Defy & Defend: Mythverse, #7

By Kate Karyus Quinn, Demitria Lunetta and Marley Lynn

Thinking outside the box can be a bad idea...especially when it's Pandora's Box.

 

I'm Mavis, cat-shifter and squad leader of the baddest group of paranormal prisoners in all the worlds. And I mean WORLDS. Plural.

 

A portal was recently opened to a whole new world by the name of Tartarus. I'm pretty sure it's not gonna become a hot vacation spot. Not when the creatures that live there are strong enough to kill gods. Anyone with any sense should stay far far away.

 

But that's never been my style.

 

Especially not when my sister is trapped there, along with her vampire boyfriend. I've got to reopen the portal, get them out, and then slam that portal closed before more monsters cross over.

 

It's a big job, but with the help of my team - a stoic bear shifter, a sugar-addicted fae-vamp hybrid, and a sexaholic incubus - we'll get it done...or leave my sister to burn in hell forever.

 

Defy & Defend is book 7 and the last book in the Mythverse series.  This young adult magic academy fantasy novel features: non-stop action, lots of hot shifter boys, girls who are best friends forever, and lots of plot twists to keep the pages turning. Be sure to check out all the books in this finished series! If paranormal and urban fantasy stories are your thing, we've got you covered with this complete series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little Fish Publishing
• Release date: Mar 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393939344

Book preview

1

The volleyball is spiked hard. The person on the other side of the net clearly wants to take my face off. I get a hand up and just barely manage to bat it away. Unfortunately, the ball sails out of bounds. My teammates groan loudly and mutter dark threats beneath their breath, while the other side gloats and makes similar threats, but theirs are a lot louder.

Back in the real world, I was good at ball sports and my teams always respected me.

But in a magical prison full of paranormal creatures, I am the last person picked for the court volleyball game and everyone hates me. Mostly because I’m the reason half of them are imprisoned.

I went from being an intake officer at Underworld Reformatory to an inmate, and the supes—supernatural creatures—that I put away are currently taking pot-shots at me with a volleyball. In the real world, I’d spike it back down their throats.

But at UWR, my opponents are vampires, shifters, pixies, witches, and monsters. While their prison-issued collars keep them from being able to use their paranormal powers, vampires are still super-quick, the shifters are naturally athletic, and the monsters…well, there’s not much you can do against the other team when a minotaur impales the volleyball on his horn.

Really? Shauna says, hands on her hips. That was our last volleyball. Way to ruin it for everyone.

The minotaur blows snot at her through the net, but most of it lands on me.

Great, a werewolf on my team pulls his t-shirt over his nose. Now we’re all going to get kennel cough.

At my feet, a Scottish Terrier named Totality gives a sharp yip as the minotaur eyes me through the net. Totality is a breeding experiment gone wrong. Hades was attempting to create more Cerberus monsters—three-headed hellhounds—and instead got an overly-friendly terrier with a mouthful of piranha teeth and a bad case of gas. He’s small, but mighty. And I’m thankful for it. I’m the only prisoner in this place with a personal guard. Totality is here to protect me from the other inmates. The magical collars prevent them from using any magic to hurt me, but the other prisoners remind me on a daily basis that they’re still capable of tearing me to pieces with their bare hands.

The minotaur takes a step closer to the net, and Totality barks again, a fierce noise that lifts him up off all fours whenever he does it. When the minotaur continues advancing, Tot growls low, showing his teeth. He’s got an impressive mouthful of them. I’ve seen Tot sink those suckers into someone; his bites go through straight to the bone.

Shauna, a pixie and my teammate both on the court and off, comes to my side and puts a fist in the minotaur’s face.

Back off, she says. Unless you want me to tell your wife about your girlfriend.

Ooohh, a little adultery always spices up prison! Mac, an incubus, comes to my other side. What do you say, minotaur? You play for both teams? I’ll let you know my cell number if you let me know yours.

