He cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowed as he looked at her.

“You okay?” he murmured.

She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “For now.”

Decebel decided that that would have to be enough until he could talk to her alone.

Hours later, Jen, trying to shake off the darkness, started singing “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson.

Sally groaned.

Cynthia laughed.

“Well, if we want to scare off the evil magic that is certainly an effective method.” Peri snorted.

“Laugh it up, Peri Fairy,” Jen hollered back. “One of these days my singing might just save your life.”

Before Peri could respond they heard a familiar voice.

“I hope you all weren’t trying to be stealthy because you suck at it.” Adam's voice carried over the foliage and finally he physically emerged.

He looked everyone over, showing obvious relief that everyone was here and unharmed. Then he smiled over at Elle, who was standing close to Sorin.

“You too?”

Elle nodded and blushed. Sorin wrapped an arm around her and kissed her gently on the forehead.

“Alright,” Adam’s voice drew everyone’s attention away from Sorin and his mate, “let’s join Vasile and get a plan in motion.”

Chapter 20

“I’m going to say this one time and one time only, so you had better listen up. The world is going to hell in a hand basket. We got Jacque running off into ponds like a crazy ass lady, Fane thinking he’s Aqua Man, diving in after her and getting his ass captured by the wicked witch; we have freak lightning shows, thunder that shakes the ground, and wind strong enough to knock you over. And you know what’s really scary? It’s going to get worse before it gets better. The fan is broken from all the shit that has hit it. Yes, I have a potty mouth. I get to have one when the world as we know it is crumbling around us.” ~ Jen

Vasile wrapped Sally and Jen in hugs as soon as he saw them, ignoring the growls from their mates. They weren’t his daughters, but they were as good as. They were pack and their friend had been hurt while under his protection.

When he released them, Decebel and Costin pulled each of their mates into their arms.

“Where is she?” Jen asked.

Vasile stepped out of the way and they saw Alina and Rachel sitting next to a very pale, very still Jacque.

Sally and Jen both rushed over. Rachel and Alina stood and backed away, letting them get close to their friend.

Sally wiped a tear away as she took Jacque’s hand in hers.

“Why won’t she wake up?” Jen asked.

“We don’t know. I think it might have something to do with their bond,” Vasile told her.

“What do you mean?” Sally’s headsnapped up.

“I can feel Fane’s agony. Wherever he is, he’s in pain. I think it’s affecting their bond. He may have shut it down somehow or he didn’t and she’s stuck enduring what he is.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” Jen asked desperately.

Sally reached out and placed her hand over Jacque’s chest. She closed her eyes and reached out for her friend. She didn’t know how she did it but when she sought to get inside someone she was touching, she was able to see them, see inside their body and their mind.

She saw that Jacque’s mind was covered in a haze. Something was keeping her unconscious. She tried pushing against the haze – she forced her will into it. The force with which it pushed back shoved her out of Jacque’s body and physically onto the ground. Costin was at her side in an instant, kneeling so she could sit on his knee.

“What did you see, love?” he asked.

Sally tried to focus her eyes and clear her thoughts. The haze had tried to attack her mind. She felt violated and shuddered in Costin's arms. He pulled her closer.

“Something is keeping her under. I tried to push it away but it’s wrapped around her mind, encasing it.”

Rachel walked over to her, her eyes wide and mouth opened in wonder.

“You can get inside?”

Sally nodded. “Can’t you?”

Rachel nodded. “But I’ve been a healer for centuries. You are but a babe.” She looked over at Peri, who smiled with pride.

“She’s powerful,” Rachel told her.

“Very,” Peri agreed.

“Okay, not that I don’t care that Sally is like super healer, but can we get back to Jacque and how we can help her?”

“We can’t. She needs her -” Rachel was interrupted by a now standing and snarling Jen.

“IF YOU SAY SHE NEEDS HER MATE I SWEAR I’M GOING TO LOSE IT.”

“Sweetie,” Sally said calmly, “you’ve already lost it.”

Jen growled but stepped back. “I’m sorry, but I’m just really sick of the only answer being 'she needs her mate'. How can we be so dependent on you guys? I mean, seriously, what the hell makes you so special that you can fix everything? And how vain is it that you think you are the end all? Jacque is strong without Fane. She doesn’t need him. We don’t need you.”

Decebel snarled and the sound that came out of him was more like a lion than a wolf. Everyone but Vasile took a step away from the enraged Alpha.

“You think it makes you weak to say that you need me? Is that what your problem has been, that you don’t want to need me?” Decebel’s eyes glowed as he held his mate’s stare.