by Quinn Loftis
Chris finally looked away from the compound and turned to Vasile. “I imagine Cindy is already aware of what has happened,” he said. He must have been talking about the seer sprites. They didn’t interfere, but they saw the future. “But I need to be with her. Sally has her mate with her and she’s strong.”
“That she is.” Vasile nodded. “Very well. We will see you soon.”
Vasile gave his son a brief hug and then placed his hand on Vale’s arm. The rest of the wolves in Vasile’s pack moved to Riven, Nissa, Cyn, and the other fae warriors who held out their arms.
“Fae warriors who aren’t transporting Vasile’s wolves,” Nissa said, her voice loud enough that it would carry across the battlefield, “please work with the other leaders to get everyone where they need to go. I think it would be wise to be training while you wait to hear from Vasile.” She flashed, with the others right behind her.
Decebel turned to look at the large building that Dylan said headquartered the Order of the Burning Claw. He sought out Jen through their bond. It was weak but still there. “Are you alright?”
“I have Thia back, so I’m not going on a killing spree. They’ve got us locked up in a room. They’ve separated us.”
“Whatever you do, stay alive,” Decebel urged. “Our daughter needs us.”
“I know. I won’t try to be a hero. I love you.”
Decebel closed his eyes as the words and emotions of his female washed over him. He hated being separated from her and Thia. It was going to be the greatest test of his self-control to keep from going after them until Vasile gave the order. “I love you, baby. I’ll be coming for you both. Very soon.”
Chapter 3
“There is nothing that can prepare you for the sight of your child in the arms of someone who is willing to harm them. It is in that moment that you realize what violence you are truly capable of.” ~Fane
* * *
“Wolf-man?”
The second Fane heard his mate’s voice fill his mind, he took in a deep breath. It was as if he hadn’t breathed from the moment she’d shown up on that battlefield. “Jacquelyn, are you alright? How is our son?” He was desperate to know that they hadn’t been harmed. He’d been so angry on the battlefield, and focused on controlling his wolf, that he hadn’t even tried to use their bond. That just proved to him how seriously out of control he’d been.
“We’re fine,” she said quickly, no doubt feeling his wild emotions. “Slate and I are in a room by ourselves. I’m assuming the others have been divided up as well.”
“Skender helped Alston,” he said. He didn’t ask because there was no other explanation. “I should have killed him when we had the chance. Costin’s decision be damned. Skender should not have lived any longer than it took for him to step foot out of the car when he arrived.”
“At the moment, I can’t disagree with you,” his mate replied. “I just don’t understand how he could do this to his pack. He always seemed so loyal to Vasile, to all of you.”
“The Order has brainwashed him. That’s the only explanation for such evil behavior from someone who has never exhibited anything remotely similar in the past.”
Fane felt his mate pushing her love and comfort through their bond. She understood him, knew he needed more than words. He needed her. She was a part of him. Being apart from her was like having one of his body parts removed—heart, lungs, and brain. He couldn’t live, breathe, or think without her.
“We’re going to be alright,” she reassured him. “We will get through this, just like we’ve gotten through all the other crap we’ve faced.”
He took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “I love you. Never in my wildest imaginings did I think I would ever have the honor of having one such as you as my mate. I won’t lose you because we will always be together, but I’m not ready for this to be over, Jacquelyn. I’m not ready to leave this life. I want to see Slate grow up and find his own mate. I want to see Thia drive Decebel crazy. I want to see Titus become president, because what else could a child that intelligent become? There’s no other option than for us to get through this and for you to be back at my side.”
“Then that is what will happen.”
He could hear the tears in her voice. He hadn’t meant to make her cry, but he needed her to know just how much he adored her and the life they had. He didn’t care about the fights they’d had or would have. It didn’t matter how hard it was to be mated and married to a person who was just as flawed as he was. He refused to let this be how it ended.
“I love you back, wolf-man. Please try not to worry too much.” She sounded so brave, so in control.
“Stay safe for me. Don’t do anything to piss Alston off.”
She laughed. “I think Jen is the one who needs to hear that. I’m going to wait and watch. Maybe they will make a mistake somewhere and we will be able to escape.”
“We will get you, Luna. Don’t do anything to jeopardize you or Slate.” He was growling, but he couldn’t help it. She and Slate were everything to him.
“I promise,” she said quickly. “I will stay safe and keep Slate safe.”
Fane imagined wrapping his arms around her and pressing his lips to hers. He heard her sigh and knew she felt him.
“Where are you?” she asked. “I’m assuming you guys aren’t just hanging outside the compound. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were.”
“I’m with your father’s pack, as is Decebel. We refused to leave the continent. My father and the rest of the pack returned to the Keep to check on the others. And the other supernaturals also returned to their people. They are going to be reconvening as soon as possible to plan a rescue mission,” he said. “My father would not let me stay outside the compound,” he added sullenly.
She laughed and the sound soothed him. “Your father is wise.”
