Chapter Seven #2
“The protection wards are weakening,” Thraxon spoke softly, not bothering with pretense or prevarication. “I can feel it.”
Mordecai silently cursed, though he wasn’t surprised the celestial had known he was there despite the layers of magical protection his mate had created.
The other male had to have noticed the absence of the doorway that was usually in the hallway.
Perhaps he had also sensed a trace of the lingering magic in the air.
Either way, it was pointless pretending he didn’t hear him.
“I know,” Mordecai admitted with a sigh. “I can feel it, too.”
“There is a riot up ahead, most likely in the dining hall. There was another back in unit three where we just came from. Probably more happening throughout the prison since the guards haven’t made it down here to the lower levels yet.
We’re on our own for now. You and your mate should stay away from the cell blocks and remain here where it is safe. ”
Mordecai wasn’t sure how the celestial knew his mate was with him, but it made him press against her tighter as he could shield her from the other male. Still, since he wasn’t used to getting information for nothing, he figured it was only fair to give something in return.
“Since the guards haven’t shown up yet, they probably won’t come down here at all until the wards are completely fixed.
It’s a failsafe measure that was put in place back when this place was initially created.
The lower levels will be cut off from the rest of the prison until they can replace all of the safeguards. ”
“They would let everyone die down here rather than risk someone escaping?”
“Pretty much.”
“That sucks, but I guess it’s understandable.” Thraxon sighed. “Well, if everything goes to shit, it was nice knowing you, demon.”
Mordecai snorted out a laugh. “Likewise, celestial.”
He remained silent as he listened to Thraxon’s retreating footsteps.
He was aware that the other male allowed them to hear him leave.
Once he was sure they were alone again, he reluctantly moved away from her and walked toward the back of the alcove to start moving some of the rocks and other rubble blocking the doorway.
“This door leads to the library, one of the safest places inside the prison. We’ll stay here until everything calms down.”
“Let me do it.” Using her magic, she simply waved a hand and removed the pile of debris.
“Forgot you have a cheat code. Good work, princess.”
“My name is Lana Darling, by the way.”
“Lana,” he repeated, savoring the sound of her name. “And I am Mordecai Masters.”
She smiled. “I know.” Her smile slowly faded. “Did I hurt you? Earlier, when I—”
“It wasn’t you. The runes the prison marked me with were burning, but it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“You have tattoos like the ones on my forearms?”
Turning around, he pointed to the back of his neck. “Here.” When he glanced back at her, she was frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“There aren’t any runes on your neck.”
“I—”
He froze in shock. Had the influx of her magic somehow bypassed the magical runes he had been marked with?
Perhaps the power of their bond and the mating mark had been enough to remove all of the restrictions the prison had put on him.
He doubted anyone inside the prison had ever found their mate while they were still incarcerated before him, so it made sense that no one had even considered it a possibility.
Reaching for his magic, he felt almost euphoric when it reacted to him for the first time in years. But it was like a well that had been drained dry. He was still weak, lacking power, but he would recover. He had no doubt about that now. And when he did, there would be a reckoning.
His voice was rough with emotion when he spoke again. “You’ve given me a gift beyond measure.”
Her cheeks flared with heat. “I didn’t mean to mark you. I mean, I would have. Eventually. But this just sort of happened. I should have had better control. I didn’t even realize it would hurt you.”
He walked over to her and cupped her face, gently rubbing her cheeks with his thumbs. “I am grateful you did it now rather than later. It’s like you removed a shackle that had been wrapped around my neck.”
“Then, I’m glad.”
Raised voices from close by made them both turn toward the hallway.
“Won’t other people try to come here?” she asked nervously. “They might get suspicious when they realize the entrance to the library has disappeared.”
“Most people in here have pretty much forgotten the place exists. And those who do know about it will think twice about trying to get in once they come up against your protection wards.”
“That celestial didn’t seem to have a problem figuring a way around them. How did he know we were here? With the protective shield I created, he shouldn’t have even been able to sense us at all.”
“Thraxon is different from most of the other inmates. He knows where the library is, but some of his crew don’t, so he won’t bring them here.
