Chapter 8
**“Once you’ve been to one bonding ceremony, you’ve been to them all. The Blood Rites, however, are a whole 'nother bag of tricks…literally, if you’re creative. I’m just saying.” ~Jen**
“Where are you, my Alpha?” Alina spoke to her mate, who had a far-off look in his eyes. They were waiting for the others to arrive in the meeting room of the Serbian mansion. Vasile and Alina had shown up just before dusk and the others in Vasile’s pack were getting settled in the rooms that Jen and Decebel had prepared for them.
“I’m just wondering if we will ever see days of peace in my time as Alpha. Will we ever have grandchildren dancing around our feet? Will I hold you at night and not worry if we will be fighting for our lives the next day?” Vasile pulled Alina into his arms. She laid her head on his chest as he stroked her hair lovingly.
“All you can do is what is right. Fight the evil and the ones who would use it to devastate the weak with those who are pure of heart and have the will to stand against it. You lead them, you give them your strength, and you trust that not one of us will rest until good prevails.” Alina pulled back to look in his eyes. “We might not see days of peace, or play with our grandchildren.” She choked back on her words as she spoke of the little ones. “We might never go to sleep knowing that we will wake up and open our door to a bright morning. And that’s okay, because I have loved and been loved by you. I have fought by your side, I have borne your child, I have laughed, cried, hurt, rejoiced, and mourned with you. Those things are my peace.”
Vasile placed his hands on either side of his mate’s face and gently pulled her toward him. Their lips touched, and even after two centuries, the passion that started as embers burned bright and strong. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes to get closer. Vasile growled softly and Alina laughed lightly as she pulled away. He looked into her eyes and saw the man she believed him to be. A man can go to his grave with pride when he has seen in his woman’s eyes that he is her hero, her lover, her friend, and her confidant.
***
Jen, Jacque, Sally, Rachel, Crina, and Cynthia all sat around the coffee table in one of the many sitting rooms. Each held a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
“Do we know if Peri has been able to get Legolas’ brothers and sisters to join our cause?” Jen asked as she took a sip of her hot chocolate, cringing as it stung her tongue.
Crina and Cynthia, who had also been taking sips of their drinks, immediately began choking as they laughed at Jen’s words. Rachel was smiling, beginning to understand some of Jen’s humor, even if she didn’t understand the reference.
“Jen, just because they are Fae doesn’t mean they are anything like the Lord of the Rings characters,” Sally pointed out. "Not to mention, Legolas was an elf."
Jen shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s so much more fun to refer to them as Legolas' cousins or baby’s daddy than just calling them Fae.”
Jacque nodded. “She does have a point.”
Cynthia was shaking her head. Once again, the three girls were trading banter like the world wasn’t coming to an end.
“To answer your question,” Sally said, “Peri told me during one of our little…”
“Potions classes?” Jen blurted.
“Harry Potter!” Jacque yelled out.
“Point.” Jen nodded at Jacque.
“Seriously? You guys are going to play 'what’s it from?' now?” Sally asked. She crossed her arms across her chest, attempting to look intimidating.
“What is ‘what’s it from’?” Rachel asked.
Jacque piped in. “It’s a game where we just have normal conversations like usual. But then throughout the day we throw movie quotes out that are appropriate for the topic. To get a point you have to be the first one to call out what movie or television show it’s from. It’s a very mature game for very mature women.”
“I’m afraid this game isn’t going to make a whole lot of sense to you considering you've been living on fig trees for decades and your only form of entertainment was injuring your werewolf husband so that you could use your healing skills.”
Everyone but Rachel gasped at Jen’s bluntness. Rachel was laughing. She had told Jen about how Gavril would purposefully injure himself just so she would have something to do.
“I’m just saying,” Jen spouted at the outraged faces.
“Anyway, Rachel,” Jacque continued, “that is the game.”
“Perhaps I will just listen then. I’m sure Jen will say something that, though I may not understand, I will still find amusing.”
Cynthia laughed. "That’s an easy thing to do. Jen only has to open her mouth and you’re just about guaranteed to laugh, and despite the brashness, she probably means no harm.”
“She’s really very short on charm!” Jacque hollered just as Sally and Jen yelled, “The Princess Bride!”
"Good one, Doc." Jen grinned at Cynthia.
"Okay, seriously," Sally said, collecting herself. "Peri said the council isn't going to lift a finger to help us out."
Rachel snorted. "That's no surprise."
"What do you mean?" Crina asked.
