Chapter 22

“Goodbyes are never good. I don’t understand who started calling bye a goodbye. Goodbyes are really more like ‘I don’t want to leave you, and this sucks so many rotten eggs’ bye.” ~Jacque

Fane didn’t know how he was going to let his mate and his son leave him. Tomorrow morning, very early, all those who weren’t going to fight were evacuating the mansions and departing for the Deep Keep, as his mate kept calling it. And even though he knew they would be safer there than anywhere else, he still couldn’t stand the idea of being separated from them. If something happened, there would be no way for him to get to them to help.
“Quit worrying,” Jacquelyn said as she walked over to where he sat, holding a sleeping Slate. “Here.” She leaned down and started to take their son. “Let me put him to bed. You’ve been holding him for two hours.”
Fane watched as she took their now nearly six-month-old son and carried him to his room. Stay. His wolf growled in his mind. The Alpha needs us to fight, Fane reminded his beast. Mate and pup are more important. Fane wasn’t surprised his wolf wanted to choose their mate and cub over the Alpha’s command. He was surprised the wolf didn’t think fighting the battle was the best way to keep them safe because they could eliminate the danger. Fane felt his wolf shaking his head. Danger is far from here. Fane nearly growled himself as he responded to the wolf. We must eliminate the danger before it comes here. The alpha needs his strongest fighters.
“You okay, wolf-man?” Jacque’s voice broke off the internal standoff he was having with his wolf.
“Yes,” Fane said as he stood from the chair and reached for her. “My wolf is struggling with letting you two go tomorrow,” he admitted. “I’m having to explain to him why we can’t just ignore the danger even though it is thousands of miles away.”
Jacquelyn wrapped her arm around him and pressed her lips to his chest. “I don’t like the idea of being separated from you either, but the Order has to be dealt with, especially if they have Alston and who knows how many other fae in their pocket. They can flash, which means the danger isn’t thousands of miles away. It’s only as far away as it takes a twisted high fae to flash.”
Fane leaned his face down so he could press it against her auburn locks. He took a deep breath, breathing in her scent and letting it settle him. “You’re right, Luna, but that makes it even harder to let you leave. Knowing Alston could show up while I’m in the U.S.”
“He doesn’t know where the stronghold is. Your dad said only a few knew where it was, and they were all wolves,” she reminded him. “And we will have Cyn and probably a couple other fae warriors with us. Jen is demanding Peri provide at least enough fae to take a child if we need to evacuate the pups for any reason.”
Fane felt his wolf growing more agitated and knew his eyes were glowing. “If our pup goes, you go with him.” Fane’s wolf growled at their mate.
Jacque lifted her head and narrowed her eyes on him. “Do not get bossy with me, wolf. I will always do what is best for our child.”
Fane tried to swallow back the words his wolf was forcing out of him, but the beast was too upset. “I want what’s best for both of you. If our pup goes then he needs his mother with him. He isn’t weaned yet. How would he eat without you?” The wolf challenged. Jacque started to push away from him, but he held on tighter.
She closed her eyes briefly and when she reopened them and looked at him, Fane saw that hers were now glowing also. Great, they’d managed to tick off Jacquelyn’s wolf. Fane didn’t want to fight the night before they each had to go their separate ways. He needed peace while they were apart, not discord. He forced his wolf back down and regained control.
Fane cupped his mate’s face and met her glowing eyes. “I’m sorry, Luna. We’re just scared, both man and wolf. We’re scared of something happening to you and our pup. He meant no insult. Please, Jacquelyn,” Fane said gently. “Let’s not fight.”
The she-wolf growled at him as she said, “Lean closer, mate.”
Fane lowered his head and grinned. He knew exactly what was about to happen. That didn’t stop him from issuing a few profanities when Jacquelyn’s sharp wolf teeth nipped the side of his neck hard enough to draw blood. When he leaned back and opened his eyes, he was staring into his mate’s, non-glowing, green ones.
“You’re wolf made my wolf more than a little P.O.-ed,” she said with a grin.
“You find this funny?” Fane asked.
