As he covered her with a blanket after having dressed her in the clean clothes that Peri had brought him, he watched her chest rise and fall, taking solace in that sight. He moved to the other side of the bed and lay down, careful not to jar her. He propped himself up on his elbow, head supported by his hand, and stared at her beautiful face. She was still so very pale, but to his relief she did look better than when Costin had brought her through the forest.
There was a soft knock at the door. Without turning to see who it was, he said, "Come in."
Sally peeked her head in. "Are you both alright?"
"She is breathing, clean, and with me. For now that will have to be enough."
Sally stepped far enough into the room that she could close the door behind her.
"Decebel," she started, then paused, trying to gather her thoughts. Still he did not turn his face from Jennifer. "Do you remember her at all?"
"My wolf recognizes her, knows her scent. But if you're asking if I have memories of her and I together, the answer is still no."
"Are you willing to do the Blood Rites with her?"
That question got him to turn and look at Sally.
He sat up on the edge of the bed, but left his left hand resting gently on Jennifer's leg.
"Have a seat, healer. We need to talk." Decebel motioned to the chair across from him.
When Sally was seated, her hands folded in her lap, Decebel met her honey brown eyes with his amber ones. He took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke.
"I will not do the Blood Rites without her fully conscious and making the choice herself."
"Not even to save her life?" Sally asked calmly, without any accusation in her voice.
"The Blood Rites are sacred, and intense. I cannot take that choice from her. Besides, she might not want to complete the bond while I do not remember her. Who wants to be mated to someone who doesn’t know you?"
"But you will remember her once the bond is done," Sally implored.
"Says who? The Fae? She is not pack – she does not know of our ways, our magic." Decebel growled.
"At least think about it. Don't make any rash decisions while your emotions are so chaotic." Sally stood and stepped out of the room.
Decebel once again turned and laid down next to Jennifer. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath to get his emotions under control. As he lay there, a song kept creeping into his mind and he couldn't get over how well it fit his situation. He laid his hand gently on her stomach and inched a little closer. In a voice that was surprisingly beautiful and haunting, Decebel began to sing to his mate:
"When I lose my way and I forget my name, remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see is who I don't want to be, remind me who I am.
In the loneliest places, when I can't remember what grace is,
Tell me once again who I am to you, who I am to you.
Tell me, lest I forget who I am to you, that I belong to you. To you.
When my heart is like a stone and I'm running far from home, remind me who I am.
When I can't receive your love, afraid I'll never be enough, remind me who I am.
If I'm your beloved, can you help me believe it?
Tell me once again who I am to you, who I am to you.
Tell me, lest I forget who I am to you, that I belong to you. To you.
I'm the one you love, I'm the one you love, that will be enough, I'm the one you love.
Tell me once again who I am to, who I am to you.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you, that I belong to you."
Decebel's heart ached as he sung words that were more true that he cared to admit. He needed Jennifer. He needed her to remind him, to help him see what was hidden deep inside him. He needed her to love him, love him until he returned to her. He wouldn't leave her side until she did, until he looked into her eyes and saw all of her, knew all of her.
Chapter 16
"I think we should go," Jacque declared for the hundredth time.
"Jacque, we have noted what you think, you need not keep telling us." Vasile's words were slightly sarcastic, but softened by the twinkle in his eyes.
"Noted isn't good enough, Alpha. Why are we just sitting here when we could be trekking through the forest to be with the others? Power in numbers, remember?" Jacque paced the meeting room while the others continued to look through the books they had brought with them from the archives.
"I will contact Peri and confer with her about it. How's that?"
Jacque glared at Vasile. "Better"
After Vasile got off the phone with Peri, he assembled the others in the meeting room. Everyone took the spots they had unofficially deemed as their own around the constantly burning fire.
"Peri said that Jen is still too weak to travel, and Decebel as well. She agrees with you, Jacque, that we should all be together,"
"Woot! I told ya, didn't I tell ya?" Jacque grinned wickedly.
Fane nudged her, attempting to hint that she needed to zip it. Jacque reluctantly quieted.
"As I was saying, she thinks we should be together. However, it is not safe for us to travel in the forest without protection. She is going to send one of her own to come so they can veil our presence. The witch is constantly seeking for us, for any way to strike out against us. So we will wait until her...person arrives."
"How long will that take?"
"Why are humans so impatient?" They all turned toward the door to see a short female with long pink hair that was braided down her back. She had an unusual face with almond shaped eyes that were an unusual silver color, a small, but cute button nose, and a pouty mouth that looked like it remained in a permanent smile. She wore brown leather pants and a green, snug, thermal looking shirt. Over the shirt she wore a vest-like top that held variously sized knives and from what they could see poking over the back, two swords. Her boots laced wickedly around her calves to just below her knees. Jacque decided that regardless of her name, she was going to call her Surely, because she could surely kick anyone's ass.
"You are the one Peri sent?" Vasile asked.
"Yes, Alpha. My name is Elle, I'm here to take you to the veil. We must move quickly, there is evil on the wind."
When everyone stood and began to head for the stairs to gather their things, Elle stopped them.
"All you need is a heavy coat. Everything else will be provided for you."
Crina and Jacque looked at each other, then both shrugged their shoulders.
"If you say so, Surely," Jacque mumbled.
