"It is amazing to me the things we forget. At the time of their happening, they seem so important, so devastating, or so grand. But then, years later, we can scarcely remember what we were even wearing that day." ~ Alston
Drake was on autopilot. He was obeying his Alpha’s instructions; he was listening to every word said, and yet his wolf and soul seemed to be somewhere else. He could feel them searching for something. Drake kept forcing down the need of his wolf to run, to hunt, and to ferret out whatever it was that had him so focused, but the pull was getting harder to ignore. And the more he ignored this pull, the stronger another pull—the pull of the darkness—became. It whispered to him to come and get lost in the chaos and blood. It whispered that only the darkness could save him now.
"This is not Forks," Jen said, her hands on her hips and her foot tapping restlessly as she glared at the White House as if it had somehow offended her.
"It's your own fault for getting your hopes up," Jacque pointed out. "Peri never agreed with us. She just grinned."
"Yep, and we lapped it up like kittens slurping up cream," Sally agreed.
Jacque and Jen turned to look at her. "Kittens slurping up," Jen began.
"Cream?" Jacque finished.
Sally rolled her eyes. "We can't all be as eloquent as you two poets."
Jen inclined her head. "Can't disagree with you there, kitten." She winked at the now scowling Sally.
Decebel placed a hand on her lower back, drawing her attention away from the banter, and she looked up at him. The look in his eyes made it clear that he was happy to see the three of them going at it again. Things had not been the same since the vampire killing had begun.
"We're going to be okay, B, promise," she reassured him.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. "I've no doubt of that, baby. I just hate that you are even in a situation that makes you feel as though you need to reassure me of such a thing."
"But if we do this now, if we deal with these situations ourselves, then maybe our children won't have to. That makes it worth it," Jen told him and then glanced over at her two best friends who were nodding in agreement.
"We can handle this," Sally agreed. "It's not pretty, it's not easy, and it's only going to get worse, but we can handle it."
"Would it be totally inappropriate of me to tell you how incredibly hot you are right now and that I want to show you another reason dealing with these situations will be worth it?" Costin asked his mate as his hazel eyes began to glow.
Jen held out her hand to high-five her friend’s mate. "Nicely done. Inappropriate sexual comments are by far the most flattering."
Decebel's brow rose. But Alston interrupted whatever he had been about to say.
"The entrance to this coven's lair is right over there." He pointed to a sewer grate.
They all looked in that direction and then at their surroundings.
"Is it just me, or are there about fifty too many humans walking, driving, and lollygagging about?" Jacque asked.
"I can handle the humans," Alston countered.
"But then who's going to help deal with the remains down there?" Jen asked.
The high fae turned to look at Vasile and Alina, but they looked like they were having too much fun watching the girls do what they did best—pester.
"Peri isn't the only one with power, you know," he said as he let his own power roll over him and light him up just as Peri's sometimes did.
Jen pursed her lips at him. "She just seems so much more…bad ass than you."
Alston glared at her. "Why do you think they call me a high fae?" he challenged.
Jacque shook her head at the man, just as Sally snickered.
"Couldn't possibly be because you like to smoke on some magical fae plants, could it?" Jen asked him and she could tell she was really beginning to grate on a nerve.
Suddenly the grate to the sewer slid sideways and Alston pointed to the opening. "Just go kill the vampires, please, and then I will do my part."
"Touchy, touchy," Jen mumbled as her mate ushered her toward the opening.
Jacque watched as Decebel, Jen, Vasile, Alina, and Drake slid into the opening before dropping down into the darkness below. Her stomach clenched as it did every time she'd watched Jen disappear underground to fight the nasty creatures. She knew Decebel wouldn't let anything happen to her best friend, but that didn't stop her from worrying.
She instinctively placed a protective hand on her stomach, since that seemed to be the only person she loved that she could protect.
"Are you alright?" Fane asked as he looked from her stomach to her face.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "No baby coming yet, daddy."
"You will let me know?"
She nodded and stood on her toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. "Of course I will."
Jacque turned back to the sewer opening and watched it as if, by her will alone, she could keep safe the group that was disappearing into the hole. If only it were that easy, she thought.
