“Why are you over there?”Elle asked.“You can’t get on anyone’s nerves from the draheim realm. And as you can see, we desperately need entertainment.”
Perialmostsmiled.
Elle turned her head slightly when Jen started speaking to her, though Peri couldn’t hear the blonde’s words. Elle nodded, and then Jen placed her hands on her hips and slowly turned her head back toward the veil. Apparently, Elle had shared the fact Peri was there. Jacque’s mouth moved next while she stared straight at the veil. One by one, each of their eyes widened at the revelation that Peri was just on the other side of the veil. Peri looked down the line again and frowned.
“I’m sure Sally is safe with her mate in the sprite realm. But where is Kara?”Peri looked around the girls at the males behind them.“And where are the rest of the mates to these females? Where is Fane?”What had she missed? When Peri had delivered the message to the sprite realm, she’d hadn’t known why she was delivering the message, just that the Great Luna had commanded her to do it because her friends needed help. She’d seen Jacque lying in a bed, not looking her best, but she did not know what had happened to the female alpha, and she hadn’t allowed herself to dwell on it. Mostly because she’d been having her own pity party.
Considering Jacque stood just feet away and looked healthy enough now, Peri assumed the fae stones had done whatever it was they’d been sent to do. But that didn’t explain Kara’s absence.
Elle’s face darkened, and she folded her arms in front of her.“Kara has been taken by the Order. Fane is with Nick and some of the others as they hunt for her. I’ve been with them but came here after Fane asked me to check in on the group.”
Peri’s stomach crashed to the ground.“Was she at the compound when I … when I destroyed it?”
The high fae could actually read the profanity spewing from Elle’s lips.“We do not know. No one is exactly sure when she went missing.”It looked as if an idea struck Elle. She dropped her arms and took a step closer.“What about the message you delivered in the sprite realm? Wadim and Zara have been working on it constantly, trying to figure out what it means.”
Peri’s mind pulled up the words that the Great Luna had given to her.“The fae stones heal, and they reveal,”she said to Elle.“When I showed up, there was something wrong with Jacque, right?”
Elle nodded.
“And the fae stones helped her heal?”
Another nod.
“And they traveled with me in order for me to reveal how they were needed.”
“But what about the rest?”Elle asked.“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.”
Peri knew exactly who the prodigal was, but she wasn’t sure now was the best time to mention Skender’s name. As for the “new son,” there was only one son that she could think of that now had ties to their pack: Torion.
“Peri?”Elle’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“I have some theories, but I don’t want to throw them out there just yet. I think I need to right some wrongs before we can move forward.”
Elle’s eyes softened, and she bowed her head to Peri.
“I will return in the morning,”Peri told her.“Then I will open the veil.”Peri’s head snapped to the side just as Lilly suddenly dropped to the ground. Peri raised her hand, but before she could utter a word, Elle spoke again, her words issuing with an urgency Peri could practically feel.
“Lilly says do not open the veil. She said it’s not time.”
“Not time for what?”Peri’s hands itched to remove the boundary between her and the warlock queen who was currently in Jacque’s arms on the ground.
“You know it doesn’t work like that.”Elle sounded weary.“She can only tell you what is permitted, and she might not even know why she’s giving you the message, only that she’s been prompted to do so.”
Peri took a step back and crossed her arms in front of her chest, hoping it would keep her from denying Lilly’s order. If the warlock queen said it wasn’t time, then itwasn’ttime. She watched as they raised Lilly back to her feet. The warlock queen took several deep breaths. Her mouth moved as she spoke to Elle, and then the fae turned back to Peri.
“She said all she knows is that if you come out too soon, the knowledge will be lost. Timing is everything. There will be beauty from ashes. It must happen this way.”
Peri wouldn’t lie and say she understood or that she was okay with waiting. Mostly, waiting sucked. But she’d been alive long enough to know thatnotwaiting until the right time for the Great Luna’s plan had dire consequences. Hence the position she found herself in currently.
“How long do I need to wait?”
Elle turned back to Lilly, presumably to ask the queen Peri’s question.
“Lilly says you will know when it’s time.”
“Fabulous,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced around the group one more time, but still didn’t see her wolf.“I will check back in tomorrow,”Peri told Elle.
“Stay safe, Perizada. I love you. But don’t think that doesn’t mean I’m not going to kick your ass for being a butthead.”
