Sally rolled her eyes, looking at Cynthia.
Cynthia smiled. "Alpha males," she murmured, and winked as if that were explanation enough – which it was.
As they all looked straight ahead in the direction the voice had originated from, they saw a soft glow emerge from the trees. There was a flash of light, which caused them all to turn their heads and cover their eyes. Then, just like that, it was gone. In its place stood a beautiful woman. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, but the weary look in her eyes said she was much older and had seen more than her share of heartache. She was tall and slender, with waist-length white hair that shimmered with her movements, as if little lights were attached along each strand. Her lips were ruby red and her high cheeks had a natural blush to them. Sally noticed that she did indeed have pointed ears, although not so prominent as to stand out. Her most striking feature were her eyes. They were a pale peridot green with a very soft glow.
This was Perizada.
"I will admit that the bright light is a little ostentatious and not necessary, but I figured it's your first time to meet a Fae, might as well go all out."
Nobody said anything as they stared at one of the eerily beautiful Fae.
"Perizada?" Sally wanted to confirm.
"The only." The fairy smiled sweetly.
"Excellent," Sally murmured with a wicked smile as she started toward the woman. "So bloody nice of you to finally grace us with your presence,” she growled as she continued forward.
Costin grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back against his chest. "Easy," he whispered in her ear.
"While you have been taking your sweet damn time reveling yourself to us, our friends are in trouble. Decebel is on the verge of keeling over and who knows what's happening to Jen! So please do tell. What has been so freaking important that you have taken a week, A BLOODY WEEK, TO CONTACT US!" Sally was panting and continuing to pull against Costin's hold.
Perizada stepped closer, her eyes running over each of them, then back to Sally. "Are you sure you're a healer? You're awfully temperamental."
"AHHH!" Sally screamed against Costin's hold. "You haven't seen temperamental until you've seen Jen. I'm a peach compared to her. Where the hell have you been! Why did you take so long? Don't you get it? Decebel is -" Sally stuttered and pointed at the weakened Beta, "and Jen is, is, well -"
"Jen is dying," the Fae said matter of factly.
Sally gasped and would have collapsed had Costin not been holding her.
Decebel's knees buckled as he howled a sound so painful that Sally thought her heart would tear from her chest.
"You don't know that! You don't know what you're talking about!" Sally couldn't believe the way she was acting, but it just all hit at once. She was cold, tired, and scared. And now this Perizada stood there, speaking so casually about the demise of her best friend. It was just too much.
"SILENCE!" Perizada yelled and the air around her seemed to shimmer and crackle. "You know nothing about which you speak, healer. I am Perizada, ambassador to the supernatural world from Farie. I was here before you were even a thought in your mother's mind and I will be here when your bones are dust buried layers beneath the earth. You do not have the privilege of questioning me." Perizada's eyes were glowing and her hair whipped behind her by an unnatural breeze. "I will answer you not because I have to, but because I respect you as the current healer to the wolves. I have been leading a very nasty witch on a fruitless chase. She was getting close to discovering Rachel and Gavril's location and that cannot happen, must not happen. I could not risk coming to you until I had sufficiently squelched her plan. That is where I have been. You must not be so narrow-minded to believe your friends are the only lives worthy of rescue."
"Watch it, Fae," Decebel growled, managing to sound menacing even from his broken position on the cold, snow-covered ground.
"I meant no offense, wolf."
"Are you going to take us to Jen now?" Sally asked, her anger now being replaced by fear and worry for her friend.
"No, I will have to have Gavril bring her to us. I cannot have you and Rachel in the same place. Your combined magic would draw the witch like a moth to a flame." Peri turned to Decebel. She walked over and leaned down in front of him.
"I owe you an apology Beta. I did not realize the bond between you and Jennifer was so strong. It has been long since I have interacted with the wolves and I had forgotten the fragility of a new bond."
"I don't remember her. How can our bond be strong if a witch's spell was able to erase my mate from my mind?" Decebel's voice was tight with anger.
"You have not shared blood. Listen, she has not been erased. Your wolf knows her or else you would not feel the pain you are feeling. Your fates are intertwined even without completing the Blood Rites. I haven't seen a bond like this in a long time." Peri laid her hand on Decebel, offering the little comfort through touch that she could.
"Come." She stood, motioning for them to follow. "We have a long journey to Farie, we mustn't tarry."
"Did you say Farie?" Cynthia sputtered.
"Where else can I keep your presence safe from others?" the Fae asked in a condescending tone.
"Oh, of course. Where else?" Sally muttered sarcastically as Costin finally relinquished his hold on her. She glared at him as they began to walk.
"Why did you hold me back?"
"Because you needed to be protected from yourself in that moment. I told you, it's my job to protect you."
"Even from myself?" Sally rolled her eyes.
"Especially from yourself." Costin winked and grinned, completely non-plussed by her snarkiness.
"Yeah, well, who will protect me from you?" Sally muttered under her breath.
Costin heard Sally's muttered question and the pain in her voice as she stomped past him to follow Peri. His brow drew together as he thought about her words. The only explanation he could come up with for such a comment was that she was developing feelings for him.
