The trip to Vanguard was pretty uneventful. Braxton had been cuffed and we were both blindfolded. The leather necklace had been removed from my neck so I knew I was going to feel every single one of the security measures. But there was comfort in the warmth of Braxton close by. I was attempting not to think of the hard faces and tight hugs of my friends and family as they were forced to watch us leave. I hadn’t said goodbye. I refused to acknowledge that I might not see them again. Despite the odds against us, I was determined to survive and I was hardening myself to the experiences on the inside.
By the time the mask and cuffs were removed, we were in some sort of front entrance waiting room. I rubbed at my aching wrists and swung my arms a few times to move the blood through them again. The scent of this part of Vanguard was very different to that of the sewer area I’d been in, clean and sterile.
The first thing they did was separate me and Braxton. His expression and low growls indicated he wasn’t very happy about this move, but he didn’t say anything. He knew when to fight his battles. I assumed he’d already been through this and knew what was about to happen. I took comfort from that.
The next part wasn’t too bad, just goddamned degrading. I was stripped, searched, and clothed in a simple tank and shorts. All cotton, gray and drab. Nothing on any garment could be used as a weapon; there wasn’t even a button or stud. I was allowed a hair tie for my hair, but that was all the accessories. Even my bra was minus underwire. I guess I needed to wrap my head around the fact that most of the supernaturals in this prison were hardcore criminals. Murderers, drug runners, human and supernatural smugglers, black market magic users, terrorists … we had them all.
The woman, who’d just had her hands all over my body, led me out of the small room and into a hallway.
“When did they change the policy of placing those awaiting trial into the main prison?” I knew she probably wouldn’t answer me, but it never hurts to try. Something told me the change had simply been for the Compass’ benefit or detriment. But it looked like I was going to get the same special treatment.
The woman glared at me, tugging me along roughly. I clenched my fists tighter but forced myself to calm. It was going to get much worse than this. The hardest part of being an alpha was the way my wolf needed to be the strongest, always in control. It made situations like this near impossible to stay calm in. The restrictions, lack of freedom, fear, control … all antithesis to my wolf.
Plus I was freaking hungry. No doubt the food was going to suck ass in here. No chocolate cake, no pie … they might as well have signed me up for torture.
I was led back into the original room, and relief flooded me to find Braxton seated, his extra-long legs spread out in front of him. He looked relaxed. And the boy could fill out some prison cottons. Who knew gray could actually look sexy on a person. Go figure. His eyes landed on my face well after they took a long leisurely look starting from my bare feet and moving over my own gray ensemble.
“You okay?” he rumbled.
I nodded, falling down into the seat next to him.
There was one man in the room with us now, although I could hear heartbeats of the others stationed outside the door. This robust man, who was not tall, but had thick, strong muscles, dropped down in a chair across from us. There was a desk between us, which he leaned forward and rested his elbows on. His eyes were dark brown, his hair starting to pepper a little around the temples, so he was pretty old for a supernatural. I was getting a magic vibe from him, thinking he was a wizard or sorcerer.
“Welcome to Vanguard,” he started, his words accented, but faint as if it had been a long time ago that he’d come to America. “My name is Jeremy, I’m the head of the guard and magical protections. When we leave here, you will be escorted to your cell first.” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t agree with this, but it has been dictated that you two will share a cell, for safety. Then you’ll be led out into the center zone. It’s mingling, lunch and activity time, and we need to get you two out there and try and nip any threats in the bud.”
I shivered a little. I had no idea how bad it was going to be. I kept hoping they were exaggerating, but something told me they weren’t. I turned my head to the side and met Braxton’s eyes. He nodded. At least we both agreed that the fact we were bunking together was a bonus. Thank you, Dad.
We turned back to Jeremy.
“I know what you’ve been accused of doing.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I have no idea why you would have been trying to infiltrate the prison, and to my knowledge there is no doorway where you were found. I think this is all a misunderstanding and I have no doubt that these charges will be dropped. The fact that you are forced to be in the main jail is not ideal, however. Powers above me have dictated.”