Broken Compass: Supernatural Prison Story 1 (26 page)

He dropped his head then and buried it into the space between my shoulder and my neck. I could feel him inhaling deeply, as if breathing me in. There might have even been the scrape of fangs, but no bite. Which was sort of disappointing.

He lifted his face, lips brushing gently against my cheek. “You need to open your eyes now, gorgeous. Sinchin cells are just around this curve of mountain.”

I shifted slightly so I could see his depthless brown eyes shimmering back at me. His face was so close that it would take nothing for me to lean forward and press my lips to his. The cocky grin on his face said it all. He knew I wanted to kiss him.

Dammit, why were the Compasses so irresistible?

The eagle started flapping harder, increasing the bumpiness of the flight, which was enough distraction for me to look away and focus on the mountain. It was almost as breathtaking as the male behind me.

I loved seeing Sinchin from this angle. We had made it to the top through an elevator magically built into the center of it, but the actual mountain itself was hundreds of miles wide, and had large ruts and ground-out sections everywhere. There were huge cliffs of bare stone; others were overrun with grass and wildflowers, like the ones we’d received earlier from the people. Small animals were dotted around, mountain goats and other mammals feeding and climbing.

As the eagle crested around the side I realized this part of the mountain was almost a straight up and down wall. The rest was designed in the normal tapering pyramid shape, smaller at the top before gradually easing out to the largest section at the bottom. Not here though, this was completely vertical and smooth, no handholds or anything.

That’s when I saw them, right near the top – scattered prison cells built into the rock face. They started right across the top, and moved along in rows. Hundreds of them.

Maximus started to explain it to me and Jessa, who was hovering close by with Lock. “There are five hundred cells, each occupied by a single prisoner. The magical barriers extend out about six feet in all directions from the edge of the rock. That way they can’t touch the mountain itself to try and escape. They’d have to jump, which some prisoners have chosen to do, but apparently the mountain never lets them leave. If they jump, they disappear into the ground below and are never seen again. No one knows what happens to them.”

So literally the prison cells were ten-by-ten square holes in the side of the mountain. There looked to be a pallet bed and small restroom facility in each. A shimmery, clear dome extended out from each of the holes, which was obviously that barrier Maximus was talking about, which meant the supe could walk right out and stand on … nothing. I could see some of the prisoners sitting right on the edge of their clear barrier, staring out into the distance, legs dangling out into the abyss below.

There was a real mix of supe races. Some I couldn’t tell from here, but others were clearly from the demi-fey contingent.

“How do they get food and supplies for activities?” Jessa asked.

Lock picked up the conversation now. “Mostly everything in this prison is controlled by the mountain itself. Whoever created the spell inside this giant rock was one powerful magic user, because over time it has become a sentient being. Once a day the rock wall at the back of each cell opens, allowing the prisoners to leave. On the other side is a large football-field-size space. The inmates have time to eat, use the gym, and work on creative products. We allow them to take paints to their rooms, because many of them find the view comforting in their time of incarceration.”

“When new prisoners arrive, they go into the same lift we used,” Maximus said. “But the prison takes them straight to their cell, no detours.”

Lock nodded, his eyes drifting across the expanse of cells. “Yes, there’s actually very little use for us here, except to make sure everything continues running smoothly. It’s why I’m generally the only one around the prison. The other leaders don’t bother themselves with it so much.”

I had to shake my head – prison was a bleak life. Understandably. Some of the inmates deserved to be here, no doubt; others probably deserved worse, but it was still sad to see life wasted in such a way. I wished people could just enjoy their blessings and not seek to harm others. Maybe there would be a world one day where prisons were not the sole reason for our supernatural communities.

“We need to return to Stratford now,” Maximus finally said. I noticed then that the sun had shifted quite dramatically in the sky. Time had flown by so quickly.

The eagles banked off; many of the prisoners’ eyes followed us. Some even waved, like we were visitors who’d stopped by for tea. In no time the birds had deposited us back to the mountaintop, before taking off again.

“If the mountain provides everything for the prisoners, why do you need the birds?” I asked.

