“Don’t mind them. They tend to become stupid when their mates are involved. Please,continue.”
“When I saw what she was doing, I knew I had to come quickly. The healer was wielding some very dark magic,”Embersaid.
“Howwas she wielding it?” Perizada asked in acarefultone.
“I watched her kill two humanwomen.”
The wolves who had been frozen were snarling like rabid beasts but still unable to move. Ember took a step back from them and then looked back to Perizada. “I assume youknowher.”
The high fae nodded. “We do. Was she a redhead orbrown?”
“Red,” Ember saidsimply.
“Then she belongs to that one.” Peri pointed at the large male with cool blue eyes. He looked readytokill.
Perizada stepped up to Ember and lifted her hand. “May I?” she asked, motioning toward the otherfae’shead.
Embernodded.
Perizada pressed her palm to Ember’s head, and the woman felt the high fae sifting throughhermind.
When she pulled her hand away, Peri turned to talk to yet another werewolf. “Remember what I told you, that the pixie had come and told me about two women dying a few months ago? When I was … indisposed,” she added through grittedteeth.
“Follow the bodies,” the blondemansaid.
Perizada nodded. “It’s time.” She turned back to Ember. “Thank you for informing me, Ember. It is good to see you after so many years. I would ask that you consider returning to your place among our people. We are in need of strongwarriors.”
Ember swallowed hard. “Does this healer have anything to do withVolcan?”
Perizada didn’t seem surprised thatEmberknew.
“She has everything to dowithhim.”
“I will consider your request.” Ember gave a slight bow to the healers and then flashed, heading back to her home, back to a life she knew was about tochange.
* * *
Peri glaredat the two wolves who were glaring right back at her. Lucian stood next to her, not really glaring so much as just making it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any threats towardhismate.
“I know I cannot leave you here, no matter how much I might want to. You both have a right to see your mates, and I have a sick feeling that without you they are going to go down a very, very dark path. Jewel is already on that path, Dalton. You must, I repeat, you must keep your crap together when we find them. Reign in your possessive, protective, macho bull and keep a clear head. Otherwise, you might lose your mate forever.” She let out a harsh breath and added, “I’m going to release you now. Think about how you should react when I do because my fuse is short, and my desire to kill something is very,veryhigh.”
She waved her hand, and Gustavo and Dalton each took steps back as they gathered themselves. They were both shaking with emotions, which Peri knew could explode at any moment. Not only did they need to see their mates, but if she left them there, they’d destroy her home. And thatwouldsuck.
“You.” She pointed at Dillon, who stood silently watching his Beta. “Go home. Your mate has been without you long enough. I will make sure your wolf is safe. I’m not asking. You three”—she pointed at each of the healers—“stay here and stay out oftrouble.”
“They’re with us. What kind of trouble could they get into?” Nickasked.
Heather raised her hand and waved it erratically. “Me, me! Call on me to answerplease.”
Peri rolled her eyes. “By all means, Helen, share yourknowledge.”
Heather dropped her hand, and her brow rose. “Oh, you really want me to share, because I totally thought you were going to ignore me. Alright then, Nick, the kind of trouble a female can get into with a man, especially a man she’s attracted to tends to be ofasexu—”
“Nope,” Peri cut Heather off. Then she looked at Nick, who was covering Kara’s ears. “Really? You think she doesn’t know thisstuff?”
Nick’s eyes danced with humor. “She’s jailbait. I feel very strongly about keepingthingsPG.”
“And once she’s not jail bait any longer?” Heatherasked.
