Den of Sorrows
Page 52

The bond was closed now, not completely but hopefully enough that he couldn't just listen in. She knew he was afraid of anything happening to her. She totally understood that, but he also knew that she was a gypsy healer. She couldn't just stand by and not help.
Jen's leg shot out and kicked her as she walked by and Sally turned to glare at her. Jen's brow was raised and her eyes spoke volumes as they bore into hers. Sally's lips twitched and almost broke into a smile. Her scheming friend had a plan; she would just need to be patient.
"Perhaps, that best thing to do would be to wait until nightfall, and then see if the evil is stronger in any particular area of the city," Alina suggested. Sally noted that the Alpha female had been very quiet over the past two days, and she looked as though she wasn't sleeping well.
Peri nodded. "That might just be our only option."
Jacque's stomach growled loudly enough that several eyeballs landed on her. She looked back at them and raised her hands. "Sorry, but I'm hungry."
"I could go get you something to eat," Fane offered.
Jen suddenly jumped up as she grabbed Jacque's arm, pulling on her. She nearly jerked it out of its socket. "That won't be necessary, wolf boy," Jen smiled. "I think it would probably do Jacque and the baby good to get some fresh air. We can accompany her to an eating establishment."
"Why are you talking like that?" Jacque asked. Jen shot her a look that clearly told her to shut her trap.
"I agree with Jen," Sally jumped in. "And as the healer and caregiver of our pregnant she-wolf, I think fresh air and walking is definitely a good idea."
"I can join you," Fane said, his eyes meeting Jacque's.
"Not necessary," Jen said quickly. "Fairy Peri can come with us. She's plenty powerful enough to keep us safe. Right Peri?"
Peri glanced at the three girls. She must have seen something in Jen's glare because she shrugged and said, "Why not." She reached out and grabbed Jen and Jacque’s sleeves in one hand and Sally's in the other and then flashed them from the room.
"Jacquelyn!" Fane’s voice in her mind was a sharp bite.
"Just give us a bit to just chill. Can you do that? I'm sick of sitting still. I'm hungry and I need to pee. Nothing is going to happen to me." She was begging, but she didn't care. Fane’s presence was suffocating her. Not only was he hovering but his worry and frustration were flowing through their bond so strongly that Jacque couldn't tell if they were her emotions or his.
"Fine, but please don't be too long."
"Peri, we need to do something," Jen said as she grabbed the fae’s arm and pulled her to a stop once they were a block from the building.
"What do you suggest?" Peri asked them.
"I really think going to the police stations and nosing around might be productive," she told her. "But the guys are never going to let us. If they have their way, they will lock us in that room."
Peri didn't offer that she was considering the same thing, but she had to concede that Jen's idea had merit. "Okay, let's say I'm in agreement. How am I supposed to convince your mates to let you help? They are quite determined to keep you all confined."
It was Sally's voice that answered her. "So bind them."
Peri was pretty sure she’d heard the healer wrong. “Come again?”
“Maybe you should just bind them again,” Sally repeated. Three heads swung around to face her with wide eyes and open mouths.
Peri was the first to break the silence. “You want me to bind your males?”
“Man this is deja-vu,” Jen muttered.
“No,” Sally offered. “I want you to bind everyone but us.” She motioned to them.
Jacque was grinning from ear to ear. “Sally, what has Peri been teaching you while you’ve been gone? Where is our soft, sweet Sally?”
Sally rolled her eyes. “I’m just as sick of Costin being a tyrant as you guys are of your mates. It’s getting a tad ridiculous.”
“A tad?” Jen asked. “Um, my amazing, wonderful mate followed me to the bathroom and then proceeded to go inside, because he didn’t want me out of his sight. Okay, I’m not sure when in a marriage that peeing in front of each other becomes an acceptable thing, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t at the ten-month mark.”
Peri smirked. “You girls need to put your feet down. Give them an inch and they will take your whole freaking world.”
“That’s why we’re coming to you,” Jacque smiled at her. “You are how we are putting our foot down.”
“Grrreat,” Peri drew out. “As if chasing a power hungry high fae and killing hundreds of vampires isn’t enough, I also need all of your mates pissed of at me. Quick, someone give me a streamer so I can get this party started.”
The three girls laughed at her and Peri didn’t appreciate it. She really wasn’t being as sarcastic as they thought. If she bound the males, again, they would probably do everything in their power to turn her into puppy chow. She tapped her lips with her long fingernail. Then again, she thought, ticking off werewolves was one of her favorite past times.
“What are you planning, love?” She heard her mate’s voice in her mind.
“Nothing that concerns you, unless you feeling like being unable to move for a few hours.”
He chuckled and she loved the rich sound. “Just try not to upset too many of the males. I know you think I’m invincible but even I have my limits.”
“Fair enough, I’ll leave at least one of them alone. Now leave me be so I can work. Oh, and I love you.”
“I adore you, Perizada.”
She felt him pull back from her mind but could still feel that he was there if she needed him.
“Peri?”
The sound of Jen’s voice reminded her that she wasn’t alone. “Sorry, Lucian was checking in and making sure I was behaving.”
“Did you ask exactly what behaving entailed?” Jacque asked.
“Better to ask forgiveness than permission,” Peri pointed out.
“True,” Jen and Sally said at the same time.
“So, are we doing this?” Sally asked.
Peri let out a sigh. Who was she kidding? She was totally going to bind their overbearing furry butts. She focused her attention on the building where the others were waiting and whispered under her breath, allowing her magic to flow freely. After several minutes, she rubbed her hands together and smiled tightly. “What’s the plan,” she asked.