Alina nodded without questioning and pressed a kiss to Vasile’s cheek before stepping out of the suite and closing the door behind her.
Peri looked at Jen and then at everyone else. “I won’t be able to get your thanks for this later, but I assure you, if you were capable, you’d want to give me an award.” She muttered words under her breath in a language they didn’t speak, and the light that sometimes glowed around her began to grow brighter and brighter until the room was filled with it.
“Peri,” Vasile growled but his voice was cut off by Peri’s chanting.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jen asked as she felt the pressure in her head building. It went on for several minutes. All the while, the light in the room increased and became blinding. Then it was suddenly gone.
Peri releasedDecebel from the spell she’d put over him, erased any and all traces of blue dye from Thia, Costin, and Fane, and then flashed from the room, needing to arrive as if she hadn’t already been there. When she reappeared, she didn’t show herself immediately. She wanted to make sure her magic had worked. She watched as Jen blinked several times and looked around the room. Everyone else looked just as lost as she did.
Alina walked in and looked at everyone before smiling and stepping up to Vasile. “Everything okay?” he asked him. He nodded.
“What are we doing?” Sally asked.
“We were…” Costin’s words were drawn out as he seemed to have to think really hard about his answer. “Having a meeting?” He finally finished, but the statement sounded like a question.
“Were we going to have a barbeque?” Jacque asked. “I feel like we were going to have a barbeque.”
“Well, if we’re just throwing things out there, how about we go with something like an orgy,” Jen said “I mean, let’s make it count if we can’t remember why the crap we were gathered in my suite.”
“I could go for an orgy,” Costin said with his signature dimpled grin.
“No, you couldn’t,” Sally said, smacking his chest.
“Never mind, boss says I can’t.” He sighed dramatically.
Jen nearly jumped out of her skin when Peri suddenly appeared in front of them, letting her glamour fall.
“Bloody hell, woman, don’t just pop in and out like that.”
“I’m a fae. It’s what we do,” she said and then smiled. “So, what’s going on? Having a meeting of the minds? Planning a war? Sewing party? Barbeque?”
“See.” Jacque pointed at Peri. “Even she’s down with the whole barbeque idea.”
“Sorry Jacque, but no barbeque. Actually,” Alina said, “I think maybe we should all call it a night. Jen, you look beautiful but exhausted, and Decebel looks especially snarly.”
Jen narrowed her eyes on the Alpha female. “It impresses and annoys me that you have the ability to flatter me while at the same time informing me of my lackluster appearance. And you are right. Decebel is especially snarly. Since no orgy will be taking place, you all can get your butts moving so we can put Thia down, and mamma and daddy can talk.” She grinned as she put air quotes around that last word.
“UGH.” Jacque groaned. “TMI, Jennifer. We don’t want to know your code words for your baby-making time.”
“No more babies,” Peri added quickly. “Really. Practice all you want but no more, at least not for a while.”
“Why?” Jen asked. “Thia has been easy.”
“Was it easy when she was gnawing off your nipple?” Jacque asked dryly.
“Good point,” Jen said. “For some reason, she’s finally latching on correctly, and it no longer makes me want to cut off my girls. But we’ll hold off on any more boob biters.”
Peri gave herself a mental pat on the back as she saw her magic had worked. Their memories of the traumatic events had been removed and replaced with vague blanks, which would naturally be filled in with normal activities. Jen didn’t remember Kimily’s consultation, and since Thia was nursing better, the new mother just assumed Thia had learned it on her own. Some might think it cruel or wrong of her to take away their memories without their knowledge or consent, and maybe it was, but Peri felt as though she was doing them a kindness to not have the guilt, fear, and painful memories of Thia being stolen. She didn’t want Jen’s first week as a mother tainted by something that could have been prevented if she’d not brought Kimily to their home. She would never tell them what she’d done, and the only other person who would know the truth was Alina.
“I need to speak with you before you retire,” Peri told the alpha female.
Alina gave her a knowing look and nodded. She walked over to Decebel and leaned down, pressing a kiss to Thia’s forehead, and Peri admired the strong woman for keeping her emotions in check. It wouldn’t make sense to the others if Alina burst into tears over the joy of Thia being back home safe and sound.
Peri looked at Jen and smiled. “You need to get some much-needed sleep. You’re getting dark bags under your eyes.” Her comment would ensure Jen did indeed get the rest she needed because the girl was too vain to have bags under her eyes.
“Thanks, Peri, you’re so good for my self-esteem,” Jen said dryly.
“I’m your friend, Jen. It’s not my job to be good for your self-esteem. It’s my job to make sure you don’t turn into an ugly, overweight, bitter woman with man issues.”
