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.