“He is.” Now that his mind was clear, and his wolf was somewhat calm because he could still communicate through the bond, he understood his father’s reasons. Vasile hadn’t held his position as alpha of the largest pack in the world because he acted on a whim. He planned, he waited, he watched. Like any good hunter.
“My mom?” Jacquelyn asked suddenly, as if she’d just remembered that her mother had been fighting alongside him and the others.
“She is fine. Cypher has done well in training her. Not to mention she has her own powers considering she is a sprite.”
“And everyone else?”
“As far as I know there were no casualties on our side,” he assured her.
“Thank the Great Luna for that.”
Fane felt alarm through the bond and went still. “What’s wrong, Luna?”
“There’s someone coming in the room.” Fane imagined she probably didn’t even realize she was whispering, as if whoever was entering could hear her.
“Let me see.” Fane wanted to look through her eyes. He didn’t want to distract her, but he wanted to see the face of one of her captors. His wolf would remember and would hunt him down.
A moment later, Fane was no longer looking out the window of the Colorado pack mansion. Instead, he was staring at a door that was opening. In walked a man—judging by his pale skin, a vampire. He held a bag full of baby supplies.
“For the mutt,” the vampire sneered.
His mate didn’t respond. She simply watched as the male placed the bag on the floor next to a bassinet. Fane found it odd that Alston had provided such things for them. At least they weren’t in a damn dungeon surrounded by rats. As soon as the vampire left, Jacquelyn shut down that part of their bond, and he was looking out the window again.
“That’s unexpected.” She said what he’d been thinking.
“He probably believes if he keeps you happy, you’re more likely to comply with what he wants,” Fane said.
“Well, I’m not going to refuse the stuff. Slate needs more than I can give him. All I can do is feed him. One diaper isn’t going to last long.”
She sounded relieved.
Of course, she’d been worried about how she was going to take care of their child. Fane hadn’t even made it that far in his worry. He had been stuck on them not getting hurt.
“Slate’s asleep.”
“You sound tired. You should get some rest. Keep the bond open, all of the way, Jacquelyn,” he warned. She had a habit of trying to protect him by shutting the bond down when she thought something might upset him.
“I will,” she promised. “Are you going to be alright?”
She’d seen him in the past when she’d been hurt. He hadn’t taken it well, even when it had only been the vivid imagination of the In Between. But for her, he would keep himself in control. He would be what she needed him to be, what Slate needed him to be. “I will be. I will see you soon.”
“Of that I have no doubt, my love.”
“I really hope Jen hasn’t done anything stupid,” Sally said as she paced the room. It wasn’t a cell, which was nice, but it wasn’t anything more than four walls, a door, a bed, and a bedside table.
“I think we would know it if she had,” Costin said. “Nothing Jen does is ever quiet.”
“Good point.” Sally stopped and stared at one of the walls. On a whim, she reached up her fist and knocked. A moment later there was a return knock. Her head turned as she grinned at Costin. “They’ve put us in a room next to each other.”
“How do you know that’s Jacque or Jen?” he asked as he sat with Titus in his arms. Their son was sound asleep, for which she was thankful. He’d been through an ordeal and needed an escape. Sleep was a great escape.
“Listen,” she said and then knocked a pattern. Dun dun dun dun-dun.
The return knock was dun,dun, as though answering a question.
“What was that exactly?”
“It was what we would tap on each other’s windows when we snuck over,” she explained with a smile.
“What does it mean?”
“Each knock is for a word. The single knocks are ‘give me the’ and the double knock at the end is ‘all-clear’.”
“And her two knocks?”
“Two knocks is ‘all clear.’ One knock is ‘no.’ Which means get your butt gone.”
“Why did you all sneak out?” Costin asked. “Wouldn’t your mothers have let you go over to each other’s houses?”
“Not always, especially on school nights. Regardless, it seemed more exciting to sneak out.”
“Is that what Jen said?” Costin’s grin made his dimple appear.
Sally rolled her eyes. “Yes and because keeping Jen happy was easier than arguing with her, Jacque and I just did it. Pick your battles, Jacque always said.”
“What about cell phones? Couldn’t you have just texted each other when you were outside?”
“Remember Jen likes military operations? There are no cell phones in war,” Sally said.
“War?” Costin laughed.
“The war on the parentals, as Jen called it. Easier not to argue,” she reminded him.
“So is that Jen or Jacque on the other side?”
“I have no clue. We didn’t make a signal to distinguish who it was.” She stared at the wall as if she could somehow look through it. Sally wished they knew morse code. Why didn’t they know morse code? That was a freaking military thing. How had Jen not forced them to learn it? She turned to look at her mate. “Hey, you’re old. Do you know morse code?”
Costin’s brow rose. “I’m old?”
She nodded. “That’s not news, babe. Nor is it what’s important. Do you know morse code?”
He smirked at her. Holy crap, he did. “How do you know morse code?” Regardless of the fact that he’d been alive for sixty something years, why would he need morse code?
Costin stood slowly, with the ease and grace of a Canis lupus. He walked over to the bed and laid Titus down, pulling the blanket up over him. He looked so small in the big bed. Sally forced herself not to get upset. It wouldn’t help anything. She was trying to keep her wits about her and not freak out like a trapped squirrel.
