“Prisoner? A cooperating innocent bystander? A cooperating wrongfully fucking accused? This entire thing is ridiculous. I cannot believe they put you in here.”
“It’s just a holding center.”
“It’s a prison, Arrie.” He finally takes a seat at my side on the old wooden bench.
“Yes. Yes, it’s fucking prison.” My voice trembles, my jaw locking in place as I try to think through the pounding headache thundering through my skull. My fingers twirl the sharp onyx ring on my middle finger over and over again. The jagged, beautiful stone scrapes against my skin with each twist and yet I don’t stop.
“Do you think your mates will come save the day?” Sinister looks out the small barred window. Sunlight beams across his face in golden colors as white snowflakes flurry in from the outside. I shiver against every cold shift of the wind.
It’s very much like a shitty prison, if I’m being honest.
“I hope not.” We all just have to cooperate right now.
I just need to breathe through this. I’ll just tell them that I didn’t do it. Something, much, much stronger than myself did this. I can’t screw up. The very last thing I want is to take Kain, Chaos, and Rime away from their family. They left once before because of a woman; I won’t let that happen again because of me. I’d never forgive myself.
I nod. They accepted me here. They like me. They’re not going to banish me or … hang me… or burn me over something I didn’t do …
Hours pass.
Several of them actually.
Skovence offered us food early this morning and that’s the last time I’ve seen anyone. The morning sunlight that burned so brightly through the window on the east side of the small room has dwindled down into a dusty pink shade. Nightfall threatens the skyline, and I focus all of my attention there as I pace back and forth across the cold brick floor. A numbness has settled into my toes, but I ignore it.
It can’t be much longer. Surely, this will be over soon.
Another hour slips by.
From the other room a commotion stirs and it’s the first noise that’s broken through the silence in so long that I jump from the sound of it.
“I swear to the goddess, Skovence, if you don’t let us fucking see her I’ll roast your tail over a fire with red peppers and onions like a damn dragon kabob.” Chaos’ voice booms into my little holding cell. A wooden door outside of our barred cell separates us from whoever is in the next room.
Sinister glances to me. He strides by, holding my gaze the entire time. Casually he opens his own jailcell door. It swings with a sound of metal against metal. Like a good little rule follower, I remain in the center of my holding cell while Sinister walks right up to the door. He peers out through the square glass window.
“Your shifters came to rescue you, Princess.”
Asshole.
“What are they saying?” My arms fold and it takes everything in me to just stay put.
His eyes narrow into crimson slits as he listens intently.
“Skovence said they could see you and now Carlin changed his mind and isn’t allowing them to come in. Skovence keeps repeating that it’ll only be a few more hours now.”
Frustration twirls through me, waking that dark power inside myself. That energy breeds and I have to concentrate not to let the sickening magic fester into something bigger.
Just a few more hours now, I’m sure of it.
It’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.
“Come back,” I whisper on a voice so quiet it barely makes it past my lips.
Sinister looks back at me. Bright eyes study me for several seconds. His boots scuff against the brick and he swings the door shut carelessly behind him. Then he pulls me against him.
The scent of cinnamon washes over me as I bury my face into his chest. I hate that he’s here with me in all of this.
But I’m also so thankful he’s here with me in all of this.
“It’ll be okay, Arrie.” His accent kisses against my name in a way that flutters past all of the thick tangle of guilt inside me.
