by Quinn Loftis
Decebel smiled. “Is that so? Is that in a marriage book somewhere?”
“Damn straight. It’s in the marriage book I wrote.”
“And what’s the title of the book?”
“Marriage Rights for Women.”
“Is there a Marriage Rights for Men?”
Jennifer frowned at him. “Pssht, no. Since when have I ever given you the impression that you had rights?”
Decebel laughed as he stared down at his mischievous mate. He could tell she was pleased with herself because she’d gone about trying to make him quit worrying, and he could see in her eyes she knew she’d succeeded.
“I love you, B,” she said, suddenly serious.
“I love you back,” Decebel murmured as he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
“But,” she said, pulling back just bit, “I do want you to know if you get yourself killed, then there will be no rest and peace in the afterlife for you because I will make your afterlife a dead hell. Not a living hell because, duh, we won’t be alive. But my point is you will be eternally miserable.”
“Duly noted, baby. Now hush and let me make love to you again.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“When I was twelve and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was something like a lawyer or … a lawyer. Okay, so lawyer was pretty much it. My point is, there was never a time when I thought, ‘Hey, I want to be mated to a werewolf with a child at nineteen and constantly fighting demented, evil supernatural beings.’ Nope. Not once did I think that. Funny how life laughs at your plans while it kicks you in the ass.” ~Jen
* * *
Costin thought about what Vasile had said to him early that morning when the pack evacuees had been preparing to go to the Deep Keep. Costin had gone to see his alpha, expecting to have to argue his case. But as he’d walked into Vasile’s office, before Costin had even said a word, Vasile had simply said, “You should stay with Sally and your son.”
The statement completely derailed him. Costin was prepared to give an emotional speech on why he couldn’t stand the idea of leaving them, and Vasile had just blown it out of the water. “Isn’t it unfair to the other males?” Costin asked.
Vasile shook his head. “We don’t measure our actions based upon what others are doing. We measure them based upon what is best for everyone in the pack. Separated from your mate after the ordeal you and Sally have experienced would not be good for anyone. It would cause you to be distracted, reducing your ability to fight effectively. You could wind up getting yourself or someone else killed. The pack will understand your decision, and there isn’t a single one of us that would be able to walk away from our mate if we were in your shoes.”
* * *
“You okay?”
Sally’s voice pulled him from the memory, and he looked down at her. “I’m good. You?”
“I’m okay, although if Jen sings ‘On the Road Again’ the entire time we’re walking, I may push her off a cliff. It wouldn’t kill her. She’d just break some bones and maybe get a concussion,” Sally said dryly.
“Sounds reasonable,” Costin said with a wink.
The sound of Titus yelling caught their attention. They turned and saw him walking next to Jen.
“Aunt Jen! My name is Titus.”
“How do you know your name is Titus?” Jen challenged. “Your mom and dad could just be calling you that and your real name could be Toledo.”
“Why would my name be Toledo?” Titus asked.
“Duh, because you’re destined to be a traveling preacher who will become known as Holy Toledo.”
“Really?” Titus asked, his eyes growing wide.
Jen ruffled his hair. “No, not really. You just learned your first valuable life lesson. If it sounds like nonsense, then it probably is nonsense. There’s no hidden meaning or valuable truth. It’s just nonsense.”
Sally groaned. “She’s going to give him a complex.”
Costin held up his hand. “Wait for it.”
“Aunt Jen, I learned another life lesson too.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that, Mitis?”
He sighed and shook his head at her. “You speak an awful lot of nonsense.”
Costin laughed. “That’s my boy.”
“Okay,” Sally said, smiling. “Maybe he’ll give Jen a complex.”
Jen tripped over the fifth log of the day and cursed under her breath. “Why the crap couldn’t we ride horses?” she asked no one in particular.
Peri flashed into being right beside Jen, causing her to jump. “Dammit, Peri.”
Peri chuckled and then answered Jen’s question. “Because, while I can cloak our group, cloaking animal droppings isn’t really my thing,”
“A few horse droppings wouldn’t be a big deal,” Jen whined.
“There are a hundred and fifty people on this trek right now. Were you planning on giving them each a horse? Because that would be more than a few horse droppings.”
“Ha! Absolutely not. I just mean me. Why couldn’t I take a horse? And Thia. Thia would need one.” Jen frowned at the look Peri was giving her. “What?” She huffed.
“Why would your one-year-old need her own horse? Why couldn’t she just share with you?” Peri asked.
“Have you shared a horse with that little saddle hog?” Jen asked.
“Have you?” Peri challenged.
“Well, no, but I know her, and she, without a doubt, would be a saddle hog. I mean, when she curls up to sleep, she wraps that blanket around herself without any thought to whether her stuffed wolf is warm. Just leaves him to freeze in her crib.” Jen sighed. “It’s sad really. I thought I raised her better than that.”
“Speaking of your horribly selfish child, where is she?” Peri asked.
“Zara’s carrying her. She looked like she needed a pick-me-up.”
Peri’s brow rose. “And you thought letting her watch your blanket-hogging selfish child would be a pick-me-up?”
