Chapter 23

“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 talked and laughed.