by Ginna Moran
“Delphia, you look just like your mother down to that fiery hair, green eyes, and even the damn jumpsuit. How’s the bitch now? Grieving over your absence, I bet.” A short man with long white hair smiles at me from a few feet away. Clapping his hands again, Lazlo Infinity sends a burst of sizzling blue light through the air, dimming the overhead light.
“I think there’s been a mistake.” I try not to react to the use of my birth name. “I don’t know who Delphia is. My name is Nova Noble, and so you know, both my parents are dead.”
Blue electricity blinks in his light gray irises. “I know a Drakovich descendant when I see one.”
“A what? Who are you anyway?” I hug my arms over my chest, deciding to go with scared and naïve instead of ballsy and infuriated. Maybe if he doesn’t know that I know who he is, it might give me an advantage. If I can get him to say something to prove my innocence, I could get out of here.
Vanishing from his spot across the room, Lazlo materializes in front of me and proffers his hand. “Lazlo Infinity. I should be offended that you haven’t heard of me, Delphia.”
“Why? I’m not from wherever the hell we are now.” I clear my throat and pout my bottom lip, trying to calm the annoyance from my voice.
Lazlo tilts his head slightly. “Let me guess. You’re going to now tell me you didn’t tear my brother in half. Is that right?”
I grimace at his words. “How the hell would I do that?”
One second I’m standing in front of Lazlo, and in the next, I hang a few feet off the floor, engulfed in a cage of blue light. I can’t move or scream or do anything, and the door to the room remains shut. I knew I couldn’t trust CO Lowe to intervene in this bullshit. He’s probably laughing his ass off.
Lazlo stomps toward me, baring his teeth. They extend into long fangs. His eyes spark with blue light, and he mouths something I can’t understand. Fire erupts on the tops of my hands, the pain so intense it feels like he’s burning them off. Tears blur my eyes, but I can’t defend myself. He’s casting some sort of spell over me.
And then he stops.
I fall to the ground with a gasp, jerking my hands up to see the damage his unexpected burst of magic caused. My inmate ID brandings glow red and orange like lava swirls through the numbers, but that’s the worst of it. I blow a soft breath over them even though the pain dissipates. My body wants nothing more than to see the fire snuff out.
Lazlo locks his fingers through my long hair, yanking me off the ground. His face morphs into something even more monstrous, and I can’t stop looking at his fangs. It’s creepy as fuck. If I didn’t think he’d devour me, I would look away.
Instead, I jerk my leg up and knee him in the balls.
He hollers, my attack surprising him. I shove my hands into his chest and force him away. Lazlo snarls, swinging his arm out in an attempt to grab me, but I’m too fast. I launch over him, pretending I’m jumping to a platform high in the air. My instincts kick on, helping me put enough distance between me and Lazlo that I reach the metal door before he can make it halfway across the room. I think my knee to his balls might’ve interrupted his ability to perform that glowy magic bullshit.
Pounding my fists on the door, I yell for the guard to let me out. If only I was strong enough to break the damn thing down.
“He won’t help you if he can’t hear you, Delphia,” Lazlo says, his voice echoing through the room.
Blue light casts over the door, and I slap my hands harder to the metal. Panic ignites inside me. I brace for pain, for death, for something, only footsteps tap across the floor.
“You have some debts to pay me.” Lazlo moves closer. His magic illuminates more, blinding me to the room. “You’ll be a dead woman otherwise. Either way, your beast is mine.”
“I didn’t kill your brother,” I snap, trying to keep my shit together. There is no way in hell I’m going to cry. “I’m not who you think I am. I don’t belong here.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Lazlo digs his fingers into my shoulder and yanks me from the door. “The High Council needs someone to blame for not only the murders of so many poor, innocent souls. They need someone to blame for a break in the gateway. They’ll soon discover what else you’ve done. What you will do now that you’ve escaped.”
I glower at his implication. Whatever the hell he’s up to, he’s going to try to pin on me. “Fuck off.”
“Close your eyes, Delphia. Be an obedient beast,” Lazlo says.
