“There is something beautiful about the dark. I know it sounds crazy, but without darkness, there can be no light. There can be no golden glow to shine into the black void and reveal the things that have been hidden. Evil is not the only thing that darkness conceals. More often than not, it is the lovely things of the world that darkness seeks to hide. It is our job to bring the light into those places that need to be illuminated so that we can show the hope waiting to be seized.” ~Jacque
“Is she going to die?” Lilly asked.
“Wow.” Jen breathed out. “Just going straight to the depressing stuff, huh?”
Jacque watched as her mother, Lilly, ignored Jen’s statement and stared directly at the sprite queen. Andora’s expression didn't change in response to Lilly's question. Jacque felt the weight of her mom’s fear on her chest. She could see the warlock queen holding her breath, waiting for the answer.
Jacque glanced around the room, her eyes taking in those who’d gathered to discuss the events that had taken place a couple of weeks prior. Jen had even managed to coax Sally and Costin from their room, no doubt somehow guilting their best friend into the action. Jacque didn’t care how’d she’d gotten the couple to come. She was just glad to see them.
Only a few were missing. The males who’d gone on the hunt for Kara and some lower members of the Romanian pack. The Poland and Hungary pack alphas were also absent. They tended to keep to themselves, though Fane had been in touch with them during the mourning period. The alphas of the other packs had opted to leave their other wolves in their territories. They wanted to protect the humans that lived close to each of their packs. They suspected the Order would begin to attack humans in a bid to get the packs to engage them in all-out war. They’d even called in the Coldspring and Springfield pack alphas, even though they hadn’t had any sign of the Order anywhere near their territories.
Cindy Morgan and her husband Chris were also present, and neither looked like they were coping very well. Cindy’s eyes kept jumping to Sally, but she seemed at a loss as to how to help her daughter. Jacque hurt to see the woman looking so helpless. Chris looked even worse as he wrapped an arm around his wife as if that could somehow keep her from falling apart. All in all, it was a room filled with somber supernaturals who were unsure how to move forward in a battle that was unlike one they’d ever faced.
“If you’re asking me to tell you if the seer sprites have seen anything concerning your daughter’s life, you know I cannot, nor can Cindy,” Andora said. Her voice was unwavering, revealing not even a hint of remorse over the fact that she couldn’t offer the information that Lilly wanted. Jacque glanced at Sally’s mom and saw defeat in her eyes. Jacque wondered if Cindy had seen anything and perhaps that was what weighed so heavily on her.
“Wait,” Stella spoke up. “These seer sprites can see the future?”
“Hence the name:seersprites,” Jen said dryly.
“You better be happy I like you.” Stella glanced at Jen. “Otherwise I’d have Jewel put a hex on you.”
“Dude, I’m so jealous of your witchy powers.” Jen sighed as she looked longingly at Jewel.
“I’m not asking you to break any rules, nor would I ask that of Cindy,” Lilly said, once again ignoring the others in the room. “I’m asking you your opinion as one with healing powers.”
“The only thing I can tell you is that I will do everything in my power to make sure Jacque pulls through.” Andora’s eyes softened briefly, though her voice was hard as steel.
Jacque’s mom gave a sharp nod of her head, seeming to accept that it was the best answer she was going to get.
“Regardless of what I can and cannot reveal,” Cindy said, “I haven’t been able to see anything, even when I attempt it.” She looked at Jacque, her lips turning up in a sad smile. “I wish I could.”
Jacque shook her head. “Sometimes not knowing is better because our actions aren’t dictated by something we think we can’t change. Nothing is set in stone, remember? No matter what you or anyone else sees.”
“Not to be insensitive in regards to the alpha female’s predicament,” Myanin said, “but can we discuss the cold fire explosion? And whether or not Peri could have survived it?”
“Heather is convinced that she did,” Zara said. “So am I.”
“Why?” Myanin narrowed her eyes on Wadim’s mate.
The Romanian pack historian pulled his mate closer to him. Since Kara’s abduction and the battle at the Romanian pack mansion, the males had gone from merely protective to overbearing and ridiculous.
“I’ve got a—” Wadim began but his words were cut off by a flash of light. And then the high fae in question suddenly stood in their midst. Jacque shot up in her bed, the shock of Peri’s appearance giving her strength she hadn’t had since before her attack. There was a collective gasp, and everyone seemed frozen as if they were afraid the slightest movement might make Peri disappear again.
The high fae opened her hand, and five fae stones floated into the air. “They go where they are needed most,” Peri said. The fae's voice sounded strained to Jacque's ears as if the mere act of speaking was somehow an effort. “The power of the stones is a mystery. They heal, and they reveal. And so they've brought me here. I bid you listen and do not speak. Now is not the time for questions.
"The prodigal is returning, and a new son will join your ranks. Evil will think it has prevailed, but hope will be born from the supposed triumph.” Her eyes roamed over the room, and Jacque saw what looked like a thunderstorm of emotions behind the fae’s eyes. Finally they stopped on Jacque. “I am sorry.” A thousand responses ran through Jacque's mind.Where the hell have you been? Why the hell did you try and take down the Order without us? How could you do that to all those innocents?But Jacque couldn't seem to force her lips to form any words.
Then Peri looked at Sally, and her eyes softened even more. “So, so sorry.” And before anyone in the room could make a sound, the fae disappeared. The stones dropped to the floor with a clatter. At the same time, the door to the room flew open, crashing against the wall so hard the stone cracked where it hit.
Lucian looked around frantically, his chest rising and falling as he turned in a circle. “Where is she?” he snarled. “I felt her. Where the hell is my mate?”
Heather and Kale rushed into the room a few seconds later. The healer bent over, huffing and puffing, resting her hands on her knees. “I. Need. To…” She breathed out the words in between gasps. “Work out more.”
“Where is my mate?” Lucian snarled again.
“I told you she was alive.” Zara folded her arms across her chest.
Heather jerked to an upright position. Her unseeing eyes widened. “I knew it.” She beat a fist in the air.
