Nick followed the fae’s gaze and saw a female fae with long, pale yellow hair and a petite frame. Beside her stood the wolf he knew to be Skender. Nick narrowed his eyes, unsure of how to handle the presence of a wolf that was responsible for so much pain in his pack, not to mention a traitor. But he put the thoughts aside to focus on his mission.
“It’s good to see you, Aphid.” There was no hint of a smile on Tenia’s face. Her brow was drawn low, and her lips pursed. “I didn’t think you ever left the fae realm.”
“A mistake I wish I could go back in time and rectify.”
She nodded, as if she completely understood. “We’ve taken care of the wards.” Tenia motioned around them. “They cannot sense us.”
“Not even other fae?”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Synica, one of the djinn elders, stepped out from behind Gerrick, the warlock warrior. “I’ve made sure that all of our power is completely hidden.”
Aphid bowed his head to the female djinn. “I see the fae aren’t the only ones stepping out into the world to help.”
Synica inclined her head. “Like you, the djinn should have intervened a long time ago.”
Myanin stepped up next to Tenia and rested her arm on the fae’s shoulder. “Listen, this verbal self-flagellation is great, and I’m sure it will strengthen all of your characters, but can we get back to the task at hand? We’ve got a vampire spy to put in his place, and we don’t know how long my girl’s”—she pointed at Tenia—“magic is going to last.”
“Who is with you, alpha?” Dalton leaned to the side to see the group standing behind Dillon.
Dillon turned and motioned. “Myanin, Tenia, as well as Lilly, the warlock queen, and her general, Gerrick. Skender, Tenia’s mate. And our guest of honor.”
Gerrick reached behind him and pulled a male forward.
“Claude, the vampire,” Dillon finished.
“He’s our spy.” Myanin sounded like a giddy child. “In case you were wondering why we were traipsing around the desert with a bloodsucker.”
“We were not wondering.” Nick shook his head. “But thank you for the clarification.”
Myanin clucked her tongue at him and made a shooting motion with her hand. “Any time, biker dude. Can I call you biker dude?”
“You may not.”
“You look like a biker dude.” She tapped her lips. “Yep, I’m definitely going to call you biker dude.”
Tenia pinched the bridge of her nose. “She hasn’t had cotton candy in a while, and when she goes for long periods without it, she gets a tad … unhinged.”
“A tad?” Tanya scoffed. “You’re in denial if you don’t realize she needs to be cut off from that crap for good.”
“Bite your tongue, alpha chick,” Myanin snapped. “And you can mind your own business, Tenia. All my hinges are perfectly attached.”
“I told you we should have left her to guard the mountain.” Lilly sounded like a weary mother. “But does anyone listen to the queen? Nope.”
Myanin leaned over and patted Lilly’s shoulder. “Don’t be sore, queenie. If you had really wanted me to stay behind, you’d have made me. We all know you’re capable.”
The warlock queen sighed and folded her arms across her chest. “I think we should move things along. Dillon?”
“Agreed.” The Colorado pack alpha nodded. “Fane informed me he would send your mate, Nick.”
“She and Jewel are working on a way to contact the healer inside the facility.” He motioned toward the enormous building, which was surrounded by a barbed-wire perimeter fence a few hundred yards away. “Dalton and I wanted to check out the situation before we brought them.”
“I might be able to help with that.” Tenia stepped forward. “We can use Claude to get in touch with her.”
“How?”
“He will do anything I tell him to, Nick,” Tenia explained. She didn’t sound proud of that fact, just resigned. “If I give him directions to get information on the new healer and have her discreetly call me. Then Kara or Jewel, they wouldn’t even have to come here.”
Nick liked the sound of his mate not having to come near the enemy stronghold.
