“I’m still not sure I believe it.” I had a sudden thought. “What shifter helped you and got in touch with Jeremy?”
“I don’t know her name,” he said. “She was standing over me when I came around after the tranq. I almost killed her.”
I knew it was going to be the same lady. “Red hair?”
He narrowed his eyes as he glared down again. “Yes, how did you know? She did tell me that long ago she was friends with your mother. She recognized you when you arrived, and as an owed favor to Lienda, she tried to look out for you.”
“That first morning in the shower room, she warned me about the impending attack.”
I waited for his reprimand, we both knew I should have told him, but he took pity on me and left it for now. I was starting to fade out. My mind was going to force me to rest and recover. Finally, the motion of being carried was too much and my eyes closed. I drifted off into a semi-conscious sleep.
Screams left my throat as I started to thrash around. I was captured, naked, vulnerable. I wouldn’t let them have me, I’d rather be dead than submit to these men. When hands touched me I fought harder.
Voices started to penetrate my subconscious. A symphony of male and female. All of them familiar to me.
“Stop her, she’s going to hurt herself.”
The sound of my twin sister’s voice was what got through to me first. A door slammed open somewhere.
“Get your hands off her, she doesn’t know who’s touching her.” Braxton’s voice was icy as he barked out his order.
The warm hands left me and my body started to calm. Even though a part of me had been aware that I was safe, with friends and family, I couldn’t halt the racing panic until everyone removed their hands from me. Braxton understood. My wolf and dragon flexed their energy, each asking if I needed them. I sent reassurance their way before lifting my heavy eyelids and taking in the scene around me.
Jonathon, Lienda, and Mischa were along one side of my bed, and the Compasses on the other. I was in my room. Standing further back, in the doorway, was Louis. I sat up, I couldn’t stand to be beneath everyone at that moment. In fact … I got to my feet and stood on my bed. The tension that had been gripping my chest eased a little as I positioned myself as the most dominant in the room. No one challenged my place right then. Glancing down, I was thankful someone had found the time to put Braxton’s shirt on me. It hung almost to my knees and hid everything important. Right now I wanted none of my body on display.
“What happened?” My eyes locked on my dad, and as he tilted his head in my direction I knew he was asking if he could approach.
I sucked in a ragged breath, before nodding. I could use some pack energy right now, some strength to draw on. He slowly stepped to the side of the bed and his strong arms enveloped me as they had done so many times throughout my life. I collapsed into him, letting his energy soothe me, and despite the fact being touched wigged me out right now, touch also helped heal some of the hurt.
“Vlad has been taken care of, Jess,” he whispered into my hair. “He’ll never bother you again.”
Good. The only thing that would have made that better was if I’d been the one to kill him.
“At this stage they’ve temporarily halted the trial against you and Braxton. But you will have to be present at a future trial. Formality, really, Louis has been ‘disappearing’ the evidence but it needs to be officially dismissed with you there.”
Let’s hope Jonathon was right. One never knew what the Book of Guidance would decide.
“I have some news.” Louis was still slouched in the doorway, his broad shoulder nudged against the frame. “Something we need to deal with immediately. The Four are on their way to Stratford. Something set off their hunting instinct. They’re going to be looking for marked.”
“Shit,” I said, pulling away from my dad. “That was probably me. I think I broke the cage you had on me.”
Louis nodded. “Yes, you did, the energy sent a blastwave through Stratford, and obviously out into the universe. Most wouldn’t have known what it was, but I recognized the mark.” His eyes flashed. “I knew you were in trouble. I was coming to the prison when I intercepted the guard heading for Jonathon.”
Ah, that was how word got to my father so fast. Louis. I should have known.
“What?” This word from Maximus was slow, drawn out. There was a hint of anger but more of disbelief.
Jacob and Tyson also straightened and moved closer to me. “What are you saying, Jessa?” Jacob’s fey features were unreadable, but the green of his eyes shone in the half-light.
I sucked in deeply. I had forgotten they didn’t know of my mark. Only Braxton knew.
I held both hands in front of me. It was time to tell the truth. I should have trusted them with this secret long ago. My voice only slightly wavered as I started to speak.