Mac wiggles his eyebrows and the minotaur snorts in disgust—this time not spraying any snot on me. But he does kick some dirt in my direction as he stalks off, and his team jeers as I wipe it out of my eyes.

Thanks guys, I say, turning to Mac and Shauna. I really appreciate it. I can’t even have rec hour without it being a calculated risk.

Honestly, you should just stay in our cell if you want to live, Shauna suggests.

Right, I mutter, but it’s not in agreement. Shauna is a vampire-pixie mix, which means she has a ton of energy and doesn’t need to sleep. In order for me to keep my sanity, I have to leave the cell. Even if it does mean endangering my life.

Okay? A rough voice says, and I turn to find Griff—a bear shifter—beside me.

Yeah, I say, some of my irritation melting away. Griff always has that effect on me. Shauna and Mac give each other a knowing look, and I feel a blush creeping up my face.

Let’s take a walk, Shauna says, grabbing me by the wrist, and leaving Mac and Griff behind. So, what’s up with you and that big hunk of bear meat? she asks me, as the harpy guard at the gymnasium doors buzzes us out.

Nothing, I say quickly. There’s nothing up with anything. It’s not like I like him or anything. At my feet, Totality lets out a serious rip as he trots along. Shauna pinches her nose in reflex, accustomed to my tiny guard’s gaseous company.

Seriously, I insist. It’s not like I can mingle with—

Prisoners? Shauna asks, releasing her nose. You keep forgetting. You are one of us now.

Don’t remind me, I say, as I nod at another harpy guard that we pass. She ignores me. I can’t win. Half the prisoners I helped put away, the other half are angry that they weren’t included on the prison break that I orchestrated when I worked here.

I may have headed up a teeny tiny little prison break. I busted out Shauna, Mac, Griff, and a witch named Tamika, all in an effort to save my sister from Tartarus. That mission failed, Tamika died as a result, and the rest of us ended up back in prison. Except Trevor the ghost...he hightailed it as soon as the harpies showed up. That’s a dead witch and a loose spook on my record, not to mention my conscience.

Prisoner 0843! A harpy shouts, and I sigh. That’s me. And even though all of the harpies know me by name, they refuse to use it. I’m a traitor to them, through and through.

Yes? I turn, wearily, to find Kalinda, my former assistant, waving me down. What is it, Kalinda?

Her eyebrows furrow. And on a harpy, that is not pretty.

"You’ll refer to me as guard, prisoner," she says.

Yes, guard? I say, but Shauna railroads right over me.

Is this about Kit? she asks, getting up in Kalinda’s face. Because I don’t think he’s getting enough blood rations.

Kit is something of a sore spot between Shauna and me. He’s her brother, another vampire-fae hybrid. He was captured and brought into the Reformatory after he ripped the throats out of I don’t even know how many humans. He’d only been turned into a vampire recently, and baby vamps are the most bloodthirsty of all. Shauna had made me promise to help bust Kit out when we were free. She’s still holding me to that promise, even now that we’re both behind bars.

Back off, prisoner. Kalinda says, drawing herself up to her full height and fluffing her wings. She lowers her voice. This is not about Kit. And you need to keep a proper distance.

I think you need a proper— Shauna begins, but I pull her back. All the guards carry stun guns. They’re set to knock supes off their feet, and I don’t need to see Shauna take a hit right now. Although it would mean a moment of peace from her incessant talking...

I shake my head. What did you want me for, guard? I ask Kalinda, who turns her attention back to me.

You’re needed in Marguerite’s office, she says.

Marguerite’s office. She’s an old acquaintance, now occupying my old office. But what does she want with me?

Oohhh, Shauna says, with a glint in her eye. Maybe you really don’t have a thing for Griff. I thought you played it straight, Mavis. Popping in to see Marguerite and get a little lovin’? She laughs and does a hip thrust. She’s causing so much commotion another guard comes over.

Do you need help escorting the prisoner? the stone-faced harpy asks.

