by Quinn Loftis
Decebel chuckled and his eyes began to get lighter. "You will stop undressing in front of other people."
Jen put a hand on her hip as she tipped her head to the side. She narrowed her eyes at her mate and tapped her lip with a finger.
"Now, I'm going to need you clarify that." When Decebel didn't respond, just continued to stare at her, Jen rolled her eyes. "Clarify, elucidate, enlighten. Do. You. Understand. The. Words. That. Are -" she emphasized each word.
"Jennifer," Decebel growled.
"Comingoutofmymouth," Jen finished quickly, making Sally giggle.
"Only undress in our bedroom."
"Nope, na-ah, there's waaaay too many loopholes in that little decree. Seriously, Dec, you can do better than that." Jen raised a single eyebrow.
Decebel growled at the challenge in her words and at her tone of voice.
Damn, when am I going to learn not to poke the angry wolf? The thought ran through her mind before she could censor it from a now wickedly smiling Alpha.
"I have to agree. Jen could run wild -" Sally began, but stopped abruptly when Decebel's head snapped around and he pinned her with his amber eyes.
"Sorry, shutting up now," Sally squeaked.
Decebel looked back at his mate, then glanced down briefly, trying to think of how to beat her at her own game.
"Okay." Decebel smiled smugly.
Jen did not like the look of that smile, one that said the cat had the mouse by the tail.
"You set the boundaries. You tell me exactly how to word that I don't want your clothes coming off in public."
Jen huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine, Ricky," she blurted out in her best Lucy voice. "You want me to esplain it, then I will." She walked toward him and began slowly circling him as she spoke.
"I'm not to disrobe myself -" Decebel chuckled at her choice of words. "- in front of any person of the male persuasion, in any location, at any time, for any reason." She paused and looked at Sally. "Would you say that covers all the possible ways I could wiggle out of his decree?"
Sally thought for a moment. She knew Jen, knew how good she was at working around the rules. "'Any person'," Sally started. "That doesn't necessarily cover the Canis lupis species. It could be argued that they are indeed not persons because they are not human."
Decebel looked back and forth between the two best friends and ran a hand though his hair. "Did you two take a law class of some sort in school?"
Sally shook her head. "No, Jen has just learned over the years how to get around certain questionable details of any incident." Her eyes brightened as she continued eagerly, "Like this one time -" Sally stopped as she looked back at Jen, who was admittedly making a cutting motion with her hand, telling Sally to shut up.
Decebel looked back at Jen, who quickly put her hand on her chin as if she were thinking about Sally's words.
"I can agree with that." Jen nodded. "So we will change 'person' to 'species'."
Decebel took another step toward her so that he was standing only a breath away.
"I do, however -" hHe groaned in exasperation when she started speaking again. "- reserve the right of clemency if said species is unable to be determined as a male simply by sight alone."
"Uh-huh, yeah, I think that's fair," Sally said helpfully.
Jen looked around Decebel's large frame and winked at her. Sally was trying to laugh silently. She felt like she shouldn't watch the exchange between the two, but now that she had a mate, she was curious as how to deal with such a dominant person.
"Jennifer."
"Decebel."
"Sally." Sally spoke. She'd tried really hard not to add her nam,e but when they both said each other’s staccato style, she just jumped on the wagon.
Decebel turned and glared at Sally, who quickly made a zipping motion across her lips.
His glare didn't soften as he turned back to Jen.
"Are you finished?" he asked calmly.
"Hold on a sec, let me think."
He growled, then leaned down to whisper in her ear. She stepped back and gasped. Her eyes narrowed and her lips drew tight. She looked positively ticked off. Decebel, however, looked very smug.
"You wouldn't," Jen snarled.
Decebel grabbed her hand and turned toward the door, dragging a growling Jen behind him.
"Oh, smart ass of mine, I will. I told you once that one day you would write a check your ass couldn't keep. Make no mistake."
Decebel's eyes were glowing again.
"Uh, no, you actually said cute ass. Get it right if you're going to quote yourself, you barbarian covered in hair and fleas. Bossy, domineering, overbearing, ridiculously overprotective -" Jen paused and hollered back at Sally,
"Sally, our conversation about the FAHDEH is not over."
Sally laughed when she heard a smacking sound and imagined Decebel had swatted Jen's butt. Then she heard Jen yell, "I don't care how hot you are! You're still a flea-infested butt head!"
"FAHDEH, FAHDEH, FAHDEH," Sally chanted out loud, trying to figure out Jen's latest acronym. She laughed and shook her head when it hit her. "Fine as hell, dimple-endowed hottie.”
Only Jen, she told herself as she climbed into bed.
Exhausted from the eventful evening, she closed her eye,s and there waiting for her in her mind’s eye was her FAHDEH.
Chapter 3
"How evil is my soul, you ask? Gaze into the darkness, a place where all light is consumed and not even a hair's breadth can be used to cast a shadow. Then you will begin to understand the depth of my depravity."~ Desdemona
She paced back and forth, back and forth, in one of the underground sanctuaries she had been driven to centuries ago. The dark, rough walls complimented her mood well, and the stale air continually reminded her that she had once again been forced to leave the land she called home. Her rage simmered and was dangerously close to boiling over. She had to keep control. This was all just a setback, not defeat. Mona hadn't realized how powerful the two healers together would be and they also had the aid of that intrusive Fae.
