Dalton’s wolf fought against the order, but in the end, he nodded.
“Turn and look at us,” Fane commanded.
Dalton obeyed. His vision was blurry, caused by gathering tears. So many emotions warred inside him that he didn’t even know which one dominated.
“It’s obvious that Jewel is gone,” Fane continued. “So she must have left before Peri could bind her. For a moment, you stilled. Were you able to get through to her using the bond?”
Dalton’s gaze bounced around the room, taking in those who had entered without him realizing it. Jacque was next to Fane, her hand covering her mouth and tears filling her emerald-green eyes. Costin and his mate Sally stood just inside the door, with Kale and Heather in front of them. He heard a throat clear and turned to see that Anna and Gustavo had made their way farther in, next to Nick and Kara. Even Drake and Bethany were present. All the Wheelers were there, save Stella and his Jewel. Did they feel the same thing he’d felt? Is that why they had come?
“I got through for a few seconds.” Dalton’s gaze jumped back to Fane.
“What did you feel?” Fane’s voice was hesitant, as if asking the question hurt him as much as answering it would hurt Dalton.
“She wants to die.” The words came out stunted and clipped. His wolf didn’t want to speak them out loud, afraid doing so would somehow make it come to pass.
“Was there any indication of her location?”
Dalton’s eyes shifted to his alpha, Dillon, and Dalton shook his head. He thought about what he’d felt. “She was cold. Not just on the outside, but inside. Bone-chilling cold.”
“If Dalton could get through, maybe we all can,” Sally spoke up. “If we include Dalton in the circle and draw on their bond as well, maybe we can get past Jewel’s wall.”
“Dalton,” Fane said, “describe the coldness. Was there darkness? Evil?”
“Don’t answer,”his wolf snarled at him.The beast knew that if he said yes, none of the mates of the healers would allow their females to be put at risk, especially not the pregnant ones. He couldn’t blame them for that. He wouldn’t put Jewel at risk if he were in their position, either. But the man pushed the wolf back. “Yes,” he finally answered, the word practically being ripped from behind his clenched teeth.
“Once we get Jewel back, we’re going to lock you healers in the fae realm and never let you out so you can’t do stupid shit anymore.” Peri appeared in the room, Lucian beside her.
“I second that.” Kale pulled Heather closer to his side.
Peri and Lucian stepped closer to Dalton. Though Peri was usually the mouthpiece for the couple, it was Lucian who spoke. “Your anger is righteous, but do not let it turn to bitterness. Do not let it rot the cord that holds you to your mate until the thread snaps.”
“Why?” Dalton snarled. “She’d rather die than be alive with me.”
“Because if you allow that, evil wins. Darkness prevails. The door that the light pushes against is opened a little farther, making it much harder for those left standing against it.” Lucian placed his hands on both of Dalton’s shoulders and looked him directly in the eyes. “Whatever has pulled your mate from your side used something powerful against her. I do not know what. Perhaps it was the darkness that lives in all of us, or maybe it was a desperate need for something she couldn’t obtain on her own. But evil doesn’t come at us straightforward. It gently coerces us, finding our weaknesses, worming its way in until we tolerate it,even though we know we shouldn’t. We all succumb to it in our lives, over and over, to different degrees. Some of those choices don’t affect others, and some of them do. This one happens to be a choice that affects us all. Which means she needs you—and us—more than ever. So even in our anger at her wrong decision, we choose to love her anyway and do what we can to help her.”
“For the pack,” Sally said softly.
Lucian nodded. “For the pack.”
Dalton’s head slumped forward, his chin nearly touching his chest as Lucian’s words pierced through the wall of anger he’d erected around his heart. Jewel wasn’t vindictive. She wasn’t malevolent. He knew her better than anyone. Their souls had joined in the Blood Rites and mating—heknewher. Whatever she’d gotten herself into, there was a reason she felt justified in her choice.
“Let’s head downstairs and discuss what we know about Jewel’s situation,” Fane nodded towards the door. “Peri, get Elle and Sorin here, please. Gustavo and Anna, any insight you have about your experiences in the places Jewel has been frequenting will be helpful, too.”
“Actually,” Anna spoke up, “I have a question.” She looked at Peri. “We’ve heard you talk a million times about magic having a signature, a calling card.”
Peri nodded. “Yes.”
“Is it the same for us?” Anna pointed at herself and the other healers. “I mean, when we use our power, can you feel it and trace it?”
Dalton’s eyes focused on Peri. He was practically willing her to say yes.
The high fae nodded. “You healers definitely leave a magical residue. We just need to know where she used it. It’s not in this room.” Peri looked at Dalton. “Can you track her scent out of here?”
Dalton wanted to smack himself. What the hell had he been thinking? He hadn’t been. He’d been throwing a tantrum of epic proportions and, for those moments, forgot that he was a damn wolf with superior senses. “I’m a dumbass,” he muttered.
“No.” Jacque shook her head. “You’re a hurting mate. Emotional pain muddles the mind. You weren’t thinking clearly. And you’ve been hurting for a while. Don’t put this all on yourself.”
“I can track her.” Dalton phased into his wolf form. It felt good to be in his fur. He gave himself a shake and then put his nose to the ground. People moved out of his way as he followed her scent out of the bedroom and down the hall to a back set of stairs that led to a door.
