Andora nodded. “I’ll show you to your room. We’ve assigned everyone a place to stay.”
“Thank you, Andora,” Fane said, sincerity evident in his voice. “Your hospitality will not be forgotten.”
The alpha stood and scooped Jacque into his arms. “She will be back in a little while,” he told them. Andora headed for the door and Fane followed.
Jacque glanced over his shoulder, looking at each of the women who had helped her. “Thank you, again.”
They’d just stepped out of the entrance to the room when Jen came around the corner with Slate in her arms. “Are you two sure you’re going to give the crumb catcher your full attention and not start clawing each other's clothes off?”
Jacque held her arms out for Slate. He clapped and grinned and then reached for her. “I think we can restrain ourselves.” Jacque nuzzled against her son’s cheek and breathed in his precious scent. She’d missed him fiercely.
Jen’s eyes softened, and she placed a hand on Jacque’s cheek. “I’m in agreement with your mate, Red. Never do that again. You’re my ride-or-die chick.”
Jacque’s eyes filled with tears as she patted Jen’s hand. “Ditto.”
Jen dropped her hand and stepped aside so Fane could walk past. When she looked back at Jen, she saw her friend still staring at them, wiping at the tears streaming down her face. Jen was tough as nails, but she was also fragile, and sometimes it was easy to forget that she needed to know how much she was loved. Jacque held her blonde best friend’s stare until Fane turned a corner and she could no longer see her.
Slate’s babbling grabbed her attention. His smile was contagious, and when she was focused on him and the hope and joy that he instilled in her, everything else faded away. “Missed you, little man,” she said and rubbed his nose with hers.
Slate patted her cheek and said, “Dada.”
Fane’s chest shook with his laughter.
“He only says it because ‘d’s are easier than ‘m’s.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself, Luna.” He pressed a kiss first to her head and then to Slate's and continued to follow Andora, who must have waited on them while they’d been talking to Jen.
When they reached their assigned room, Andora stood in the doorway but didn’t step inside. “I will have food brought up. They will knock and then leave it outside of the door. There are clothes in the closet, and, yes, they will fit. Please, Jacque,” she said, her bright eyes imploring, “take all the time you need. You’ve been through a lot.”
Memories of the past few years flashed through Jacque's mind as she looked at the sprite queen. “It’s no more than I’ve endured before. And as my mate said, your hospitality will not be forgotten.”
Andora bowed her head and then closed the door behind her.
Fane set her down on her feet and took Slate from her arms. “You shower. I’ll get you clothes. Then I’ll feed you and Slate. You will let me hold you until my wolf is calm enough to leave you.”
Jacque felt his worry through the bond and knew he was being bossy because he had felt helpless to take care of her. One of his strongest instincts was always to take care of his mate. She would give him this, even though she felt the need to make sure everyone else was taken care of as well.
“That is the gift of a female alpha, beloved,” Fane said softly. “You love all of those under your care. You will give of yourself until there’s nothing left.”
“And what is the gift of the male alpha?” Jacque asked.
“When I return from the hunt with Nick and his mate, I will show you.”
Jacque threw her head back and laughed, which in turn made Slate laugh.
“It always comes back to that, doesn’t it?”
She felt the brush of his hand down her back, even though he was across the room. “It always comes back to me loving you and showing you that love in every way that I can.”
* * *
Jen pulledherself together and marched to the medical room where Jacque had been fighting for her life for the past two weeks. Jen took a breath and stepped inside and saw that everyone was still present. “Can we take this meeting back into the great hall?” All eyes turned to her. “I need a change of scenery, and staring at that bed where my best friend suffered is not going to inspire any brilliant idea about this freaking riddle.”
“Agreed.” Sally stood up.
Jen looked over at Nissa. The high fae had not only helped with Jacque, but she’d also magicked clean clothes on to the healers and sprites as they’d kept their vigil next to their alpha. “I apologize for treating you like a clothing store, but would you mind?” Jen motioned around the room. “The rest of us can take showers later. But clean clothes would be great.”
“I’m happy to help,” Nissa said in her gentle way. She spoke in the language that Jen had heard Peri use many times in the past. A few seconds later, everyone in the room was dressed in clean clothes: simple jeans and T-shirts. Jen was fine with that. Saving the world didn’t need to be done in a dress, no matter how badass she would look.