“Hey, I never said she was selfish. A little single-minded when it comes to meeting her own needs, yes. But she is a very fun child.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better, Jen.” Peri sighed. “I’ve got to talk to Rachel. Try not to break anything while tripping over the logs. I don’t have time to mend bones.”
“By the way, oh great and powerful fae, I thought you said we couldn’t flash because it would leave a residue thingy.”
“Thank you for pointing out that I am great and powerful. It just reaffirms that you know your place in this world, and yes, I did say that. Flashing large groups of people would definitely leave a trace, however, I can manage to erase my own trace to a certain extent. It is a bit of a risk, but it’s a calculated one and necessary.”
Jen saluted the high fae as she flashed away to the front of the group where Rachel was leading.
“Everything okay?” Decebel’s voice filled Jen’s mind.
“Just peachy, except I’m convinced the trees have it out for me and keep dropping limbs and logs in my way in an attempt to get me to fall and break my neck.”
“I’m sure the trees don’t have it out for you.”
“So you say.” Jen sighed.
“How’s Thia?” he asked.
Jen glanced over to where Zara was walking next to Wadim. “She’s keeping Zara and Wadim company,” Jen said, smiling when Thia giggled at the silly face Zara was making.
“I’m glad Vasile told Wadim to stay with Zara, as well as for Costin to stay with Sally,” Decebel said.
“I agree. I would have been ticked if the alpha had requested Costin go. I don’t know that he’s mentally stable enough to be away from Sally.”
“Don’t get injured by a tree, please. I love you, baby,” Decebel said as she felt his breath against her neck.
“Behave, fur ball.” Jen laughed. “Love you too. Let me know how the summit goes.”
Jen returned her attention to the trail in front of her and watched as pack members ta
lked and laughed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a great threat to bring different races together in a common goal. Only then can they learn to appreciate their differences.” ~Vasile
* * *
Vasile couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen so many fae warriors in one place. His eyes roamed over the field where he and his wolves usually sparred, attempting to count the fae. But they kept moving, so the highest he’d gotten was thirty-five.
“Did you expect this?” Decebel asked from beside him.
“I knew that Peri would send as many as she could,” Vasile said, “But I didn’t know how many would be willing to answer her call. Let’s just hope she and Nissa were able to recruit as many of the other supernatural races as well.”
Riven, the fae warrior who had come to them a week prior, walked over and held out his arm. Vasile clasped the fae’s forearm in a warrior’s shake and bowed his head at the same time as Riven.
“We are honored to go to battle with you,” Riven said.
“As we are honored to have you on our side,” Vasile replied.
Riven released the alpha, stepped back a step, and clasped his hands behind his back. “I come with discouraging news,” the fae said. “It became apparent as we were recruiting warriors to fight that many more than we realized have joined the Order. We knew some had, but we weren’t aware it was so many.”
“Do you have an estimate on the number?” Vasile asked.
“Of the ones of which I am positive, there are thirty. Those unaccounted for number around twenty-five. I must assume they are with the Order, which brings their fae support to fifty-five,” Riven said.
“How many have joined with us?” Decebel asked.
“Forty-five,” Riven answered.
“What about Peri?” Fane, who had just stepped up to the conversation, asked.
“I asked her to go to the Deep Keep,” Vasile said. “I wanted someone powerful with the children and the healers.”
Riven nodded. “That’s a wise decision. Peri announced to us that Alston’s magic was a part of how the Order captured your healer. Knowing that he is working with the Order, it’s important to have someone powerful watching the vulnerable. Nissa will be joining us. She is a high fae as you know and quite formidable.”
“Thank you and your people for being willing to transport us to the veil to the sprite realm,” Vasile said.
“We’re ready when you are,” Riven said.
Vasile turned to the group at his back. There were a hundred wolves from both the Romanian and former Serbian packs. As soon as they felt his eyes on them, they quieted and focused their attention on the Alpha.
“The fae warriors will transport us to the veil of the sprite realm. You must be touching a few when they flash. Please be respectful as they are our comrades. Am I understood?”
In one voice they answered. “As you say, Alpha.”
The fae began to spread out amongst the wolves, holding out their arms as pack members laid hands on them. Vasile, Decebel, Fane, and Drake flashed first with Riven. In a matter of minutes, the entire pack and all the fae were standing in front of the large, old tree that would lead them into the sprite ream. A human male dressed in what appeared to be an elfin warrior uniform stood next to the tree. He held a sword at his side. And next to him was the luminous sprite leader. She was glowing, and Vasile could feel the power coming from her.
“I am Chris Morgan, Sally’s father and husband of Cindy … a sprite,” the human warrior said, holding his empty hand out to Vasile.
Vasile shook it. “You’ve met my mate,” he said. “Alina Lupei.”
“Ah, yes, she is extremely kind,” Chris said.
Vasile smiled. “That she is.” Then he turned to the sprite and smiled. “Hello, Diedre, it’s good to see you again.”
She bowed. “Vasile Lupei, thank you for coming to the summit.” Diedre stepped to the side, and a shimmering veil parted inside a large opening in the tree. “Walk straight through to the other side. Aurora is waiting with some of the elemental sprites.”
