Everyone nodded in unison with small ‘oh’ and ‘right’ coming from them. By the time everyone had filed out of the room, Fane was there waiting to take Jacque’s hand. They stayed at the back of the group with Lilly walking next to them.
No one spoke, as if there was an unwritten law that kept them from discussing the matter until they were all gathered, just a Peri had suggested.
Vasile, Alina, Wadim, Cyn, Sorin, Elle, Adam and Crina all sat waiting for them in the large room.
“The gang’s all here Vasile,” Peri announced, “gathered again. It’s sort of like one of those where are they now specials on Oprah.”
Jen let out a snort as she took a seat with Decebel by her side. “Do you do anything besides watch daytime television and perform dramatic special effects?”
Peri raised a brow at Jen. “I keep your not so tiny anymore ass out of trouble.”
“Hey,” Jen nearly shouted, “not cool Peri, no talking about the pregnant chick’s backside. Once it’s back in its former glory, you can make jokes about it all you want. Until then, you will learn to like big butts.”
“And I cannot lie,” Sally whispered bringing a snort of laughter from everyone except Vasile and Alina who looked bewildered.
As usual, Vasile cleared his throat to bring everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand.
“From what I understand, we did not come down here to discuss Decebel’s mate’s posterior. So would someone please enlighten me as to what is going on and why we have the pleasure of Lilly’s company?”
Lilly stepped forward before anyone could speak and nodded to Alina and Vasile in greeting. Her smile was tight and it was obvious she was upset.
“I’m sorry to have barged in on you,” she started but was interrupted by Jacque.
“First off, you are welcome here anytime. Second, it was the fairy who barged in.”
Peri rolled her eyes but didn’t comment.
“Cypher has decided it is not safe for me to stay,” Lilly continued as if her daughter had not spoken, “because of his brother. So he has asked me to return to my home in Texas.”
Vasile did not speak right away. His eyes were narrowed, but not in anger. He seemed to be carefully considering what he would say.
“Did Cypher consult you on the matter before he asked you to leave?” he finally asked.
“No.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Jen muttered.
“Peri, what part do you play in all of this?” he asked as he turned to look at the fae.
“I went to talk with Cypher like I told you I would. It turned out to be a very informative conversation. First, we discussed the disgusting evil that is permeating his forest, and then we discussed the eviction of his supposed mate. Then I told him you requested his presence. Just as I was getting ready to leave, he asked me if I would accompany Lilly to the airport. Being the kind hearted person that I am, I agreed.”
There was a collective snort from the females in the room.
“If by kind hearted you mean meddlesome, then yes, you are indeed kindhearted.” The words came from Elle who sat across the room and surprised glances shot her way. She simply stared back, waiting for Peri to continue.
“Why did you bring Lilly here and not the airport?” Alina asked.
“I thought she had a right to tell her daughter what was going on and say her goodbyes.”
“So you do plan to go back to the U.S.?” Vasile asked.
Lilly glanced over at Jacque who stood rigidly with tight fists at her sides and narrowed eyes. Fane stood behind her with a hand resting on her hip. After several heartbeats, Lilly looked back to Vasile.
“Yes.”
“I’m going with her,” Jacque said as soon as the word was out of her mother’s mouth. She stepped away from Fane. He let out an audible growl and reached for his mate, but Jacque swatted his hand away. She walked over to stand next to her mom and took her hand.
“I know that Cypher thinks that he is making her safe by sending her home, but if his brother is as whacked as he says he is and he wants my mom, then an ocean is not going to keep him from her.”
Vasile looked from Jacque to his son and felt the weight of his position settle over him. Fane was in no state to travel, to be out of his territory, and out of Vasile’s control. And Vasile could not order Jacque to stay here. If he did, she would probably end up resenting Fane because of it. Next to him, Alina patted his leg and then stood up.
