I shook my head, looking around at the familiar flora. “Literally feels like that was a hundred years ago. I can barely remember my life before the dragon mark.”
We all fell quiet, no doubt thinking about the crazy events that had happened during the time of the dragon marked and the dragon king. He’d been a megalomaniac sort of dude—not one you wanted to stop by your city. But we’d gotten rid of him in the end, and the dragon marked were finally free to go and live their lives. I still bore the huge dragon shaped tattoo on my body, and I looked at it with reminiscing sort of happiness. My Josephine. My dragon. She was living in the Faerie lands, ruling them like the badass dragon she was.
I missed her so much, but it was nice knowing I could visit her again. She was always there.
“Does the doorway still move all the time?” I asked when the boys led me into a deep, dark section of the woods.
Maximus nodded. “Yep, we have to send out coordinates for the new spot every few days. Make sure the location is not repeated within a year period.”
There were so many things they took care of now that I didn’t even know about. I’d been in a real sleep-deprived haze for the last few months. “If you four ever need help, you know you only have to ask, right?”
I was used to being the only chick in the group. Having four overprotective guys as best friends meant they took care of most things while I hang around, causing trouble and eating food. It was a dynamic that worked for us. And they knew I loved them . . . I just wasn’t always the most helpful supernatural around.
“You grew some babies, now you continue to grow them, Jessa babe.” Tyson wrapped an arm around me. “You’re doing like ten times the work we are. We’re all so damn proud of you.”
The five of us slowed, almost in sync, which was just like the old days. I realized then that it had been a long time since it was just the five of us together. So much had changed, but at the core, we were still the same. Family.
“I love you all,” I said, randomly needing to say the words.
I got a ton of hugs and ribbing in return, and it felt even more like old times.
“Come on,” Braxton finally said, opening the door that would lead us into the underground. “We’re going to be late.”
When we were in the underground area, we strolled across to the front gate. The guards lowered their heads and greeted their council leaders as we passed. Being the leaders here was a big deal, and no one fucked with the Compass quads. But it was nice that they also seemed to respect and like them. My boys had done well. Really well.
“Are the Canadians here yet?” Maximus asked the troll in the first guard booth. Demi-fey were very good at keeping the prisoners under control, and they held a lot of the main guard positions here.
The troll nodded, his barky skin shining in the fluorescent lighting of this section. “The sorcerer dropped them off about ten minutes ago. They’re in the front waiting room.”
He handed us our medallions, and we looped them around our necks before setting off. The prison’s security went far beyond just the guards and solid walls, there were magical elements woven throughout that countered the natural strengths of the five supernatural races. Shifter, vampire, fey, demi-fey and magic user. Hence the need for the medallions to counteract the silver and blood magic. I’d been here once as a prisoner, it was much nicer entering this way.
The Canadian group consisted of two vampires and two shifters. Bear, if my nose was correct. My senses were definitely duller inside these spelled walls, even with the medallions.
“Welcome to Vanguard, Dineal,” Braxton said, shaking hands with the first shifter. He was a huge burly man, with a closely shaved head and eyes the color of rich cinnamon. Age was difficult to tell in supernaturals, but I thought he looked like someone with experience about him. Probably around eighty.
I wasn’t overly fond of bear shifters, had too many bad experiences with their growly asses to ever trust one, but I also really shouldn’t cause any political turmoil for my guys. So, when it was my turn to be introduced, I just shook hands with Dineal and kept my mouth shut.
“You really don’t need an introduction,” he said, holding my hand for a beat too long. “Everyone knows the dragon marked who took down the king.”
Braxton only made one noise, barely even a scary one, and Dineal dropped my hand and backed up a few steps. I narrowed my eyes at my mate, because I sure as shit did not need him to scare off the men. I could do that all on my own.
The others didn’t come near me after that, and I knew Jacob was laughing at me. His eyes were practically sparkling. Dicking fey. Once the introductions were over, it was time to enter the prison. There was about thirty minutes until lunchtime, so it was pretty quiet in the large communal area that all five races shared at certain periods of the day. We walked straight past the cafeteria tables and the gym, making our way to the tanks that held the mermaids and selkies.
Mermaids were nothing like the cartoons humans watched. They were scary, with claws and fangs and dirty, sea-colored hair and skin. Their eyes bothered me, empty depths of darkness. Oh, and there was also that thing about them liking to lure people to their deaths just for shits and giggles. That bothered me the most.
“We have three mermaids in at the moment, but the one in this tank is due for release next week,” Tyson explained, as we closed in on one of the giant glass structures. “Her tank is designed specifically for the difficult cases. She’s a head banger.”
I took a step closer. The water was so clear that I was sure crazy mermaid had already escaped. Then, she appeared on the other side of the glass so quickly that I almost took a step back. I had no idea how they hid themselves in the water that way but if they stayed very still no one could see them. It was as if they could reflect their surroundings.
She stared at me. Black orbs. No white at all in them. Her tail was a khaki-green, and her hair, which was almost the full length of her body as it trailed out around her, was a few shades lighter in color than her tail.
When the mermaid smiled, her pointed teeth flashed ivory in my direction. It was not a nice smile, it was a I-enjoy-snacking-on-shifters sort of grin.
“Are you sure this bitch should be back in the ocean?” I asked Maximus, who stood next to me. “She looks like she’s a few fish short of a full load.”
Braxton pressed in close to my back then, and I immediately rubbed myself across him. Because why the hell not. I was nothing if not inappropriate. His hand slid across my ass and down it, so quickly I almost missed it.
Goddamn him. I was horny . . . again.
“She’s done her time,” Maximus said, shaking his head at me. “She gets a second chance.” He didn’t sound any happier about it than I was.
I’d been advocating for the death penalty to be brought in. Doesn’t matter how horrific a supernatural’s crime is, if they surrender peacefully, they get to keep their miserable lives. That was fine, until criminals started escaping and killing again. Or even doing their time and getting out to hurt innocents again.
It had to stop. Two strikes and you were dead was my new motto.
The Canadians spent about twenty minutes examining the cage. The entire time they walked around it, testing strength and magical barriers, the mermaid followed their movements. Wherever they were, she was on the other side, and the hunger on her face was fucking disturbing.
Finally, they seemed satisfied, and the paperwork was brought out to sign. This was just as the lunch rush started, and when we left, we found ourselves surrounded by criminals. Guards closed in to where we were standing, but Braxton just waved them away. Only a fucking moron would take on the Compasses. We were in no danger here.
“You assholes are going to die!” A loud voice broke out across the racket of lunch noise. “I know what’s coming for you, and I can’t wait to stand over your corpses and laugh.”