Rachel leaned forward and set her cup on the table. "The Fae are the most powerful of all the supernaturals and, at one time, they were the disciplinarians of our realm."
"Like the police of the sups?" Jacque asked.
Rachel stared at Jacque blankly.
"Rach, just go with it," Jen encouraged.
"Okay then, yes, like the police," Rachel agreed. "After the purge of the witches they retreated beyond their Veil and have had very little to do with this world. Especially since the absence of healers. So, it doesn't surprise me that they don't want to get involved. They live in peace, safe in their world."
"Yeah, well, what happens when this world is brought to its knees and the death and destruction brought on by Mona comes knocking on their door?" Sally asked. "What is Peri going to do?"
"She hasn't really come out and said it in so many words, but I think Elle and Adam are going to be helping out again." Sally noticed Crina's shoulders stiffen when she mentioned the Fae. Maybe she didn't like them, Sally thought.
"Sally mine, we're getting ready to meet." Sally jumped at the sound of Costin's voice and let out a yelp.
Jen jumped up at that. "Bloody hell, Sally. Are you okay?"
Sally blushed. "I forgot to mention something," she muttered.
Jen's head snapped around to Jacque. "I told you she was holding out on us. Didn't I tell you she was holding out on us?"
"Yeah, yeah. You told me. Now sit down and zip it so we can grill her for information."
"I'm just saying – I knew she was acting weird. But does anyone listen to Jen? Nooooo, of course not. It's not like I'm brilliant or anything."
"Jen."
"What!" Jen snapped.
"Sit it and shut it." Jacque pointed to Jen's seat. "Now," she growled, pinning Sally with her emerald eyes. "Spill it healer."
"Well, I was going to tell you guys last night but then the meeting and Peri and then…" Sally stammered.
"Blah, blah, blah. Sally, get to the point." Jen made an impatient motion with her hand.
"Costin and I can hear each other's thoughts," Sally blurted out.
"Shut up!" Jacque grinned.
"That's what I'm talking about. It all starts with the mind talk and next thing you know you're rolling around getting wrapped up in the sheets like a burrito." Jen was up, doing a little dance as she spoke. She stopped when she realized everyone was staring at her. "What?" Her forehead wrinkled.
Crina, Cynthia, and Rachel were shaking their heads with small smiles on their faces. Sally was covering her face in embarrassment and Jacque was rolling her eyes.
"Jen," Jacque started.
Jen held up her hands. "I know, I know. Always with the ‘don't talk about sex, Jen', ‘keep your clothes on, Jen', ‘be a boring square, Jen'."
"Did you hear me, baby?"
Sally jumped again. "Oh, crap, I forgot he spoke to me." She stood and walked away, turning her back on her friends. "Yes, I heard you. Sorry, I was distracted by the girls."
"Hmm, I must not be doing something right if your friends distract you better than I do. Guess I'll have to remedy that." She heard Costin chuckle in her mind and felt warm breath over her neck.
She shivered. "Was that you?"
"Yes, Sally mine, that was me. Now, are you coming to the meeting room or do I need to come and carry you over? Which would be completely fine with me."
Sally giggled. "We are on our way."
"Fine, have it your way. No worries, love. I will find another way to get you in my arms."
Sally was blushing when she walked back over to the others.
"Um, Sally, you do realize that we can't hear you talk to him, right? You don't have to walk away for privacy like you're on a cell phone."
Sally's blush deepened. "But if I try to talk to him while I'm in front of you guys you will tell me that I look constipated."
The room erupted into chuckles.
"Oh, Sally girl, I wouldn't say you look constipated," Jen placated.
"Oh, okay." Sally smiled.
"For all I know you might look like you have gas, or maybe you look like you are in the throes of -"
"Jen!" Jacque cut her off, trying very hard not to laugh. When the others lost their composure, Jacque gave in herself.
Sally tried to give them a stern glare, but she was too giddy to be upset. A wide grin spread across her face as she thought about Costin.
"Jennifer, Costin said you all were on your way." Jen heard her mate’s voice.
"We're heading that way. We had girl things to discuss. Tell Costin not to get his tail in a twist, his little healer will be there in a sec."
"Costin isn't the one asking, baby. I'm asking. And what girl things?"
"Oh, well, in that case I won't tell you not to get your tail in a twist because I think your tail stays in a perpetual state of twisted-ness. And none of your business."
She heard Decebel growl at her. She laughed. "Love you, my furry fur ball."
"Promise me you will never call me that out loud, in front of anyone."
