Kara nodded slowly. If there was any chance to spare Alice from enduring what she had, Kara had to try.
Fane walked over and squeezed her shoulder in support. “You’re suffering was not in vain. The Great Luna can use for good what was meant for evil.” He released her quickly and stepped back over to Jacque, who smiled up at him with adoration.
Kara knew the alpha was right. She’d do what she could to help Alice and Lizzy, even if she had to wade back through the bloody memories.
“I’m with you, babe.”Nick’s hand replaced Fane’s on her shoulder. His touch warmed her all the way to her toes.
Fane continued talking, pulling her attention from her mate’s touch. “For now, we must strategize our next move. I need to talk to Dillon and see if they’ve done any more spying or gotten any more vamps to talk.” His brow furrowed. “We also need to get a hunting party out for Claude. He’s a dangerous loose end.”
“I’ll try to contact Alice through the healer bond at a time when she is most likely asleep,” Sally offered. “It will be easier to get in her mind that way. Especially now that she knows what it’s like for someone to enter her mind. She might have figured out a way to block us.”
Kara stayed close to Nick’s reassuring presence as they hammered out details. She tried to focus on helping Alice, instead of dwelling on the past. But inside, old wounds throbbed with remembered pain.
Over the next few days, the pack, along with the help of the sprite queen, made preparations to shelter not only Alice if needed, but also Lizzy, Finn, and any other dormants they could get out. But so far, their preparations were all for naught. Sally had tried reaching out to Alice twice, and both times, the healer had reported hitting the mental equivalent of a brick wall. Try as she might, there had been no way for Sally to get into the scientist’s mind. Kara grew more anxious because she wanted news of Lizzy.
“Third times a charm?” Sally sat down next to Kara. “It’s a little after 10 p.m. where Alice is located.”
Kara nodded with a look of determination. “If we don’t get through this time, we’re gathering all the healers and busting down her mental wall.” Kara gripped Sally’s hand and then closed her eyes. As they both used the healer bonds to travel to Alice’s mind, Kara prayed to the Great Luna that they would make it inside. Less than a minute later, they reached the healer’s mind. Surprisingly, they were able to walk right inside, as if Alice had left the door open for them. This time, Kara made her presence known.
They found Alice sitting on a chair in a room decorated with a distinctly masculine flair. She turned her head as if she felt Sally and Kara’s presence. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
“Has something happened?” Concern laced Sally’s tone. She and Kara sat on an empty loveseat.
“A better question would be what hasn’t happened.” Alice’s voice was rough.
“You’re awake. That’s a good thing, right?” Kara asked gently. “I mean, obviously you’re asleep right now, but you’re no longer under Cain’s influence.”
“Depends on how you look at it.” Alice tilted her head and gazed at Kara. “Who are you?”
“I’m Kara. I’m a gypsy healer, too.” Kara smiled, hoping to put the scientist at ease. “I didn’t come in, so to speak, last time, because we didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
“We had no clue that Peri would show up,” Sally quickly added.
Kara adjusted in her seat to get more comfortable. Her growing belly, though still small, could make sitting awkward.
Alice’s eyes dropped to her stomach and then bounced to Sally’s. “If I eventually get out of here and go with you two, I will be sure not to drink the water.” A small smile broke through the bleak look on her face.
Sally chuckled. “Believe it or not, theCanis lupushadn’t been having babies for a very long time, until recently. But to be safe, you might want to bring bottled water with you.”
Alice nodded. “Noted.”
“Can you tell us why you seem upset about finally waking up?” Sally’s voice was so warm that Kara imagined she could probably soften the most hardened heart.
Alice ran her hand through her messy hair, trying unsuccessfully to tame it. “I’m just confused, and I greatly dislike being confused. I’m not an indecisive person.”
Kara bit her bottom lip. “What’s there to be confused about?”
“The fact that I have feelings for a supernatural serial killer,” Alice answered dryly.
“Oh,” Kara said flatly. “That.”
Alice sighed. “And I’ve been told I shouldn’t have feelings for him because I have a soul mate, or whatever you all call them, out there somewhere in the wide world.”
“Having a soul mate doesn’t mean you can’t develop feelings for someone else,” Sally explained. “In fact, my best friend, who is the alpha female of the Romania Grey Wolves pack, is a result of a maleCanis lupusfalling in love with a human.” Sally paused, and her face scrunched up. “Well, she actually wound upnotbeing human, but Jacque’s dad didn’t know that at the time.” She waved her hands as if to erase what she’d said. “The point is, he fell in love with someone who wasn’t his true mate and wound up having a kid with her.”
“Are they still together?” Alice’s voice was tinged with hope but also an underlying sound of disgust.
No.Kara realized. It’s not disgust. But it’s something.
