“Why is it that in every race besides the vamps and the humans children are considered off limits?” Peri asked. “Why can’t everyone see that these children are their future? You would think that they would want to nurture their future, not destroy it one little life at a time.”

“It is disturbing,” Alston agreed. “But we can’t fix the problems of every race. We have to focus on dealing with the biggest threat right now and that’s the vampires. Not only are they taking and killing children but they are becoming bolder and running the risk of being discovered by humans. The human world isn’t ready for supernaturals.”

“Will they ever be?” Nissa challenged.

“Probably not,” Peri answered.

“What now?” asked Alston.

“Now we bring the wolves to Phoenix.”

“What are they going to do?” Nissa spoke up. “They can’t declare war in the middle of a human city. Perhaps, it would be better to flush the vampires out. Start with the smaller covens. Let’s send a message. Perhaps, then the leaders of the larger covens will decide to fight back.”

“Draw the enemy out by lessoning their numbers,” Peri muttered under her breath. “That’s a great idea, Nissa. I have to admit I’m surprised.”

“I’m nearly as old as you are,” Nissa said, folding her arms in front of her.

“Age does not equate to wisdom,” Peri quipped.

“You two were getting along so well,” the male fae sighed. “Can we please just get through this without you two scratching each other’s eyes out?”

“Depends on whether or not I get bored,” Peri said with a wink. “Can’t make promises that I’ll find unpleasant to keep.” She rubbed her hands together. “Okay, so the plan is to take the wolves to the smaller covens. I’ll need you two to meet me at the Romanian mansion tomorrow night. We’ll need to move fast so we will have to flash the wolves to the locations.”

“Never thought I’d wind up being a taxi service for werewolves,” Nissa grumbled.

“What better things do you have to do? If you file your nails any pointier you might as well become a vamp yourself. And if your hair gets any shinier, you might blind someone. Quit pampering yourself and get your damn hands dirty for once.”

“Peri,” Alston huffed. “A please wouldn’t kill you.”

“Kids are dying. I draw the line at saying please when asking for help to save the lives of children. Instead, I say get your ass in gear and help the innocent. See you two tomorrow night.” She flashed before they could respond to her angry response. “Say please,” she snarled under her breath. “There are kids being snatched from their beds and they want me to say please? Damn high and mighty fae.”

“Some would say the same of you, beloved.” Her mate’s arms came around her as she appeared in the clearing that they often went to in the fae realm.

“What?”

“Some might say you can be a little high and mighty,” Lucian said as he pressed his lips to her neck.

“At least I put forth my efforts in order to help others and not make my appearance better or sit on a cushioned pillow. I’ve told my people before that they can’t hide behind their veil and ignore everyone else. The freaking world is going to burn to the ground around them if they don’t start helping.”

“Have they agreed to help?” he asked.

“Yes,” Peri said sounding a little too much like a petulant child for her liking.

“Then what are you fussing about?”

“They wanted me to say please when I told them to meet me at Vasile’s home. I mean come on, wolf. Why should I have to say please?”

“I’m not saying you do. But, perhaps, a little diplomacy can go a long way for future endeavors.”

“I hate it when you’re logical and calm.” She held up her hand before he could respond. “But one of us needs to be and we both know it sure as hell isn’t going to be me.”

“Fair enough,” he said as he turned her to face him. “Now, we have both served where we are needed. The rest of the night is ours. You can’t save the entire human race tonight.”

“What can I save?” Peri asked with a raised brow.

“Me. I am in need of your saving,” Lucian said in his deep voice. The cheesy line would have sounded ridiculous from anyone but him.

“Are you trying to write for those Hallmark cards again? Because that was vomit-worthy,” she teased him.

“Perhaps, but it worked,” he told her as he pulled her deeper into the forest.

Peri rolled her eyes. Yes, it had worked. But she wasn’t about to admit it. Instead, she followed her mate and let him pull them into the cover of the trees, away from all that was demanding of their time. She let him pull her into his arms and surrendered to his healing touch. In truth, Peri needed saving just as much as her mate, if not more.

Sincaro, master of the Phoenix coven or king of the coven, as some of his people called him, paced restlessly in his chamber as he squeezed the phone to his ear. “We have a problem,” he said into the phone. He had to loosen his grip when he heard the device begin to creak under the pressure.

“What problem?” Cain, the Ontario coven master, asked.

“The fae kind,” Sincaro answered. “They were in my city.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Three high fae were in my city all at the same time. It means something.”

There was silence on the other end for several minutes before the other man responded. “I’ve had pixies in my territories and hunting grounds.”

The older vampire growled. “Why are you just now telling me this? I should have been notified immediately.”

“I’m dealing with it,” Cain snarled back. “Your coven may be the largest, but that does not make you the leader of mine or any other.”

“Perhaps not, but I am the oldest, and that does make me the leader of any who cannot defeat me. Know your place, Cain, or I will end you. We need to deal with this immediately. If the fae find out how we’ve been able to hide all of these centuries, things could get very ugly.”

“You mean ugly as in mangy, snarly ugly?”