"Now baby, you know I can't make a promise like that. You're bound to piss me off at some point and I need all the ammunition I can muster."
"Just get your butts in here." He was growling again which only made her grin bigger.
"Now, now, I will not stand for you talking about other chickadees' bums."
"Jennifer," he warned.
"Fine, jeez," she relented.
"Come on, girlies. Decebel’s yapping in my ear about getting all our butts to the meeting room."
"I don't know how you put up with his bossiness," Crina commented on their way out the door.
Jen snickered.
"If he was easy, compliant, and tolerant of her, she would turn him into a wolf rug and walk all over him," Jacque explained.
"Seriously," Jen added. "I can't French kiss a rug. Well I could, but then people would think I'd passed from mildly demented into full-blown off her rocker."
Sally cut a sideways glance at Jacque and raised her eyebrows. Jacque gave a slight nod in agreement with Sally's unspoken skepticism.
"Sally, Jacque, I will not hesitate to put super glue on your toilets, so wipe the smirks off your lovely faces."
Crina, Cynthia, and Rachel listened to the girls' banter, shaking their heads and laughing when Jen made a typical Jen statement.
As they walked, Jacque reached out to Fane. “Hey, wolf-man, I’m feeling a little left out here. All the other men are jumping all over their mates to get their butts to the meeting room.”
Jacque heard him chuckle and then he sent her a mental image of the two of them.
“I will be happy to jump all over you. However, I assure you it will be for a much different reason.”
Jacque laughed out loud and received knowing looks from the others.
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” Jacque asked.
“Yes, but I never get tired of hearing it. Now hurry up and get your butt in this meeting room,” Fane teased.
Jacque grinned to herself and somehow, even after the bonding and marriage, she still got butterflies at the idea of walking into a room knowing she was going to see Fane’s all-too-handsome face.
When they finally arrived at the meeting, the heaviness that cloaked the room brought their laughter and easy banter to an end.
***
The girls walked into the quiet room. The men were sitting in a circle. There were empty seats next to Decebel, Fane, Costin, and Gavril. Each mated female made their way to their respective places while Cynthia and Crina took the empty seats next to Sorin and Drake. Vasile and Alina sat near the front of the room with Peri sitting to their left.
Jacque saw Wadim next to Sorin and smiled.
"Hey, history boy," she teased. Fane growled and she elbowed him as she continued to talk to Wadim. "So, you're being dragged into this mess too?"
"How could I possibly miss the end of the world as we know it?"
Decebel and Vasile snarled at Wadim’s words.
"Not appropriate, Wadim," Vasile warned.
"My apologies, Alpha. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed by the information I need to share with you," Wadim told him.
"Let's get started," Peri interjected.
Vasile stood and began to walk slowly around the circle as he spoke.
"Decebel and I, along with our Betas, Gavril, and Costin, have been discussing how we should proceed. We have decided that we cannot wait for Desdemona to strike first. It would be better to be on the offensive instead of the defensive. This means we need to be taking steps forward to figure out Mona's plan and how we can keep that plan from bearing fruit." He paused, waiting to see if anyone had anything to say at this point. When nobody spoke up, he continued.
"Based on the information Peri has been gathering, we think it would be beneficial to send out two groups to two locations that are opposite one another in the country. We might be able to pick something up inadvertently just by being in the right place. For example, Peri and Decebel were able to get Costin a job at a bar in Ruse, which is right on the border of Bulgaria, close to the forest where we think Mona was headed. This bar is frequented by supernatural beings.
“Sally will join him, along with Jen, Decebel, Sorin, Cynthia, and Drake. And thanks to Perizada, Elle will be joining you as well. The other group will include me, Alina, Fane, Jacque, Crina, Rachel, Gavril, and Adam, again thanks to Peri’s help. Skender will stay behind and take care of my pack and Decebel will appoint someone in his place while we are gone. Our group will be heading deep into the Carpathian Mountains, in the area close to the bridge above the In Between.” Vasile stopped pacing. “Now, at one time there were tribes of pixies…"
"Whoa, hold the heck up," Jen interrupted. Decebel placed his hand on her thigh, which she ignored.
"Pixies? Seriously? Okay, right here, right now, give us a list of all the non-human beings that inhabit this great planet but live in secret all up in our Kool-Aid."
Sally and Jacque were nodding their heads in agreement.
Decebel rolled his eyes and waited to see how Vasile would respond to his mate’s outburst. He probably should have put duct tape on her mouth before the meeting began, but she tended to make things more interesting.
