The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp #1)(57)

“You are wrong about me, and wrong about him!” Jabon shook his head as he launched into much pleading. “And you shall see. I will ensure that this is redressed the proper way. Punishment will be levied and served for what he has done. Please do not shun the hospitality that shall always be available herein for any member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood!”

“I do not believe you.” Rhage shrugged. “About anything.”

With that, he nodded unto his brother and took his own leave, dematerializing through the glass panes of the windows through which he had regarded the Jackal’s own departure. As he spirited out into the night, heading at long last for the isolated home he had set for himself far from the center of town, he resolved to avoid all persons unless absolutely necessary.

Nothing good ever came out of interacting. And that was before one contemplated the roaring complication of his beast.

As well as the utter unreliability of others.

Best that he continued as he was meant to go on.

Alone.





I am a prisoner just the same as any.”

As the Jackal spoke the words again, he pulled the top of his tunic closed and held the two halves in place. “My story is no different than any of the others, and my sentence is what it is.”

“It isn’t.” Nyx shook her head. “You could leave here. If the guards can’t touch you and you have no collar, you can just dematerialize out. You’re choosing to stay—”

“No,” he said sharply. “I do not choose to stay. I would leave here if I could, just like all the others.”

When she shook her head again, he got to his feet and went over to the stack of neatly folded tunics and pants. Yanking his stained top off, he wadded the thing up and threw it into the shadows. As he pulled on a fresh one, he wanted to take a full bath. Instead, he settled for going over and kneeling by the burbling pool. His hands were not steady as he cupped them and splashed his face, over and over again. The water was warm. He wished it was cold enough to ice over.

Fates, he could still taste the blood of that guard, yet found it bizarre that he could remember nothing of the male’s features. Not his eye color or hair color. Not whether he was handsome or ugly.

Sitting back on his heels, he dried his face with the bottom of the tunic.

Meanwhile, Nyx simply stared at him, and he knew without asking what the silence meant. She would go nowhere with him, do nothing to ensure her safety, until he explained himself.

The Jackal cleared his throat. “I was accused of bedding an innocent. Taking her without a commitment, and worse, without her consent. In truth, I had no carnal knowledge of her. The closest I ever came was sitting at a dining table three seats down from her. Upon my honor, I was never even alone with the female. I was sacrificed to save her and her mahmen’s reputation when a mating ploy failed.”

Nyx’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t have sex with her and yet you ended up here. For a century. On a false accusation.”

“There was no objective court for me to go to, no impartial body weighing the truth and the falsehoods. I was called unto the Council, and evidence was presented against me by a male who lied to protect himself, a mahmen who needed to have her daughter be a victim rather than an unmated consort, and a young female who was in over her head with no virtue to give a future hellren. I didn’t have a chance.”

“But that’s not fair.” Nyx sat up, propping herself on her elbow. “Surely truth is the ultimate defense.

“Don’t be naive. How did you think this place got so full?” He rolled his eyes. “This prison was established and run by the Council to serve the needs of the glymera. I was an easy sacrifice, given the others who were involved. And of course I went unto the Council intending to prove my innocence, but I never had the chance to speak. I was sentenced on the spot and dragged off by guards, my civil liberties dashed, my life, my pursuits, my future, gone. I died that night in all the ways that mattered.” With a harsh laugh, he rose to stand. “Little did I know there were even worse moments ahead, nightmares that, at the time, and as horrified and shocked as I was, I couldn’t have even begun to guess at.”

She fell quiet for a moment. “But you could leave.”

“No.”

“I don’t understand—” Nyx stopped. Then cursed under her breath. “Of course. That cell that was furnished properly. That’s where your female is. She’s the reason you don’t leave. She’s what keeps you here.”

The Jackal crossed his arms over his chest. “It is not a simple situation.”

“Enlighten me.”

“I can’t. But I swear, it does not affect . . .” He motioned between them. “It has nothing to do with us.”

“Us?” She sat up properly, dangling her arms off her knees. “Like we’re dating? Like this is the monogamous/nonmonogamous conversation of two people about to decide whether to be exclusive or not? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“But it doesn’t affect us.” He had no idea what else to say. “It’s not about . . . you and me.”

“There is no you and me.” She smoothed the errant strands that had come out of her banded hair. “I’m leaving here as soon as I can, and I’m never coming back. You’ll never see me again. Instead, you’ll sit down here, under the ground, and rot until you die and your name is inscribed on that wall. But the difference between you and the others who are listed there, like my sister? You are choosing that kind of death— just like you’re choosing this kind of life.”