“What about me?” Kyle asked.
“I need you and Gerty to stay at the cottage in case Laina comes back without us or the forest fae learn where she is. Selene needs to help here, managing preparations for the shift tomorrow. No one can know the royal family is at risk. It would cause a panic. We don’t know where he’s holding Laina. If something goes wrong, all of you are our backup.”
After a brief conversation with Gerty, Kyle reluctantly agreed. “Do this for me, Silas. Bring my wife and my baby back alive.”
“I will,” Silas said, and he meant it.
“I’ll make preparations,” Grateful said.
Polina shrugged. “My silver is ready. No preparations are needed.”
“I need to find a babysitter,” Grateful mumbled.
Silas exchanged glances with the rest of the group. “We go first thing in the morning.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Silas arrived at the hospital, he was surprised to find that Nickelova had fully recovered. Her skin was plump, her complexion vigorous. Even her platinum bob was back in place. Considering she’d still been bald less than a week ago, he took her full head of hair as certain evidence that magic was involved in her healing. He’d have to thank Grateful for her help after this was over. Come to think of it, he’d owe Grateful a debt of gratitude for a few things if they all came out of this alive.
“You’re looking better,” Silas said to Nickelova, the heart firmly in his hand. “You’ve gained weight.”
“That will happen when you’re forced to eat sixteen hours a day.” She refused to look at him, choosing to focus intently on a spot on the hospital wall instead. The room was a pit, covered in stacks of trays and strewn clothing. There were only two people who could tend to Nickelova: Grateful and her trusted friend Michelle. No one else could see, hear, or clean up after her, and by the looks of it, Nickelova didn’t feel the need to pick up after herself.
“It’s time to go. We need to find Alex.”
“Tomorrow night is the lunar eclipse. Trying to nip his plan in the bud?” She stage-whispered the last as if she were speaking to a small child. “I’m sorry to tell you, this plan is far beyond the bud stage.”
“Get dressed.”
“You can’t stop him, you know. No one has ever been able to stop Alex. Not even me. He thinks three steps ahead.”
Silas elevated the heart. “You will get dressed,” he said with intention. “And then you will take me to Alex.”
She bound from the bed like it was on fire and reached for a pair of jeans hanging over the arm of the only chair in the room. “Are you going to stand there and watch me?”
“I’ll wait outside. Don’t dally. We have work to do.” He slid into the hall, tucking the heart back into the new satchel he’d purchased to replace the backpack Soleil had barbecued.
Jason approached from the direction of the parking garage. “Is she cooperating?”
“You could call it that. How is Kyle doing?”
“Selene is keeping him calm. He didn’t sleep last night. Gerty has her eye on the place. I didn’t emphasize the fact that Kyle might be Fireborn pack’s first nonwerewolf alpha if something happens to all of us.”
“He knows.”
“This plan,” Jason said, “you’re sure your witchy friends are up to the task?”
“Positive. Polina and Grateful are a powerful duo. We’re covered.”
“Hey, you’re friends with Logan. Have you ever seen Polina’s magic mirror?” Jason asked.
“No. But he’s told me about it. Apparently, it’s this giant stretch of silver that tells the future. It’s ancient and practically foolproof. If they see us in trouble, they’ll send help.”
“Right. In the form of Rick and Logan, their caretakers.”
“Both of them can shift into beasts big enough to hold off a T. rex. That I have seen,” Silas said. “Believe me, we’re in good hands.”
“And Alex won’t see them coming.” Jason rubbed his hands together. “This has to work.”
