He squeezed his eyes closed tightly trying to recall the memory of her sweet face, her vibrant red hair, and her unique scent. She was the sun in a life that had been plagued with winter. She was the brightest star shining into the darkness that had eaten away at his soul. His Jewel, his little dove, with an olive branch offering him hope.
“How are you doing?” his Alpha’s voice chased away the brief glimpse he’d gotten in his mind’s eye and had his eyes flashing in irritation. Dalton didn’t want to speak. His wolf wanted nothing more than to shed the human skin and run, run and never stop. We must find her, his beast rumbled into his mind. Yes, he agreed, and they would. Dalton would never stop searching for her.
“Dalton,” Dillon’s voice, firmer this time, prodded again.
He turned his head slowly and met the eyes of his Alpha briefly before looking over Dillon’s shoulder. He hadn’t lowered his eyes, submission was not in his vocabulary at the moment, but challenging Dillon would only take up time that could be spent looking for Jewel.
“I’m as can be expected.” He didn’t say as good as could be expected because there was nothing good about him. Good had fled the minute he’d felt the rip in his soul.
“And your wolf?” his Alpha asked.
Dalton knew what Dillon was really asking. Was his wolf in control of the man or was the man in control of the wolf? That was a good question because at the moment Dalton didn’t really know. It was as though their grief and anguish were so intertwined he couldn’t even begin to separate their feelings to figure out who was in the driver’s seat.
“He is what I am,” he answered, unsure if his words made sense to anyone but him. He was thankful when Dillon gave a single nod and then stepped back. His Alpha knew him, and he knew that like any male in mourning for their female he needed space.
They stood for several more minutes in tense silence before Peri finally reappeared before them. She looked at each of them and then let out a deep sigh. “You three couldn’t be more obtrusive if you each held signs that read, ‘Werewolf, will eat if you get too close.’ ”
Lucian shrugged. “It is not our goal to appear cute and cuddly. Did you get the information you needed?”
She shook her head. “Only more questions.”
Dalton let out a snarl that his wolf refused to hold back. “What use are you!”
Peri shot him a glare. “You are still on my list, wolf. Do not push me further.”
Dalton pushed away from the wall taking a menacing step towards the fae. He was tired of every lead being a dead end. He needed results and the female wasn't giving them to him. “You claim to be so powerful, and yet you have done nothing to get us closer to my mate.”
“Back off, pup,” Lucian said coolly as he stepped in front of his mate. “I know you are angry but Perizada isn't the enemy. And as powerful as she is, she isn't all knowing.”
“I know you're frustrated, Beta,” Dillon started but stopped in midsentence as a bright light illuminated the alley.
Dalton and the two other males growled but then they were frozen, unable to move.
Peri glared at the high fae that stood thirty feet away, just inside the mouth of the alley. “Look at the cockroach that decided to crawl out from the rubble that has become his kingdom.” She wanted to check on her wolves and make sure they were okay, considering the nature of the spell that Volcan had cast over them, but she didn't dare take her eyes off of the fae in front of her.
“Don't be petty, Perizada. It isn't an attractive quality and you have so much you have to overcome already. No need to damage the package even more.” Volcan's voice made her skin crawl and the snide comment and smart ass look on his face made Peri want to slap him into the next realm.
She rolled her eyes at him. “If you're attempting to put a dent in my ego, you might as well give up. I have a level of confidence in myself that simply can't be shaken, especially not by crazy, whack jobs like you. Now, enough with the pleasantries, why are you here?” She really wanted to ask how he knew where to find them, but that would make her look uninformed, and to someone like Volcan, who saw knowledge as power, she would come across as weak.
“I have something that once belonged to one of yours,” he motioned to Dalton. “I was curious to know if he still wanted her. Her time with me is just about up and I will be releasing her soon. I wanted to know should I give her back to her mother, or does he still want the responsibility of claiming her?”
Screw looking dumb, Peri thought. “Is she still alive?”
Volcan's head tilted and his brow drew tightly together. “Why would you think she is dead?”
“How else would a bond be so thoroughly broken?” Okay, so now she really did look like an idiot, but it couldn't be helped, and she wouldn't let her pride get in the way of learning about Jewel's well-being.
He let out a cackling laugh that was horror movie worthy. “Oh my, my, my. This is too much. The great Perizada doesn't know it all. I have to say I think that you've made my day.”
“Fantastic, glad I could be the potpourri in your shit storm. Answer the question.” It was taking everything in her not to fry the psycho, but if she did that, then they might never find Jewel.
Volcan took a casual step toward her. He looked much too smug for Peri's liking, but then he had every right to be because he held her by the balls and he knew it. “Little Jewel is alive for the moment. How long she remains that way is yet to be seen. In two days I will leave what is left of her in a human city in her country. You can find her if you're as clever as you think you are. Rotten to the core, framed by the sea, filled with different flavors, where many seek to be free.”