After the healers had countered her spells Mona had needed to break the connection before they were able to reach into her, into the very magic she drew from the living that she killed, then stored in her black soul. She couldn't let that happen. That would destroy everything she had become. So she stepped back to reevaluate her circumstances; she did not flee. Well, that's what she kept telling herself.
She had left on her faithful steed Octavian and into the protection of the foresst of Romania. Heedless of the cold, she pushed him until they reached a bridge deep in the Carpathian Mountains. If a human did not know what was below the bridge, they would just continue across without a thought. The supernaturals, however, would know what it was because there was no passing the bridge without paying toll to the troll who guarded the portal. If they could not pay the toll then they had to work it off by going through the portal to the In Between. Mona never paid the toll. If she entered the In Between, it was always by choice. So every time that she encountered the troll, they went through the same routine. He asked for the toll and she told him to go to hell and entered under her own power. She thought that the troll must find this amusing and a nice break from his mundane existence.
The In Between was the place between the human world and the demon realm. It was where the wicked went when they needed to lay low, and where the not so wicked went to work off an indiscretion toward the wicked. It was a place void of peace, or comfort. A place where the darkness covered you like a blanket and despair filled your lungs with every breath.
The atmosphere adjusted to the being's greatest discomfort. If you hate the cold, then you will be surrounded by ice. Blizzards will attack you, frostbite will cripple your fingers and toes – your very veins will feel as if the blood is freezing in your body, slowly depriving your organs of the precious fluid they need to live. The ice never melts and dehydration sets in even though you are surrounded by water.
>
If you hate the heat you will stand in the desert under the scorching sun, your lips cracked and your skin dry, your body calling out for water. You will hear the vultures above you, waiting for you to fall under the relentless, melting ball of fire. You will feel them swooping down, encouraging you to give up so they can pick your carcass until only bones are left, bones that will be incinerated over time.
If water is your fear, if the open ocean with no land in sight is what makes you shudder in your dreams, then there you shall be, water as far as you can see; no help in sight. You must tread water to stay above the salty, dehydrating fluid. With every bob of your head under the surface your body weakens. Your muscles begin to cramp, your thirst causes delirium, and you no longer know why you shouldn't drink the ocean water. You give into the temptation and take in gulps, but you are too weak. The water that seems to have a life of its own calls to you, you belong to the sea, and as you sink and your lungs fill with water the darkness you long to consume you stays just out of your reach.
Maybe it isn’t the elements that you hate or fear; maybe it is your own death or the death of the one you care deeply for that terrifies you. If this is what fills you with dread and despair, then you will watch that loved one die over and over again in the most gruesome of ways. You will try to help them, reach out to them when they call your name, but it will be in vain. For though everything that you see and feel in the In Between appears so real to you, it is only in your mind that it is happening. All the while you are actually stuck in your mind with no means of escape.
Those places were there to hold those waiting their next assignment by the demons, or other evil supernaturals that needed some sort of assistance. Sometimes it was simply delivering a message, other times it was a little bit nastier. The best thing for a supernatural to do was just pay the toll. The In Between was not a place for the light weight evil beings and definitely not a place for the ones pure of heart.
Mona had seen many suffer here. She herself had never experienced it. The evil that filled her was even darker than what lay here. Nothing the In Between could use to try and torture her would be effective. There were times, though very few, when she wondered at what point the evil had completely consumed her. At what point did she completely sell her soul? She never thought about it long because the power that came from the darkness was what she needed and she had a lot of it.
Now here she was, pacing, thinking, scheming. Her power was great, but possessing the blood of two healers would make her the most powerful supernatural this side of the demon realm. There would be no wolf, no Fae who wouldn't fall at her feet. A smile stretched across her face, so wicked that the darkness around her reached out to touch her, and she imagined the great Vasile kneeling before her. She would have her revenge; she would take what she deserved. But her power was waning. She could admit that she was going to need an army to go before her and weaken those who would stand against her. Damn those Fae for taking her sisters from her. As much as she hated to admit it she was going to have to go see him. At one time he was very powerful, as were his people. Now, circumstances had begun to weaken him. It wasn’t his strength she sought; it was his knowledge. She needed information that only he knew. She would do whatever she had to do in order to get that information from him.
~
"Before we head over to the new Serbian pack mansion, there are some things we need to discuss," Vasile announced to the two packs that had assembled per his request.
"I always hated it when my parents wanted to discuss -" Jen whispered to Jacque, making air quotes, "- something. What they were really saying was sit your ass down because we're fixing to rip you new one."
Jacque held her fist up for a fist bump, adding the slang they were known for: "Word."
"Hey, what have I missed?" Sally asked as she took a seat next to her two friends.
Jen cut her eyes at Sally and then raised her eyebrows suggestively. "And where exactly have you been this morning, Sally? Do tell."
Sally blushed even though she really didn't have a reason to.
