Nick glared at the djinn standing across from him in the sparring circle. Thadrick had sought him out and suggested they spar. It sounded like a good idea at the time. “Note to self.” Nick grumbled. “Never spar with a djinn. Ever.”

Thadrick chuckled. “I heard that.”

“Ask me if I care,” Nick taunted.

The djinn tsked at him, which only served to infuriate the wolf.

Thadrick lunged at him but turned a split second before he would have made contact and was suddenly behind Nick with a dagger pointed at his neck—kill shot.

“Why are we doing this again?” Nick asked. “There is no way I can defeat you. You are much faster and stronger. So what’s the point?”

“The point, boy,” Thadrick said coolly, “is to become a well-rounded fighter in both of your forms. You are correct. You will never be able to conquer me. But you can improve your speed and technique by sparring with someone superior to you.”

“He shouldn’t have to explain that to you, Nick,” Drayden, his Alpha, barked at him.

Nick glanced over at him and lowered his eyes before looking back at Thadrick. “Alright, I get your point. Let’s go again.”

Over and over, Thadrick bested him, but now it only made Nick want to try harder. He could tell after several hours of sparring that he’d made progress. His reaction time was getting quicker. A few times, Thadrick had allowed Nick to attack first, to shake things up a bit, allowing the wolf to see the djinn’s defensive maneuvers.

When Nick’s legs, literally, gave out and he found himself on his knees, he knew it was time to bow out. His breathing was heavy, and sweat poured off of him as though he was standing under the spray of a shower.

“I concede,” Nick said, looking up at Thadrick. The infuriating djinn didn’t even look winded.

Thadrick reached down, holding out his arm. He was offering his opponent help and respect at the same time. Nick reached up and clasped his hand around Thadrick’s forearm. The djinn mirrored the hold and pulled the younger man to his feet. To be offered a warrior’s grasp was no small thing. It is only done between comrades, and only those held in high esteem.

“You did well, Nick, Beta of the Canada pack,” Thadrick said with an old-world bow. “Not many wolves can spar with a djinn for four hours. It proves your Alpha takes your training very seriously.”

“That’s just a nice way of saying he’s a hard ass,” Nick said as he looked over his shoulder at his Alpha, who’d watched the entire practice session.

“And you are a better wolf because of it,” Drayden said.

Nick couldn’t deny that. Drayden was a good Alpha.

“Thanks for the spar,” he told Thadrick. If nothing else, the focus he’d been required to maintain during the fight had helped Nick not obsess over his mate for those four hours. A reprieve that was both needed and loathed at the same time.

As he walked towards Peri’s house, which had become their temporary home, he saw his Alpha join him from the corner of his eye.

“How you holding up?” Drayden asked.

Nick knew he wasn’t asking about his physical health. “I haven’t gone on a killing spree.”

His Alpha laughed. “That is always a good thing. You’ll let me know if it gets to be too much. I don’t just mean now. I mean when they get here and we are stuck only able to see and hear them. If that begins to make your wolf feral, you will tell me.” It was a command, one with Drayden’s power attached to it, and Nick wouldn’t be able to disobey.

“It is imperative that we control our wolves. The Great Luna has chosen this time to reveal these healers and bring them to us for a reason. All of this, everything that’s happening, it’s bigger than us. Even those who are here and have not found their true mates are at risk for giving into the darkness. Volcan knows the importance of true mates and of the healers. He will exploit that if he can.”

Nick nodded his agreement but didn’t speak. His Alpha had said all there was to say. They had to remain united. The males must be patient in waiting for their mates. They had to be willing to make sacrifices. Unfortunately, that was all easier said than done.

* * *

Ciro stared out over the picturesque landscape of the fae realm. He saw rolling hills and meadows enclosed by strong, breathtaking trees. It looked like something found in a fairy tale book for children. But regardless of how beautiful it was, he still thought his own villa in Italy, surrounded by beautiful vineyards, was the most beautiful landscape anywhere. He missed it. He missed his pack and the day-to-day workings that came with being an Alpha. Perhaps he was simply too old to embrace change. His wolf rumbled inside of him. Mate, he said. Ciro nodded. Yes, we will have to embrace change when we finally claim our mate. He agreed with the thoughts his wolf was conveying to him.

Lucian’s scent hit him before Ciro saw the other wolf. “If you’ve come to see if I’m turning feral, you need not worry, old friend,” Ciro said.