And then he was gone just as quickly as he'd appeared. The snarls of the males as they were released were background noise as Peri repeated the riddle to herself. She hated riddles. “What the hell is it with villains and riddles? Is there a ‘Villains for Dummies’ book out there that tells them all they need to throw in a good riddle every now and then in order to be official villains?” she continued to mutter under her breath until she felt Lucian's hand on her face.
“What did he say, love?” The calm, controlled voice did not fool Peri for a moment. Her mate was raging on the inside.
Peri turned and looked at Dalton. “She's alive, at least for now.” Dalton growled and Peri held up a hand to stop him. “He's going to release her in two days.”
“Where?” The mountain sized wolf barely sounded human as his cold eyes met hers.
“In a city in this country,” she told him and then paused waiting for the inevitable.
“What city?” Dillon asked.
“Rotten to the core, framed by the sea, filled with different flavors, where many seek to be free.” Peri nearly laughed at their confused faces. “It's a riddle for the city he plans to leave her in.”
“Do you know the answer?” Dalton asked.
“No, but I have four American girls who can probably figure it out pretty quickly.” Peri held out her arms for the three men to touch and flashed them from the alley.
They reappeared in the living room of Peri's home where seven other males sat looking about as happy as a cat on a cactus.
“Please tell us you have something for us to do,” Nick said dryly from his perch on the stairs.
Peri glanced at Lucian. “I need to go back to the pixie realm and check on Anna and the fool wolf chasing her, and then I need to check in with Elle and see how the search for the djinn is going.”
Lucian's brow rose. “You sent them in search of the djinn? Was that wise?”
Peri shrugged. “He's the only one who will know anything about what has happened between Dalton and Jewel. Will you stay here and make sure they don't kill Dalton?”
“Why would they kill Dalton?”
“Because he's going to lose it when he realizes he won’t be joining us when we go find Jewel in whatever city it is we are looking for.”
Lucian let out a sigh. “Go,” he told her quietly and she fl
ashed before the others could realize what was happening. She only hoped that when she returned, her house would still be standing.
Sally stared at the crumbling structure to which Elle had flashed them and then looked at the fae. “You want us to go in there?” she pointed at the ancient looking house. After Peri had explained the situation with Dalton and Jewel and told them they needed to find Thadrick the djinn, Elle and Adam had put together a list of possible places that they might find the recluse. And then they'd decided who would be going and who would be staying in the pixie realm. So, there she, Costin, Elle, and Sorin stood, hesitating outside the first destination on the list. Sally couldn’t see how any being, supernatural or not, could live in such a dilapidated building.
“Scared?” Elle teased.
Sally nodded. “I don't have any desire to die today, including being crushed by falling beams. I hear it's a nasty way to go.” She let her eyes roam over the large form of the destitute manor. It was big — a mansion — and at one time was probably very handsome. The roof was tall, boasting several severely pitched steeples, making it appear as though someone had built several houses and stuck them as closely together as possible. There were half a dozen chimney's standing proudly from each of those steeples. The tall windows were probably magnificent when light danced behind them, but dark as they were now they simply looked like large sad, drooping eyes.
“Why exactly do you think he's living here?” Costin asked as he eyed the house warily.
“Because the veil to the djinn realm is in this house,” Elle explained as she walked up the overgrown walkway to the front door. Sorin walked quietly beside her, his eyes moving constantly, and Sally knew her own mate’s were doing the same.
Sally tucked her hand into Costin's as they followed the couple up the steps. “Were you ever going to tell me there were vampires and djinns?”
Costin shot her a grin, complete with his devastating dimple. “Mystery is what keeps the relationship alive, brown eyes.”
She smacked his chest. “Not when it pertains to deadly supernatural beings.”
Costin rubbed the spot as though it had actually hurt him. “Okay, I'll make you a deal. I will tell you about all the supernatural beings in existence, if you give me a kiss for each one.”
Sally's eyes narrowed. “How do I know you won't just start making up fake beings just to get more kisses?”
Costin chuckled. “Guess you'll just have to trust me.”
“Says the wolf to the bunny,” Sally muttered under her breath. Her attention was pulled from her mate when the door to the mansion slowly began to open. “Did you knock?” Sally whispered leaning closer to Elle.
Elle shook her head.
“And cue the creepy, horror music,” Costin said softly.
The four of them stood, staring into the darkness of the open doorway. Sally couldn't even hear any of them breathing.
“Guess we should go in,” Elle said as she started to take a step forward. Sally reached for the fae's shoulder just as Sorin wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her back against him.
“Didn't your parents do the whole Don't talk to strangers, don't take candy from weirdos, and don't walk into houses that have doors that open by themselves speech?” Sally practically squeaked out. “What are you thinking, Elle!”
Elle didn't look away from the doorway as she answered. “There is nothing to be afraid of. We should go inside and stay a while,” Elle answered in a monotone voice and began to march in place, being held back by Sorin.
“What the?” Sally looked from Elle to Costin, who only shrugged.
