Lilly pushed past Clarion until she stood just on the edge of the opening. “What do we need to do?” Her question was directed at Fane.
Fane looked at Clarion and then at Synica. “What do you two think?”
The djinn elders stared at one another. “You need another djinn,” Synica said. “One of you to blow the mountain outward, while the other holds this particular spot together and protects it.”
“Whoa.” Adam held up his hands. “We went from ‘our feet are stuck’ to ‘blowing up a mountain.’ Does anyone else see a problem with that scenario?”
“We need Thadrick.” Synica ignored Adam. “He’s one of our most powerful.”
“But his magic is unpredictable right now,” Clarion pointed out.
Lilly shook her head. “No, Synica’s right. It needs to be Thad.”
“Have you seen something, Lilly?” Fane honed in on his mother-in-law.
“Just a feeling.” She rubbed her hand across her forehead, and Fane could see the strain on her face. “Fane, do you know if they’re back from the meeting with Cain?”
Fane’s jaw clenched, and his wolf growled. “The spell keeps me from being able to communicate with her.”
“Hold on,” Wadim said. “I got Z.” He tapped his head.
Suddenly, a phone rang.
“There’s cell service down here?” Lilly looked confused and pulled her phone from her back pocket.
“We’re fae,” Peri said. “Electronics tend to work around us simply because we want them to.”
“Must be nice,” the warlock queen muttered. She pressed the screen and then put the phone to her ear. “Jacque?”
Fane tried to lunge toward the opening where Lilly stood. His mate was on the other end of that line, and he was desperate to hear her voice, to know she was okay.
“Slow down.” Lilly held up her hand as if that would somehow help Jacquelyn obey. The queen listened intently, and her brow drew lower and lower the longer the conversation went on. Finally, Lilly’s eyes jumped up to Decebel briefly and then over to Fane’s. “Okay, have the girls deal with that. We need Thadrick here. Gwen is going to flash over and get him. No.” Lilly shook her head. “You aren’t coming inside the mountain.”
“NO!” Fane snarled. “Don’t you dare, Luna.”
“Your mate is fine,” Lilly said. “He’s under a nifty spell that Alston set for him, and it’s keeping him from being able to use the bond. Yes.” Lilly nodded. “Decebel is in the same boat.” She paused and then directed her question at Fane. “Where’s Costin?”
“Outside the mountain,” he answered. “Is Jacque okay?”
“How’s Jen?” Decebel quickly asked before Lilly could answer Fane.
Lilly ignored them both. “That is acceptable. And yes, I think that would be wise. I love you. Fane loves you, too.”
“Dammit, Lilly.” Fane growled.
She ended the call and looked behind her at Gwen. “Can you bring Thad? He’s at the sprite stronghold.”
“Of course,” Gwen’s gentle voice said.
“Bring them to the outside of the mountain. Jacque will be with him. She will fill you in on some specifics.”
“What specifics?” Peri asked. But the warlock queen continued to ignore the questions.
Lilly started to slip the phone in her pocket, but it rang again. She glanced at the screen and frowned. “Dillon?” She answered the phone, and after a moment, said, “Fane’s phone must not be working because of the spell.” She shook her head. “It’s not important. Hold on.” Then she held the phone out. “You’re on speakerphone. Fane is listening.”
“I’m here.” Fane stared at the device. “What have you found out?”
“We captured a vampire named Claude.” Dillon’s voice came through clearly. “If what he is telling us is true, Fane, it’s bad.”