Sally tried to step away from Costin but he wouldn't allow it. Just as he hadn't at the last three covens they'd taken out. She was attempting to shield him from the things she was feeling, because if she didn't, he tried to take on some of the emotional anguish himself, and she couldn't bear for him to do that.
"Stop," Costin whispered as he pulled her back against his chest. His hands were on her arms, holding her to him. "You aren't going to do this alone. You are the healer, but I am the healer’s mate. I am the one who has the privilege of tending to you. You won't take that from me, not when I have to watch you give of yourself to everyone and then feel your guilt when you think there's nothing left for me."
Sally's head snapped around as her mouth dropped open and she looked up at him. How had he known? She'd been so careful to keep that part of her tucked away. There was no hurt in his gaze, just love, determination, and resolve. "You're mine," he whispered against her lips as he pressed a soft kiss to them. "I require nothing other than this." He wrapped his arms around her. "Let me be the one to hold you, through all of it."
Sally closed her eyes. She knew the moment the killing began. The dark magic that was released from the dying vamps caressed her own magic, attempting to lure her to it. She shook it off and focused on Costin's warmth surrounding her. Then the emotions came. It shouldn't have been so strong, not up here on the street. She wasn't down in the actual coven where the horror had taken place, but for some reason, that's exactly what it felt like.
She would have fallen to her knees had Costin not held her. Sally squeezed her eyes shut as her heart beat painfully in her chest. She wanted to scream but couldn't. She didn't know how much time had passed as she was swallowed by all of the anguish the victims had endured. Then she heard Jen's voice.
"Sally! We need Sally, now!"
Sincaro glared at the two vampires standing in his lair. Of all the covens in North America, his was the only that felt like an actual building. He had extensive amounts of work done to convert the square concrete walled rooms into something akin to comfortable living quarters. He supposed it was because of his age. He had more control than the younger ones and, though he lived to feed, he also enjoyed the occasional luxury. He preferred to be clean and liked the area in which he lived to be tidy as well. Sincaro was well aware that there were some covens that were nothing more than rats’ nests.
One of the vampires fidgeted, drawing the vampire king’s attention back to the present. "How many?" Sincaro finally asked.
"Seven that we know of," the fidgety one answered. Sincaro couldn't remember their names, mostly because they were both expendable. There was no point to know their names.
"And you know for sure it's the wolves?"
"One of the vamps in Little Rock was on his way back to the coven and saw them. They apparently don't know that we have some day walkers. So he sent out the call and it's been going out to all the covens. The ones they've hit hadn't been notified yet. Pretty soon they're going to come upon one that is ready for them."
Sincaro smiled. It amused him how the vampires could ban together when they had a common enemy. They might be bloodthirsty, but they also wanted to protect their way of life.
"Do they appear to know anything about the captives?"
"No. They know there are children, but they don't realize their significance," the one on the left answered.
He sat staring at the two vampires but not really seeing them. Sincaro’s mind was weighing his options. He could wait until they made it to his city, as they undoubtedly would, or he could challenge them. If he challenged them, perhaps, they wouldn't be able to destroy any more covens. They would be in Phoenix dealing with him and his coven. If he waited, there was no telling how many they might kill before they got to him.
"Send Fontaine to me," Sincaro said as he dismissed them.
Several minutes later, the door opened and in walked an ancient vampire—one old enough even to walk in broad daylight. "Fontaine," Sincaro said and gave the man a curt nod.
"Sire," Fontaine said with a slight bow of his head.
"I need you to go up and find the wolves and fae that are daring to stand against us. So far none of my line have been killed. If one had, I would know it and know where it took place."
Sincaro could feel each and every one of the vampires he'd ever sired. Their magic was connected. He knew when they died and he knew where they were. But second generation vampires—those that were sired by his own offspring—he could not feel. The magic was too diluted by the time it was in the second recipient.
Fontaine was about to speak but the vampire king held up his hand to halt him. His lips turned up into an evil smile. "It seems the Fates are with us. They are in Washington. See if there are any left and have them kindly invite our adversaries to come join us for a meal."
Fontaine bowed his head one more time before leaving.