“There weren’t cell phones when I was younger, and sometimes the pack needed to communicate without anyone listening in,” Costin said as he walked over to where she stood.
“What if those listening that you didn’t want to be listening knew morse code?”
“We created our own version of it after we learned the actual morse code.”
“Of course you did.” Sally sighed. Was there anything her mate, and the other Canis lupus, couldn’t do?
Costin pressed a kiss to her nose as he quietly laughed at her annoyance and then knocked on the wall. There was a distinct pattern to it. She realized a moment later that it was probably pointless for him to do morse code if neither Jacque nor Jen could respond.
“What did you say?” she asked, though it wouldn’t matter if the person didn’t understand.
“I said this is Costin, and I asked who they were.”
Sally was completely still as the anticipation built. She wasn’t even breathing because for some reason it felt like if she breathed then the responding knock wouldn’t come, and she knew that made no sense whatsoever.
Just when she was sure that whoever was on the other side of the wall wasn’t going to respond, there was a knock. And then another and another. Sally realized it was a pattern, not just random knocks.
Costin responded with another series of knocks.
Sally nudged him. “What did they say? And what did you say in response?”
“They said they were Jen. I told her to prove it.”
Sally’s eyes widened and then narrowed. She really shouldn’t be surprised. Jen freaking learned Romanian, for goodness’ sake. Of course, she learned morse code. She probably took an online course and never told her and Jacque.
There was another series of knocks from the other side and then Costin laughed.
“What did that G.I. Jane wannabe say?” Sally glared at the wall as if Jen could see her.
“She said you and I better not be bumping uglies.”
“Seriously? That’s how she proves who she is?”
More knocks came from the other side.
“If I can’t have any fun, then no one can,” Costin translated.
“Okay, it’s her,” Sally confirmed. “Ask her if she’s okay.”
Costin did his knocking thing and they waited.
When Jen responded, her mate smirked and shook his head. “I’m great. This is the vacation of a lifetime. Never better.”
Sally huffed a laugh as she leaned her shoulder against the wall. At least Jen hadn’t lost her sense of humor. Sally always felt like things were going to be okay if Jen was holding it together. But when Jen began to crumble, then Sally knew things were really falling apart. Or at least that was how she perceived things. Jen was the strong one. She was always able to see past the immediate danger to the other side where they’d manage to defy the odds and be victorious.
There was more knocking, and Costin continued to translate for her.
“Have they said anything to you?”
Costin replied with his own knocks and said out loud, “No. There’s been nothing since they put us here.”
“She says that they brought her stuff for Thia,” Costin said after more knocking. “And she asked how you are doing.”
Sally shrugged. “I’m…” She paused. How am I? These were the people who were responsible for what had happened to her in Ocean Side. They’d hurt her in a way that still haunted her, though there had been much healing, thanks to her mate and her family. But it wasn’t gone. It would never be gone. The scars of what she’d suffered would always be there.
“Sally mine,” Costin said, pulling her from her thoughts. His hazel eyes stared into her, the compassion and love robbing her of her breath. “It’s alright not to be okay.”
Costin replied to Jen and then took Sally’s hand and pulled her over to the bed where Titus was sleeping. He reclined on it, leaning against the headboard, and then pulled her down
next to him, tucking her against him and pressing her head to his shoulder.
“You’re the bravest person I know,” he said softly.
Sally shook her head. “That would be Jen.”
“She’s brave. But there’s more to you. You’re adaptable. You respond to difficult situations with such control. It takes a lot to not just give up.”
“But I wanted to give up,” she reminded him, thinking back to that time where she’d laid on the bathroom floor of their suite and seriously contemplated leaving the world. “I’m pretty sure that doesn’t qualify me as in control.”
“But you didn’t,” he said in a fierce tone. “You made the hard choice. Living is hard, Sally mine. Dying is easy.”
Sally bit her bottom lip to keep the tears at bay because his words hit her like a ton of bricks. Living was hard. Some days, she felt as if she was going to be swimming against the current forever and never get a good breath. Other days were a little better. Though dying might be painful, that pain would be gone once it was over. The pain of life was day in and day out. Sometimes, you just lived second-to-second.
“I suppose being here is messing with my mind more than I realized,” she said after a few minutes of silence. Her head slid down a bit and rested on his chest. His heartbeat comforted her. The constant thudding was a reminder that he was still alive, which meant she was still alive. They hadn’t won. If she’d taken her life, the Order would have defeated her, and that was something she couldn’t allow to happen. Not then and not now.
“There’s no shame in that nor does it make you weak.” He held her tighter and kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t think I would be this calm if you weren’t here,” Sally admitted.
“We’re mates,” he said simply. “We belong together. We’re stronger together, and our souls cry out for each other. I wouldn’t be okay if I wasn’t with you.” She saw the memories in his mind through their bond—what it had been like for him when she’d been gone. Costin often tried to keep those thoughts from her, but every now and then, he would let down his guard and she got glimpses.