I grind my teeth as he whispers something I don’t understand, sending pain shooting over my hands again. It’s now that I realize what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to remove my brandings. I know they’re what help the High Council keep track of me or something. They contain whatever they think I am. If Lazlo removes them, he can take me. I wanted to be free of this prison, but I didn’t want to trade it for what I know will be something far worse.
Unable to keep my mouth closed, I scream in pain, my body buckling under Lazlo’s magic. He follows me to the floor, continuing to chant. I try my best to fight, kicking my legs and bucking my body. If I can hurt him again, he will stop.
A loud roar breaks through the hum and static of Lazlo’s magic. He snaps his mouth shut and shoves me away from him. Blinking from existence, Lazlo disappears. The door flings open to the small room. Fire bursts from the figure, silhouetted in light from behind. My eyes water as the pain coursing through me vanishes. My brain screams to get up, to do something. I can’t just lie here and do nothing. I can’t. Lazlo could return any second. He’ll kill me or steal me. Who knew that prison would be the lesser of two evils?
“What is she doing in here?” Kash’s rumbly voice explodes through the room. “It’s not visiting hours.”
Another figure materializes beside him. “I—I don’t know. She must’ve climbed the gate. CO Waters wasn’t at his post. Probably pissing.”
I groan, trying to push from the floor. “What?”
Kash enters the room, a glower hardening his handsome face. Without giving me a chance to explain, he bends down and slaps a piece of fabric across my mouth. My eyes widen as fear rushes through me. He’s not even going to give me a chance to speak. There’s no way I can tell him that CO Lowe is lying.
Kash grabs my wrists and pulls me to my feet. While pulling out the magical chains, he looks over his shoulder. “This is on you. Go home until this gets sorted out. She shouldn’t have even been brought out of her cell. She hasn’t been granted permission to join gen. pop.”
CO Lowe flares his nostrils. “I know that. It wasn’t me.”
I swing my head, trying to speak. My voice muffles through the fabric, and I point at CO Lowe.
Kash turns his attention to me. “Not now, Inmate D64901. Now hold your arms out. You must be restrained.”
Narrowing my eyes, I glower at him, wishing I could smack him upside the head for not giving me a chance to speak. Kash remains expressionless as he binds my wrists with magical chains. Curling his fingers around mine, he pulls my hand closer to study my brand marks. They still faintly glow red, Lazlo’s residual magic lingering.
But Kash doesn’t say anything. Instead, he releases my fingers and presses his big hand to my lower back. He guides me to the exit and pushes CO Lowe out of the way. The two of them have a silent staring contest until Kash releases a low, threatening growl.
“I said go home, CO,” Kash says, shoving his hand into my back to keep me moving. “Don’t make me call the warden to discuss your indiscretions.”
CO Lowe spins on his feet with a grunt and stomps away from us, exiting the building first. Kash glares behind him without a word but doesn’t follow. He allows a minute to pass before he finally looks at me.
“I’m sorry I have to do this, kitten,” he says, leaning in to whisper. “You okay?”
I shift on my feet and tilt my head up to meet his eyes. He searches my face and combs his finger across my forehead to pull stray strands of hair from my eyes. I remain utterly still under his touch, the so
ft sensation of his hand sending warmth over my skin that sinks into my bones. A mixture of emotions swirls through me, and I break my steely expression. I can’t help it.
I shake my head, trying to fling the tear from the corner of my eye. Kash watches me with a grimace, his lips pouting, looking ever so kissable, I can almost imagine them caressing against mine.
“Let me help you,” he whispers, running the pad of his thumb under my eye. “I need you to get your shit together to walk through the prison yard, okay? Seeing weakness is a treat for a lot of these fuckers.”
“Then take this damn thing off my mouth,” I mumble, my words only coming out as a series of hums.
“I can’t just yet, kitten. You weren’t granted permission to be out of your cell, but as soon as I get you across the yard, I’ll take this bullshit off.” Kash rubs his hand along the length of my back like he can’t help trying to smooth away my annoyance. “And then we’ll talk.”