I have no doubt he can sense more of what is going on around him than he lets on.
But the safeguards in the prison are failing, so we have to be careful of the others,” he reminded.
Once they slipped through the open door, he quickly closed it again. A dim light flickered on overhead, allowing him to see that she was frowning as she glanced around the small space.
He grinned in response. “What’s wrong?”
“This looks like a storage closet.”
“Because it is.” Laughing lightly, he explained, “It’s camouflage to protect the library. The real entrance was covered up years ago, and a new one was made in here.”
“Ah, clever,” she praised.
Walking toward the back of the closet, he shoved open the back wall that was actually a hidden doorway. The heavy door creaked as it slowly opened, then he shoved it closed again once they were on the other side.
He noticed she was holding onto the hem of his shirt like a tether, and immediately wanted to comfort her.
They had entered another stone hallway that was completely dark since he had personally disabled the automatic lights long ago to deter those who weren’t familiar with the passage from using it.
It wasn’t dark for long, though. Lana conjured up a couple of light orbs that started circulating above their heads.
“Come on. We should be safe here…for now.”
“Let me add another safeguard on the door first,” she said softly.
He waited patiently while she worked, then took her hand in his again to lead her down the long hallway. With barely a pause, Mordecai easily lifted her over some of the debris scattered across the floor of the hallway.
“What exactly happened? Why is the prison suddenly falling apart? Are we under attack, or is this some sort of prison break?”
“Not really.” He sighed heavily. “Death showed up.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Braxton Lightbringer was here?”
“No, I—you know the new Death god?”
“I do, sort of. It’s sort of a long story. But why would he break into the prison?”
“It wasn’t him. It was Raziel, the original Death of the Four Horsemen.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion. “But wouldn’t he have to be dead for Braxton to replace him? I mean, that doesn’t sound like a job you can exactly retire from.”
“You are right about that.”
Mordecai briefly explained what had happened in the indoor garden. Once he was done, she shook her head in disbelief.
“So, I just happen to be visiting on the day Death destroys everything? Super.”
“I don’t think he meant to destroy the prison. He was just after a specific inmate, then he left once he killed him.”
“Why do you make it sound so bloody reasonable?”
He simply shrugged in response to that.
She sighed. “I guess it’s like what happens in the superhero movies.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“Superheroes are always making major moves and fighting big bad guys,” she explained, waving a hand in the air.
“But they never consider the aftermath and destruction left in their wake. Or how their actions affect the regular people just going about their business.” She paused, then added, “We’ll have to do a superhero movie marathon someday. ”
That would be nice…if he ever got out of prison.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, changing the subject. “Why were you allowed to keep your magic? You aren’t working at the prison now, are you?”
“No, I’m actually a student at Trifecta University, and I—”
“What the fuck?” he growled, stopping to glare down at her. “They sent a fucking student in here? What in hellfire were they thinking?”
“I’m here with special permission from the Supernatural Council and the Board of Wardens.
I was supposed to test my secret-extracting ability on a few of the prisoners to verify if I can determine if they are innocent or not.
I actually came here with a friend. I hope she is okay.
I haven’t seen her since I fell through the hole in the floor, so she is probably still on the main level. ”
“Then, she should be safe with the guards.” He slowly started walking again as he muttered, “Hellfire, you’re just a baby.”
“I’m turning twenty in a few months.”
“Compared to me, you are a kid.”
“Well, it’s not my fault you’re a dinosaur,” she shot back primly.
The little brat. He almost tripped over his own feet as he choked out, “What did you call me?”
Lifting her chin in challenge, she said, “You heard me.”
That made him laugh. She was young, but she certainly had spine. “You don’t fear me at all, do you, princess?”
She cocked her head to the side. “Should I?”
“Of course, not.” He couldn’t even joke about that. “But they should have brought the prisoners to you rather than sending you into this hellhole.”
“Now that you mention it, that would have made a lot more sense.” She paused, then added, “But then I wouldn’t have met you.”
“That is probably true,” he admitted with a derisive laugh. “No one would ever believe there is a chance I could be innocent.”
“But you are,” she said with conviction. “And I will figure out a way to prove it.”