It worried him that he felt so strongly for her even though she wasn’t Canis lupis. He shook his head at the thought. It didn't matter. Sally was his, and she would just have to accept that. If he were being honest with himself, he would admit that he enjoyed the thought of making her come to terms with their inevitable relationship. But then again, where was the fun in being honest with oneself?
Chapter 12
Eight days after the fire, Jacque, Fane, Sorin, Crina, and Wadim all sat in various places around the burned room. The smell of smoke still lingered and soot still covered the walls. Jacque groaned as she rolled onto her back, holding a book above her face, reading intently. Suddenly she sat up.
"I think I've got something."
The other four stopped what they were doing and turned their attention on the red head.
Jacque began to read:
"The year was 1605 and the Fae had instituted the Great Purge. The witches were overpopulated, taking residence on continents all over the world. More than in any time in history, the balance was off. It needed to be restored. The task fell to the Fae, who were the most powerful of all the supernatural's. Perizada, the high fairy, decreed war on all witches. She sent out her people with the command that there were to be only four witches to each continent. What the Fae did not expect was for the witches to fight back. It had always been accepted that the balance must remain and when too much evil filled the world, for it to be purged.
“The Fae are steeped in magic. Their very beings are magic. The witches, however, conjure magic. It is unnatural and only accomplished at the expense of another's blood. And so, the Great Purge was a massacre. The Fae wiped out the witches in a matter of days, at a great cost to themselves. The supernatural world held its breath as it waited for the repercussions of the balance once again being thrown off.
“Days passed and nothing happened. Perizada met with the Alphas of the packs, searching for any problems that might have occurred as a result of the purge. Nothing. It was decided at the meeting of the
Alphas that the only explanation was that evil had not been eradicated. A witch, somewhere, somehow, had survived. "
Jacque sat and stared at the book as she continued to skim.
"Is there anything more?" Crina asked.
Jacque shook her head. "That's the end of this volume. She closed the book and looked on the spine. Volume III, it read. "I need volume four."
They all began searching through the books on the floor and the shelves.
"Got it," Sorin announced a minute later. He handed the heavy tome to Jacque.
She opened it and began skimming. Everyone waited. Finally she snapped it shut.
"Nothing! No name, just mentions of an unknown witch leaving her mark across the world."
"What was her mark?" Fane asked his mate.
"Supernatural deaths. And don't think I'm not noticing that there is a whole slew of “sups” out there that you didn't bother to mention, wolf-man." Jacque glared.
Fane held up his hands. "If I remember correctly, Luna, you told me you wanted to stick with just werewolves."
Jacque growled. "And since when do you give me what I want?"
Fane chuckled. "I'm learning."
She rolled her eyes and continued to sift through books and papers.
For several hours they continued to search for information on the witch. Every now and then, one of them would run across something and read aloud to the group and then continue on in silence. Night had fallen by the time Jacque decided she could no longer ignore her aching stomach.
"I'm starving. Anyone else ready for some food?"
"I'm with you," Crina said as she stood up from her spot on the hard floor. She stretched her arms over her head and let out a loud yawn.
The others muttered in agreement and all headed back to the surface of the mansion.
"So,Wadim, you don't remember this witch's name that survived this purge?" Jacque spoke in between spoonfuls of the hot soup Jacque and Crina had thrown together.
"I feel like I should remember it, but it's just not there." His voice was thick with frustration. He had been trying to fill the blank spaces in his mind since the day the others had arrived, but nothing helped.
Jacque shook her head and growled. "I swear, if I ever get my hands on the wicked witch I'm going to witch-slap her."
Crina snorted at Jacque's change-up of the phrase, nearly sucking her drink up her nose.
"Good one." She smiled at Jacque.
Jacque winked with a chuckle. "It was weak, but I'm trying." She looked over to Fane. "Has your father heard anything from the others?"
"No. When I spoke with him earlier he said things have been quiet. Although, he said every now and then he has been feeling some pain seep through the pack bond to him. He thinks it has something to do with Dec and Jen. Something has happened, but there isn't anything he can do. He didn't say, but I can tell he is getting restless not being able to take action. His wolf is agitated with the pack being so divided."
"Well, I'm going back down to do some more searching before I call it a night," Jacque announced as she finished her meal.
"Luna, I think you need rest. We have been going through book after book. You need a break."
"I will take a break when I find that witch's name," she snarled at him, which was not like her at all. Snappy, yes – snarly, not so much.
When Fane stood and growled at her, stepping close, she took a few steps back.
"Don’t," she whispered. "Don't pull that Alpha crap on me, Fane. Not now."
Fane could hear the hurt in her voice. He took her by the hand, and without looking back at the others, said, "We will be going through the documents." The unspoken message was everyone else was to get some rest and leave the prince and his mate be.
Fane walked briskly back down to the archives, never looking behind him as he held Jacque's hand, towing her along. When they finally reached the room they had spent the last eight days in, he turned abruptly and pressed Jacque against the wall. She let out a sharp gasp at the quick move. Her breathing increased when Fane continued to press forward, their bodies touching from toes to chest.