The vampire king stood and began to pace. It had been so long since he'd been in battle. He could feel the excitement rushing through him at the thought of biting into a mature wolf or, even better, a high fae. If anything, that would make the coming struggle all worthwhile. He turned toward the door, the smile still on his face. In his eagerness for the coming bloodshed, his thirst was growing, despite having fed only a few hours ago. There was a certain female that he suddenly had a taste for. Maybe this time he'd drain her, just to ensure that she wasn't found. Maybe.
Decebel couldn't believe what he was hearing. The sole vamp they'd left alive was spilling his guts, answering every question they asked in hopes that they would release him.
"Why are these children still alive?" Vasile asked the vamp.
Decebel looked over his shoulder at the two, small, terrified boy and girl. His mate, Alina, and now Sally were speaking softly to them. While he, Vasile, Drake, and Cypher were staring down at the pathetic man kneeling at their feet.
"They're dormants. They have wolf blood," the vampire sputtered.
Decebel was practically shaking with the need to dismember the vile being before him. The thought of little dormant pups being fed upon and kept alive as a continued food source was a fate worse than death.
"They heal so much more quickly than humans and, once they reach maturity, they age more slowly. They're really the perfect food source."
Alina was up and across the space before anyone realized what was happening. The alpha female moved unbelievably fast. One second she was kneeling by the pups, the next she was in front of the vamp, her hands clamped on his head. She twisted it and a sickening crack filled the room. The four males moved to make sure to block the view of the violence from the little ones as Alina threw the body down. "I was done listening to him talk about our young with such heartlessness." Alina met her mate’s eyes. "We got the information we need. They're somehow finding these dormant children and using them as food. So there are more than likely going to be more. We need to speak with Peri about what to do with them."
"I will finish this," Vasile told her gently. "Go tend to the young. They will feel safe with you."
Vasile turned to look at the other men. "It's worse than we thought."
Decebel looked back at Jen. She had been a dormant. She too could have suffered the same fate as these little ones.
"Don't," Vasile said as he placed a hand on Decebel’s shoulder. "There is no sense dwelling on what could have happened. It didn't and she's safe."
His old friend was right. He needed to focus on what was happening. He needed to destroy the vampires who would dare touch their pups.
Peri stood on the sidewalk in front of a cute house in a neighborhood of cute houses. She watched as a man and a woman opened their front door and found their precious child, which they thought had been lost to them, standing shocked on the front steps. They wrapped the little boy in their arms and held him as though he might disappear at any moment.
When the boy looked back at her, she smiled and gave him a small wave. He smiled and then turned back to his parents.
"Where have you been? How did you get home?" his mother asked as she looked him over for injuries.
"My guardian angel found me. She saved me," he answered them. They didn't know what to think about that. After several more minutes of hugs and ensuring that he was in one piece, they took him into their home.
Peri enjoyed the small moment, knowing that there had been at least one saved. She'd altered his memories, but she hadn’t done so lightly. It was a messy business, poking around in another person's head. But she just couldn't stomach the idea of that little boy living the rest of his life with the horror of all he'd been through. There was no need for it.
With one last look at the house, Peri flashed to Washington. She appeared directly beside Fane who didn't even flinch.
"It doesn't bother you when I just appear like that?" she asked him.
Fane shrugged. "You aren't the female on my radar."
Peri chuckled. "Good answer, wolf prince."
Peri's attention was diverted from Fane when Alston suddenly appeared with a small boy in his arms. Her gut clenched and she felt bile rise up in her throat. They’d interrogated one of the captured vampires and learned of the vampires’ strategy of capturing dormants. She knew that there would be more, but seeing them was so, so difficult.
He set the boy down, flashed again, and was back in an instant with Sally standing next to him. Peri watched as the healer knelt down and opened her arms. The boy walked into them without hesitation, wrapping his small arms around her neck and squeezing with all his might.
Alina suddenly came up out of the open sewer drain, having used her wolf strength to jump straight up. She too had a child in her arms, a little girl. The Alpha female stroked the child’s hair as she spoke softly to her.
All those that had been in the sewer began jumping up and out until they were all standing there staring at the two young children.
Peri walked over to Vasile. She saw the glint of rage in his dark eyes. It was a look she'd seen before, but only a handful of times. "You know about the dormants I take it?" she asked him.
He nodded. "We managed to keep a vampire alive long enough to extract the information from him."
"Tyler was able to do the same," she told him.
"Any children?" Vasile asked.
