behind bars as possible. And she was effective.
Hauser’s training had a lot to do with that. If I hadn’t shed that one hair stealing the Grimoire, all they could have nailed me with was assaulting Venus, and I totally would have lied through my teeth about seeing her running from the museum, and I was only trying to stop her from getting away. I regretted that damned hair way more than I regretted stealing.
Still, Adina did some kind of Vampire lawyer magic and got my plea deal, despite everyone wanting that fucking Grimoire back. She kept telling me how much the supernatural community wanted me to pay for all their thefts, but some of those weren’t even me. Hauser did some of them, and so did Venus. I’d never met them, but others in the thieving business took more jobs than I did. I wasn’t asked to rat on them, as if I ever would.
Seven years in Silverhold was a long time, but I could do this. I’d keep my head down, serve my time, and be back to thieving in no time. I kept telling myself that, but honestly? I’d never been terrific about staying out of trouble. Stealing kept my more mischievous side in check, and prison was going to challenge the shit out of me. I was going insane in solitary. I was actually looking forward to Silverhold because I hoped it meant more than four stone walls and no one to talk to.
My transport day had arrived. Adina got my plea deal pushed through pretty quickly, but I was still in solitary for months because they wanted to nail my ass for every little thing that went missing. They didn’t work out that plea deal with Adina until they were sure the public wouldn’t have gotten all kinds of satisfaction watching me sweat in court for everyone who thought I was the one that stole from them.
Nine months in solitary while they tried to figure that shit out was cruel and unusual punishment. They wouldn’t even bring me books when I asked, and I was sure I was going to go crazy if I stayed here longer.
The day had finally come for my transfer. I’d heard nasty things about Silverhold. It was supposed to be a step up from Scorchwood, but still shitty. Prison wasn’t supposed to be a vacation, but still, I knew a few people who went out and broke the law just to get arrested because they liked it better than living on the outside. Still, they tried to avoid Silverhold and Scorchwood.
I jumped up when I heard my door unlock. I was desperate for contact at this point. The guard just glared at me.
“Place your hands against the wall and spread your feet.”
Another damned frisk? These guards were so fucking pat-down happy. What could I possibly have in here with me? They wouldn’t give me anything to pass the time, and they made damned sure they took everything when they fed me. They had tossed my cell several times and were super interested in the toothbrush they gave me.
“I don’t have anything on me. I’ve been begging for something to read for months now.”
“Are we going to have a problem, inmate?”
“You literally just tossed my entire cell two days ago.”
He shoved me into the wall so hard all the air flew out of my lungs.
“Shut the fuck up. Silverhold will take care of that mouth of yours.”
He was clearly not a conversationalist. I didn’t want to talk to him anyway, even if I was desperate to speak to someone. I let him do his pat-down, and he snapped chains around my hands and feet. I stumbled as he yanked me out the door. This motherfucker right here was acting like I’d stolen from him personally. I struggled as he pulled me out of my cell.
They were pulling someone else out at the same time. I lost it and went for her eyes when I realized it was Venus.
“Bitch!” I hissed.
“Shifter whore!” Venus yelled.
We both moved to attack each other. She might have blamed me for getting caught, but her sloppy theft job would have done that on its own. I just slowed her down and got myself caught. If she had just stayed away, neither of us would be in jail right now.
I almost had her when my entire body seized. Venus went rigid at the same time. They fucking shocked us with their batons. I was so offended by that. Each