Jacque placed a hand over her mother’s hand where it rested on the bed next to her. She squeezed, hoping to reassure Lilly that she wasn’t as weak as she looked.
“I’m feeling all sorts of emotions coming from you, Luna.”Fane’s voice filled her mind. Jacque was surprised it had taken him so long to contact her. She’d attempted to tamp down the bond, but she didn’t have the strength it took to keep him out.“Peri was there?”He no doubt picked the image of the high fae from her memories.“She’s alive?”
“Briefly and apparently so,”Jacque answered.“She was here long enough to show us she is alive and give us an obscure riddle. We’re working through that right now.”She explained to him about the fae stones and what was about to happen. A moment later, he stood next to her with Adam at his side. From the corner of her eye, Jacque noticed several people startle and a few more cuss under their breath. She didn’t think any of them would ever get used to people just popping in and out unannounced.
“Nissa,” Fane said, his eyes on Jacque. “Is this going to work?”
“I don’t know."
“That’s pretty much the going answer for any question asked,” Heather offered.
“But it’s worth a try,” Nissa said.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Anna asked.
“That’s a question weneverask,” Jen told her. “It’s like poking a bear while it hibernates, thinking it won’t wake up.”
“Noted,” Anna said.
One by one, the healers laid their hands on Jacque. The healer sprites had entered the room while Fane had been getting an answer, or non-answer as it were, and each laid a hand on the healers gathered around Jacque’s bed, Cindy included. Nissa also walked over and placed her hand on Jacque’s head.
“Wait,” Nissa said quickly then flashed. A minute later, she returned with Rachel.
“Good call.” Jen nodded.
Rachel joined the group as Sally quickly filled her in on what was taking place. Rachel pursed her lips and took and released a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”
Sally began speaking in the language that Jacque had heard many times when her friend had used her healing magic. One by one, the other healers joined in, and soon the room was filled with the sound of their chanting. Warmth flowed over Jacque’s head and began to move down her body. It felt like warm liquid, though not water. This was something thicker. It flowed downward, filling her chest, which had been chilled to the bone, with a soothing warmth. Her stomach felt as if she’d drank hot chocolate, then her legs felt as if a warm blanket had been laid over her. All the way to the bottom of her feet, Jacque felt cocooned in the warmth. She started to relax for the first time in two weeks.
Jacque let out a contented sigh. She wanted to stay wrapped in the coziness, but just as she had the thought, the warmth began to increase in temperature. Slowly, steadily, she became hotter and hotter until the sensation was no longer pleasant. In a matter of several breaths, her body began to feel as if a fire had been lit inside her veins, and she was burning from the inside out. She tried to scream, but nothing would come out of her throat. Her body tensed, and then she felt her back arch.
“What the hell is happening?” Jacque heard Jen’s voice bark.
“I have no idea,” Nissa answered.
“Take your hands off of her,” Lilly said, her voice frantic.
“I can’t,” Sally cried.
“I can’t either,” Stella said. The other healers made sounds of agreement.
“Luna!”Fane’s voice reached out to her through their bond, but it sounded far away. Why was he so far away?
This is why they never asked what's the worst that could happen. Apparently, the worst that could happen was Jacque burning to ash internally.
ChapterFive
“She’s alive. She’s alive. The words were a mantra in my mind as my wolf howled inside of me. She’s alive, and come hell or high water, I will have her back at my side no matter what she thinks she wants. Sheneedsme every bit as much as I need her.” ~Lucian
“Where are we?” Lucian asked Disir as he glanced around the forest surrounding them. The beauty of their environment was a stark contrast to the Dark Forest where Lucian had been mentally sequestering himself. This one was full of life and light. He heard the sounds of birds chirping and wind rustling through the leaves of the trees. Light from the sun filtered down through the branches, illuminating the place where they stood.
The high fae stepped toward two large trees that stood several feet apart. About ten feet from the ground, leafy vines grew together, bridging the trees and forming an archway. “The veil to the draheim realm,” Disir answered. He lifted his hand and held it up to the space between the two trees. The air rippled as if still water had been disturbed. “I can feel her power,” Disir said, “but it’s weak.”
Lucian stepped closer to the veil, and for a brief second, he felt her. His wolf instinctively reached for her through the bond, but there was nothing attached to the end of it. The cord that had once attached them was cut and frayed at the end. It felt the same as earlier when he’d been in the sprite stronghold. He’d sensed her presence enough that he’dknownshe’d been there, but the feeling had only lasted long enough for him to make his way to the room where the group had been gathered. By the time he'd arrived, she was gone, along with her magic. “She’s in the draheim realm?”
“Looks that way,” Disir said.
“Why?” Lucian couldn't imagine a reason his mate might have traveled to the realm of the great beasts. If she’d been able to come to the sprite realm, then she wasn’t the draheim’s prisoner. They would have kept her from flashing. She must be hiding in the realm, and they hadn't been alerted to her presence. A second, more disturbing, thought occurred to Lucian. Perhaps the beasts knew of Peri's presence and were tolerating her for some reason. He fought back a shudder.