Lucian folded his arms across his chest as he stepped up beside Ciro and surveyed the same landscape for several minutes before speaking. “I have to admit that I am curious as to how a wolf as old as you are has been able to keep the darkness at bay for so long. Much younger wolves than you have succumbed.”

It wasn’t the first time Ciro’s age had been addressed in connection with the darkness that grows inside of all mate-less Canis lupus. And until the Great Luna had come to him, he hadn’t ever had an explanation for it. And though now he understood, the reason was extremely personal. The Great Luna had told him that his mate had endured some truly disturbing things in her short life. Because of that, she’d chosen someone for her who would have unlimited patience. She had chosen a male that would be willing to wait any amount of time it would take for her to feel safe with him. And because she needed a male with that much long suffering, she’d made Ciro age much slower than others of his kind, which caused the darkness to spread slower as well. He wouldn’t share all of this with Lucian, so he gave the only answer that would still keep his mate’s privacy intact.

“It has been the will of the Great Luna,” Ciro answered. “She is the creator, and I am the created. Who am I to question her? She has called me to trust and obey. I will strive to do just that.”

Lucian’s lips tilted up ever so slightly in what might have been a smile. “Your answer makes it clear why she chose you. You are a man of integrity, Ciro. Men such as you are few and far between. The five healers that have been revealed to us have experienced men with no integrity, no respect, and no selflessness. Each of the males she has chosen for those healers are exactly what they need.”

“Now if we could just get to them.” Ciro growled.

“We will. In the meantime, we can take comfort in knowing that the pixie king will protect them with his life. They are safe.”

“Gustavo is with them. That could be a good thing, but it could also be a very bad thing,” Ciro pointed out.

“Yes,” Lucian agreed. “But, Sorin, Adam, Crina, and Elle are all formidable warriors. If Gustavo succumbs to the darkness before he can claim Anna, they will be able to deal with him.”

“So, for now, we wait.” Even as patient as he was, Ciro was still an Alpha wolf, with the drive to protect those who were under his care. Doing nothing was not in the genetic makeup of any Canis lupus male.

“We wait for the right time to act.” Lucian paused and took in a deep breath. “I have a feeling there is much going on that we do not understand. But we have to be smart as we hunt our prey. Volcan is powerful. He’s proven that he’s knowledgeable as well. If we run into battle rashly, we will not walk away unscathed, if we walk away at all.”

“I agree. Speaking of waiting, have you seen Dillon’s Beta, Dalton?” Ciro asked.

“Yes, he’s in mourning,” Lucian said, sounding just as concerned as he felt.

Ciro’s wolf growled. “He’s pining for his mate as if she’s lost to him. He’s lost weight, he’s reclusive, and he rarely phases from his wolf skin. I know it is not my place to question Dillon, but…”

“I can,” Lucian finished for him.

Ciro nodded. “You can and he won’t respond as though you’re challenging him. Right now, our wolves recognize you as the Alpha of this impromptu pack. He will treat you as such.”

“I will talk with Dillon. He’s a good Alpha, but he knows of Dalton’s history, and that may be why he’s giving the wolf leniency.”

“If Dalton continues like this, he will need to be caged and given an Alpha command to eat. He is of no help to his mate if he’s as weak as a newborn pup.”

Lucian didn’t say anything more. Ciro had made his point. He’d debated going to Dillon himself, but Dillon would be insulted and possibly see it as a challenge. They didn’t need to begin fighting amongst themselves. If they started that nonsense, they might as well wave the white flag of surrender to Volcan.

“Did you see Thadrick sparring with Nick?” Lucian asked, changing the subject to something much lighter.

Ciro nodded and smiled. “I’ve never sparred with a djinn,” he admitted.

“Not many have. They are rather aloof. Thadrick, I think, has gotten bored and is curious about what he’s been documenting for the supernatural history books. It’s been an interesting couple of years.”

“And bound to only get more interesting.”

Of that, Ciro had no doubt.

* * *

Dalton’s wolf did not like the djinn. Then again, Dalton’s wolf pretty much hated anyone that wasn’t Jewel. Apparently, he decided that everyone else was not worth the dirt his paws tread on. There were moments Dalton agreed.

“Dalton Black.”

