Den of Sorrows (The Grey Wolves #9)(23)

Costin started toward her again; this time in better control. Jacque stepped aside when he reached his mate. He gave Fane’s mate a slight nod of his head, acknowledging that he appreciated her allowing him access to Sally.
Costin pulled her into his arms and struggled not to squeeze her too tightly. His hands ran over her back, attempting to appease his wolf by touching her. Skin, his wolf growled. He was a needy bastard but Costin couldn't help but agree. Feeling her warm soft flesh reassured them that she was okay.
Sally reached behind her to grab his hands. She pulled them up to her face, placing one on either side. She looked into his eyes and gave him one of the smiles she reserved only for him. 
"I’m better now," she said softly as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "It was just too much, but it's all gone now. Only the memory of it remains."
"I don’t want you to have those kind of memories," Costin growled. His mate was a light—pure and precious. Nothing so dark as the emotions she had felt should touch her. It was once again a foe that he could not vanquish.
Her head tilted thoughtfully and her eyes filled with compassion. "Someone should know what those poor children have gone through. Someone should know the truth because their parents never will. They shouldn't have died like that, Costin." Her voice broke.
He pulled her head to his chest, massaging the back of her neck. "Why does it have to be you?"
"If not me, then who?" Sally challenged. "It would not be fair to wish it on anyone else. How many times has Vasile told us that we are held to a higher standard, a higher calling because of the gifts we have? I know it sucks, believe me. But instead of questioning it, I need you to help me endure it." Sally pulled back to look up at him. Her big brown eyes pulled him in as they always did. "Can you do that?" she asked.
He blinked several times, trying to break the spell she held over him. Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Costin pulled back just far enough to whisper, "For you, I can do anything."
Peri watched the group of wolves check on Sally. They were a family. Regardless of the fact that they were from two different packs, they were still family. Wolves were a protective bunch and she knew it was necessary to let them each reassure themselves that one of their own was okay. Even the warlock king was checking on her, though none of the pack would let him get close enough to touch her. “Overprotective fleabags,” she thought.
A subtle movement to her right had her turning her head. Okay, so maybe not all of them needed the reassurance. Drake stood on the opposite side of the alley, leaning up against the wall of the brick building. He watched the others as well, but his face was blank, leaving her in the dark about what he was feeling.
She walked over to him and narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you defective too?"
Drake eyes shifted to look at her. "Too?"
"I've got a wolf mated to one of the new healers who avoids the affection of the pack members. That's not normal, not for a wolf. So, do you also have a haunted past? One that keeps you from acting like a healthy member of the pack?"
Drake's brow quirked up. "You don’t mince words do you?"
"Tiptoeing around the issue would indicate that I give a flying flip on how you feel about the topic. I don't. I do care about having defective wolves with me on a mission as important as this one. We don't have the luxury of holding your hand if you suddenly lose control and give into the darkness. I’m going to have enough trouble putting down the vampires. I don’t need a feral wolf to put down at the same time. Do I need to be concerned?"
He stared back at her, still giving nothing away. Her mate had that ability and it always made her want to pinch the crap out of his nipple just to get a reaction. Of course, she wouldn't be pinching Drake’s nipple; that would just be awkward.
The wolf let out a resigned sigh. "I don’t know."
Wow. Honesty. She hadn't been expecting that. "You can stay as long as you promise to let your Alpha know the minute you think the wolf is going feral."
He gave a single nod.
"Good," Peri said and then turned back to the others who were now standing quietly, looking everywhere but at her. Stupid supernatural hearing, she mentally huffed. She met Decebel's eyes. He gave her the barest nod, indicating that he'd heard the conversation. He would deal with it, but that didn't mean Peri wouldn't be keeping a close eye on the wolf.She walked closer to the group. "So that's how it's going to go with all the covens. Or at least that’s how we hope it goes. As long as there is daylight, we will continue to purge the covens. Once night falls, we will rest. Sally and Jacque" —she pointed at each girl—"I'm making an executive decision. You two will not be going into the covens. The only reason we would need Sally is if we find any survivors. Jacque—sorry Red—but we don't need your waddling butt in the thick of a battle with vampires. If you argue with me the way you argue with your mates, then I will flash your butts back to Romania and lock you in the pantry with two large buckets."