No, Kalinda says. I am more than capable of performing my duties. I am First Brood.

Identifying herself as a First Brood is the equivalent of pulling rank. Only the first born of Zahara—the harpy third of the Triumvirate—are allowed to call themselves that.

The harpies have a stare down but finally, the other guard nods and leaves Kalinda.

That was tense, Shauna says. What was that all about?

Kalinda sets her face and roughly grabs my arm. Let’s go, she orders.

Hey, don’t! Shauna steps forward.

Back off, Kalinda says, pulling out her stun gun.

What’s going on? I ask her.

She pauses. Puts away her gun. Suddenly the wall of cold that’s been coming from her momentarily thaws. A frisson on alarm goes through me.

If Kalinda is softening it means something bad is about to happen.

Mavis, I’m sorry. You’re slated for execution.

Gods, I hate being right.

2

Ishuffle down the hall to my old office. Perhaps to my death.

That should leave my limbs shaky and my breath short. Instead, a numbness comes over me. I’ve been imprisoned and faced death before. The first time, I was like a rat ready to chew my own leg off. But this time, it’s a little different. My sister—my only family left—is missing, probably dead.

I don’t want it to be true. Every night instead of sleeping, I go back and forth.

Edie is a dragon shifter. The girl breathes fire. Nothing in this world can take her down.

The problem is—she’s not in this world. She was sucked through a portal into Tartarus. A place with monsters capable of killing gods. Easily killing gods. Like a human smushing a spider with the bottom of a flip-flop.

But Edie has her boyfriend Val with her, I remind myself. He’s one of the fiercest vampires I know. He and Edie together are a formidable team. They’ll survive.

Except...something came through the portal wearing their faces. Copies so good they fooled me and everyone else. At least at first. Then Cassie planted an axe in fake Edie’s back. A million roaches crawled out while the part that looked like Edie crumbled to dust.

After that it was hard to hold out hope. Hard to believe she and Val are still hunkered down in Tartarus awaiting rescue.

Being trapped behind bars while hope wrestles with despair—and despair keeps coming out on top—is a special type of torture.

If I can’t break out and go look for Edie—then maybe execution is the next best option. Kalinda pushes me through the door and I get a sick pleasure from seeing Marguerite looking flustered as she reviews paperwork. I don’t miss paperwork. I scratch at the collar around my neck that keeps me from shifting unless I’m in my cell or designated areas.

Marguerite looks up. Mavis. Don’t sit, this will be brief.

I knew Marguerite at Mount Olympus Academy. She was in the Assassination Class and I was in the Spy Class, so our paths didn’t pass very often. She’s also a vamp, and born vamps are notoriously cliquey. I was much more friendly with her girlfriend, Fern.

She looks at me. I’m required to inform you that the Triumvirate has come to a decision about you and your little squad. The Human’s First movement is calling for blood and unfortunately, you’re on the menu.

I blink. Hard. I’m going to be sacrificed?

Execution sounds more official, she corrects me. Less like the pagan ritual the humans expect from us.

Execution. The hardness of that word should scare me, but instead I almost feel like I’m floating above this scene—detached from it all.

The Triumvirate, the three gods who lead all the other gods, mentioned that there could be executions of violent criminals, but I didn’t think it would move this fast. And I’m hardly one of the most violent. Although I did break a bunch of inmates out. And directly broke trust with the Triumvirate. And got a prisoner killed, not to mention a god or two.

Okay, so I can kinda see their point.

You and a few of the others, Marguerite adds. Mac. Shauna. Griff. That unhinged baby vamp, Kit.

This brings me back down to earth. Fast. My death I could make peace with. But Mac? Shauna? I can’t even think about Griff dying because of my bad choices. The idea of him being put down...

I shake my head. Okay, but...that’s just to appease the humans? There’s some sort of appeal process, right? BJ, one of the gods on the Triumvirate is super tight with my sister Edie.

No trial. No appeal, she tells me, her gaze steely.

