Page 5 of Son of a Witch

She passed the stone back and forth between each hand. “And investigate how the vampires siphoned the defenses, destroyed them, and broke into the prison.” She shook her hair, and I watched as it caught the light, each strand like a faceted diamond, reflecting the spectrum of pinks. Beautiful.

Jealously flared that I couldn’t dye my hair whatever color took my fancy that month like I used to. In here, we got the privilege every three months. Oh. My. God. The regrowth drove me nuts.

I rubbed at my arms again, unable to stop the anxious habit. “How is that possible? I thought these walls kept everything out.”

At least that was what they told us when we arrived. Myths to scare us probably. Make us think we’d never get out, unless on a mission.

Cheyanne glanced over her shoulder as if bothered by the increasing proximity to her colleagues. “Three hundred of the vamps gathered and they were using some sort of magical device to weaken the sigils.”

Vamps used magick now. That was new. Not surprising though, given we caught them using Guardian weapons technology. Someone in this shithole had to supply that to them.

I quirked a brow. “Device?”

Cheyanne glared at her Sorcerer buddies. “We think someone in the Guild’s been supplying the technology and magical objects.”

No shit. Time to dig deeper and discover the identity of our enemy. The one who sabotaged my men and I. Framed Pascal for sentry Jerry’s murder and had him shipped to maximum security. Tipped off the warden to Tor’s contraband and the Guardians confiscated the house he brought his mother, kicking Mrs. Helms out of her new home. Demoted Knoxe from his leadership position. Locked Raze up in maximum security when he was dying from Lycan venom. Denied my appeal without the prospect of reassessment.

I leaned forward fists curling into balls. “Who?”

She shook her head. “Someone who needed to escape this penitentiary.”

My first thoughts went to Edwardo and Devon. Their aunt worked tirelessly to get them freed. “Suppose you can’t say too much.”

Cheyanne grinned. “Not unless you want to use up that favor.” Damn. Tricky. Cautious.

Sardines, a bed, and countless head scratches only bought me one favor when they should have bought more.

“Nah.” I patted my pocket. “I’ll save it for another time.” Never knew when I might need to cash it in.

I didn’t need to know anymore. Knoxe had suspected someone had been fucking with the team. A person with connections to bribe prisoners and guards alike. Burt, my former boss in the lab, was behind Pascal set up and arrested for murder. Prisoners or guards on Tor’s payroll were behind the raid of his contraband and two-week stint in The Hole.

Who had motive for all these coincidental incidents? Two guesses. Surprise, surprise, Edwardo and Devon had fled in the melee and confusion of the vampire infiltration and escape.

Theresa Sanchez, their aunt, sat on the prison’s parole panel and assessed my appeal. She also had it out for Raze for tearing off her nephew’s cock and balls. Had enough bank to pay Slash for the green light hit on the team, resulting in multiple beatings, shankings, and hospital trips. My money was on her and restoring the precious reputation of her tarnished Guild family from having two family members incarcerated in the Guardians.

“Thanks, Astra.” Cheyanne twisted the broken stone in her hand.

I nodded and smiled grimly. “See you, puss puss.” She laughed as I left her, moving past my cell.

Outside Raze’s cell, I paused, summoning the courage to go to his door. Everything was gone, all traces of him. No dotted, indigenous paintings of scenery and Australian animals on his walls. No pile of sand resting at the foot of his bed where he grounded himself every morning and night to feel connected to the earth. Someone had packed all his belongings in his suitcase and given them to him when he left.

I picked up his pillow, tucked it to my chest and sniffed it. Earth, spicy, and like smoke. A hollow ache flared in my chest. Holding back the tears, I burst out of his room, throwing his pillow into my cell, where he’d remain with me always.

Needing to be with my three other men, I hurried into the next hall.

Back at the infirmary, Knoxe took one look at me and swept me into his arms, crushing me to his chest. “You okay?”

Not even his warmth extinguished the cold in my bones or the longing for my wolf. Nothing would until we were all together again. United as a team. As lovers. My harem.

“Not really.” I snuggled into his torso, burying my face in his massive pecs, getting swallowed by them. He stroked my hair, and I inhaled his spicy, minty scent. My home. My fire. My protector.

“Here you go, Tor.” Behind me, Pascal grabbed a pillow from his bed and approached Tor’s, prompting me to look up.

“I’ve got enough, buddy.” Tor pushed Pascal away as he attempted to lift Tor and stuff another pillow beneath him.

“Want some water?” Pascal grabbed the plastic container and water trickled as he poured Tor a drink.

“I’m not completely paralyzed.” Tor swiped the drink and gulped some down, making Knoxe’s grip on me firmer.

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