"I heard that about the duct tape, you Neanderthal," Jen growled through their bond.
Decebel chuckled out loud as Jen pushed his hand off her thigh. He just put his hand back, not bothered by her attitude in the slightest.
"How about I have my people get the list typed up and they will give it to your people?"
Snorts of laughter rippled across the room.
Jen narrowed her eyes at Vasile. "Did you just make a joke?” She snorted, then added with a growl, “Your people had better get in touch with my people."
"Done." Vasile nodded and smiled slyly, “On both accounts.” He looked back at the rest of the group and continued. "As I was saying, there used to be a tribe of pixies near the bridge. They tend to be quite nosy and like to keep tabs on what's coming and going out of the Veil into the In Between."
"Are they good or bad?" Sally asked.
"Pixies are independent and will tend to side with the winning team. They aren’t inherently evil, but they tend to do what's best for them, not the good of everyone. Hopefully they can see that Mona has no concern for them or the outcome of their species in regard to the demons she wants to unleash."
"Great." Jacque threw her hands up in frustration. "So, you're telling me that we are going into a forest close to the opening of what is essentially hell for those of us who don’t want to torture, maim, and rule the world. Then, on top of that, we don't know if the creatures we are looking for even live there anymore, and, just to add insult to injury, we aren't guaranteed to get their allegiance?"
Fane slipped his hand up under her hair to wrap it around her neck. He squeezed affectionately. "You are just a ball of warm fuzzies, aren't you, love?"
Jacque shrugged. "I'm just keeping it real, wolf-man."
"It does look like it will be difficult and quite possibly impossible, but who else is there to do it?" Vasile asked, not unkindly.
Jacque leaned into Fane with a groan. "Okay, okay. I get it. We have to save the world because we can't expect someone else to step up and do it. Gah, you just had to go there, didn't you?"
"Feeling a little frustrated today?" Fane asked her.
"It's just one thing after another. If one of us chicks aren't being chick-napped, it's some deluded, ego-inflated Alpha on a power trip, and if it's not that, then it's a witch that wants to take over the world using some demons from the pit of hell. What's next?"
"Perhaps next the pixies will rise up and decide they're tired of being used and start wreaking havoc all over the place."
Jacque leaned forward and turned to look at Fane. "Really, Fane, that's all you got? Hell, why stop there? Let's go with maybe all the supernatural beings will join forces and decide that they want to rule the world."
"Oh, I got one." Jen raised her hand, bouncing in her chair like an eager child. "How 'bout the supernaturals that ban together decide that once they take over the world, they don't want to just kill us outright, so they make the humans go out into the woods in groups and fight for supplies and food to stay alive."
Sally and Jacque glanced at each other, rolling their eyes in sync. "Jen, you dork, that’s the Hunger Games. As in the books and the movie."
"Oh, damn. I knew it was a good idea." Jen looked over to Decebel. "It was a good idea wasn't it, babe?"
Decebel patted her leg and nodded. "It was an awesome idea."
Jen frowned at him. "You're just humoring me, aren't you?"
"Most definitely."
Jen shrugged her shoulders. "At least you’re honest."
Vasile cleared his throat as he frowned at everyone. "Can we continue, or do you all need a little more time to think of the next hopeless scenario?"
Nobody answered, which was the wise road to take.
Sally raised her hand.
"You don't have to raise your hand, Sally," Costin teased.
"After the look he just gave us, I think I will play it safe."
Vasile smiled at Sally.
Jen rolled her eyes. "Sally, are you seriously raising your hand? We aren't in school anymore." Jen grinned wickedly at her friend. "But if you insist on acting the part of the student, what part does your dreamy, finger-liquor good mate play?"
Decebel growled.
"Would you like to explain to me why you are referring to Costin as finger-licking good?"
"Baby, I think your old age is catching up with you and affecting your hearing. I said he is finger-liquor good. It's a play on words, 'cause he's, like, a bartender. Get it?"
Decebel let out an exasperated sigh. "Could you just please refrain from describing any males in a way that indicates attraction."
"Jealous?" Jen teased.
This time when Decebel growled and looked at her, he held her eyes with his glowing ones. "You're mine. I don't share, not even your attraction. Keep your eyes to yourself, Jennifer, or you're going to get some poor wolf killed."
Jen, for once, shut up. This wasn't the time or the place.
Jacque looked over at Fane and whispered, “Does it seem like everyone’s emotions are running a little high?”
Fane nodded. “Stress, love. The males of our species don’t handle the idea of their mates in danger very well. Seems like we can’t keep you guys out of it and it’s very frustrating.”