BJ would never have voted…

It was unanimous, she informs me.

I step forward, panic bubbling in my chest. Tot follows along at my heels, with a slight whine. Marguerite, there has to be a way. Fern wouldn’t let you…

You will call me Officer or Ma’am, she tells me. And Fern has nothing to do with this. It’s been decided. There is nothing that either of us can do.

But Tina…

Tina remains in a coma. We will continue to care for her.

And then? I prompt. If she wakes up…

A flash of regret crosses Marguerite’s face. The fact is...no one expects her to wake up. But we’ve managed to keep her name out of the official documents. She was never an inmate and she never worked for UWR. She won’t be punished.

Even though Marguerite told me not to sit, my legs refuse to hold me any longer. I collapse into the chair across from her. The Triumvirate may have made the decision, but really, I’m the one who sentenced us all to death.

I’d like to be the one to let the others know, I say when I can finally speak past the lump in my throat.

Marguerite nods. I thought you might. Tonight you eat in your cells. Special requests—within reason—will be honored for final meals.

Shauna will want candy and blood, I say in a small voice. Mac’s hungers are all sexual, so maybe a final orgy instead of a meal for him? And… But again, I can’t bear to think of Griff and I can’t make my mouth form his name.

What about you? Marguerite asks. Any special requests?

A time machine. A chance to go back and do it all differently. Maybe all the way back to before I started at Mount Olympus Academy.

But my mom tried that. Unable to deal with losing almost everyone she loved, she decided to have her mind wiped. She killed her memories. And in doing so, she cleared her mind of me and Edie. For her it was like we’d never existed at all.

Killing the past is no way to love the people who were part of it.

Pen and paper, I tell her. And if you could hold onto a letter for Edie from me. In case—I mean, when—she comes back.

Marguerite nods and I stand, my legs steady once more.

There’s no going back. Only forward.

And my next step is telling the people who trusted me that tomorrow they’ll die.

They all know something is up when just the four of us are let into the exercise yard together.

Are we being neutered? Mac asks, his hands gently cupping his manhood.

No, I say, and then take a deep breath to tell them the truth. Before I can, Shauna jumps in.

Are we getting sent down to the lower level for serious offenders? Shauna asks, her eyes wide.

There is no lower level, I tell her.

Everyone says there is, she counters.

I used to work here, I remind her. There is no other level beyond this one.

Well, Griff’s roommate—you all know Tigger, right? Anyway, he says he was once sent to the lower level and it was like cold and there were no windows.

This level is cold and has no windows! The words burst out of me, angrier than they should be.

Geez, Shauna says. Then she sticks out her tongue and gives me raspberries to let the rest of her feelings loose.

I look to Griff, fairly certain he won’t be offering up any guesses. He’s a man of few words. As I thought, his dark eyes just meet mine and hold them. He looks even more solemn than usual. Maybe he suspects what’s coming.

Why on earth did I insist on being the one to tell them?

My throat is tight but I force myself to meet all of their eyes. Then I put my chin up and give it to them straight.

They’re executing us. All of us. Tomorrow morning. Lethal injection.

Not one of them says a thing. They just stare at me, eyes wide. Scared.

I could tell you I’m sorry, but that won’t make you any less dead tomorrow. I could say to be brave or that it was an honor to know you and will be an even greater honor to die beside you. But the truth is, this sucks. And it’s bullshit. I don’t want to die. And I don’t want to see any of you go down either. But I can’t stop it. None of us can. All we can do is kick and scream until the end, and when it’s over—haunt their asses until the end of time.

They all stare at me still. Then Shauna forces a grin.

I’m gonna be a poltergeist. All moving shit around and stuff. So watch when you try to sit, living people, cause I just kicked out your chair.

Mac gets into the ghost stuff too. Obviously, there will be multiple exorcisms to get rid of me. Do you know how many closets I’m going to be sitting in, watching while people—

That’s the spirit...pun intended,