Den of Sorrows
Page 13

Jacque nodded and then paused. "Wait, did you just say Decebel is stuck in the door of the doghouse?"
Jen stepped forward and snapped her fingers in each of their faces. "That is not what's important. What's important is that I overheard, when I wasn't eavesdropping on a conversation, Vasile tell Peri that he would gather a team and be on their way to deal with the danger immediately. Looks like the fellowship rides again! He will be calling our men in for a debriefing and we need to be ready to do some recon so we can find out what those fleabags have been hiding from us."
Sally's eyes narrowed. "What's Decebel doing in a doghouse?"
"Jen told him to build one," Jacque offered. "Actually, she told him to build two and a playhouse.
Sally made an "O" shape with her lips.
"That's it!" Jen barked. "You two dumb witches need to get up off your butts and get in gear. Jacque, push that kid out already, and, Sally, tell Peri that you can't be helping with that whiny, needy bunch of new little healerettes. We have mates to berate, a mission to lead, and some force of evil that needs its ass kicked. It's go time ladies."
"Is she scaring you too?" Sally whispered.
Jacque nodded. "She's using military lingo. That is never a good sign. I think I might have actually just peed myself a little."
"You're pregnant. Saying you peed yourself because I scared you doesn't count—not when that little parasite is pushing down on your bladder causing you to pee every time you laugh, sneeze, or breathe for that matter," Jen said as she waved a hand in front of her. "And why are you still pregnant? I told you to push that sucker out."
"That was only like three minutes ago," Jacque argued.
"Fine, I'll give you ten minutes. But considering I had my kid under duress, in a cave, I'm going to make you wear a shirt that says, ‘I didn't give birth in a cave or under duress and I still cried.’ "
"But you are duress," Jacque whined, unsure why she was even arguing about something so absurd with her blonde friend.
"No, I'm Jen and I'm much worse. Now, woman up and push!"
"Jen, maybe we should think about this before we go listening in on one of Vasile’s meetings. There might be a good reason for why they've kept whatever it is that's going on hush, hush." Sally attempted to reason with the blonde. Jacque knew by the practically crazed look in Jen's eyes, there would be no reasoning with her.
"I've called Thia’s wolf sitter and told her where to find the frozen breast milk and extra baby food and threatened to make her a rug if anything happens to mini-me. So, I've got my crap in order. You two need to jump on the save the world bandwagon. It's what we do, ladies." Jen clapped her hands as she stalked toward the two on the couch. "Get up! If you're not going to pop that sucker out, then you'll just have to waddle your fat butt after the enemy and bring a change of clothes because you're bound to pee yourself."
Jacque and Sally stood up and attempted to back away from Jen but she was on a mission. She herded them towards the door all the while glaring at them, daring them to defy her.
"Fine." Jacque finally threw her hands up in the air. "Have it your way. We'll go listen in. But after we find out what's going on, we won't barge in like rabid squirrels on crack." She pointed a finger at Jen. "We will step back and consider our options."
"Of course we will." Jen nodded.
"I don't believe her," Sally said with narrowed eyes.
"Not as far as I can throw her," Jacque agreed.
They followed Jen to Vasile's office and found a corner to hide around while they waited for the men to show up. It wasn't until they heard voices in the office that they realized Peri had flashed them all in.
"Sneaky, Peri fairy," Jen whispered. They tiptoed up to the door and pressed their ears to the wood. Jen and Jacque would have no problem hearing with their wolf senses. Sally would have to try a little harder.
Jen started to say something, but Vasile started speaking and she snapped her mouth shut.
"There's been another attack." Vasile’s usually calm voice seethed with barely contained rage as he spoke.
"We need to act now," Decebel growled.
"I agree," Peri spoke up. "But before we go in halfcocked with claws extended and teeth bared, we need to determine the most immediate threat. There's just too many covens to start a random attack. It needs to be systematic, controlled, and lethal. As soon as the other vampires realize they are being targeted, especially by wolves, they will go to ground and make it impossible to find them. Or worse, they will increase the amount of lives they are taking, daring us to confront them. I do not want whatever we do to result in more innocent lives being lost."
Jacque slammed her hand over Jen's mouth before the gasp could be released. Sally's eyes widened, but Jacque saw something that surprised her—knowledge. Sally had known about the vampires. Jacque gave her a questioning look. Sally gave her an apologetic shrug. She mouthed, "Peri made me swear."
Jacque cursed to herself. If everyone was going to keep secrets, how the heck were they supposed to trust each other?
"So what do you suggest?" Fane asked.
"Give me one more night."
All three males growled and then they heard Cypher's voice. "That means more children might die."
This time Jacque had to slam her hand over her own mouth. The vampires were killing children. She turned her glare on Sally but this time her healer friend shook her head. She hadn't known about the children. Well, that was something at least.
"It's a risk we have to take if we want to be successful in this mission. This is bigger than what we've faced with the old Serbia Alpha, Desdemona, or even Reyaz. I'm not going to say it's bigger than Volcan because, well, that’s a whole other can of worms." Peri paused and then said, "It's up to you, Vasile. I put you in charge of this mission so I will let you decide. You will have to deal with the consequences when I’m gone fighting Volcan.”
There was silence from the room and the girls seemed to hold their breath as they all waited for the Alpha to answer. It seemed like an hour had passed before he finally did. "We will give you the one night you request. It will give the males a chance to speak with their mates."