"Cynthia, take Jen into that room there," Peri instructed as she pointed to the door.

Cynthia took her precious burden, with Decebel still holding onto Jen's leg, and laid her on the bed in the room. It was a surprisingly large room with a sleigh bed. When Cynthia laid Jen down, she noticed how soft the comforter was – and plush – as it seemed to wrap around Jen as tenderly as a lover. There were several chairs in the room, a large armoire, and another fireplace. The room was warm and, despite its size, very cozy.

Cynthia watched as Decebel stood next to the bed, looking at his mate, his hand still on her leg. She grabbed a chair and pushed it toward him. "Beta, you need to rest." She motioned to the chair.

Decebel's wolf still looked out through his eyes. He nodded once to her and sat, never losing focus on Jen.

Cynthia left him there without disturbing him more. She saw that the others were sitting in the chairs and couch around the fire. Sally had placed the phone on the round coffee table in the center of their circle. She realized Sally must have called the others as she listened to Sally explain about Jen and Decebel. Her face was grave when she described how battered her friend looked; tears were sliding down her cheeks. Costin placed a comforting hand on Sally's lower back and Cynthia noticed his eyes were glowing. Obviously he did not like seeing Sally so upset.

"I've never seen anyone look so close to death, Jacque." Sally hiccuped through her tears. Costin finally had all he could take, and he pulled Sally into his lap. He whispered words of comfort and caressed her hair gently.

"It will be okay, Sally mine," he told her gently.

Sally looked into his hazel eyes and though she knew she was probably going to regret it, gave in and leaned her head against his chest. Costin let out a contented sigh and pulled her tighter.

"Decebel is with her?" Vasile's voice came through the phone.

"Yes," Peri answered. "His wolf recognized his mate. He won't let anyone near her."

"That's good," Vasile said, then amended, "Good that his wolf recognized her."

"So there's been no change even though they've been brought together? Can a wolf love – I mean, would his love be able to break the curse?" Jacque questioned.

"Love is what will break the curse?" Costin asked, having missed that conversation. Sally nodded against his chest "How can something so simple break something so powerful?" Costin shook his head.

"Simple?" Sally gasped as she sat up abruptly and turned to look at Costin. " You think love is simple?"

Costin's eyes widened at the fierceness in her eyes and the firmness of her voice –  a deer caught in the headlights.

"Here we go," they heard Jacque mutter under her breath.

"How can it surprise any of you that love could break the curse?" Sally addressed the group, her eyes moving from person to person. Then she stared at the phone as if she could see through it. "You, whose very genetic makeup forces you to love so deeply that you can't even survive without your mate? It's no coincidence that the saying is 'love conquers all'. It's a tale as old as time."

Jacque snorted. "You've been waiting to use that line."

Sally chuckled briefly. "I finally got my day." Then she sobered and her eyes returned to Costin. "There is nothing simple about something that can fill you with the greatest joy you've ever known. It can make men build cities, crush enemies, seek out ways to move mountains, and bring even the greatest to his knees. There is nothing simple about something that can rip the very seams of your soul in half, shred every amount of dignity you've ever had, and strip every inhibition from who you are."

Costin leaned forward and reached out toward the girl who had become a woman before his eyes.

"Sally," he whispered.

She turned away from him in a rare show of severity, ignoring his hand, looking back at the phone. "Fane, do you think that curse would have worked on you? Do you think you could have forgotten your mate?"

Fane shook his head. "No. Not with the Blood Rites being fulfilled and the bond between us being complete, but I suspect the curse wouldn't work without the love between the two. You're right, Sally. There is nothing more powerful than love. Jacquelyn's and my soul have been made one through our bond. No darkness can conquer the light love sheds."

"Okay, I'm with you." Jacque agreed. "But how do we get a man who doesn't remember his mate to remember he loves her?"

"He's going to have to bond with her," Peri spoke up.

All heads turned to look at her.

"It's the only thing that will restore the severed bond and, ostensibly, draw Decebel's memories forward."

Cynthia leaned forward in her chair, leaning her elbows on her knees. "Vasile, it won't be hard to convince Decebel's wolf to do the blood rites, but Decebel is another story. He wants to remember Jen, he wants to love her. Wanting and doing are two different things."

"Sally. " It was Alina's voice they heard this time.

"Yes?" Sally answered.

"You need to talk to Decebel. You might be able to reach him."

"I'll try."

Suddenly they heard a deadly snarl and the sound of something hitting the floor hard.

Sally started in the direction of the room but Costin caught her around the waist.

"You aren't going in there with an enraged wolf."