“Diedre,” Riven said just as Vasile moved toward the veil, “my warriors and I have to gather the rest of the supernaturals. We shall return with everyone else for the summit.”
Diedre gave a small bow to the fae warrior and then, as one, the fae flashed from the field.
A sprite met Vasile and the others on the sprite side of the veil. “Please follow the trail of lights,” a female sprite said, pointing left to an illuminated trail. “It will take you to the great gathering room.”
As they began walking, Fane stepped up beside Vasile as Decebel took his other side. “Da,” Fane said, “have you ever been to this realm before?”
Vasile shook his head. “The sprites have kept to themselves for a very long time. They haven’t mingled with other supernaturals or humans.”
“It’s a beautiful land,” Decebel said.
Vasile took a moment to take in his surroundings. It was night in the realm of the sprites. A huge silver moon hung in the sky, shining down on the land, casting long shadows around the trees and bushes. The trees were tall and slender with green leaves etched in gold. Their foliage was unusual and striking. Vasile could tell the gilded leaves might be unnoticeable without the moonlight causing the trim to glitter.
“It is quite lovely,” Vasile agreed.
They reached the end of the trail of lights and found themselves standing in front of a large structure entirely constructed out of trees. The front of it consisted of two huge trees, as wide as houses and at least five stories high. They each arched inward toward one another. There were smaller trees clustered in between the two giants, forming a wall of foliage. As the wolves approached, leaves rustled and the branches of the two centermost trees separated, creating a gap for the party to pass through. Light flowed out of the opening and the sound of voices filtered to the wolves’ ears.
Vasile walked through the trees without pause, his pack at his back. Trees lined either side of the walls and the back of the large room. Vasile felt the pull of the moon and tilted his head back to find an opening in the roof where the bright orb shone down into the great hall.
The light glittered off the tree branches making them appear white.
“Welcome, Vasile, Alpha of the combined Romania and Serbia pack.” Vasile turned and saw Andora, the sprite queen, step from a raised dais and walk toward him. “It is a great honor to welcome you and your warriors into our realm.”
Vasile bowed. The others followed his lead. “Thank you for hosting such an important and momentous event,” Vasile said.
“We should begin very soon. It won’t take the fae long to bring everyone in,” Andora said.
A minute later, Peri flashed into the great hall with Thalion at her side. “I see the party hasn’t started without me,” said the high fae.
“I thought you were with the group going to the Keep,” Vasile said.
“I was, and it’s the Deep Keep, might want to get it right before you see Jen again,” Peri said. “But Thalion needed a ride, and I needed Cyn to take over for me watching the pack while I attend this summit. I need to grab one more guest. I will return momentarily.” She flashed before anyone could say anything.
“Thalion,” Vasile said, holding out his arm for the elf warrior to clasp. “How are things in the elfin realm?”
Thalion took the offered arm, wrapping his hand around Vasile’s forearm. “Could be worse,” Thalion said. “We figured out why my father wasn’t making any moves against us. Turns out, he left the realm with his loyal warriors.”
A familiar voice bellowed through the room just as Vasile was about to respond.
“Never thought I’d have the opportunity to fight side by side with the great Vasile Lupei,” Tyler Reed called out into the crowded room.
Vasile turned to look at the man and smiled a genuine smile. “I truly wish such a day had never come,” Vasile said. “Are you her
e alone?”
Tyler shook his head. “I left my Beta in charge and brought my third.” He motioned to a man standing quietly against the tree branch wall.
Jeff Stone, the Coldspring, Texas Alpha, came in next with two males flanking him, and Vasile felt Fane tense. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “He is not your enemy. You killed the one who hurt your mate.”
“Seeing him just brings back unpleasant memories,” Fane said as Jeff walked up to them.
“Alpha Lupei, Decebel, Fane.” The Coldspring Alpha bowed his head to each of them and then turned to Tyler. “Alpha Reed, it is good to see you.” The two males on either side of him bowed to them, as well, and then stepped back.
“You, as well, Jeff,” Tyler said. “Have you carried out any additional raids on the vamp nests?”
Jeff shook his head. “Haven’t caught the scent of any more of them.”
“That’s because they’re all in Phoenix.” Dillon Jacob’s voice came from the entrance to the great hall. His mate, Tanya, was beside him as they walked into the large room.
“I am eager to hear your report, Dillon,” Vasile said, “but let’s wait until everyone has arrived so you won’t have to repeat yourself.”
Dillon nodded. “Good idea.”
The next to enter was Cypher, the warlock king and his mate, Lilly Pearce, the warlock queen. Vasile frowned as he met the eyes of Jacque’s mother.
Lilly huffed. “Don’t look at me like that. I have my reasons for not going with the girls and the children. I am not part of your pack, Vasile. Don’t judge.”
Vasile held up his hands. “Not judging. Just surprised, that’s all.”
She pursed her lips at him and didn’t seem to believe him.
Vasile shrugged and then shook Cypher’s forearm. “Thank you for coming,” he told the warlock king.