Sorin picked his mate up and turned her away from the doorway and took her face in his hands. “Come back to me,” he growled. Sally watched as his eyes lit up with the presence of his wolf.
“We should go inside,” Elle said again in the non-inflective voice.
“What is wrong with her?” Costin asked, his own eyes glowing now.
Sally looked again at the black doorway. She felt something brush her mind and it wasn't Costin's presence. Her feet seemed to move of their own accord, taking another step closer to the opening. Sally had the sudden urge to go into the house. She wanted to go in because it would be safe inside. She could stay awhile and rest. The words wrapped themselves around her, becoming the only thing she could hear. Come in. Stay awhile. Rest. Over and over the words caressed her mind, drawing her closer and closer to the doorway. Suddenly she felt as though an icy hand was wrapped around her arm. Sally tried to jerk herself free but whatever it was that had her in its grip was too strong. Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled through the opening into the darkness. She heard Costin's howl and Elle's gasp just before she heard the door slamming closed. And then all was quiet.
Sally stood frozen in absolute darkness. She waited, hoping her eyes would adjust to the blackness but they didn't, or, perhaps, the darkness was just so absolute that no light could be reflected. Her breathing was shallow and her heartbeat sounded unusually loud in her ears. Finally deciding that standing there like a statue wasn't going to accomplish anything, she took a deep breath before she spoke.
“Hello?” For a brief moment Sally wanted to pat herself on the back for not sounding like a quivering mouse. But the moment passed when she felt movement behind her and she jumped, letting out a squeal. “Who's there? What do you want?” The two questions tumbled out of her mouth as she held her hands out in front of her as though she could fend off who or whatever it was that was lurking in the darkness.
“You are a human female,” a deep, silky voice said. “And yet you are more than human as well.”
“Seems a little unfair for you to be able to see me while I cannot see you,” Sally prodded. Despite being unable to see, her head still turned from side to side looking for the owner of the voice.
“You are young, but not so young to not know that there is no such thing as fair. There will always be those who are greater and more powerful. There will always be circumstances beyond our control. Fair is nothing more than an ideal created by humans because they cannot stand the thought of being found lacking.” Though the words were harsh, the tone of voice was matter-of-fact.
“Okay, so what I hear you saying is that you don't have a great fondness for the human race.”
“It would not be wise for any race to gain my attention long enough to procure my fondness.”
Not wanting to evaluate that statement too closely, Sally let out a sigh as she crossed her arms in front of her. “Could you please shed some light on the situation? I would at least like to see the face of my captor.”
A deep chuckle filled the space and then candles lit one by one until Sally could see that she was standing in what appeared to be a sitting room. There was a well-worn sofa along one wall and an old coffee table sat in front of it. Two chairs rested across from each other on either side of the coffee table and a large, round rug filled the space in front of the fireplace, which was across the room from the sofa. It was an unremarkable space, except for the floating candlesticks. What Sally didn't find was the owner of the voice.
“Why won't you show yourself?” she asked as she turned and looked behind her finding a doorway that lead out into a hall.
“It has been a very long time since I have been face-to-face with anyone, let alone a gypsy healer,” the voice answered.
She wasn't shocked that he, after all the voice was quite deep, knew what she was. Anyone who could make candles float and clearly was not human was sure to be able to recognize a gypsy healer on sight. In fact, humans themselves seemed to be the only ones who remained oblivious to the healers’ existence.
“Okay, well could you maybe tell me how long you're planning on dragging this out? Because I imagine right about now my mate is getting a little frantic.” She was pretty sure that a little frantic wouldn't even come close to how Costin was feeling. And that was when she realized she couldn't feel him, or hear him. “Did you do something to our bond?” Sally’s fis
ts came down on her hips as she glared at the doorway, not really knowing where else to shoot her glare. Perhaps, she should have been scared, but now she was too ticked off to feel fear. She didn't like it when people screwed with her mate bond.
“There has been no damage to it,” he said, sounding amused. “I simply require your undivided attention, and I wouldn't get that if your mate was barking in your mind.”
The barking comment was enough to have her teeth grinding together. “Are you Thadrick? Are you the djinn?” she snapped uncaring of whether or not she offended him.
Silence.
“You are, aren't you?” she asked again. “Show yourself! Are you grotesquely deformed? Do you have eight eye balls and three noses? Or are you scared?” In hindsight Sally should have known that taunting something more powerful than herself wasn't her brightest moment.
She heard him before his form filled the doorway that had only seconds ago been empty.
“Oh,” she breathed out. “Okay, so not grotesque.”
Costin's shoulder slammed into the door for tenth time in a matter of seconds. Elle didn't understand how the door was still standing after the brutal beating it had taken. Between Costin's shoulder and Sorin's foot, it should have been destroyed. She'd already tried her brand of strength, but all of her spells seemed to bounce right off of it. She had no doubt now that it was indeed Thadrick inside. Djinn's were powerful and he was the most powerful of his kind.