“They know to contact me if they need help.” Fane thought about the conversations he’d had with each of the pack alphas. They’d all readily agreed to return home. All except for Dillon, but that was because his daughter and grandson were in the sprite realm, and he felt the need to protect them. But Fane had reminded Dillon that it wasn’t his job. That responsibility and privilege belonged to Fane.
“Sally tried calling Kara again,” Costin said before blowing out a rush of air. “She’s still not answering.”
Nick and Kara were with their pack in Canada, healing and spending some much-needed time together. Fane didn’t know Kara, not the way he did Sally. He had no clue how she would work through all that she’d faced while in Ludcarab’s clutches. “She’s young,” Lucian said. Fane sometimes forgot that his uncle knew the five gypsy healers that Peri had taken under her care. “But she’s strong. And Nick is a fit mate. He will take care of her.”
Fane nodded his agreement. He’d seen the way Nick looked at Kara. It was the same way all true-mated males looked when their eyes were on their females: as if the sun rose and set with their very breath.
“Have you heard from the warlock queen about Skender, and his mate and child?” Decebel asked.
Fane shook his head. “It’s only been a little over a week since we recovered Nick and Kara. I spoke with Lilly then. I will not deal with Skender until this thing with the Order has been taken care of. Unless Lilly tells me she needs me to do it sooner.”
“What’s your plan?” Costin asked, his voice rough.
Fane stared hard at his third, trying to read Costin’s face. But his third in command’s face was a mask. Fane couldn’t discern what Costin thought regarding Skender, but the alpha could only assume Costin’s mind was anything but settled concerning the rogue wolf. Fane knew the fact that Skender had a mate and child would weigh on Costin. He was not as hard and unyielding as Decebel, perhaps because he wasn’t as old. Or maybe because he was mated to the very embodiment of grace and forgiveness. Whatever the reason, Costin contained more mercy in him than Fane’s beta, and even more than Fane himself. If it had been Jacquelyn that Skender had taken and put through hell… Well, it’s likely the rogue wolf would no longer be breathing. “That is something you and I will need to discuss at some point. What are your thoughts on the matter?”
Costin shrugged. “Considering everything going on, that wolf and his mate are the last things on my radar.” He leaned back, his eyes no longer glowing. “Sally wouldn’t forgive me if I did something that would hurt the fae female and her offspring. Killing Skender would hurt them.”
Before Fane could respond, the door opened and the males he’d sent for—Drake, Wadim, Adam, and Sorin—marched in. Adam rubbed his hands together like an eager child, glee dancing in his eyes. “Are we finally going on another hunt? Thankfully this one does not involve a kidnapped healer.”
Fane nodded. “Did you find the location?”
“Yep,” the fae replied. “Let’s do this.” He held out his arms and each of the men laid a hand on him. Adam flashed, and in a blink, the group stood in a forest blanketed in glistening snow as the sun shone down on the landscape.
“Why does it feel like everywhere we end up is in some remote forest?”
“Uh, because it is, Wadim,” Adam answered.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Wadim muttered.
Adam shrugged. “Don’t ask stupid questions if you don’t want stupid answers.”
Suddenly, they heard a whistling sound in the air. Adam yelled, “Hit the deck!”
Fane and the others dropped to the ground. Adam rolled onto his back and raised his hands in the air. He spoke in his native tongue, and the air shimmered around them. Fane realized Adam was putting up a shield. Fane glanced around but didn’t see anyone, though he did notice three arrows embedded in the tree that was directly behind him.
“Elves,” Fane said, nodding toward the arrows.
Costin rolled into a crouched position. “So, Alston still has command of some of Ludcarab’s minions.”
A deluge of blue magic suddenly bombarded the shimmering dome-shaped barrier that covered them. Adam continued to speak, his hands now emitting a white light. When he seemed satisfied with his work, he lowered his hands, his chest rising and falling in quick succession.
“You okay?” Fane asked.
“Aside from the mental cussing that I’m getting from Crina?” Adam smirked. “I’m dandy.”
“Why are you grinning?”
“Because, Drake, she’s hot when she’s pissed off.”
Decebel rolled his eyes. “I swear you and Jenhaveto be related somehow.”
More balls of magic hit the barrier and shook the ground beneath their feet. Fane turned in a circle, searching for their foe, but still he could see no sign of them.
“That’s fae magic,” Adam told them.
“Elvesandfae,” Decebel said. “Just how many bloody Order members are there? Peri must have killed hundreds of them at that compound.”
“The leaders would have been smart enough not to keep them all in one place,” Lucian pointed out.
