“You said there’s a werewolf pack in Coldspring?” Jeffery asked.
“That’s correct.” Lilly nodded. “Jeff, the current alpha, is a good guy. His pack keeps this town safe from other supernatural beings that might wish to harm humans.”
They both seemed to be processing the information. Michelle’s tears had dried up, as had Jeffery’s. Lilly waited patiently, and to her surprise, so did Peri. She glanced at the others. Lucian stood as still as a statue. He’d not spoken a word, not even when Peri announced him as her mate and werewolf. Gwen scooted back on the couch and rested her hands in her lap, watching Jeffery and Michelle.
Finally, after several minutes of silence, Michelle nodded and looked straight at Lilly. “We believe you.”
Jeffery nodded as well.
“I don’t understand it,” Michelle continued, “but there are lots of things I don’t understand in this world, and yet they are still true.”
“That’s an excellent point. Like why mosquitoes exist. I mean, seriously, what benefit do they actually bring to this world?”
“Jewel would know.” Lilly smiled at Peri.
Peri’s brow furrowed. “She would. That’s something we’re going to need to talk about. Little Jewel has been keeping secrets. Elle reached out to me to let me know what she was doing, as I am her commander.” Peri looked at Jen’s parents. “Elle is one of our fae warriors. Jewel is a gypsy healer who isalso a witch. One of those things is really good, and the other … less so.”
“Right, of course.” Jeffery tried to sound like he was completely okay. But Lilly imagined inside he was a frantic mess.
“Is Jewel okay?”
“I don’t know, Lilly. But Elle, Sorin, Anna, Gustavo, and Dalton are trying to figure that out. Tanya is with Jewel at the Colorado pack mansion. For now, they have it under control. Our job is to secure the Adams and the Henrys and talk to Jeff.”
“The good news is the Henrys already know about us,” Lilly offered. “Fane and Jacque told them when Fane fought Lucas.”
“Who’s Lucas?” Michelle asked.
“He’s the former alpha of the Coldspring pack, and he was not a good man.” Peri rose to her feet.
“What happened to him?” The tension in Jeffery’s voice made Lilly think he didn’t really want to know the answer.
“What happens to any male who threatens the mate of another.” Lucian spoke up for the first time, his deep voice filling the room. “His life was forfeit the moment he threatened to take Jacque.”
Both their eyes widened. “Fane killed him? But he is just a kid, or was when he lived here.” Michelle’s voice rose an octave.
“Supernatural law is not as forgiving as human law,” Lucian told her. “We are powerful beings, and there are those who choose to abuse that power to hurt others. They cannot be allowed to live. We protect the humans from those like Lucas.”
Lilly nodded. “And there are much worse ones than him.”
“Some of the things we deal with make Lucas look like a newborn kitten. But don’t think about that stuff now. I’m quite impressed with you two. You haven’t passed out from shock, you haven’t peed on yourselves in fear, and you’re not calling the cops to come take the crazy people from your house.” Perimotioned for Lilly and Gwen to stand. “I think our job here is done.”
“That’s it?” Michelle scrambled to her feet. “You’re going to leave now? After you’ve just dropped this big-ass bomb on our laps? I mean, you said Jen is relatively safe. What the hell does that actually mean? Her mate is over 200 years old. Does that mean Jen is going to live that long? Will she watch us grow old while she never changes? How do we keep from telling our friends because, damn, this is a lot?” She ran her hands through her hair and then dropped her arms as if they weighed too much. “How can we stay in touch with her if she’s off saving the world? And where is Thia while Decebel and Jen are gone? Is she safe? Would she be safer in our world with us?” She turned to look at her husband, and he nodded enthusiastically. “We believe you, but there’s still so much we don’t know.”
Okay, maybe they’re not as cool, calm, and collected as I first guessed.
“According to Fane, Jeff has had some of his wolves keeping watch over you two in case any vampires have targeted you. He can answer any more questions you have about the supernatural world,” Lilly offered. “They should be coming by to introduce themselves to you soon.”
Peri motioned to herself and the others. “We are going to check with Jeff and see if there’s any threat left in Coldspring, and Gwen”—she pointed to the other high fae—“will stay to help the wolves. She also can help with questions you have. Gwen, are you good with that?”
“Of course.” Gwen dipped her head at Jeffery and Michelle.
“Gwen will also make sure anyone else who comes calling gets the message that this city is protected by the alpha of all alphas.”
“How are you going to do that?” Jeffery’s brow furrowed as he crossed his arms in front of him.
“We like to display the head?—”
Lilly cut her off. “I don’t think you really want to know the answer to that question. Also, Jen is unaware that we came to see you. She doesn’t know that there have been vampires in Coldspring. She’s going to flip her lid, so be expecting to hear from her.” Lilly paused, meeting Michelle’s eyes. “Don’t be too hard on her for not staying in contact. She was just a teenager when she left and had only just learned about the supernatural world. I don’t think she knew how to tell you.”
