Dragon Marked_ Supernatural Prison #1(87)

Okay, tact was definitely not my middle name. I probably could have asked that a million different ways.

Mischa blushed, red as freaking lava. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before lowering her eyes to stare at what must be the sudden appearance of a sixth toe on her left foot. That’s how hard she was concentrating.

Holy effing hell? How was this even possible? No, not the toe part. The virgin thing was much crazier.

“How is that possible?” I repeated aloud. “We’re shifters, we need sex. It keeps our animals from ripping some asshat’s face off.”

A need that I’d been ignoring for too long now, it was going to make itself known soon. I mean, we aren’t like nymphos or anything, we could go a long time without sex, but at some point after coming into our powers – it was seventeen for me – we started to get the hot flushes, the urges to touch and be touched. I’d never heard of a twenty-two year old virgin shifter.

Mischa lifted her face, which was back to a ripe tomato color. “Now you sound like every man I’ve ever known. Babe … I like neeeed sex. I’ll die without it.” Her male mimicking was spot on.

I couldn’t halt the peals of laughter. Who would have thought that not even twenty-four hours since … Vlad … that I could be doubled over, holding my aching-laugh-stomach. Safe, with my sister. It was a gift.

When we’d finished losing it, she perched on the edge of my bed.

“So now that you know I’m yet to cash in my V-card, do you think I’m a loser?”

Her face, the mirror of my own, was blank. But the green eyes were depthless and in them I could see her pain and fear. I’m guessing she’d been called a loser on more than one occasion.

I dropped in next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. “No freaking way. I think you’re awesome and clearly a strong woman who knows her own mind. I’m sure the fact that your wolf was suppressed allowed you some reprieve from the hormones.”

She clunked her head onto my shoulder. “Yeah, but now I think I’m feeling them double-fold.” Her voice was an embarrassed whisper.

I snorted. “Well, it looks as if you and I both need to get some action. But I need to warn you-”

She lifted her face and met my gaze, interrupting me. The pause between us was extended.

“Still takes me by surprise,” she finally said. “Like looking in a mirror.”

It was eerie.

I nodded. “Yes, it takes me by surprise too, but back on point. Remember that we can find our mates through sex, and once you find your mate, you will be bonded to that shifter for life. So just be aware.”

“You’re making that sound really negative. Mom and Dad are so happy and in love. Why don’t you want that for yourself?”

I sat there for a few moments, then shrugged it off and waved her question away with a grin. I knew the reason, deep down in my heart, for why I was afraid of a mating. But now wasn’t the time for this confession.

“I’m gonna grab a shower, I’ll meet you downstairs.” I kissed her cheek and took my chance to escape her probing expression.

In the quiet bathroom I shed all of my clothes and stared at my reflection for more than ten minutes. Not because I was weird and vain, but because, finally, I could see the dragon mark. It was black with slivers of red threading through it. At first glance it looked tribal, but that was only if you couldn’t see the entire picture. The image was a weird, shadowy spectra of a dragon, larger than I expected, wrapping around from my lower back and up the left side of my stomach. I continued to turn and spin, trying to see it as clear as I could. But it seemed an impossible task, especially as it continued to shift and move. Finally I couldn’t stare any longer, I needed to finish my shower and get downstairs to find Louis. I couldn’t let the Four find me.



By the time I’d made it downstairs, the living area was filled with massive individuals. I was scooped up by Tyson. “Hey Jessa babe, you look like yourself again,” he said as he kissed my cheek and handed me off to Jacob.

The fey squeezed me tightly, before singing a few bars of my favorite song into my ear. He knew that calmed me like nothing else. Then it was Maximus’ turn. The massive vampire crushed me to his chest, and I knew – because it was his personality – that after Braxton he’d been the most worried when I’d gone missing. This was also the reason he’d taken the secret so hard.

“I’m so sorry.” I was babbling again. He just held me tighter.

His low growls started in my ear. “I told the boys we shouldn’t be friends with girls,” he muttered. “I told them that they’re mean, and will do things like break our hearts and scare the shit of out us.” His deep words washed over the room. I heard a few chuckles.