Lock watched them fly away before turning back to me. “The wall only opens once a day. Some of the prisoners have special needs and need supplies more regularly than that. The eagles are provided for this reason.”

Fair enough. Hadie emerged from the building then. In her hands were our flowers and a rolled scroll. “I wasn’t sure if you would have time to finish the painting,” she said when she was closer. “So I had one of the mages magically seal and bind it for you. When you get home you can open it and the spell will dissipate. It will be as you left it.”

I blinked back a few tears. “Thank you,” I said, reaching out and taking the gifts from her. “You two are so very kind. We really appreciate you taking the time for us today.”

Hadie and Lock smiled broadly, seeming very pleased. I was glad I got to meet them. Kind-heartedness was something I truly treasured.

“Yes, this has been a wonderful visit.” Maximus stepped forward and shook both of their hands, before reaching out and relieving me of my
very
light items. “I’ll return with my brothers at another date, but until then we’ll be in touch about the prison transfer and the trade on commodities. I’m sure something can be worked out on both ends.”

The leaders thanked us many times and then it was time to go. As we took the death box back down, Maximus told us that the mountain didn’t allow any step-throughs inside or on top of it. We would have to call for Louis once we were clear of the prison. He would then take us straight back to Stratford, which was probably a good thing. I was tired again; the burn on my leg had been aching on and off for an hour or so. It was getting harder to ignore.

In the elevator, as Maximus closed his arms protectively around Jessa and me again, I found myself sinking into him. It was nice to have someone else support my heavy butt for a few minutes. His hand rubbed up and down my spine, which was both soothing and … well, not so soothing. It was bringing my body to life, tingles, aching desire … the usual. Even as the doors slid across and we exited, he didn’t drop the arm around me. Jessa was freed from his embrace, but I remained at his side, being supported. How did he know? Somehow the guy could read my mind, even when the bond between us was not complete. True mates generally had a mental connection, but ours was not there yet.

My thoughts were shelved by the appearance of a certain violet-eyed sorcerer already waiting for us on the outsides of Shanjoin. All of us waved our farewells to the townsfolk and then followed Louis back to Stratford.

I was looking forward to a nice, uninterrupted sleep in my own bed. Tendrils of nightmares had woken me more than once the last few days. With healing sapping so much of my strength, the dreams hadn’t been too severe, but something told me that once I was able to deal with the physical injuries a little better, the mental would come swinging at me with full force. Especially while Kristoff was still out there, breathing air better intended for others. He was my nightmares brought to life.

My parents hugged me for at least thirty minutes. Every time one of them pulled away, they’d get all teary-eyed and yank me back in again.

Jonathon was babbling, which was so unlike my stoic father: “The boys were keeping me updated. I was doing everything I could to figure out where Kristoff was, but Jessa assured me that if anyone could find you, it was Max.”

I might not have known my father for most of my life, but he was everything I’d expect an alpha wolf shifter to be. Or werewolf – what I thought humans who shifted to wolves were before I came to Stratford. You know, when they were mythical creatures and not my life.

Jonathon definitely had that powerful, strong and deadly aura. When you screwed up he came down on you hard with the sort of authority that had my wolf whimpering in the corner. But when he loved you, he did it with every part of himself and made you feel truly treasured – the sort of relationship I’d always hoped to have with my father.

Lienda was sobbing against me. “When they told me you were taken by Kristoff, I didn’t know what to do. Jonathon wouldn’t let me come after you, so I spent my time praying to the gods and trying to stay busy. I rearranged upstairs.”

She had her arms wrapped tightly around me. Despite her thin build, her strength was clear and admirable. It was taking some getting used to, this animated, caring version of my mom. I was used to the scared, mourning, full of rules and strict as all heck version. Have to say, it was a huge improvement. I think the overly strict thing she’d been pushing was her way of keeping me safe, but I could have used some love there as well. You know, for balance.