I can’t believe he understood what I said. “Why are you being nice?”
His eyes flash with firelight. “Come on. Let’s go,” he says instead of responding. Maybe he didn’t understand me and just assumed.
I have no choice but to let him lead me outside. The gate where the other CO stood guard is still empty. It’s weird as hell, especially now that I see at least a hundred inmates from different cellblocks hanging out in the prison yard. And I swear they all turn to look at me as Kash nudges me forward.
Gripping the back of my jumpsuit, Kash pulls me closer to him and protects my back. I try my best not to look around as we make our way across the yard and toward the entrance leading into the S cellblock. A few guys catcall, but none of them risk getting close as Kash parades me around like a criminal.
“Hey, CO! Where’s your backup?” a familiar voice shouts.
Kash stiffens. “Stay back, inmate.”
“You look alone out here,” another inmate calls.
Kash lets go of my jumpsuit and swings his attention to a group of guys crowding together. I make the mistake of looking at them.
“Why don’t you leave that sexy little thing with us? You do that and you’ll have time to call for backup.” A massive inmate punches his palm, shoving past a few of the guys. He smirks at me. “What do you say, girly? I’m sure you’d prefer someone who’ll treat you like a queen. You give me what I want, and you’ll be set here.”
Fuck.
“Inmates, stay back!” Kash roars, sending a wave of fire across the dry grass in front of the guys. They all step back as his skin ripples and metallic scales eat away at his human self.
“Last chance, CO.” The massive man has the nerve to step over the smoldering barricade. His eyes spark with orange not unlike the way the Dreki brothers’ eyes do. And then I realize it’s because the man is a dragon too. “Give her to me to claim or you won’t make it out of this yard alive. By the time backup comes, they’ll have to just clean up your remains.”
“Nova, run,” Kash says. “Now.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. There is no way in hell I’m going to stand for another fucking attempt to possess me. Especially by an asshole that can’t do anything to get me out of here.
Kash snarls with his transformation, and I break into a sprint, heading toward the open door leading back inside the building. Commotion echoes through the air behind me, sending my heart crashing around my ribcage. I gasp through the pain shocking my wrists, the chains binding me glowing brighter than ever. It’s enough to slow me down. I can barely stand it.
“Hey, Inmate D64901, this way,” a familiar voice says. It’s the same one from the group of guys hell-bent on fighting with Kash. “Come on. I have somewhere safe to go.”
I turn my attention toward the voice and spot the guy who was living in my cell before the Drekis kicked him out. His cute face lights with a mischievous smile, and he motions for me to hurry with a wave of his hand.
“You have my word that I won’t hurt you. I just wanted to talk. I have answers for your questions, and I know I might not get another chance for a while. It seems the asshole guards want to keep you to themselves.” The inmate strolls closer to me, showing me his palms. “Just five minutes.”
I tighten my mouth and glance behind me, my heart stalling at Kash in dragon form, launching into the air.
“I’ll take the gag off,” the inmate says, drawing my attention back to him.
Kash flaps his huge wings, launching higher into the sky. Fear rises in me, his distance freaking me out. He left me alone and bound in this damn prison yard. He told me to run, but I have nowhere to go.
The inmate takes my hand and pulls me a foot. “Come on. It’s now or never.”
I swallow my fear and rush behind him. What else am I supposed to do?
Chapter 10
Answers
D64876. I MEMORIZE the inmate’s stitched on identification on the front of his jumpsuit. If our IDs are assigned numerically, it means this guy hasn’t been here for long. Even so, he looks to know the prison yard well enough to be able to sneak us to a utility shed around the side of the main building.
“Hurry up. The place is going into lockdown now. We only have ten seconds to get inside.” A girl with iridescent rainbow wings holds open the chain-link gate to the shed. She flicks the latch down when we’re through and pulls out a key from...I don’t even know where. I’m not sure I want to.
Inmate D64876 musses the girl’s pink hair with his fingers. “I owe you big time, Rose. Now help me with the gag on her.”
