Kristoff released me. I coughed a few times, finally free to breathe deeply. I didn’t think or pause, I swung at him, throwing my shoulder and full weight into it. Okay, so I said attacking him was a bad idea, but really, who gave a shit? The sorcerer clearly had not expected for one second that I would hit him. He never even raised his hands. My shifter strength flooded down my arm, and as I connected bone crunched under my fist. He flew backwards and slammed into the ground. I heard his yells and knew I’d broken his jaw. With one last sneer I turned away from the pathetic lump.
Braxton called my name. They were already leading the quads away. I ran to catch up. They were being marched along at a rapid rate, but we had enough time for a few murmured words.
Braxton locked me in his gaze, there was something cold in his dark blue depths. “Jessa, this scene is complete bullshit, there’s no way for it to make it through a trial. I’m not sure why, but watch your back.” The cold changed to a hot fire in his gaze. “If someone is gunning for you or Jonathon, now would be the perfect time.”
“Remember your training, Jessa babe.” Maximus was leaning toward me. “We’ll get out soon and come for you.”
All four of them looked pissed, but I was also picking up tendrils of fear. And from men who were never afraid – that was the most worrisome. They were trying to tell me that this whole setup was probably just to get them out of the way to get to me or Dad. And they didn’t even know about my dragon mark. If they did, I doubt they would have gone as quietly, because all of this seemed to be happening conveniently right after I found out about my heritage. It felt like too much of a coincidence. My heart ached as I followed them all the way to the edge of town, where they were thrown into the back of two Hummers. I didn’t know where they would be taken, all I knew is that they’d be gone at least a week.
“Stay safe!” I screamed as the doors slammed on the vehicles. I raised a shaking hand to cover my mouth. I didn’t know what to do. Who knew what was going to happen to them?
Kristoff’s words kept running through my head. They’d deliberately left that scene there, using my presence and the crowds to be able to publicly arrest the boys. My heart felt as if it were going to burst from my chest as I watched the cars disappear. The Compasses were gone. I must have stood there for a long time. Eventually I found my feet leading me back to the scene. I had no idea what I was looking for – evidence, a clue of who might have created the murder scene.
The crowd was still gathered around. There was much noise and chaos as I stumbled into the forest area.
“Jessa?” Jonathon ran up to me, his strong arms wrapped around my shaking torso. “I was showing Lienda and Mischa around Stratford when I heard.”
Kristoff stormed across in a wave of power “Your daughter broke my jaw.” I could see the healer behind him. His face had been mended. Bastard. “I want her punished.”
Jonathon swung around and in one movement wrapped a hand around the sorcerer’s throat and lifted him into the air.
“You used my daughter as leverage to falsely arrest the Compasses. You held a decapitation spell to her throat. You’re lucky I don’t kill you right here and now.”
At least Dad believed in their innocence.
Kristoff was not strong physically, but his magic was. With a blast, he shot my father back. “You would be lucky to kill me,” he sneered, as he straightened and smoothed down his black dress shirt. “See you at the trial, Jessa. I hope you’re okay without your protectors.”
I bared my teeth but didn’t reply. I took the warning for what it was.
“Jonathon…” Lienda’s panic was clear as she came up to us, Mischa by her side. “This is what you were talking about, the start of an assault on our family.”
He nodded. “Maybe. It is too soon to tell if it’s about the Compasses, the girls, or just another attack on my position on the council.”
It was late at night and a small group was gathered around our living room. Jonathon, Lienda, Mischa and myself on one couch. Across from us was … well, I almost couldn’t believe it … Louis. The. Sorcerer. This had to be the man who had spelled our dragon marks. He was the strongest sorcerer in Stratford, probably in the entire supernatural community. A legend. He looked about twenty-eight, which meant he was old in supernatural years, and he was absolutely striking. Honey-blond hair with caramel-colored skin, almond-shaped eyes that I swear were so blue they were purple, and straight, aristocratic features. He wasn’t as tough looking as, say, the Compasses, but you only had to meet him once to know he was scary. I’d only seen him from a distance a few times and I couldn’t believe he was sitting here in my living room. Our privacy dome was courtesy of his spell, so we all knew it was more than safe to speak freely.
I was doing everything I could to not think about the boys. I kept having some sort of panic attack as my brain conjured up images of what might be happening to them in the prison. Sure, they could look after themselves, but for all I knew this entire setup was to take them off and kill them.
Shit. Stop thinking, Jessa. I focused back on the room.
Sitting next to Louis was Torag, the council member of the demi-fey and loyal friend and supporter of my father. It had been him in the crowd to call Kristoff out. And lastly were the Compass parents: Jo, their very tall, black-haired and stunningly beautiful vampire-sorceress mother, who was tightly gripping the hand of Jack, their very blond lion shifter-fey father. He was built like a tank and it was easy to see where the boys got their size. Yep, Jo and Jack, simple of name but huge of presence and power.