“So, what happened?” Alice grabbed a pillow and squeezed it to her chest. “How are you here now? Where is your mate? I’m assuming, considering you’re with child, that you must be with him.”
Sally glanced down at her small baby bump, and her lips turned up slightly. “Yes, I’m with him.” She tapped her head. “And he’salwayswith me. He’s become even more overprotective since I became pregnant.”
“There’s no such thing as overprotective,”Costin grumbled.
Sally kept her attention on Alice. “Long story short, Peri and my two best friends found me and tried to get a feel for what had happened because they were worried about my mind. Once Costin knew where I was, there was no stopping him.”
“As if we would have tried,” Peri scoffed. “They all got what they deserved.”
“He killed them?” Alice’s eyes widened
Peri chuckled, and it was a wicked sound. “Hesavagelykilled them. It was a thing of beauty, really. Unless you’re squeamish. Then you probably would have been disgusted by the body parts and organs. Stuff that is supposed to stay on the inside. Well, it didn’t.”
“I’m a scientist,” Alice said matter-of-factly. “I don’t get squeamish. I get curious.”
Peri’s brow rose. “That’s a little disturbing. Maybe you should think about seeing a therapist. We’ve been talking about our pack getting some therapy. We definitely need to follow through on that. Some of those wolves be batshit crazy.”
Sally sighed. “Ignore her, Alice. She’s dramatic because, after 3,000 years, she’s gotten bored.”
“Not anymore.” Peri shook her head. “You ridiculous healers are always getting yourselves into some sort of bind because you thought you had a brilliant idea. Do me a favor.” Peri looked at Alice. “If ever you think you have a brilliant idea, just tell yourself it’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard, and then do the opposite of that so-called brilliant idea.”
“Why and how are you here?” Sally asked dryly. “Because I think I got this.” She motioned between her and Alice.
“Did you not hear me tell Cain I show up where I’m supposed to be?” Peri brushed away nonexistent dust from her shirt. “I swear pregnancy makes you girls denser.”
“Is she always this pleasant?” Alice pointed at Peri.
“Oh, no.” Sally pursed her lips. “Sometimes she can get downright rude.”
Alice’s cheeks puffed out as she exhaled. “Wow.”
“Yep.” Sally popped the P on the end of the word. “Okay, so now I’ve shared about me. Can you tell us about you, and, well, how you came to be whatever it is Cain seems to think you are?”
Alice rubbed her face with both hands, the pillow falling limply in her lap. “I ended up here because of my father.”
Peri sighed. “Another one with daddy issues.”
“Good grief, Perizada,” Sally snapped. “If you’re just going to spout comments from the peanut gallery, then go back to wherever the hell you came from … and get an attitude adjustment while you’re at it.”
Sally wasn’t surprised when the damn high fae simply smiled. “Pregnancy is doing you some good. This new blunt Sally is cute.”
Sally threw her hands up in the air. “Why does everyone keep saying that? Pregnancy is doing me some good or it looks good on me? Come up with some better material. You and Jen are just borrowing from each other. I just can’t with you right now. Alice”—she motioned with her hand—“please continue, and ignore the psycho fae.”
Alice bobbed her head. “Okay, well, like I said, I’m a scientist—a geneticist, to be exact. My father is military and into some shady crap. He told me I was taking this job or he’d ruin my career.”
“Called it,” Peri muttered. “Daddy issues times a thousand.”
Thankfully, Alice took Sally’s suggestion and simply ignored the high fae. She continued with her story and told them all that she’d experienced since being “employed” with Cain. Sally listened intently, her stomach twisting more than once.
“But Finn and Lizzy are together now?” Sally asked after Alice explained the dormant and the rogue werewolf’s involvement.
“This Lizzy chick sounds more like a healer,” Peri offered. “Sassy, a mess of a life, and attracts both the overprotective and narcissists. Are we sure she’s not one of you?”
“She’s a werewolf. I’ve seen it. Now she’s a hybrid. I’ve seen that, too.” Alice’s brow furrowed, and her hand absently rubbed at her bottom lip. “In fact, I’ve seen her recently. Or at least IthoughtI was with her. But I wasn’t. Was I? Was that all just something Cain concocted in my head? Does he have that much power over my mind?” Her voice rose with every word. “And what about the meeting with the military? Didthathappen? Because it all felt real. Like as real as you two standing here. Somehow, I…” Her words died off, and she just looked confused.
“I don’t know exactly how he’s doing whatever this is.” Sally lifted her hand and motioned to the clinical room around them. “Maybe he has a way of sharing his memories with you and inserts you into them so it feels like you were actually there?”
“At this point, I think anything is possible,” Peri said, her tone weary. “Unfortunately, it’s not only the good guys that can adapt. The villains in our story have done a pretty damn good job making adjustments to overcome rules and boundaries, too.”