Rose, who I can only assume is from the Fae Block, rubs her hands together faster than humanly possible. She quickly pinches the corner of the magical fabric, and it peels away, allowing me to gasp in a breath.
“You bet your sorry ass you do.” Rose motions us inside, giving me a quick once-over. “Though your girlfriend might have better luck getting me what I want. Removing a spelled gag hurts like hell.”
“I’m not his girlfriend,” I say, finally getting my lips working so I can speak up. “I don’t even know the fucker’s name.”
Inmate D64876 tugs me into the shed. “It’s Quillon.”
“Of course it is,” I mutter, rolling his name over my tongue. Kill-on. “Your parents sure set you up for this life.”
Rose laughs, her musical voice echoing around us. “Damn. I like you. What’s your name, anyway? I’m assuming it isn’t Red, Ginger, or ‘woman of Quillon’s dreams’ as he called you.” She air quotes the last phrase.
I don’t know how to respond, so I just smirk at her and turn my attention back to Quillon. “Dreaming about me already? You saw me for a second.”
I half-expect him to glower at me, but he returns my smirk with a full-blown smile. I bite my lip between my teeth, my nerves vanishing now that I’m nearly certain he didn’t lure me out here to murder me.
“What can I say? It’s easy to get caught up in dreaming about you when the whole place wants to get in your pants, but especially the guards. Can you blame me if I would love nothing more than for you to help me get under their fucking skin?” Quillon nudges my shoulder with his arm. “I can promise a good time. Better than sitting in a damn cell all day.”
Rose groans. “Ugh, knock it off, Quillon. Show some respect to the female population. We’re more badass than all of you supposed tough-assholes combined.” She points to herself, jabbing her finger into her chest. “Killer here.” She pokes me next. “Raging murderer there.”
Quillon snatches her hand before she can jab him next.
“Unauthorized transportation of people from the Mortal World. You’re in for what, like a month?” She grins at him.
“Two years.” Quillon rolls his shoulders. “And who says I’m not a cold-blooded killer? Perhaps I was just better at not getting caught.”
“At least you weren’t falsely accused. I didn’t murder anyone. I was set up by...” I let my words trail off. I just met Quillon and Rose. It’s in my best interest not to treat them like long-time friend
s who I can trust. They could use anything I say against me. I’m sure I’ll get punished for being here as it is.
“You were set up? No shit?” Rose says, flicking her gaze over me.
“I’m not even from this place. I’m human,” I add.
That gets a chuckle from Quillon. “That she knows of. The poor thing has no idea of even what she is. Neither do the guards, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out soon. It’s only a matter of time. And when that happens—” Quillon snaps his mouth shut without finishing his thought.
“Don’t be a dick. Tell me,” I say.
He brings his gaze to mine. “They will murder you.”
What. The. Hell. “Yeah-fucking-right.” I regret the words immediately. By saying them, it could mean that Quillon and Rose discover my naughty little secret about my infatuation with the Dreki brothers and their weird need to possess me or whatever. If they call me out, I’ll deny it. There is no way I’m letting anyone—no matter how nice they seem—get in the middle of my plan to win them over to get them to help me. I can already tell they’d have a lot to say about the twisted situation, especially because I’ve been fantasizing and nearly sleeping with the inmates’ enemies.
Quillon locks his fingers to my shoulder, his sudden strength startling me. “I’m serious...Red.”
“Nova,” I say, knowing I never did tell either of them my name.
His brows furrow. “Nova?”
“It’s great, right?” I smile with my words. “I named myself.”
“Mortals do that?” Rose asks, finally speaking up. “That’s so strange. What do they call you before you decide?”
Quillon releases a soft guttural noise from his throat. “Not now, Rose. We’re running out of time.” He turns to me. “I want to meet you again. Tomorrow. If the guards don’t let you out, I’ll think of something again, okay? We really need to talk more.”
“Why?” It’s the only thing I can think about. “Why do you want to talk to me so badly? What do you get out of all of this?”