“I will go with Lilly and Jacque,” she announced. Vasile did not look up. He was not surprised that his mate would offer such a thing, and he would be a very dumb man to think he could stop her. He knew what she was doing, trying to appease their son and help keep Lilly and their daughter in-law safe at the same time. Fane just might be okay with Jacque going if his mother was with her―maybe.
“I’m going too.” Sally suddenly jumped up and hurried over to Jacque’s side. Costin’s face resembled Fane’s as he took several steps after his mate. The looks on the ladies’ faces had him stopping in his tracks. He had no doubts that they would claw his eyes out if he tried to get Sally; females could be protective like that.
“And me.” Jen was up as quickly as her pregnant self could move and standing next to the group. She looked back over her shoulder, expecting Decebel to be right behind her snarling and objecting. But instead, he was rooted to his spot. His jaw was so tense she thought he just might break it from clenching and his eyes were bright, bright, amber. For the first time in their relationship, he wasn’t stopping her from leaving his side, and with her being pregnant no less. The shock of it nearly drove her to her knees. She felt a warm hand slide in hers and looked over to see Sally giving her a gentle smile. Sally, the glue to the trio’s friendship, always knew what to do and when to do it. Jen turned her attention back to the group, effectively putting her mate at her back.“If Jen goes, then I go.” Cynthia stepped forward with a resigned sigh.
Rachel, Crina, Elle and Cyn stepped forward next and the growls in the room were beginning to drown out the voices.
“This is really a tough choice,” Peri grumbled. “I can either live in estrogen city or testosterone valley.” She looked from the men to the women and then stepped towards the females. “But at least in estrogen city there will be chocolate and Jen to keep me entertained.”
Jen grinned. “We aim to please Peri fairy.”
Alina turned to her mate questioningly. “What would you say to this, Alpha?”
Vasile stood and looked around the room at the very tense, very angry mated males and then back at the determined females. “You are asking the impossible my love,” he told her.
“Lilly is pack by way of Jacque and it is our job to protect her. The males need to stay here and figure out a plan to deal with this new threat. I would think you all would be happy to have us out of harm’s way.”
He chuckled out loud. “You would play that card.”
Alina tilted her head to the side and waited for his decision.
“It is within my right to speak for the females of my pack. Decebel will need to speak for the females in his pack.” He paused and glanced one more time at the males. He wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to strangle him in his sleep. “The females who have requested,” he laughed at that, “to go with Lilly will do so except Rachel.” Rachel looked at Vasile, waiting for his explanation and knowing the Alpha always had an agenda. “Rachel, we cannot have both healers away. One must remain here to tend to the needs of the pack and since you are in my pack, you stay.”
Gavril let out a satisfied rumble and walked over, tugging Rachel away from the group. He pulled her into his arms which seemed to soften the frustration that had been written across her tight lips.
Sorin stepped forward and Adam was right behind him. “Don’t you think some males should go with them?”
“And who would I send?” Vasile snapped, “If I send a couple of the mated males, the others will feel slighted. If I send any of the unmated males, they will die by the teeth of one of the mated males. So tell me Sorin, who can I send?”
Sorin did not have an answer and he knew Vasile was right. He stepped back, but his eyes continued to glow as he turned his eyes on his mate.
“Decebel, you must decide if you will allow your mate and Sally to go.” Vasile took a step back, giving the other alpha the floor.
Decebel’s eyes bore into Jennifer’s back. She refused to look at him and he knew it was because he hadn’t refused her request. How ironic was it that the one time he did not object to her, she gets angry about it.
“They may go.” his words rung out through the hall and he swore that everyone stopped breathing. Was he really so unreasonable that they would be so shocked over his decision? He thought back over the course of the past few months and decided, yes, he definitely was unreasonable when it came to Jennifer because the idea of losing her was enough to drive him to the most irrational choices sometimes.
“We leave tonight,” Peri announced. Growls and chairs being shoved out of the way began to fill the room as angry mates tried to keep their anger under control. Costin lost the battle and phased right there—clothes tearing, eyes glowing, saliva dripping from his fangs. He gave Sally one last look before turning and running from the great hall.