“We will spread the word of your arrival, the curiosity will die down soon,” said the gray closest to me. I nodded my head, but didn’t drop my gaze. I was focused on not locking eyes with anyone. In my current state-of-unease my wolf would see it as a challenge, raise her silky black head and shit would go down. And right now I just wanted to clean off the shit already coating me; too much drama could wear down even the most resilient of us.
A few shops caught my eye as we weaved through the streets. They seemed to be pretty self-sufficient in this little mountain range. I was guessing if they never wanted to leave, they never had to. There were grocers, hair dressers, restaurants, clothing stores, spell weavers, apothecaries – shit, even a movie theatre. They were actually better outfitted than Stratford.
The Compasses – who moved in a single line of muscle – were definitely on high alert. A regular supe wouldn’t see anything besides the calm and controlled exterior they presented, males without a care in the world, but I knew them as well as I knew myself. There was tension riding every rigid plane of their bodies. Not to mention their smiles didn’t reach their eyes and not a single dimple was in sight.
We veered sharply into what seemed to be a deserted alley. But before I could express any concern, another turn had us arriving at the front of an enormous apartment building. A skyscraper.
I tilted my head back to try to take in its full height. I’d seen skyscrapers on television of course, but had never been in one. There were none in Stratford.
My wolf whined a little inside. Even my dragon started to move around. As shifters, all of that stone and brick and timber piled on top of each other made me quite nervous. It wasn’t natural.
The grays paused just before the revolving door. Gerard waved toward the glass monstrosity. “My brethren advise that we have three dwellings available. You can split and be in two double-bedrooms, or stay together in a four bedroom. How would you prefer to stay?”
“Four bedroom!” all the Compasses shot out.
Mischa, Grace, and I exchanged commiserating grins and sighs. Over-protective and domineering men were fine ninety percent of the time. But there was always that ten percent you wanted to fight them on.
Right now I was in the ninety. I wanted everyone together and safe. The only problem with this was finding a moment away from Grace so I could tell Jacob and Tyson about my dual shifting ability. I was done having any more secrets within my pack.
We were led into the building. As I stepped into the rotating doorway, I somehow managed to get my arm caught, almost killing myself. Thankfully, Jacob was quick enough to yank me free before the next go-around snapped my bone. I seriously needed less metal and more forest around me, I wasn’t cut out for this shit. When the silver elevator doors opened I clenched my hands tighter in the jacket I was holding. Once inside, the small panel numbers lit up as we rose in the tiny death box. I was astonished that a place like this existed within a mountain – a place so rustic seeming to have such modern, human amenities. It was weird, and after all that had happened, weird put my senses on high alert.
The Compasses pretty much filled the elevator with the rest of us crammed in around them. Including the grays. I glanced between them. “I’ll bet we’re over the weight limit with you four in here.”
The quads just grinned.
I felt a small hand snake its way into mine. I looked down. It was Mischa. She appeared to be as freaked as I was, but one would assume she’d been in a lift before.
“Sometimes I’m claustrophobic,” she said, as if she’d heard my thought. “Elevators are one of the things which trigger it. I avoid them at all costs.”
It had probably been her suppressed wolf trying to force its need forward. She’d never known about her heritage while living in the human world. I’m sure it made for some confusing little quirks.
“Almost there. Floor twenty-two,” Gerard said.
There were only twenty-four floors. We were right near the top, which I did not like for many reasons, but escape and safety were number one.
“What you stressing for, Jessa babe?” Maximus murmured as he sidled closer. “You’re safer than most of us.”
Oh, that’s right, I could fly.
But it wasn’t as simple as that. I leaned in closer to the grays. “Does this sanctuary hide and contain the power of the dragon marked?” I asked. All eyes were suddenly on me. “If we use our powers, can the Four find us?”
Those scary-ass quads, the only other foursome in the supernatural world besides my boys, were constantly on my mind.
Gerard smiled. “You are safe to free your energies. The protections here are unparalleled. You’re more secure here than anywhere else. You will have time to learn, train, and expand on any and all skills of the marked.”