“And I’m still waiting to know why I wasn’t informed of the new playthings.” Jen glared at her mate.
Decebel inclined his head to her and lifted her chin. “Because you’re developing an unhealthy need to dissect people, and I’m trying not to enable you.”
Jen narrowed her eyes at him, but then pursed her lips. “Fair point. Damn, I hate when you make rational points.”
“I should also add that you’ve seemed especially unhinged lately,” Sally said. “So, turning you loose on those prisoners would likely constitute cruel and unusual punishment.”
Jen’s head tilted comically as she looked at her healer BFF. “I’ve already got one rational explanation, preggo. I don’t need another.”
Sally gave Jen a pointed look. “You need all the rational advice you can get, Jen. The next step is medication. Don’t think we won’t hold you down and cram pills down your throat.”
Peri glanced around the room to see how the others were handling the group, which had the attention span of squirrels on hallucinogens. She noticed Synica, one of the djinn elders, looked quite enthralled in the conversation.
“Do you all actually have to engage your enemies in battle,” Andora, the sprite queen, spoke up as she looked at Fane. “Or do you just talk until they surrender because they can no longer handle the vacuous natter?”
“Adam”—Jen lifted her chin at him—“look those words up. I can’t tell if she’s insulting us.”
“On it.”
Fane gripped the back of his neck as he looked at the queen. “Believe it or not, I think it’s the comradery they have as a result of this vacuous natter that makes them fight so well. They know one another intimately and trust each other. And I think it releases some of the pre-battle anxiety.”
Andora nodded. “It’s a new technique, but I guess it works.”
Fane shrugged and then returned his attention to the group. “As I was saying, the prisoners aren’t speaking so they haven’t given us anything to go on. We’re flying blind.”
Fane looked at Boain. “Will you be joining us?”
Boain glanced at his mate. Their gaze held for several seconds before he looked back at Fane. “We will fight with you.”
“Thank you.” Sincerity rang true in the alpha’s deep voice.
“Is everyone else willing to go into battle? And do you understand the risks involved?” Fane’s eyes roamed over the room, landing on each supernatural present.
Peri noted that Sally’s mother and father were not there. She wondered at that, but then considered that perhaps they were staying behind with Rachel and Gavril to help take care of and protect the children, the future of their pack. As for the rest, each of the djinn elders nodded, the high fae agreed, Lilly and Andora bowed their heads, and it went without saying that Fane’s pack members would go where Fane led.
Peri frowned when she suddenly realized someone else was missing. “Where is Nissa?”
“She came to me earlier to let me know she had urgent business to tend to,” Fane said. “She didn’t seem inclined to tell me what, and I didn’t ask considering I am notheralpha. She is a high fae after all and beholden to no one.”
Peri frowned. It was not like Nissa to miss a battle where her power and experience would be such a great asset. She looked at Disir, but the high fae just shrugged.
Peri used the connection she shared with her warriors. Though Nissa was her equal in many ways, the female often deferred to Peri as her superior. When she reached for Nissa’s mind, Peri found it locked down tight.What is she up to?
“I would prefer that we only take the people in this room. I would like to minimize the danger to our people as much as possible.” Fane’s shoulders rolled forward slightly, and his eyes took on a haunted look. “We have suffered much loss over the past year. If anyone disagrees with that strategy, speak now.”
Peri waited, holding her breath to see if anyone would be of a different opinion. But there was only silence.
“Good.” Fane stood taller. “My wolves, will stay in our human skin, phase only if necessary. There will be no mercy. Those who serve Alston have forfeited their lives. You may kill at will, but they will be clean kills. There will be no torture or playing with your prey. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” they answered as one. Even the leaders of the other supernaturals respectfully deferred to the alpha.
Peri felt Lucian’s pride for his nephew. She swallowed down the ache she felt at the thought of Vasile missing this. Seeing his son come into his own as the leader of not only the wolves but of all supernaturals.
“We go in fast,” Fane said. “Disir, Gwen, Dain, Peri, Adam, Cyn and Elle,” he said, addressing each of the fae. “I can show you”—he tapped his temple—“where we need to flash. It will be directly in front of the mouth of the mountain he’s built.”
“Prepare yourself,” Adam said. “It looks like something Thia would build out of playdough—all janky and crap.”
“She’s two, punk,” Jen said dryly, “Her artistic talent hasn’t developed yet. Wait until you and Crina have a crumb-catcher. Don’t think I won’t give you hell about her artwork when the time comes.”
