Free Broken Compass: Supernatural Prison Story 1 by Jaymin Eve

in the bond between you and Cardia. Is there any way to find out why?”
    Damn, looked like Braxton might be right. I didn’t like the thought that my life and emotions had been messed with. Was Cardia my true mate and something had caused the rift? Or was the mate bond somehow manufactured so I’d believe her to be my mate? Why would that have happened? What was the end game in Cardia infiltrating my life?
    “Could it have been about Larkspur? Or his daughters?” Mischa said, somehow cleverly picking up where my thoughts were going. “Could they have used Cardia as a ‘man on the inside?’ Larkspur’s daughters did know a lot about us. They used that information to get me to agree to their plan. At the time I never realized, but looking back I see that they knew exactly what emotional buttons to press.”
    I ground to a halt, my entire body going into lockdown. The growls rocked me again, but I let them come this time as the rage bubbled up like an erupting volcano. “Are you saying that maybe this was all to make sure you were alone so they could use and abuse, manipulate and almost kill you, knowing you wouldn’t have anyone on your side to protect you? That Cardia was a plant to keep me occupied while all this shit went down?”
    I was yelling at this point, which was stupid, but I couldn’t control myself. If Mischa had died in the Romanian prison, our child would have also. A child I’d never have known of. The very thought that I could have lost them both that day, was too much for me to handle.
    Mischa wiggled out of my arms, and even though I didn’t want to I let her back to her feet. “I don’t know, Max. It seems very extreme just to make sure I was in a vulnerable position. Why didn’t they do the same for the other quads?”
    My extended fangs had my words lisping again. I needed blood and less rage. My vampire was not so easily subdued right now. “Because they knew I was the one you were closest to. You relied on me for guidance when Jess was busy with Braxton and all of her other dragon marked troubles.”
    Mischa fell silent. I could see the trembling of her limbs, hear the rapid beat of her heart as she fought for control. Unable to stop myself, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into me. My size engulfed her, but for some reason we fit together perfectly. Cardia had been just too tiny; there had been no easy way for us to hug. But Mischa … she was perfect.
    “We’ll figure this out,” I murmured. “I’m going to get to the bottom of what the hell happened to me in the sanctuary. Cardia had nest mate vamps there. They might be able to give me some background or history.” I’d never found out that much personal stuff about her, she was so reticent with information. I never pushed her because I didn’t really care to know. I had no idea where she originated except she’d been in the sanctuary most of her life because of the mark.
    Mischa’s trembles eased as I held her. The fierce expression was back on her face when she pulled away. “Max, she wasn’t affected by the dragon king’s call. I know we thought it was because of her bond with you and your calling to defeat the king, but what if she was never dragon marked? That mark could have been a tattoo, or like magically stuck on her.” Her brows rose and those depthless eyes went opaque. “That can happen, right? Magical tattoos and stuff?”
    I nodded. “Yes, that can definitely happen. The mark would have been the easiest part for her to fake. How she got through the sanctuary doors is a much bigger question.”
    My heart lurched. A feeling of disloyalty was strong and potent within my mind and body. Questioning Cardia was a betrayal of our bond, but at the same time I’d be an idiot to not question the issues that had been present in our relationship. Easy to ignore at the time, especially with so much going on, but now … well, I was going to find out everything.
    I took a second to ground myself, using the