"One," Peri answered. "I used his memories to find his family. Once I determined that they were indeed his parents, I stripped his memory, told him I was his guardian angel, and left him on their porch. I waited to make sure they found him."
Jen must have been listening because she was abruptly beside them frowning. "So we're just going to send the dormants back to their human lives? Don't you think they need to know who they are, what they are?"
"Maybe if they were older," Peri conceded. "But so young, like that." She motioned to the children in the arms of Sally and Alina. "They are too young to process such information, not to mention they do not need the memories of the things done to them. Peri turned away from them and walked over to where Alina and Sally sat. The others seemed to be trying to give them room, though she could tell it was taking all of Jacque's control not to just wrap her arms around them and refuse to let go.
Peri noted that Sally was doing a remarkable job of keeping the children calm. They weren't wailing like the boy Peri had found. She knelt down in front of them and placed a hand on the boy’s forehead. She dug through his memories and nearly jumped back when she saw what was hidden deeply inside of him. It was so deep that he probably didn't even know it was there. This little boy had no family to go back to—no parents at least. His parents had been killed by the vampires, right in front of the child. She whispered in her fae tongue and pushed her magic into him, binding the memories. She left some of the memories of the vampire, however; he would need to understand why he was in the company of werewolves after all. He was three years old, still young enough to heal, and Sally would be able to help him deal with the trauma he'd been through.
Peri opened her eyes and met Sally's. "This one needs to stay with you, Sally." Costin was standing a little behind his mate, unsure of what he should do. Peri looked up at him. "Let Sally introduce you to Titus."
Costin walked around his mate and knelt down slowly next to Peri. He smiled at Sally and then looked at Titus. "Hey, little man."
"Titus, this is Costin. He's not a bad man. He's a safe man who chases away the monsters," Sally said in a voice that was so soft and sweet that a frightened deer would have trusted her.
Titus looked up at her and then at Costin. He seemed to be examining the male while all the rest of them were holding their breath.
After what felt like forever, Titus took a tentative step toward Costin, who stood as still as a statue. Peri watched in awe as the little boy stepped even closer until he was right in front of the imposing figure that was a Canis lupus male. Titus leaned forward as he spoke. "Sally said she would keep me safe."
Costin nodded, still not daring to move too much. "She will. Sally doesn’t lie."
The boy looked back at Sally and smiled and then turned back to Costin. "She is small. You are bigger. You can keep us both safe. You won't let the monsters get us." The last part was whispered, as though mentioning them too loudly would cause the monsters to appear.
Costin looked at the small boy seriously. "I will keep you both safe."
Titus seemed to be weighing his words and, with a small nod of his head, appeared to come to a conclusion as he walked into the shelter of Costin's larger frame. The dumbfounded wolf wrapped his arms around the boy and tucked him in closer.
Peri was pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in their vampire killing party. She wiped her own tears away as she turned to the little girl who had been watching intently. Peri laid her hand on the girl’s forehead and searched for the information she needed. They were too young to know their addresses, but their little eyes soaked up images that were stored in the brain. All Peri needed was a glance—a number and a street name as the girl sat in the backseat while the car pulled into or out of the driveway.
Once she had the information she needed, Peri flashed, her mind picturing the home and address. She re-appeared in a neighborhood not unlike the one where she'd returned the little boy. The high fae cloaked herself as she flashed into the home. She looked around, needing to verify that these were indeed the girl’s parents. She had her answer in a matter of seconds. The little face that smiled back at Peri in all of the photographs was the one that belonged to the girl currently being held by Alina.
Once again she flashed, returning to the group still huddled near the sewer entrance.
"Found her family," Peri said quietly as she stepped up to Alina. The Alpha female took a step back, her jaw tightening.
"Mina," Vasile said softly, "she has to go home."
"She's one of us. She should be raised with her own kind," Alina challenged her Alpha.
"She's also human," he pointed out. "She misses her family."
"We could be her family," Alina said tenderly as she looked down at the little girl who'd fallen asleep in her arms. "She would be safe with us."
"It would not be right, mate, and you know it," Vasile said, meeting her eyes and holding her gaze. "Please, give the child to Perizada."