For the most part I had forgiven her, but there were still slivers of me working on forgetting the neglect from my childhood. Now, more than ever, I understood her actions – why she’d been torn to pieces for so long. Losing dad must have been like losing her soul. I’d only been away from Maximus for an hour and already I felt uneasy. There was an ache in my chest that refused to budge. It actually took some strength to not run out the front door and find him.

No! I am stronger than this.

“You have to see the room,” Lienda said, pulling back and taking my hand. I realized she’d been talking the entire time and I’d missed it. Forcing myself to focus, I limped along after them. Jonathon gripped my other arm when we reached the stairs.

“We should get another healer to look at your injuries,” he said, his defined eyebrows arching forward in concern. “Surely there’s more they can do. You’re still in a lot of pain.”

He could sense that through the shifter bonds. He was the alpha of all wolf-shifters in Stratford. Not to mention it was probably written on my face. “I just need some rest. Chan did an amazing job. He saved my life and my daughter’s.”

Lienda gave an excited little squeak. “I can’t believe I’m going to have two granddaughters! Such wonderful news. And both of our girls are true mates to Compasses. We’re going to have powerful grandbabies, that’s for sure.”

My parents had been overjoyed to find out Maximus was my true mate. They’d apologized many times for their treatment of me in the sanctuary. I never realized this true mate thing was so insane. The moment everyone found out they just completely excused my actions with Larkspur’s twins. I didn’t really like that. I still thought it was no real excuse, and I would continue to remind myself that I needed to do and be better.

Lienda’s eyes were locked on me as we walked. Her ocean-colored irises were quite green today. She wore her blond hair in a braid. Pulled back like that, with no makeup on, she looked about my age. She had always been beautiful, but now with the new warmth she was exuding, she was stunning. When we reached the second floor I was led along to what had previously been a spare room. It was the one between Jessa’s and mine, the only bedroom without its own bathroom.

Two smiles beamed at me as Jonathon clicked down the handle and nudged the door open. They let me step through first, and I couldn’t stop my gasp.

It was a nursery. A perfect little sanctuary for any child to grow up in. Everything was done in creams and pastel colors. Lienda had made sure it would suit a boy or girl. It was absolutely beautiful.

There were two cots and a single bassinet, all hand-carved masterpieces, painted white, with ivory-colored linen to complete the picture. Shelves lined one wall and already they were filled with cloth diaper and lots of baby … stuff. I needed to figure out what all of it was soon. These supe pregnancies went by so fast. I’d expected to have a lot more time, but apparently
she
could arrive any day.

Lienda was waiting near the door, rubbing her hands together like she was nervous. “Do you like it? We figured that even if you didn’t end up living here when she was born – and knowing Max you won’t – we still wanted a room here for yours and Jess’s babies. To stay over. Their own space in the Lebron house. They’re all Lebrons too.”

It took me a few moments to compose myself before I could finally talk. I wrapped my arms tightly around my mom first, and then my dad. “It’s perfect. Thank you so much. I couldn’t have done this without your love and support.”

There was more than one sob, and they weren’t all from me. “We’re so proud of you, honey,” Lienda said, smoothing my hair back from my face. “I have a lot to make up for. Things were really hard for you when we were away from Stratford. Now that my mind is clear I really understand how hard, but I have always loved you more than anything in this world. You and your sister are my blessings, and I’m so proud of the adults you’ve become. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents.”

Cue the waterworks.

Eventually I sorted myself out, dried my eyes, and the parentals left me alone in the nursery. Despite my bone aching exhaustion, I couldn’t leave the room yet. I found myself in the corner on the padded glider chair, rocking gently, a soft green teddy clutched in one hand, the other holding a small book which had been on a nearby shelf. I started reading it out loud. The story was for very young babies, about a fox and a hen, and the friends we make in unexpected places. It was sweet, and I imagined my daughter would love this book when she was a little older.

Once I was done I moved on to the
Magical Faraway Tree
. This was an Enid Blyton classic that had been one of my favorites growing up. Lienda had read it to me when I begged her, which had been most nights. Huh, I’d actually forgotten that she did that. It was nice to remember that growing up with Lienda hadn’t been all bad.