“The prodigal is returning,” Wadim continued, “and a new son will join your ranks. Evil will think it has prevailed, but hope will be born from the supposed triumph.”
Jacque considered the second half of the riddle and then looked at Jen. “It does sound like aprophecy, not a riddle. She’sforetellingsomething that is going to happen. Prophecies aren’t necessarily meant to be ‘figured out.’ The stones appeared when we needed them in order to help you all heal me. I think even if they’d been left there on the floor and we hadn’t realized that’s what they were there for, they’d still have generated magic for the healing.”
“So you don’t think we need to work out who the prodigal is,” Heather asked, “or this new son thing, or even about the triumph? Which I might add, we really could use the morale boost of a triumph right about now.”
“Totally could use a triumph,” Stella agreed.
Jacque shook her head. “I don’t think we need to figure it out. I think we need to be paying attention so that when these things come to pass, we will know how to react. We will be prepared for it.”
Jen’s face scrunched up as she groaned. “Ugh, prodigal son. As in a member of the family that has strayed away, done stupid stuff, and then wants to come back. Please, for the love of pixie butts, don’t let that mean Alston. Because that isn’t happening.”
“That seems a bit farfetched. Alston would be the prodigal of all prodigals. But it could mean Boain,” Wadim offered. “He has been gone, and then he came back at the challenges.”
“Yes, but then he left again,” Jacque said. “He wasn’t among those who surrendered.”
“Was he among the dead?” Jen asked.
Wadim sighed. “No. Unless he crawled off somewhere, died, and wasn’t found, which I doubt. Most likely, he’s gone.”
“Wadim is right,”Fane’s voice said through the bond.“Boain left at some point during the challenges. We found no trace of him.”
“Why would he come back, only to then leave again?”Jacque asked.
“Perhaps he was not a part of the coup and didn’t want to be lumped in with them,”Fane suggested.“But I don’t think he is the prodigal son in Peri’s prophecy.”
She sat up straighter.“Why? Do you know who it is?”
“I don’t,”he said, and she felt the truth in his answer.“But I feel like the answer is on the edge of my mind, and I can’t seem to reach it no matter how much I think about it.”
“I hate that feeling. Like when you have something on the tip of your tongue, but your brain just won’t spit it out.”Jacque mentally sighed.“We’re taking a break from our B and E efforts. Whatever magic is keeping this veil closed is powerful.”
“Just be careful,”Fane said softly.“The draheim probably aren’t going to be pleased with you busting down the veil to their realm. But I understand why you all must try.”
“Peri needs to know that we haven’t written her off,”Jacque said.“She needs to remember what pack means. That she’s not alone and that we will be here no matter what she’s going through. Our willingness to face the draheim to get her back, hopefully, will make that very apparent.”
She felt the gentle caress of his fingers on her cheek.“She knows,”Fane assured her.“But she definitely needs to be reminded. Just be safe, Luna.”
“I will. Oh, I’ve been so caught up in what we’re doing that I haven’t even checked in on your end. How is the hunt? How’s Nick? Any progress?”
She heard his chuckle and felt the warmth of his love flowing through their bond.“Any other questions before I answer those? I don’t want you to forget anything.”
“Shut up,”she teased.“I’ve got to spit them out while they’re on my mind or they fall off into the abyss of ‘holy draheim balls, we have to save the world, a healer, a high fae, and somehow keep it all a secret from the human race.’”
“One thing at a time, Jacquelyn. To answer your questions,”he continued,“we might have made some progress. Kara managed to contact Nick through their bond. Though from what Drayden said, I don’t think she was aware that she was doing it. She didn’t know who Nick was.”
“So it was her soul reaching out to him.”Jacque shifted into a more comfortable sitting position.
“It would seem so. Drayden mentioned Nick was feeling very emotional at the time it happened, reflecting on intense memories with Kara.”
“Ahh.”Jacque nodded.“Because intense emotions can’t be blocked from the bond.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I’m praying to the Great Luna that it works. If he can connect with her again, maybe she can tell him where she is.”Jacque was already sending up prayers to their Creator, as she had been since Kara was taken. She didn’t understand why it happened, just like she still didn’t understand why Sally had endured what she’d gone through. But Jacque believed that the Great Luna loved her creation and would always work things out, even the most horrible of situations, for their good.
“My dad believed the same thing,”Fane said, having heard her thoughts.“And I do, too. We will get through this, Luna. And we will be stronger for it.”
“I know,”Jacque said, her voice strong with the conviction she felt.“I love you.”