"Costin was teaching me how to pour drinks the cool way bartenders do."
Jacque laughed when Jen acted aghast. "Is that what they're calling it these days? I'll have to let Decebel know that we aren't supposed to say we were looking for my contacts."
"Jen, you don’t wear contacts," Sally pointed out.
"Well, what exactly do you want me to say? That he was trying to find my -"
Jacque slapped her hand over Jen's mouth. From across the room she saw Decebel scowling at his mate, Fane laughing, and Costin looking very confused.
"Why must your sex life always be the topic of conversation?" Jacque whispered in Jen's ear.
"Because it's so freaking awesome it would be a crime not to share the greatness with the world!" Jen grinned and waved at Decebel. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning back against the wall with the scowl. The broodiness he was famous for was plastered on his handsome face.
"Look how cute he is when he pouts." Jen giggled.
"That's his pouting face? It looks more like his 'quit talking about our sex life, you crazy ass female' face. I'm just saying." Jacque shook her head.
"Nooo," Jen drawled, "his eyebrows would be scrunched a little lower and his lips would be in a straight, tight line." Just as Jen finished talking Decebel took on the face she had just described.
Jacque and Sally laughed. "Oh, he's good, Jen. He totally has your number."
Jen growled. "He may have my number and he can dial it all day for all I care, but I'm not answering. Put that in your cherry pie and cook it."
Jen looked over at Jacque and Sally when she realized what she'd said. There was a pause before all three girls fell out laughing. .
"Jen, you are an Alpha female, don't you think you should maybe tone it down?" Jen heard Decebel ask.
"Most definitely not," Jen said, slicing her hand through the air. "As the Alpha female it is most definitely my job to make sure our girls are educated in every way. Sexual innuendos included."
Decebel sent her an image of him rolling his eyes at her. She promptly returned with a less than lady-like response.
“Why do you never feel the need to talk about our sex life? Is it not awesome enough?” Jacque heard Fane’s voice in her mind. There was humor behind the words, but also a hint of insecurity.
Jacque looked over at him and grinned. As soon as he saw what she had planned, he quickly started in her direction. But she was faster than him.
Jacque stood, climbed up on her chair, and spoke as loudly as she could without yelling. “I would like it to be known, just to make it very clear so that no one has any questions; that Jen and Decebel aren’t the only ones with an awesome sex life. Okay people? She may talk about it a lot, but Fane totally rocks my world. So, yeah, there you have it.”
A loud “WHOOP!” was hollered out, and Jacque turned to see Costin giving her a ‘thumbs up’ and an exaggerated wink. Jacque beamed at him and then took her seat next to her friends.
Jen was laughing so hard that she was falling out of chair. Sally was laughing too, but trying to help Jen back into her chair at the same time. Decebel’s face was lowered so that his chin was tucked in and his shoulders shook with laughter. Fane, who had finally reached his mate, was not laughing.
He leaned down next to her ear and whispered calmly. “Was that really necessary, love?”
Jacque shrugged her shoulders and looked up at him innocently. “Now you don’t have to wonder if I think our sex life is worthy of public discussion.”
Fane rolled his eyes and started to speak, but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. He looked up to see his father, standing with his arms crossed staring straight at the little group.
Vasile cleared his throat from the front of the room and glared back at the girls.
"Are you three finished?" he asked.
"Yes, Alpha," they all answered in unison.
Sally, swee
t Sally, followed with a whispered, "Whatever you say, Alpha," in the nasal voice the quote was known for.
That's when they found themselves slid apart from one other with a mate in between each of them.
"Good. Let's get started." Vasile was quiet for a moment, seeming to rethink what he wanted to say. His gave a single nod and began.
"Decebel has become Alpha to the Serbian pack. Therefore my Beta position must be filled. Based on recent events, the spot will not be filled per normal protocol." A low rumble rippled across the room, but abruptly stopped when Vasile growled.
"Gavril and Rachel have been found and brought back to us. Gavril is a dominant and dominant enough to be an Alpha. However, he doesn't want that position and he is more dominant at this point than those available for the Beta position. Normally the spot would go to Sorin. Sorin has agreed to the decision and declined requesting a challenge as is his right. Gavril will be my Beta, Sorin my third, Skender my fourth. Rachel will be the Romanian pack Healer."
Sally gasped and Costin laid a hand gently on her shoulder from where he stood beside her. Sally knew that meant she would be going to the Serbian pack. Her reaction was echoed by Jacque and Jen.
Jacque started to stand, but Fane's hand on her shoulder held her in place.
"Listen before you act," she heard Fane's voice advise her. Realizing that others would be looking to her and her friends' reactions on how to react to this situation themselves, she quickly put on the best poker face she could – which she knew sucked.
Vasile went on. "Peri will continue to work with Rachel and Sally, training them in things the healers used to know. That is where my pack stands. Alina is your Luna and Alpha female, Jacque is in line for that position. You will respect their places in the pack."
"As you say, Alpha," the room responded.
"Now Decebel will address you."
"You come with me, baby." he told Jennifer, who looked up at him, confused. "Where I go, you go. Remember?"