"Why do you question me, Luna? It's my job to take care of you." Fane's voice was low as he spoke directly into her ear. His lips grazed the sensitive flesh with each movement.
Jacque closed her eyes against the sensation.
"I'm a grown woman, Fane. I can decide when I need to sleep," she ground out through her gritted teeth, bracing herself against the desire that began to simmer as her mate placed one hand on her lower back and pulled her even closer. His other hand went to her chin, tilting her face up to his. He stared into her eyes and she watched as his began to glow brighter and brighter blue.
"Fane." His name on her lips was a plea.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She didn't respond right away and he growled low at her. Jacque responded to this by running her hands through his hair as she deepened the kiss. When Fane let go of her chin and placed his hand on her hip, under her shirt, his warmth sent a shock through her and she moaned into his mouth. Fane pulled back abruptly, his own breathing heavy.
"Let me love you, Luna," Fane whispered as he began placing gentle kisses all over her face, her neck, and collarbone. Jacque groaned and tried to shake off the lust-induced fog.
"Stop trying to distract me, it won't work," she muttered in between short breaths.
"It looks like it's working to me." Fane chuckled as she pressed against him.
His chuckle broke through her haze as she pushed him away.
"GRRR! Fane! I won't let you try to get me to go to bed by seducing me."
"Why not? You need a break and I need you. It's a win-win." Fane leaned forward, trying to kiss her again, only to meet her hand.
"Listen up, Don Juan." Jacque poked a finger in his chest, punctuating her words. "If you think you are needy now, just keep pulling this Alpha crap and seduction crap on me. We'll see just how needy we can make you."
Fane took a step back, straightening his shirt, and ran his hands through his hair. After composing himself, he smiled at her. "A compromise?" he asked sweetly.
Jacque couldn't stifle the giggle at his raised eyebrow. "Lay it on me."
"I was trying to. Geez, woman, make up your mind," Fane told her, eyes glowing.
She threw one hand up to hold him off. "I meant your idea, fur ball, not your delectable body."
Fane let out a growl. "Delectable?"
"Oh, get over yourself. What's the compromise?"
"I give you two more hours, then you come to bed with me."
Jacque shook her head as she rolled her eyes. "You will give me? Really, Fane?" She stepped around him. "Fine, two hours, then bed. To sleep," she clarified and laughed to herself when Fane growled and tugged on her hair. They fell into companionable silence as they both began to read.
An hour and a half later Jacque stood up and walked over to Fane. She didn't look up from the book in her hands as she moved toward him.
"I found it. I found her." Jacque's words were a near whisper as she looked up at Fane, finally tearing her eyes away from the name on the page.
"Desdemona." Jacque shuddered as she spoke the name aloud.
Fane brushed some wisps of hair from Jacque's face as he asked her what it said.
"It says she's the only survivor of the purge. The account is from a member of the Serbian pack in 1711. He is talking about how an unknown female came to their pack and darkness followed her." Jacque looked up at Fane. "She's been working with the Serbian pack since the 1700s?" Her voice was full of dread at the realization of how old Desdemona was, and how long the alliance between her and the Serbian pack ran.
Jacque continued to read the document, explaining out loud what she was reading.
"She started the werewolf wars. After the wars were over, she disappeared." She handed Fane the book and let him skim over it as she thought about what she had read. Desdemona, a powerful witch, probably the most powerful in history.
>
Fane closed the book gently and wrapped his arms around Jacque. "Good work, love. We now know who she is. There is power in having a name. I think we should call it a night. We can share with the others what we have found tomorrow. Then we can continue to search for a way to break the curse."
Jacque nodded and allowed him to guide her out of the archives and up to their room.
"So..sleep, huh?" Fane asked slyly.
Jacque rolled her eyes. "We just find out the name of the most powerful witch in history, the witch who cursed the Beta of our pack, and that's what you want to talk about?"
Fane chuckled. "Who said anything about talking?" he whispered against her neck as he pulled her toward their bed. Fane gently pushed Jacque onto her back and covered her body with his.
Jacque let out a small moan as her mate kissed her. When he pulled back and stared into her eyes, she smiled. "Talking is definitely overrated."
She closed her eyes and let her mate love her, closing out the nightmares crowding in on them.
(ten days since set out)
It was two days later when another breakthrough finally occurred.
“What could possibly break the curse on Decebel?” Jacque asked Fane as he searched through the stacks of old parchment.
"I've got it!" Crina shouted. Everyone stopped what they were doing.
"What's it say?" Fane asked from across the room.
"Love," Crina answered solemnly.
"Love?" Jacque asked incredulously. "That's the answer? That's what will make Decebel remember?"
Fane began to set aside the documents that crowded his lap. "Crina, bring that paper with you. Luna, grab the books with the references to Desdemona by name. Sorin," Fane started toward the hallway that would lead them back to the main room, "it's time to head back to the tavern. We've got a witch to hunt."
Chapter 13
Thad stood in his office, which was located in the Serbian pack headquarters, staring out into the cold, dark night. The usually clear sky was veiled in the darkness of rolling clouds. The windows rattled as the wind picked up speed. The trees swayed, causing the snow on the branches to blow away into the night.