“We’re all alive. That has to count for something,” she told him as she took his hand.
“Just surviving is not the life we want for you all. We want to give you the world.”
Sally looked at Costin and smiled, then glanced over at Fane. “Just think, Fane, if you guys take out Mona and her evil hoard, you will be giving us the world – literally.”
Everyone smiled at Sally.
“See? That’s why we keep you around.” Jen grinned. “When the rest of us are all ‘life sucks, we’re all going to die', Sally’s all ‘everyone hold hands and sing Lean on Me'.”
The entire room stared at Jen.
“What? I’m just saying.” She slumped back into her chair with a huff.
Vasile cleared his throat and attention returned to him. For her part, Sally thought the man had the patience of a god. With the addition of these American girls, things didn't run smoothly – or, well, professionally.
“Listen to me,” Vasile said quietly. “All jokes aside, what we're about to face is deadly. Please take some time to consider that and prepare yourselves. We head out the day after tomorrow. Any questions?”
When no one spoke, Vasile dismissed them, a somber mood beginning to descend upon them. Jen wasn't having that. As they all began to stand and file out, she loudly said, “Long live the fellowship of the ring.”
Jacque shook her head. “We were so close.”
Jen rolled her eyes. “Oh, give me a break, you were all thinking it.”
***
“Wadim,” Vasile addressed the historian, “you stay.”
Wadim nodded and returned to his seat.
Once the room was empty of everyone but Alina, Peri, Wadim, and himself, Vasile sat back down.
“Whatever information you have, Wadim, I don’t feel like the pack needs to know right now,” he explained. “Now, please tell us what is so important that it seems to make you want to crawl out of your own skin.”
Wadim took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he began to speak. The first words out of his mouth had everyone sitting up much straighter.
“The Great Luna came to me in a dream.” He paused, letting that information sink in. “She’s not happy that the Fae aren’t willing to help in this realm,” he went on, looking at Peri.
“I didn’t realize that she would act so quickly. And of course, she isn’t happy about that,” Peri snapped. “They’re being spoiled brats and need their butts beaten.”
Vasile looked at Peri. “You petitioned her?” His voice held the awe that was written across his handsome features.
Peri nodded. “You have been good to me, Vasile, good to our people. It is the least I can do. But I do hope to do more.”
“Thank you, Perizada of the Fae. This act will not be forgotten,” Vasile said formally.
Wadim cleared his throat, regaining their attention. “Well, she has a solution to that problem.”
He began telling them all of what the Great Luna had revealed; her knowledge of what Mona was up to; her plans to bring Fae and Canis lupus together; her desire to let her creations know that she was pleased with them. When Wadim had finished, the room was quiet.
Peri was the first to speak.
“Damn, when sista decides she’s going to take action, she goes balls to the wall.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“What?” She shrugged. “Blame Jen. She’s the one who teaches me these un-ladylike and totally out of character statements.”
Vasile focused on Alina, who had tears in her eyes.
“Finally,” she whispered. “Finally, our wolves will have mates. The males will no longer be consumed by the darkness that relentlessly pursues them.” She looked over at Wadim and smiled gently. “She honors you to come to you.”
Wadim blushed under his Alpha’s gentle compliment.
“Did she indicate when these new mates would appear?” Vasile asked.
“No, but she did say it would start with our pack, because of our faithfulness to her and the others of our kind.”
Vasile’s head snapped up to meet Peri’s stare. “If you had to guess, which Fae do you think would first be chosen as mates?”
Peri rolled her eyes. “Do I really have to answer that, Alpha? You know as well as I do who will be chosen. She will pick the ones who are already loyal to you. Then, when more come to help their kind, the most faithful and pure of heart will be picked. I’ve only been blessed by the presence of the Great Luna one time – she is very wise and very calculating.”
“Mina,” Vasile reached for her hand, “I need your counsel in this. You are more attuned to the emotions of our pack. Do you think we should tell anyone, even my first four?”
Alina thought about this for a moment before speaking.
“At this point, it would just be one more thing to distract them. Leave it be for now. If it happens between the two we believe it will happen with, then we will cross that bridge at that time.”
Vasile nodded in agreement. He thought about the consequences of what Wadim had revealed and, for the first time in a very long time, felt hope. Hope for his species to continue on; hope for the males to find love and be relieved of the consuming darkness; hope that he would get to have grandchildren and watch them grow up; hope that they would finally find an end to the darkness that had begun to consume their world.