Chapter 3
Jacque knew that Fane was going to be upset with her because she’d closed her end of the bond, but it was necessary. If Fane knew what she was about to do, he would be beyond livid―not that she would blame him.
Jacque slipped the book she’d been reading back onto the shelf in the library. She had to do some research before she could put her plan into action. Thankfully, she’d become very familiar with pack history after doing so much research searching for information about the dark forest. She’d reviewed many of the ancient books in the pack archives that had been long forgotten. One of those books just happened to be about the Fates.
She grabbed a jacket and her small bag packed with supplies and headed for the back door hoping that she wouldn’t run into Vasile or Alina. Jacque hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she was outside in the cool air. Fall was quickly turning into winter and it wouldn’t be long until the mountains around them would be blanketed in glistening snow. A shiver crawled down her spine as she remembered the times in the past year that they had to trek through the snow. There had been so much that she’d done since meeting Fane―things that she would never have done had she not been his mate.
Her heart took a nose dive for her toes as she thought about all that she would be giving up if she was allowed to follow through with her plan. Jacque shook her head, unwilling to dwell on the negative. She was doing this for Fane, regardless of what it meant for her.
She moved as quickly and as quietly as she could with her six month protruding belly. Jacque was glad Jen was not with her because she would no doubt be giving her a play-by-play commentary on how hilarious Jacque’s pregnant butt looked tromping through the forest. Then again, Jen would be ripping her a new one for even considering what she had in mind, not that Jen could talk. With all the half cocked, hair brained ideas she’d come up with over the years, she really shouldn’t be able to judge Jacque. When the frustration of an argument that hadn’t happened began to bubble up inside of her, Jacque realized what she was doing. “Holy crap, I’ve resorted to imaginary fighting with Jen in order to justify my actions,” she muttered as she stepped over a fallen tree. She felt her baby kick her as though agreeing with her ridiculousness. Okay, so maybe she had fallen off the deep end, it wouldn’t be the first time.
As the climb began to steepen, she crested a hill and looked around her. The air felt as if it was being sucked from her lungs against her will. Jacque’s head turned slowly as she took in the forest around her. It was not the familiar forest that surrounded her Romanian pack mansion. The forest where she currently found herself was miles away. She turned to the right and saw the pond that she had walked into while under the trance Desdemona had placed on her. The same pond in which Fane had dove into in an attempt to save her. How had she gotten that far from the mansion in a matter of minutes? Peri had told them many times during their journeys into the forest that the forest had eyes and ears. Even though this was the human realm, there was still a certain amount of magic present because of all the supernatural beings that chose to dwell here. It shouldn’t have surprised her that the forest had influenced her trek, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t disconcerting.
In all honesty, she had no idea where she was going. The book she’d been reading in the pack library had given specific details on how to contact the Fates, but not a precise location. The paragraph in question had read:
There is a way to contact the Fates, but you do so at your own peril. The Fates are not to be trifled with and do not like being summoned by mortals. But they occasionally choose to answer if they feel the reason for contact is one that is worthy of their attention. If you do decide to pursue them, then these are the things you must know. First, you must be far from civilization. The Fates typically choose to cross over from their own realm into areas of our realm that are unspoiled by humans and their industrialization. It is best to attempt to contact them near dusk when the sun is departing to make way for its sister to take up residence in her place in the sky. As with most requests made to supernatural beings, an offering is required. A blood offering is the most respected but be careful where you let your blood fall. There are beings that will be attracted to the power the Fates radiate and might come seeking out the source. You do not want your blood to fall into the care of any who could use it against you. Once you have picked a destination, you will make your offering and then speak the following words:
I have come to request an audience with those who know past, present, and future.
Humbly I ask to present my request to you.
I give an offering, a sacrifice of blood.
And I kneel awaiting your answer.
Jacque didn’t particularly look forward to the whole sacrificing her blood part, but she would do what was necessary. After another half hour of walking, she came to an area where several large boulders protruded from the mountainside. Several of them looked perfect to use as a table to set out the bowl, towel, and knife she’d brought to perform the ritual. She set down her bag and stretched her tired muscles, tilting her head back and gazing up at the tree tops that towered above her. She’d spent most of the day doing research, which had eaten up a lot of her daylight, but she’d still made it in time to begin at dusk. The sun was already commencing its slow decent and less light was filtering through the branches to the forest floor. The forest was still and an eerie silence surrounded her. Jacque rubbed her arms absently as the hair seemed to stand on end.
She shook off the creepy sensation and turned back to her backpack and began unpacking the things she’d need. The book hadn’t said to bring a candle, but it hadn’t said not to either. The woods would grow dark quickly and, though she had her wolf to assist with seeing in the dark, the human part of her felt safer with some sort of light to break through the darkness.
Once everything was laid out on the improvised table, Jacque took several deep breaths and shook out her hands, attempting to rid herself of the jitters that had suddenly began to infect her limbs. She knew the minute that Fane had felt her nerves because she felt his push against the closed bond. Picturing a solid brick wall in her mind, she fortified the barricade between them. It sickened her wolf to cause such separation between them and their mate, but she couldn’t risk him breaking through. Part of her wanted to ask for his forgiveness, but if everything worked out, he wouldn’t even remember her so the request would be futile.
With one final glance up at the sky beyond the trees, she confirmed that it was time to begin. Jacque lit the candle. She’d even remembered a lighter, which was impressive given her forgetful pregnant mindset lately, and then she picked up the knife.
As she pressed the blade to the palm of her hand and held it over the bowl to catch the falling flow of blood, the words she’d memorized flew from her lips, filling up the silence that had suddenly descended around her. Jacque felt as if all of nature was holding its breath―watching, waiting, and wondering―just as she was to see if the Fates would make an appearance. And if they did, would they grant her request? Once the words were spoken and her blood coated the bottom of the bowl, she wrapped the towel tightly around her palm. From the kneeling position Jacque had taken during the invocation, she bowed her head and waited to see if her world would be changed forever.