Jacque was glaring at her. "I agree that I wouldn't be any help but couldn't you at least give us a real toilet if you lock us up?"
"That's what you're worried about? Really?" Jen asked her friend.
Jacque folded her arms and frowned. "I pee a lot. Like, I need to go right now. At least give me the courtesy of a toilet."
Peri pinched the bridge of her nose. "Jacque quit worrying about the damn toilet. If you obey my rules, you won't have to worry about it."
She noted the satisfied looks on Costin and Fane’s faces. She considered zapping them just to wipe the smug looks off their faces. She certainly didn't make the decree for them. Peri actually preferred that the girls defy them, but she cared deeply for them. She'd made the decision to protect them because of that reason.
"What's the next city?" Cypher spoke up.
"Oklahoma City," Peri answered as she, Nissa, and Alston held their arms out for the group to grab on.
They spent the rest of the daylight hours hitting three more covens after the Oklahoma City stop. Each time they rotated which group went down to fight. By the time the sun was finally setting, Jen was dead on her feet.
"You okay?" Decebel asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. They were standing in an empty warehouse, which made her feel like they were either about to do a drug deal or witness one of those underground cage fights.
"Just tired, and I want to see Thia. Do you think Peri would flash us home so that we could at least be the ones to put her to bed?"
Decebel nodded. "I'm pretty sure she would do anything for you three girls."
Peri appeared in the middle of the group suddenly, causing Cypher to stumble back or be pressed up against the fae. Peri didn't seem fazed in the least.
"We can go back to one of the pack mansions but we have to stay together. We aren't going to be hopping back and forth between them. We need to leave at first light again so it just makes sense to all be in the same location," she told them. 
Jen raised her hand.
Peri’s brow rose as she looked at her. "Since when do you raise your hand to speak?"
"I'm turning over a new leaf, shut-up," Jen quipped back. "I would like to ask the group if everyone would be willing to stay at the Serbia mansion so that we could be with Thia?"
Everyone nodded or grumbled their consent. They were all just as tired as she was.
"Thanks," she said with a genuine smile because she really did appreciate it.
Decebel gave her a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," he whispered against her ear.
She looked back at him. "For what?"
"For being the mother of my child, and an amazing one at that."
Decebel didn't pass out praise like Halloween candy, so when he did praise her she knew it was authentic.
She patted the arm wrapped around her waist. "Welcome, babe." Jen turned back around just in time to see Peri and the other fae readying to take them home.
Chapter 10
"When I close my eyes, all I see is blood—blood on my hands, in my mouth, covering my clothes, and splashed about on the walls. The vampire bodies litter the floor around me, but it isn't enough. It doesn't satisfy the darkness in me. I need more—more death, more violence, more chaos. I know what I really need, what my soul and my wolf are crying out for. Mate. I need my true mate. Until I have her, I will not be okay." ~Drake
Bethany's eyes opened slowly and she had to blink several times for them to clear before she was able to focus. When she was finally able to see, she looked straight up at the dirt ceiling of the maze. She couldn't have been unconscious long if she was still there. Bethany felt something shifting down by her feet and she froze. It wasn’t until she finally gained the courage to sit up, slowly, and peer down at the two massive beasts that were sleeping peacefully at her feet that she realized two things: she could see in the dark relatively well and the beasts weren't eating her. Why weren't they eating her? Not that she was complaining.
She searched her brain for anything that could have happened while she'd been down there that might have caused the beasts to suddenly give up their killing ways. She'd been running through the maze when she realized there were two beasts chasing her. Then she'd decided that there was no point in trying to outrun them. Okay, why the hell wasn't she dead?