She lifted her hand and separated her forefinger from her thumb. “Just a tad.”
Fane shook his head as he bent down and threw her over his shoulder. She squealed so he smacked her rear and murmured, “Hush, you’ll wake Slate.”
“Where are you taking me?” She whisper-yelled.
“Your wolf drew blood so now I need a shower. I think it’s only fair that you help me tend the wound and comfort me.”
“And this has to be done with us naked why?” she asked, sounding like she was trying to keep from laughing and failing.
“It is a widely known fact that wound tending and comfort are always more effective when done without clothes,” Fane said in his best nature-documentary voice.
Jacquelyn snorted and said dryly, “Of course it is.”
Fane chuckled as he set her on her feet once they were in their bathroom. “Glad you see it my way, mate. Now, strip.”
~~~~~

Sally could feel his eyes on her as she packed her suitcase. After they’d gotten Titus to bed, she decided she couldn’t put off packing any longer. She’d already gathered Titus’s things, but she dreaded packing her own because it made the reality seem so final. Even though there was no way she and Titus were staying with Costin, she had sort of been trying to convince herself that, somehow, they’d wind up staying with him.
“Maybe I should just stay and travel with you and Titus,” Costin said, breaking the long silence between them.
Sally paused and looked over at him. He was laying across their bed, shirtless, and propped up on an elbow. She frowned at him. “Vasile needs you. You’re an experienced fighter and a dominant. It wouldn’t be fair for you to stay behind while Decebel and Fane go.”
Costin shrugged. “My first priority is my mate and pup, always. They would understand, especially since you’ve only been home a few months. You don’t know how hard my wolf is fighting me on this. I’m honestly not sure if I can make him leave.”
Sally shook her head. “You can’t stay, Costin. And don’t think for one minute that it’s easy for me to say that.” Her eyes widened as he suddenly jumped off the bed, moving with the speed and grace she was accustomed to when it came to the Canis lupus.
His eyes flashed at her, glowing for an instant, but then he seemed to gain control of his wolf. He was breathing hard as he began to pace. He ran his fingers restlessly through his hair, making it stand in different directions.
“Costin,” Sally said gently, taking a step toward him. To her utter shock, her usually calm mate whipped around almost faster than she could track, picked up the lamp from the bedside table, and launched it at the wall. It hit with a crash, and Sally jolted as it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Costin roared out a growl that Sally felt in her chest. Tears gathered in her eyes as she watched her mate battle his need to protect her and Titus with his duty to help his Alpha protect the world.
“I shouldn’t have to choose.” He snarled. “There isn’t a choice. You and Titus are my priority. The last time I left you, the damned Order snatched you and it nearly destroyed me. How can you ask this of me?” His eyes were full of accusation as he stared at her. “You’ve felt what it did to me.” The fight ran out of him as he fell to his knees.
Sally rushed over to him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her stomach. She enfolded his head in her arms and bent herself over him. Sally felt him shudder and his shoulders shake. Her powerful mate had been brought to his knees.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Okay, baby, just stay with us. Go with us and protect us. I’m sorry. I should have considered how it would make you feel. I’m sorry.” Sally choked on a sob as she tried to hold her mate and herself together.
“I can’t handle losing you again,” he said through their bond as he continued to shake against her. “I need to be able to see with my own eyes that you’re okay.”
“Okay,” she said again. “Please don’t think I didn’t want you with me. Please tell me you know how badly it hurts me to think of being separated from you.”
Costin pulled back, and she dropped her hands to his broad shoulders. “I didn’t think that. I know you want me. I can feel your pain. But you are stronger than me. You are able to be separated from me. But I don’t even think an alpha command could force me to leave you.”
Sally cupped his face and leaned down. She pressed her lips to his, not deepening the kiss but drawing it out, just needing to be close to him. Apparently, that wasn’t enough for her mate.
Costin stood, not breaking this kiss, and then swept her up into his arms. He carried her to the bed and gently laid her on it. Their mouths were still drinking each other in. Costin followed her body, covered her with his own. His heat seeped into her through their clothes and her body raised of its own accord, needing to be closer to him.