A tear ran down Alina’s stricken face as she finally relented. Peri reached out and took the small bundle. "Any child would be blessed to have you as their mother, Alina," the fae told her. "But this one is not meant for you."
Alina nodded but didn't say anything. Peri flashed and, as with the earlier child they’d rescued, she altered the girl’s memories and left her on her parent’s doorstep.
When it was finished she returned to the group and froze at what she saw.
"How many more?" Thalion asked Cyn as they stood just outside headquarters of the Colorado pack.
Cyn thought it was odd to have Thalion, the prince of the Elvin race, standing there in Colorado. Maybe it was because she'd never seen him anywhere but his own realm or the forest in Romania.
"I do not think Perizada knows the exact number," Cyn admitted.
His face was hard as he looked down at her. She knew he couldn't stand for her to be in danger, but she was a fae warrior and had been for a very, very long time.
"Have they addressed the vampires in the region called Canada?" he asked her.
Cyn shook her head. "We're stretched thin. And even though we have some of the high fae helping, minus Dane and Gwen, our people are still resistant to get involved in any matters outside of the fae realm."
"What of the warlocks?" Thalion's brow deepened as he watched her. She hadn't been exactly forthcoming on just how little help they had.
"Cypher is helping."
"With his own warriors?"
Cyn shook her head. "Just the warlock king."
Thalion cursed under his breath. "So there are what, two dozen or so wolves, fae, and a warlock taking on the entire vampire race?"
Cyn realized just how ridiculous it sounded when he put it like that. After several moments of him simply glaring at her, he sighed and pulled her into his embrace. Ever since she'd agreed to see where their relationship could go, he'd been much touchier.
He leaned his head down so that his mouth was next to her ear. "Report to Perizada that I will lead my warriors through Canada. We will deal with the vampires there."
"What about the dormants?"
His lips turned up. "I guess I will need a fae to join us, just for that reason."
"So I should let Peri know to send Alston to help you?"
Thalion squeezed her waist with his hands. "Don’t you dare—"
Cyn stood on her toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "I will return." She flashed, nearly laughing at his annoyed face. He hated when she flashed straight out of his arms. It was a skill Peri had taught her long ago. It was a useful skill. If ever an enemy attempted to latch onto her while she was trying to flash free, she wouldn't have the burden of an uninvited passenger. Cyn hadn't realized at the time how handy the skill would be, nor had she known that she'd feel so comfortable with someone that she would want to be playful. Thalion brought out a side of her that she didn't know existed. He had showed her that there was more to life than just being a warrior. And honestly, it scared her.
She linked briefly with Peri's mind to determine her location and then appeared next to the high fae. Cyn started to speak but realized Peri was staring—no she was glaring daggers at someone. Cyn turned and followed Peri's line of sight. Her body tensed. It was then that she heard the low rumblings of the warning growls coming from all of the males around them.
"What happened?" she asked very, very softly.
"I leave for five damn minutes and this is what I came back to. I don't know how many times I have to tell those girls to stay out of trouble."
Cyn shook her head. "I don't think this was Jacque's fault, Peri."
"Maybe not, but I'm too pissed to care."
“Are you going to do anything?” asked Cyn.
Peri shook her head. “Not yet. He claims he has something to say. So I’m attempting to be diplomatic and listen. Just an FYI, Cyn, diplomacy sucks.”
Fane was going to phase. There was no way he could hold the wolf back, not while his mate was in the hands of a filthy vampire.
"Give her to me," Fane snarled for what felt like the fiftieth time.
The vampire had Jacque pulled tight against him with her back to his chest. His mouth was entirely too close to her jugular. One hand was holding her neck, the other was resting on her stomach.
"First, listen carefully to my words. Then give me your word that when I release her, you will let me leave," the vampire said as his eyes bounced around trying to figure out who exactly was the leader of this group.
"She is my mate. It is my word you need and you have it. Speak what it is you have to say and then release her." Fane was shaking with rage.
"I'm fine, Fane," his mate attempted to soothe him.
"You are in the grip of a murderer. How exactly does that make you fine?" he bit back.
"I meant he isn't hurting me, you butt head," she growled back.
Fane couldn't talk to her and focus on the man who was holding Jacque’s life in his hands at the same time. He needed to be ready to lunge as soon as Jacque was released. There was no way in hell he would let the vamp live not just for being what he was but because he'd touched and threatened his mate.
