Her eyes snapped open, and she pushed to her feet without sparing Alston another glance. She walked over to where the rest of their group, minus Jen, stood, staring down at Zeek. “What the hell was that?” Jacque pointed at the dead male.
“Justice that was a long time coming.” Cyn folded her arms across her chest.
Zara cleared her throat and pointed at Zeek. “Um, could you please tell us what he did so that I can avoid doing it and ending up like that?”
Cyn’s eyes narrowed. “He conspired to kill a future high fae, though he was young, and it was his father who came up with the plan. That is why he only received banishment and not death. His father, however, was killed for his crime.”
Crina appeared thoughtful. “Who was the future high fae?”
Cyn frowned and then pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can’t remember. I only remembered Zeek and what he’d done when I saw him. It’s like he’d been erased from my memory.”
Jacque’s mind worked overtime as she tried to put the puzzle pieces jumbled in her head together. “Does this have anything to do with Peri and Nissa? They can’t remember anything either. Could Zeek have been a part of that?”
Cyn nodded. “It’s possible.”
“We could ask him,” Zara offered. “Except, you know, he’s dead.”
Cyn looked at Zara from the corner of her eyes.
Zara raised her hands. “Jokes are how I cope.”
“Of course they are.” Cyn snorted. “That seems to be a theme with you dormants. Maybe it’s a defect of not being a full-bloodedCanis lupus.”
“Not important.” Jacque looked at Thad. “Are you getting anything here?” She pointed to Zeek, then Cyn. “Any memories at all?”
A pained look crossed the djinn’s face. After a minute, he cursed and shook his head. “It’s chaos up here.” He touched his temple.
Jacque heard the sorrow in Thad’s voice. She could only imagine how difficult it must be to feel like your purpose in life had been stripped away, and you could no longer fulfill it. “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now.” She looked back at Cyn. “What are we going to do with him?”
Thad reached down and placed his hand on Zeek’s arm. Flames erupted and engulfed the male. Less than a minute later, there was nothing left but a pile of ash.
“Well, okay then.” Crina wiped her hands as if they had somehow gotten dirty from Zeek’s incineration. “I say we get the heck out of here.”
Jacque started to speak up, then Cyn walked to Alston’s body. She held out her hand and a wicked-looking axe appeared. Without hesitation, she grabbed Alston’s head by the hair at the top of his head and then brought the axe down on his throat, severing the spine so that his head dangled from her fist.
“Is Jen possessing her body right now?” Crina muttered. “Because she seems a little unhinged, and I’ve never seen Cyn unhinged.”
The axe disappeared, and Cyn stood up and turned to face them. Alston’s head rested by her leg, his long hair dragging the ground. “Thad, if you can take care of the rest of him, then we can go.”
Jacque’s brow rose. “Is there a reason you’re taking the high fae’s head as a trophy?”
Cyn’s head tilted to the side as if Jacque’s question confused her. “Because sometimes survivors need to see that the one responsible for their torment is no longer a threat. Words aren’t always enough.”
Jacque sighed. “Can you please justnothold it up where children are present?”
“I was planning on putting it on a spike in front of the Romanian pack mansion for any and all to see what happens to those who choose evil over good and harm those who belong to you and Fane.”
“It’s a compelling argument,” Zara said thoughtfully.
“Definitely going to recommend therapy for our pack,” Jacque said under her breath. Then she met Cyn’s eyes. “You may show it to Sally and Jen. Then destroy it, please.”
Cyn shrugged. “As you wish.”
When Thad finished dealing with Alston’s body, they each placed a hand on Cyn, and she flashed them back to the sprite realm. As soon as her feet were on solid ground, standing inside the great hall, Jacque asked Cyn, “Where’s Jen?”
“I flashed her to the front of the stronghold where we gathered before leaving. She said she was fine and to get my ass back to you all.”
Of course she did. Jacque reached out to Jen through the pack bond.“Jen, where are you?”She waited for her friend to demand to know what had happened, but she only heard silence.
