernaturals, but we had plenty of herbal
concoctions that helped nature heal our bodies. I downed the liquid and the
relief was almost instantaneous. The pounding halted and the daggers which had
been stabbing into the corners of my eyes abated. Feeling much more normal, I
pulled on underwear and then my usual form-fitting jeans, and a long-sleeved
thermal top. 

Meanwhile I was munching on the thick bread sandwich – large slabs of
rare beef, with relish and cheese filling. I groaned as the deliciousness
coated my tongue.

“Come on, Jessa, you can finish your sandwich while we get moving.”

I had to chuckle. Groaning sounds from the bathroom … well, anyone else
would be thinking I was
really
enjoying myself in here, but Braxton knew
me too well. Food, how I love thee.

Before leaving, I pulled my long hair back into a ponytail. The mirror
was not my friend right now. I avoided looking too long at my pale, strained
features.

“I’m killing that fucking sorcerer,” I muttered as I wrenched open the
door and left the room, half of my sandwich clenched tightly in my hand. As if
I’d summoned him with my angry words, there was a knock on the door and Louis
entered the room.

“Not my worst welcome,” he said. His white smile hurt my eyes. He was so
goddamn cheery, which was making me feel a little murderous.

“What do you want?” I snarled. I was not my best in the morning and hung-over
made it a lot worse.

His grin did not waver. “I thought you might need a bit of relief this
morning,” he said.

Braxton was on his feet and between the sorcerer and me faster than I
could blink.

“I’m hoping you mean of the magical-hangover-cure variety,” I said,
moving around the mound of muscled dragon shifter.  “Because my sense of humor
seems to have temporarily fled the building.”

And so apparently had Braxton’s.

Louis showed not one ounce of concern. “Relax, guard lizard. I know the
strength of the fey wine. I should have realized Jessa would not be accustomed
to it. I don’t like that due to my oversight she suffers this morning.”

Stepping closer to me, he lifted both hands to hover on either side of my
head. “May I?” His eyes bore into mine. I swallowed loudly before nodding.

He cradled my head. I closed my eyes to escape the probing intensity of
his gaze. An immediate warmth flooded me, hot enough to be unnatural but not
quite burning. This warmth washed away any lingering effect of the wine and I
felt myself again. In fact, as he finished and removed his hands, I realized I
felt fantastic. My eyelids lifted and there was no more pain or stabbing. I
threw my arms around him.

“Thank you. That was like coffee, only a million times better.”

His expression was unreadable when I pulled back. “You’re welcome, Jessa.
I’ll see you around.” He left just as silently as he’d arrived.

I schooled my features as I faced the grim Braxton. “Let’s go find the
others,” I managed to murmur as I shoved the rest of my sandwich in my mouth.

Braxton examined me, his face kind of blank, but his eyes were alive. Then
he exhaled in a visible motion and strode out the door. I followed along,
having no idea what was pissing him off. We walked in silence through the
quiet, cool, morning forest. It was tranquil, and yet at the same time a
plethora of noises flooded through the shrubbery. Braxton was marching along,
his face still sort of expressionless, but … that light in his eyes, that
happened when he was seriously contemplating something.

I broke the quiet. I never could stand that uncomfortable silence between
friends. “You worried? About Nash?”

His head flicked around and the slight widening of his eyes surprised me.
My question seemed to have jolted him into remembering Nash. He clearly had not
been thinking of the little boy. And just like that he was back on point and
focused on the mission.

His pace increased. “Come on, Jess, let’s move it.”

I had to jog to keep up with him. We found the rest of our group in a
small clearing to the western end of the forest. Mischa was there, so I guessed
Jonathon had caved. Braxton, Mischa and I were dressed in simple, warm and easy
to shed clothes. The other Compasses were in army style fatigues, form fitted
so as not to catch on anything and in dark colors to blend in.

Jacob grinned at me. “Nice. You look like my Jessa again, and not like
moldy old ass.” The fey’s white-blond hair was glistening in the slivers of
sunlight penetrating the gloom.

I flipped him off as a reply.

“Harsh, man,” Tyson piped up. “It was more like drunken chicken ass.”

I refrained from kicking him in the ribs, which is what I wanted to do.
“Ha ha hardy har. You’re all freakin’ comedians. Let’s get this show on the
road.”

Braxton pulled us in close. “We have one shot to do this, the entrance
moves in twelve hours. I don’t want any heroes. Follow my lead. I’m in command
here.”

He pointed a finger at Tyson. “For once you’re just going to have to suck
it up and listen to someone else.”

The wizard middle-finger-saluted him in reply, but I knew in the end he’d
have his brother’s back. Maximus stepped up to Braxton’s side. As always those
two were extra close. They had the same sort of badass personality where you
knew if they wanted they could destroy you. Not that Jacob and Tyson weren’t
badasses, they were. It was just that they joked around more, so you thought
they were easier going. It was a great cloaking ability they’d developed.
Braxton and Maximus had no cloak. What you saw was what you got.

“Mischa, stay close to me or Jessa,” I heard Maximus murmur. “If things
get out of control, I expect you to bail. Don’t you worry about the rest of us,
save your own ass.” With a sigh he flicked his head in my direction. “I won’t
even bother to give you the same orders, Jess, I know you won’t listen.”

I shrugged. Damn right I wouldn’t listen, I’d never bail on the
Compasses. Never. Death would take me first.

Braxton encased me in strong, warm arms. It was a brief hug but …
unexpected.

“What was that for?” I asked as he pulled back. I blinked a few times,
trying to get my heartbeat under control again.

“Because you’re … damned amazing. And my life is better with you in it,”
he said. “But if you sacrifice yourself for any of us I’ll be pissed off, and
you don’t want to see me pissed off.”

I snorted. “I’ve seen you pissed off more times than I’ve seen myself
naked.”

He blinked a few times, those beautiful blue eyes glinting as he stepped
closer. “Nope, you’ve only ever seen me … annoyed. I repeat: you don’t want to
see me pissed off.”

What the hell was he talking about?

“I’ve seen it once, and it was not something I’d forget in a hurry,”
Maximus said. 

I looked between all four of them, unsure if they were kidding or not.
Was there actually something scarier than Braxton’s dragon? Since no more
information was forthcoming, I guessed only time would tell.