Thadrick’s voice carried on the wind as he traversed the steep hill upon which Dalton had momentarily paused in all his wandering. He didn’t like the way the man said his name, as though he were familiar. The fact that Dalton, all the supernaturals for that matter, was familiar to the centuries-old, all-knowing djinn pissed his wolf off more. The djinn, keeper of their history, knew the pasts of all the supernaturals. How the legendary creatures managed such a feat, he didn’t know.

As soon as Thadrick was standing next to him, the wolf’s hackles rose. Dalton wanted to laugh when he let the wolf have some control, and the beast flopped onto his side like a bored cat.

Thadrick simply stared down at him. “It takes much more than that to insult me, wolf.”

Dalton let out a hrrumph.

“It has been a very long time since I have been in the company of other supernaturals,” Thadrick said, obviously deciding to ignore Dalton’s cold-shoulder act. “Seeing what happens in my mind’s eye is not the same as being present. I will admit that this present-ness is taxing for me at times. The very air is charged with the emotions emanating off of each of you.”

Dalton raised his head just a bit and looked up at Thadrick.

The djinn chuckled. “Yes, there is much you do not know about my kind. There is a reason we record and protect our history. Those reasons are also the reason we are rarely seen among other supernaturals.” He tilted his head slightly and frowned at Dalton. “I suppose I could share some of those reasons. You don’t exactly look like the poster wolf for healthy Canis lupus everywhere. More than likely, you’ll be dead before you have the strength to share with anyone else what I’m about to tell you.”

Do djinn taste good? Dalton’s wolf asked him.

Like chicken, Dalton responded. His wolf found amusement in the man’s response. Perhaps the djinn was of some use if he could get his wolf to feel anything other than despair.

“Are you listening?” Thadrick said, sounding very put out. “At least pretend to be riveted by my confessions. As I was saying,” he continued, “when I touch another supernatural, I can feel what they are feeling.”

Dalton suddenly sat up, giving Thadrick his full attention.

The djinn looked smug. “I thought that might be of interest to you. Understanding the emotions of those whose lives we record is important. We don’t record history on paper. All of it is in here.” He pointed to his head. “Your brain is much too simple to understand exactly how it all works, so I won’t bore you with that.”

Dalton bared his teeth. Stupid djinn.

“Not only can I feel others’ emotions through touch, I can detect the moods of those around me. Their auras give off a power that I can feel, indicating their disposition. Usually, these auras are not challenging to deal with, but since being around the males of your species, I feel as though I’ve been saturated in every emotion that exists.” Thadrick made a face that a djinn of his size and splendor should never make, like a child who’s tasted pickle juice or lemons for the first time.

“Standing next to you isn’t too bad. Your mood is fairly consistent. Would you like to know what I’m sensing?”

No, he and his wolf growled. Of course, Thadrick couldn’t hear them.

“I would call it despair, but it’s much more than that. I don’t even know if there exists a word in human language to express it. In my language, I would call your mood layelydal rawenda. Essentially, it means to fall to the lowest depths, so far that you can no longer see the light from where you slipped.”

Dalton flopped back down on his side. Maybe if he stopped breathing and acted dead the djinn would go away. Probably not.

Thadrick made a sound that might be classified as a sigh. “I am constantly surrounded with anger, joy, frustration, anguish, and other emotions that I can’t even put a name to and yet…” He paused, and his whole body became rigid. “And yet, I still want what you have.”

Dalton’s brow rose, which probably looked strange on a wolf’s face.

“Okay, maybe not what you specifically have. But I would even endure your pain if it meant I could feel what the other wolves feel when they are with their mates. Even you had the overwhelming joy of holding Jewel, kissing her, knowing her. Would you give up those brief moments to avoid this outcome?”

Dalton phased. He stood next to Thadrick, naked but uncaring, and answered him truthfully. “I would endure whatever I must in order to have a single breath with my true mate.”

Thadrick nodded. “That is what I want.”

“Do djinn not have mates?” Dalton asked, glad to take the focus off of his own pain for a moment.

“Some mate for life. Most mate simply to reproduce. My kind is a very solitary species. Likely because of what we were created to do. Keeping the history of every supernatural being can be a bit distracting at times.”

“How many historians are there?”

“Anywhere from five to seven at any given time. The species divides the world by regions, one of which each of us is responsible. But that is as much as I am allowed to say. We never reveal the regions that are under our responsibility. If a supernatural with ill intent wanted to wipe out some recorded history, he would need to know which of my kind records the history he or she desires to purge.”

