“Easy, killer. You’re starting to show your Jaxon. He was just being nosy. I sent him on his way. Now leave me alone. I’m tired.”
Mason stood over me holding a blanket. “I’m tired, too, but I need to wait for the others. Spencer went to make sure Jaxon and Blake didn’t need more help, and I wanted to make sure you had no issues here.” If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I’d have called him out for being so concerned, but I was, so I didn’t, and he added, “Why don’t you take my room tonight?”
I considered it and almost said no, but I also knew the guys would be awake for a while when they came back because they always liked their “wind down” time after a capture, so I reached up a lazy hand and let him help me up.
“Thank you,” I said, giving his arm a squeeze.
“Sleep good, Siren. I’ll be kicking your ass again tomorrow,” he called after me.
Sticking my hand back out the door, I flipped him off and then realized I forgot Nixie. Damn, it was going to be really great when she could fly again. That reminded me, we needed to find a way to sneak out and see Greggor soon.
Just as I opened Mason’s door to grab my fairy friend, he was already standing there with her in his hand. Without saying a word, I took Nixie and smiled.
Mason winked and walked away as the front door opened again, but I didn’t stick around long enough to see who had returned. I needed my beauty sleep and wasn’t going to waste Mason’s kindness.
As I lay in bed, I thought about how damn lucky I was to have met my Fabled Fuckers. Even if they could be a bag of dicks at times. They’d all grown on me in their own ways.
Chapter 5
The following morning, we all slept in a little longer before training and ended an hour earlier than normal. Nobody was in the mood to beat on me, which was appreciated. Nixie was extra cranky, so we grabbed lunch on the way back to the room.
“I’m on laundry duty this afternoon. Who’s coming with me?” I asked before taking a bite of my bland pizza. The food seemed to be getting worse as the days went by. I wasn’t thrilled.
When none of them answered my question, I cleared my throat and kicked the coffee table. I knew they didn’t understand why I helped out, but it was something I enjoyed, especially when Ethan or Gabe had good gossip for me.
The Fabled Four mainly hated it because one of them always came with to keep an eye out, forcing them to either help as well or stand around bored for however long I worked. They were insistent on hanging around whenever I was with other prisoners to avoid another incident like my first, and only, visit to the shared showers.
“Uh, I need to go, um, do that thing,” Mason murmured before escaping to his room.
Spencer sighed. “I don’t understand why you continue doing these menial tasks. You don’t have to do them. We have plenty of other things we should be doing that equally contributes to this prison if that’s what you’re worried about.”
My eyes rolled. “I don’t care if I’m not required to help. It’s only fair. If it wasn’t for the four of you, I’d be doing a lot worse, and it makes me feel better to help out. Plus, the other prisoners can be resourceful. There are a lot more of them than there are of the guards. You never know when we might need them.”
Much to their dismay, I kept my relationship with Ethan, my bear shifter friend who was more pleasant to be around than the rogue one we’d brought in. I’d met Ethan because of Anthony, my first prison friend whose death still made my heart ache. My other friend was Gabe, an incubus who thrived on gossip.
Hanging out with them was a welcome break in my week. Every Tuesday and Saturday, I helped in the laundry room, and the two of them assisted me in creating relationships with the other prisoners while passing along information. Mostly about Owen.
My Fabled Fuckers had no clue what I was doing, but I couldn’t help it. Plus, I didn’t need those brutes involved in everything I did. They already controlled enough of my life as it was.
“I’ll take you today,” a deep grumbly voice from behind surprised me.
Spinning around, I took in Jaxon’s sweaty body, broad shoulders, tensed jaw, and smoldering grey eyes. Gods, why did he have to be such an asshole? I wanted nothing more than to take him to his bed and have my way with him, but I still refused. No matter how much his delectable body called to me.
Nixie, who was on my shoulder, snapped in my ear. “You’re drooling and ruining our cred.”
“Shut it, pixie.” Using the name that she hated most. Apparently, pixies were the hippies of the supernatural world. My feisty fairy was far from any sort of hippy.
“I’m not a fucking pixie,” she snarled before fluttering off my shoulder to the table.
Jaxon still stood in front of the door, waiting on me to respond, but I wasn’t sure how. He’d barely talked to me outside of training or missions, but presently, his body was calling to me like a siren. Between sleeping in his bed two nights ago that left his scent tattooed in my mind and the visuals he was giving me, I was very close to caving and offering him whatever he wanted in exchange for even just a taste.
But I wasn’t weak. I wouldn’t fall for his sexual prowess. I would be stronger than my hormones.
“Okay,” was my only reply as I headed to my corner in the living room that held all of my clothes and belongings.
Though none would admit to it, one of the guys had built me some shelves and added a hanging rod to the bottom, so I could organize my measly amount of stuff. I tried not to think that it was Jaxon, but I couldn’t help it.
Grabbing my jumpsuit, I went to the bathroom and braided my hair after changing. Once I was finished, I double-checked myself in the mirror and decided I could do with another button undone. If Jaxon wanted to throw his testosterone around, then I’d play dirty, too.
Jaxon had changed out of his running clothes and opted for the jumpsuit. His was a size too small, but he didn’t seem to mind, and I wasn’t complaining, either.
Picking up Nixie, I held her up to face level. “You staying here?”
“Yeah, you’re safe enough with demon boy, I guess. I’m gonna take a nap while you play with soiled clothes.” She shuddered, and I tried not to picture the worst of the laundry. Men could be disgusting pigs, but it was a sacrifice I made for information.
Setting her back down, I turned for the door. Jaxon already had it open and was waiting for me. “Thank you,” I said as I stepped into the hallway.
He grunted, as was his usual reply. In awkward silence, we moved through the prison until arriving at the laundry room. Steam was everywhere and the smell was horrendous, made worse from the lack of windows to let the stank out, but I ignored it while seeking out Ethan and Gabe.
They were at the far table, folding the clean clothes. Thank the gods it would be less disgusting this time. There would still be stains, because some shit just didn’t come out—pun intended—but at least it wouldn’t smell as bad.
“I’m waiting here,” Jaxon said, the revulsion clear in this voice.
“What? You’re too good to get your hands dirty?” I joked.
His eyes narrowed, a bit of red seeping through. “I think I’ve gotten my hands plenty dirty for this prison.”