“Good to know you have boundaries,” Jacquelyn smiled at her friend. “But I think we need to reevaluate them.”
Fane looked at the high fae. “Disir, what will this ‘Knowing One’ be able to do for Thad?”
“He’s powerful, and if it is the will of the Great Luna, then there’s a possibility he could heal Thad’s mind. But there’s a risk that he could also do more damage.”
“Anuva is very controlled,” Myanin said. “He won’t make things worse. But he’s never gotten involved in, well, anything. He just stays in his little world, keeping track of all the forgotten things, lost things, whatever you want to call them.”
“How long will it take?”
Myanin shrugged at Fane. “Old supernaturals don’t see time the same way as younger ones. A year to us could feel like a couple of days to him and vice versa.”
Fane rubbed his hands together as he stood. Jacquelyn moved with him. “Very well. We will just have to see what happens, but we can’t wait. We need to join those who are already hunting hybrids and vampires.”
“What about any supernaturals helping them?”
Fane’s jaw clenched as he considered Kale’s question. Fane didn’t enjoy killing. He didn’t think it was the answer to everything, but he also knew that evil couldn’t be allowed to roam free. “Use your discretion. If you think they need to be questioned, then capture them. If you think they’re a lost cause, kill them.” He looked at Gwen and Disir. “We’re ready when you are. And thank you for your service to our pack.”
“We owe you more than this.” Disir walked over to the group that he would be transporting. “We should have listened to Perizada.”
“Cry over regrets later,” Myanin said as Gerick pulled her over to place a hand on Disir. “We got vamps to kill, the world to save, and cotton candy to eat. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Gerick, make her behave.” Sally huffed as she hugged Costin.
“Okay. You try it once you’re no longer with child and see if you can dodge her blades,” the warlock grumbled.
Myanin grinned at her mate. “You like me wild.”
“I admit nothing.”
“Everyone knows their tasks.” Fane wrapped an arm around Jacquelyn’s waist. “Let’s get it done.”
Dillon paced back and forth in the pack living room, waiting for Fane’s team to show up. His own wolves were already hunting, and he’d been with them until he felt Dalton’s rage through the alpha bond. The only way Dillon would have felt something like that was if his beta was on the verge of losing control. Dillon immediately headed back to the mansion. Dalton had been through hell, but since finding his true mate and dealing with their issues, it seemed to Dillon that his beta had been unstable.
When Dalton had asked to stay back with Jewel during the raid on Cain’s compound, Dillon hadn’t questioned the decision. Tanya had spoken with Jewel, who said she felt like she was experiencing PTSD from being taken by Volcan and everything she’d endured. The sentiment was completely understandable.
Tanya walked into the room and held out a glass of whiskey. “Thanks, babe.”
“I knew they’d been leaving the mansion.” His mate leaned her hip against a chair. “Even as their alpha, I didn’t think it wasmy place to ask what they were doing. For all I knew, Jewel was going to therapy.”
“It’s not your fault,” Dillon said. “Is Jewel coming down?”
Tanya nodded. “It took some coercing, but she finally agreed.”
Dalton’s mate walked into the room.Speak of the devil.Dillon noticed she looked thinner and had dark circles under her eyes. But where the hell was his beta? He couldn’t imagine Dalton leaving when his mate was in such a state.
“Oh, Jewel.” Tanya hurried over and wrapped an arm around Jewel’s shoulder, perhaps worried she might collapse at any moment, which didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility with the way she looked. “No offense, sweet girl, but what the hell?”
The healer showed no emotion, not even the hint of a smile. Her once-sparkling eyes were dull and lifeless. Dillon waited for her to spout some random bit of obscure trivia, as she often did, but the girl remained quiet.
“Jewel.” Dillon used his alpha tone. He could see now was no time to mess around trying to be gentle. “Where is Dalton?”
Her eyes immediately looked up at him. His dominance demanded it. In her weakened state, she couldn’t have resisted if she wanted to.
“He left me.” Jewel’s lips trembling slightly, the first sign of emotion she’d shown since she’d entered the room.
“What do you mean ‘he left you’? Left to do what? Did he go hunting? Did he go to retrieve something for you?”
Jewel shrugged at Tanya. “To get away from me. Dalton is angry with me. He packed a bag and left.”