"Sincaro has a message," the vampire spoke up. "He wishes you to come to Phoenix, to dine with him. He invites you as guests."
Peri laughed. "How generous of him. Is he getting nervous?"
The vamp didn't seem to know how to respond to that. "He said to stop killing his vampires and he would negotiate with you regarding the prey he's been collecting."
When he just stood there not saying anything more, Fane took another step forward. "You've said what you needed to. Now. Give. Me. My. Mate." Fane felt his teeth elongating as his wolf pushed harder.
"Now would be a good time to let me go," Jacque suggested.
"I'm letting her go," the vamp warned. "You gave me your word that I could leave."
Fane wasn't sure why the vampire was reminding him of something that happened only five minutes before. He wasn't sure why the male was still speaking and not releasing his mate.
Fane caught Decebel’s eye and the Alpha gave him a subtle nod. He knew Fane’s intent and he had the younger wolf’s back.
The vampire shoved Jacque forward, hard, which Fane had guessed he might do in an attempt to give himself time to get away. Decebel lunged forward and caught Jacquelyn. Knowing his mate was safe gave Fane the ability to pursue her attacker. He heard Peri's voice yelling at him to catch the vamp before it reached the road. They were running through a wooded area that divided up two busy interstates. Fane knew that if Peri wanted him to catch the man before he reached the road, then it meant that her glamour, or whatever it was she was doing to shield them from the humans, ended there.
Fane’s wolf didn't care who saw them. He would take down his prey regardless of who was watching. The vampire had put his hands on his mate—his pregnant mate. The thought of his pregnant mate caused a fresh wave of rage to course through him, urging him to run harder. He jumped as hard as he could, phasing in the air. Fully transformed into his wolf’s form, Fane landed on the vampire’s back. The wolf sunk his teeth into the neck and shook until he heard it snap. He then rolled the man over with his muzzle and was just about to tear into the monster’s chest with his teeth and claws in order to get to his heart, but he froze at the sound of Jacquelyn's voice.
"Fane, stop."
Fane turned his head slowly to find her standing only a few feet away. Peri stood directly next to her. He pulled his lips back and showed her his teeth. It was his kill, his prey, and he would finish it.
"No, Fane. Please, come here," she pleaded with him.
"I will finish it, Fane," Peri told him. She didn't meet his gaze; she wasn’t challenging him. "Tend to your mate. If you recall, she was just in the hands of a sadistic vampire. Perhaps, she would like to be in the hands of her mate now."
Fane looked from Peri to his mate. Jacquelyn was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. She was anxious. He opened the bond wider and felt her worry, fear, and love flow through him. She did need him. She needed him to hold her more than she needed him to rip the heart from her attacker.
Fane looked down at his prey. With a final snarl, he turned and headed for his female. He began to phase, and when Jacquelyn realized what he was doing, she looked over at Peri.
"Little help please," Jacque pleaded.
Peri chuckled but waved her hand so that by the time Fane was standing back in his human form he had a pair of jeans on. One more flick and a shirt appeared in his hands. Fane haphazardly shoved the shirt over his head as he moved closer to Jacquelyn.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he tried to move to touch her. But he didn't realize that he didn't even have his arms through the shirt sleeves.
She laughed and the sound made him want to move mountains for her. "Here." She reached out to help him get the damn shirt on. Her fingertips slid over his skin and Fane felt his wolf calm at the touch.
With the shirt finally in place, Fane took Jacquelyn’s face in his hands and stared intently down at her. "Are you alright?" he asked again, more slowly.
"I'm fine. I meant it when I said he wasn't hurting me," she promised.
He studied her a minute longer before leaning down, closing the space between their faces, and claiming her mouth. Fane wasn't usually one for a whole lot of public displays of affection, simply because he didn't like making his mate uncomfortable. But in that moment, he needed her like he needed the blood flowing in his veins. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, tasting her and reveling in the desire he felt racing through her.
His hands released her face and he wrapped his arms around her, sliding one hand up her back until it was buried in her hair. He moved the other one to her lower back and held her close to him. The image of her in the vampire’s hands flashed in his mind and he pulled back from the kiss. He pressed his forehead to hers as he tried to regain control of himself.