Sally started tugging at his shirt, but Costin grabbed her wrists and pushed them above her head. His eyes were searing in their intensity as his gaze met hers. “Don’t rush this,” he rumbled, his voice deep and husky. “I’m planning to take my time with you.”
She growled at him, which only made him grin, showing her a mouth full of white teeth that weren’t quite human. Costin clutched both of her small wrists in one hand and used his free hand to tilt her head to the side, exposing her neck. She knew what was coming and tried to prepare herself for the intense emotions and pleasure his bite always brought.
As his teeth sunk into her flesh where his mark was located, Sally’s eyes slowly closed as a soft moan left her lips.
“Mine.” He groaned through the bond as he lowered his body closer to hers.
“Yours,” Sally responded. She cupped the back of his head, holding him to her, afraid to lose the intimacy it brought. “I love you, Costin.”
“I love you, Sally-mine.”

~~~~~

Decebel ran his fingers through his mate’s long, blonde locks as she laid sprawled across his bare chest. She was relaxed and sated after he’d spent an hour loving her beautiful body. He, of course, enjoyed their lovemaking immensely, but there was something incredibly precious about the time afterward. Both of them were a little raw and vulnerable from being so free in sharing their emotions and the intensity of their passion. He loved that she trusted him so much to allow him to see not just her nakedness, but also her heart.
“You’re thinking awfully hard, B,” she said. “What’s up?”
His fingers trailed down her spine, back up her side, across her shoulders, and down her spine again. “Your skin is like silk,” he said. He knew it wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but it was the first thing he’d thought after her question.
“It takes that much thought to figure out what my skin feels like?”
Her sarcastic tone made him smile, though he did smack her naked backside for her mouthy-ness. She squealed and tried to push away from him but Decebel wasn’t done with her, so he just pressed her closer. She was no match for his strength.
“I’ll bite you, Decebel. You know I will,” she said.
“I’m not sure if you’re trying to threaten me or turn me on,” he replied.
Jennifer raised her head and narrowed her beautiful, blue eyes on him. Decebel couldn’t resist as he ran the back of his fingers across her cheek. “You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured.
She flushed as her glare softened. “How am I supposed to be irritated with you when you say stuff like that?”
Decebel shrugged. “I’m just speaking the truth. You’re stunning. Every time you walk into a room you take my breath away.”
Her lips turned up into a sweet smile. “Where is this coming from? Not that I mind, but you’re not usually so eloquent in your compliments. What brought this sentiment?”
Decebel tried to bury the strong emotions before she could feel them but, as her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, he knew he’d failed. He tilted his head back toward the ceiling and squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
“Dec,” Jennifer said gently. He could feel her moving up his body until she was resting on his chest. She slid her hand under his head and pushed up so his face was no longer pointed up to the ceiling. “Open your eyes, B,” she chided.
Decebel let out a sigh as he opened his eyes and met his mate’s.
“We’re going to be fine,” Jennifer told him. “You don’t have to be scared. I’ve no doubt that we are going to kick the Order’s ass and all come home.”
He loved her strength. He admired her ability to stand strong even when facing impossible odds. Decebel flipped them over, ripping a surprised squeak from Jennifer. She laughed as he covered her body with his own. He pushed the hair away from her face and ran his fingertips down her neck. “If I die, you die,” he said and watched Jennifer’s face sober. “Thia would be left without any parents. That terrifies me.” His voice had dropped to a whisper. “To not see her grow. To be unable to protect her. To leave her in world that can be so cruel and dangerous. It’s enough to make me wish that our lives were not bound so if one of us died, at least Thia would have one parent to care for her.”
Jennifer lifted her hand and ran it through his hair, down his neck, and then back up to cup his face. “We aren’t going to die. We’re going to fight and, we’re going to win because that’s what we do. We win. When it gets hard or you get tired, then you dig in deep and remember these fears and you draw strength from them. We aren’t done in this life, Dec. For one, I haven’t had near enough time to thoroughly drive you crazy. I mean, I married you so it’s sort of my right to get to drive you insane for at least sixty years.”
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.”