“They could kill you?”

“Doubtful, but maybe they could take the history from me. I won’t say more on the subject. Going around telling people how to steal from me is not an intelligent decision.”

Thadrick was quiet and seemed to be contemplating something. Dalton got the distinct feeling he wasn’t going to like what the djinn said next. He was about to phase back when a large hand landed on his bare shoulder.

“I have a solution to help you deal with the loss of your mate.” The djinn’s voice was matter-of-fact.

“I haven’t lost her.” Dalton growled. “She will come back.”

“I agree. If it is in her power to do so, she will return to your side. However, may I suggest grooming yourself and consuming nourishment so you once again appear as a wolf in your prime? You want her to have someone appealing to come back to, don’t you? You said yourself that she isn’t gone for good, yet you’re pining like a wolf who has lost his mate to death.”

“She’s everything to me. Looking forward at the possibility of a life without her, it’s crippling.” That was hard for Dalton to say to someone who wasn’t pack.

“Does she ache for you in equal measure?” Thadrick asked, with genuine interest in his voice.

“When I could feel her through our bond, yes, I felt her pain at being separated from me.”

“Help me find that,” Thadrick said gruffly.

“What? A woman who cripples you?”

“Yes. And who aches for me in the same crippling way.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know many female djinn.”

“I’m not talking about djinn,” Thadrick responded.

“Can you even be with someone who isn’t djinn?” Dalton asked.

Thadrick frowned. “I don’t know. There is no history of one of my species being with another. But that does not mean it isn’t possible.”

“We can’t just go traipsing around different realms looking for a female.” He growled. He felt like he was dealing with a much too intelligent and sophisticated toddler, but a toddler nonetheless.

“Why not?”

The djinn was serious. Think like a toddler, Dalton thought to himself. “Because we are needed here. And there’s a bad sorcerer out there who wants to hurt us.”

The djinn’s face was blank as he stared at him. “Why are you speaking to me in that manner?”

“Because you are acting like a child.”

“Fine, we will not go now. But I want your word that when you are free to leave Perizada’s realm, you will assist me in finding my own female.”

“You do understand that females aren’t just lying around at the end of rainbows, don’t you?”

“I liked you better when you were a dog acting like a cat,” Thadrick said dryly.

So he had understood Dalton’s wolf’s behavior. Who knew? “I liked you better before you left whatever lamp you crawled out of.”

Thadrick made a sound that made it clear he was insulted. “We don’t live in lamps. That would be ridiculous.”

After several minutes, Dalton realized Thadrick had no intention of going away. Figures. He wanted to allow in the anguish of being apart from Jewel, not babysit an ancient being that was behaving like a teenager consumed by raging hormones.

“I’m bored,” Thadrick said suddenly. “Come,” he said as he turned to head back down the hill. “You will spar with me.”

“I don’t really feel like sparring right now,” Dalton said.

“And I don’t feel like waiting to find a female, but those are the cards we have been dealt at the moment.” Thadrick stopped and turned to look up at him. “You are a sad excuse for a male. Perhaps when Jewel comes back, she will see I am a more capable male to care for her.”

Dalton phased without even thinking. His wolf saw red at the djinn’s taunting. His paws hit the ground at a dead run, and he chased after his prey. Thadrick appeared only to be trotting away, yet Dalton never gained an inch.

When they reached the sparing circle, Dalton launched himself at the large djinn. Before he knew what had happened, he hit the ground with a loud thud. Apparently, he wasn’t allowed to die by letting himself waste away, but death by djinn was acceptable.

* * *

He was stronger. Just having his blood in the two gypsy healers had made him much stronger. He was now tied to their magic and could use it as if it was his own. It wasn’t something that he’d known would happen. Volcan smiled. Being stronger meant he wouldn’t have to hide out in the draheim realm much longer. If only his two healers would get busy making the witches, things could move forward. Without the witches, he would not be able to wipe Perizada and her pack of dogs from existence.

Perhaps it was time to give Jewel a little motivation. He walked over to the cage that was sitting in the corner of his study. The woman inside stared back at him. There was no fear in her eyes. There was no indication she cared one way or another what he did with her or to her. It was infuriating, but he had to wait. He couldn’t take his frustration out on her. He would leave that task to Jewel.

Yes, it was time for him to pay his little witches a visit and bring them home for some motivational conditioning.