"Better?" she asked him with a shy smile.
He chuckled, which is what she intended. His mate was anything but shy when it came to him.
"Don’t ever do that again," he growled, though it was without real heat.
Her mouth dropped open. "Do what?"
"Get grabbed by a vampire."
Her eyes narrowed and he could see the redheaded temper that he loved so much flaring up. "I did not get grabbed by a vampire on purpose, you overgrown mutt."
"That was weak, Red." Jen’s voice popped the bubble that seemed to have kept the rest of the world out while they focused on one another. "Chick, you're pregnant. You can do so much better than that."
"Jennifer," Decebel's voice joined in.
"What? I'm just saying…if she's going to insult him then she needs to do it right."
"Yes, that is a very important lesson any female should know," he said dryly.
Jacquelyn rolled her eyes before looking once again up at him.
"I love you," he told her softly. Fane wanted nothing more than to take her somewhere away from vampires, away from her mouthy friends and their mates, so that he could show her with more than just a kiss.
"You better," she warned. "I'm not above sitting on your lap while my water breaks."
Fane tried really hard not to make a face. She laughed. Apparently he hadn't succeeded.
"You can't really do that, right?" He looked over her head at Jen and Alina, two women who'd had babies. "She can't really do that, right?" he asked them as well.
Jen shrugged. "I'm convinced my little half blood is capable of anything she puts her mind to. So if she thinks hard enough about her water breaking while snuggled up on you, then yes, yes I think she could do it."
Fane looked down at his mate who wasn't giving anything away by laughing. She was just staring up at him, waiting for him to decide what he believed. Then his eyes narrowed because he could feel the humor through their bond.
He leaned down to her ear and put his mouth right against it as he spoke. "Let us make a bargain, sweet Jacquelyn. You promise not to do this water breaking thing on me, and" —he paused blowing warm air down her neck and feeling her shiver against him— "I promise to…" Fane trailed off, not daring to speak the rest out loud because he knew how well all those around them could hear. So instead he spoke through their bond. Keeping his head bent down to her neck, he pressed a kiss on his mark as he struck his part of the bargain. When he pulled back to look down at her, she was frozen, her face flushed, and her heart beating so hard he could see the pulse in her neck.
Fane was pretty sure she'd make him pay for that later. But the look on her face, as she tried not to react to his words in front of everyone, was worth whatever she dished out.
Jacque's heart hadn't pounded this hard when the vamp had held her, yet the words her mate had just whispered into her mind had it beating painfully.
"You are so dead, wolf-man," she said through the bond once her brain was working again.
"At least you're calling me a man again. That whole wolf-boy thing was starting to give me a complex."
"You'll have more than just a complex when I'm done," she muttered under her breath.
Peri dealt with the vampire Fane had maimed and then called everyone to gather round. Nissa was still gone, so she knew she'd need to check on the fae after she'd gotten the wolves safely home.
"All of the children found," —she paused and looked at Costin who held Titus in his arms— "save one, have been successfully returned to their families. Cyn, Nissa, and I have taken great care to ensure that they will not remember their time with the vampires. Even though they are dormants, they are too young to understand. So Vasile has asked that we keep an eye on them as they grow up and from there we will see what the Great Luna has planned for them."
When she stopped, no one said anything so she just continued. "It's been a long day and after our visit from Sincaro’s lackey, we have much to discuss. We will get you all back to the Serbia mansion and give you time to clean up and eat." She turned to Vasile and indicated for him to take over.
"We will meet in the library at" —he looked down at his watch— "nine-thirty."
With rumbles of agreement, Peri, Alston, and Cyn began to flash the tired wolves and warlock home.
Once they were all safe and sound, Peri flashed to the Coldspring pack headquarters in search of her fellow high fae. Peri flashed directly in front of the Alpha's home and stood still, trying to get a read on Nissa's mind or essence. When she felt nothing, she marched up to the door and knocked. She decided against flashing inside because she wasn’t as familiar with these wolves as she was the Romania ones. She didn't know how they'd react to her sudden appearance.
The door was opened a minute later by a very tired looking Alpha.
"Jeff Stone." Peri nodded curtly. "Why do you look as though the vampires kicked your ass?"
