“Have you seen something?” Tenia leaned towards him. “Drawn something?”
Torion stared at his mother for several seconds. “Nothing clear. I just know we need to stay together.”
“You hear that, Thia?” Jen asked “You stay near Torion and Tie. Got it?”
Thia nodded. “Who hell Tor?”
“That’s your future—” Titus started, but Jen cut him off.
“He’s a fae kid that’s older than you and gets to boss you around. Until you’re grown. Then you can give him hell.”
Decebel groaned. “We’re going to have to have a serious discussion about our parenting styles.”
“She says you have one minute,”Jewel said slowly.
“Where are you?”
She sent him the image in his mind and then he jumped down and touched each fae, sharing the image with them. Each of them placed a hand somewhere on one of the fae, and everyone was quiet for a second before Fane roared.
“FOR THE PACK.”
Seventeen
“There are many different kinds of hell. When someone tells you to ‘go to hell,’ ask them to be a little more specific. The odds might be in your favor that way. Or, if you’re like me, it will be the hellest hell of all hells.” ~ Peri
Jewel staredin horror as the pack—people she loved deeply and had been through hell and back with—appeared in the forest about fifty yards from where she and Celise stood. The sprite was chanting in the strange demonic language, her eyes focused on the pack. The rain had let up, now just a slight drizzle, so Jewel could see more clearly. Her eyes immediately found Dalton. The fear she saw on his face crushed her because she knew her actions were the cause. Then his eyes darted to the side, and she knew he saw the shell that was her mother.
“Little Dove,” he whispered through their bond, and she savored his voice. This was all her fault. She’d done this out of selfishness, wanting her mother back when she knew in her heart it was wrong. And now her mother was here—but notreally. A miserable soul that wanted to go back to wherever Celise had brought her from.
“Just let me go, Jewel,” her mom said again. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”
She wanted to scream that it wasn’t okay. Nothing would ever be okay again. And now she’d have no one. Celise would take all of Jewel’s family and do whatever the hell she was going to do, and she would be left alone. She’d put all the people she loved in harm’s way. She didn’t deserve their loyalty. Jewel wanted to scream from the top of the highest mountains for them to let her die. Dalton continued to stare at her, and she felt his pain through the bond, along with his worry over the blood running down her face and neck. But that was nothing. No amount of physical pain Celise could inflict would top what she was feeling right now.
Her pack—people who loved her. All their lives, and the lives of all the other supernaturals who’d fought the good fight, were worth more than hers. As she stared at the man she loved and yet had betrayed, she knew she was unworthy of his love and devotion. She’d begged him not to come, pleaded because she knew that even if Celise didn’t kill them, there were fates worse than death. Celise had hinted at separation, at taking away their chance at a future together. That would be worse than being together in the afterlife. But as she knew he would, Dalton showed up for her. Despite her actions and words, her mate had stayed true to his vows. Tears streamed down her face as her soul fractured into a thousand pieces. This might be the last time she ever saw his handsome face. She didn’t know if their bond would remain intact when Celise did … whatever she was planning, so this might be the last time she heard his voice.
“I’m sorry,” she shouted out. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” Her shoulders shook with her sobs, and she was prettysure that at any moment she would vomit from the utter disgust she felt toward herself.
“We know that it is all your fault, Jewel, but pull your shit together,” Peri called back. “Seeing as how Celise is in a trance, explain the dead reunion she has going on.”
Jewel sucked in a breath. Peri’s matter-of-fact tone helped Jewel regain some composure. “She brought my mom back. That’s what she promised.” The wind had died down, and now she didn’t have to yell, only speak a little louder over the wailing demons that were no doubt coming from the portals. The supernaturals in the forest behind them had been silent.
“Hate to break it to you,” Myanin said, “but that ain’t your mom.”
“Would it kill you to have some compassion?”
Myanin snorted at Tenia. “Compassion is for bitches. Jewel is not a bitch. She’s a smart girl who did something stupid. I totally get her.” She turned and looked at Jewel. “I totally get you, Jewel Bug. Sometimes our crazy shows, and we poison people or, you know, trust evil hags because we have dead mommy issues.”
“For the love of all that is holy, would you please stop talking?” Tenia snapped.
“She’s not wrong,” Elle added.
Jewel didn’t know what the hell was happening. Didn’t they understand they were up a creek without a paddle, a life raft, or even a damn stick to grab hold of? Celise was harnessing some sort of demon magic, and they were arguing?
“Celise,” Peri called out, a little louder, probably hoping to break her concentration. “I’m sorry about your sisters. Now that you have them back, maybe we could just let bygones be bygones and burn the book. Sound good?”
“Sounds good to me.” Jen nodded.
“I’m down with a good book burning,” Crina gave a thumbs up.