The Alpha's eyes narrowed. Okay, so he's a little sensitive on the matter.
"There were more than we anticipated," he said through gritted teeth. "But we managed to get them all, and saved four children. Nissa has been returning them to their homes. Two of them were older, perhaps eleven or twelve. She said it would be a little more work to alter their memories."
So that's what had been taking her so long, Peri thought. "Did you suffer any losses?" Peri asked him.
Jeff shook his head. "A few minor injuries, nothing more."
"Take a day to rest before you follow any more leads. Most of your wolves are younger and the magic left by the vampires will affect them more quickly."
He nodded. Peri could see that there was something bothering the Alpha. She debated whether or not she should ask. She really wanted to see her mate, but damn those puppy dog eyes. "Is there something else?"
Jeff looked at her for several moments before deciding to answer. "They've been taking dormants for centuries," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. Peri knew where he was going with his statement. Vasile and the others hadn't had time to consider what that meant, especially since all of them except Drake were mated.
"Yes," she answered unnecessarily.
"How many mates?" He paused, the emotion catching in his throat.
Peri waited, allowing the man a moment, knowing how hard it was for a dominant male to show any emotion. Jeff Stone was hurting and not just for himself but for his wolves as well.
"How many of my wolves have lost their true mates because of the vampires? How many will we lose to the darkness?"
Peri didn't have an answer. What could she say? He was right. There would be males and possibly females that would never have a true mate if theirs had been one of the dormants taken and bled dry. The guilt came rushing back as Peri remembered so very, very long ago when she'd foolishly thought Sincaro to be destroyed. She had not pursued his body after striking him down, and because of that he lived. And because he lived, hundreds, upon hundreds, have and would continue to suffer.
"I'm sorry, Alpha." Peri bowed her head to him. "I truly am."
Jeff didn’t say anything. He simply gave her one last look and then slowly closed the door. Peri was gone before it was shut completely.
Peri stood outside of the Serbia mansion attempting to get her emotions under control. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to wonder if your mate had been one of the ones taken. How would it feel to wonder if the fight against the darkness was futile? What would it feel like to struggle in vain because your mate was already gone?
"Peri," Cyn’s voice snapped her out of the near panic attack.
"Perizada," Lucian’s voice came just after her friend’s.
"I'm fine, wolf. I'll be there soon."
"There is still hope. Jeff and his unmated males were taken by surprise. They will be alright." Lucian’s voice caressed her tired soul. More than anything she just needed to be in his arms, but that wasn't going to happen, not yet. "I'll be waiting."
Peri wanted to scream. Lucian meant his statement to be a reassurance to her, but what Peri heard was, 'I'll be waiting like I always am.’ It wasn't his fault she felt that way. It was her own insecurity. And that made her laugh out loud. Who would have thought that Perizada, high fae and all around know-it-all, had insecurities? "Will wonders never cease?"
"Peri?" Cyn's voice beckoned again.
Peri turned to face the warrior. "Sorry, my mind was elsewhere."
Cyn nodded in understanding.
Peri cleared her throat. "Is everything okay? And I ask that already knowing that nothing is okay, but you get what I mean."
"I spoke with Thalion today," Cyn began. "He asked me to tell you that he will be taking warriors to the land called Canada. He and his people will deal with the vampires there. He requested that I be allowed to assist so that I can help with any dormants or survivors they might find."
"He's going to take enough elves to handle all the covens in Canada?" Peri asked, attempting to express her disbelief without making the elf prince sound like an idiot. Does he know how many covens are in that land?
Cyn nodded. "He wants to help."
"No, he wants to protect his interests." Peri raised a brow at her comrade.
The warrior shrugged. "Maybe, but at least he's helping."
Peri couldn't argue with that. The elves were worse than the fae about leaving their own realm to assist other supernatural races, which meant that they just didn't. Not until Cyn had convinced Thalion to help on a previous occasion. Perhaps, it was going to become a habit.
"Frankly, I don't care if he is simply hoping that if he kills enough vampires you'll finally let him in your pants. Just try and hold out until they're all dead, just in case."
Cyn's face didn't even twitch. "I will do my best."
Peri snorted as the other fae flashed and left her standing there alone. She looked up at the mansion in front of her. One more meeting and then she could spend the night letting someone else be strong.