Crina looked at her, eyes narrowed. "Should I ask why you called her Shirley?"
Jacque laughed and explained it to Crina.
Crina shook her head, chuckling. "You never cease to entertain me."
Once they were on their way, moving quickly through the snow-laden forest, Fane followed Jacque up to the front of the group. Elle was leading.
"So you're a fairy?" Jacque asked curiously.
Elle smiled at her and Jacque couldn't stop the responsive smile. Elle was one of those contagiously happy people. Jacque liked her.
"I am a fairy," Elle confirmed.
"You can do all sorts of cool stuff, can't you?"
"Luna, what are you doing?" Fane's voice filled Jacque's mind.
"Chillax, wolf-man, I just want to ask a few questions. I mean, heeeello, it's not every day that I get to meet a fairy."
Fane smiled at his mate's curiosity, but also worried that she might offend Elle. A ticked-off fairy is not one you wanted to deal with.
"I suppose I can do stuff that's cooler than what humans can," Elle said thoughtfully. "But I can't do any magic out here right now, it would be too easy for the witch to find us, even through the veiling spell."
Jacque nodded her understanding.
The group was quiet as they walked. An eerie silence filled the forest – no animals scurrying about, no birds flew overhead. It was as if the entire forest held its breath, trying to hide in plain sight, waiting.
>
The quiet did not go unnoticed by Elle as she led the Alpha and his wolves through the trees. Peri had made it very clear that they were to move quickly, take very few breaks, and make any stops short. Elle could feel the black magic slithering across the shield that she had cast over them and shuddered at the knowledge of who wielded that magic. She glanced back, quickly meeting Vasile's eyes, giving a brief nod that he understood: pick up the pace. And when Elle began moving more quickly, everyone else followed suit.
Mona stood out on the ledge of the mountain her home was situated on. She knew someone, or many someone's, were moving through the forest. However, she couldn't get a lock on them. Using her will to move through the air, she continued to search for whoever they were. Still nothing. In frustration, she opened her eyes and glared at the vast forests before her. She decided it was time to scry. It wasn't something she usually liked because it could be somewhat tricky to decipher what the meaning of what she would see could be. It didn't always mean something obvious. But, desperate times.
Mona entered her home and turned left, entering a room full of cages, all holding different animals. She opened one of the bottom cages and reached in, grabbing a rabbit by the scruff. Without a thought she twisted the rabbit's neck with a sickening crunch. She took the now-dead animal to her table and slit its throat, allowing its blood to flow into a shallow, large basin. Once the blood was drained, she tossed the small body into a basket underneath the table.
She picked up her scrying stones and held them in her hands to warm them. Then she chanted:
"Stones of mystery, stones of fate,
Peer through the veil to this date.
I take a life to give you blood,
Pour out the truth like a flood."
Over and over she chanted this as she threw the stones into the blood-filled basin. As the last hit the still-warm fluid, she opened her eyes to see the outcome. Her eyes narrowed and a sinister smile crossed her lips.
"Now, isn't that interesting?" An evil laugh shook free from her chest. "I do love it when things get interesting," she muttered to herself.
Chapter 17
12 days post-curse
Jacque stumbled as she and the others climbed a considerably steep hill. Fane wrapped an arm around her waist, catching her before she face-planted into the snow.
"Thank goodness for wolf reflexes," she murmured.
Fane winked at her and gave her quick peck on the cheek. "I'll always catch you, Jacquelyn."
He released her and they continued up the hill, following Elle, with Alina, Sorin, and Vasile pulling up the rear.
"At the risk of sounding very much like a five year old, are we there yet?" Jacque grumbled.
Elle looked back at her, then the others, and realized that they were seriously dragging. Jacque more than others because she wasn't fully Canis lupis. Elle had been pushing them hard, and in twenty four hours she'd only let them stop twice and they were brief pauses. She looked ahead and narrowed her eyes. Fae eye sight was beyond anything humans could understand.
"It will be another day and half a night before we are there, and that's if we don't stop."
"We have to stop to sleep at least for a couple of hours," Vasile spoke up from behind them.
"No offense, Alpha, but lingering is not wise." Elle looked into the small pouch that was attached to her hip. She only ever used it as a last resort, but it was necessary at this point. She pulled out small wafers and handed them to Jacque.
"Pass three to each person. Let them dissolve in your mouth," Elle explained.
Jacque turned to do as she was instructed, then quickly turned back to Elle. "What exactly is this?"
"Its energy," Elle said simply.
"Well, that clears it right up," Jacque chirped. "You're just as vague as the fur balls."
Elle cocked her head to the side. "Fur balls?"
Jacque snorted a chuckle. "Sorry, bad habit. I meant werewolves."
Elle looked behind Jacque to Fane. "You are the prince of your people and she calls you a fur ball."
"Believe it or not, she's called me worse," Fane told her. shaking his head.
Elle shook her own head in disbelief, muttering, "Humans are so weird." She started walking again and said over her shoulder, "You should begin to feel the effects of those in a few moments."
The group continued on and true to Elle's word they began to feel the effects of the Fae food. As Jacque's energy from the strange wafers peaked, she turned to look at Fane with a wicked grin.
"What's going on in that head of yours, Luna?"
"I was just thinking about what Jen would suggest those wafers be used for." Jacque laughed out loud when Fane raised his eyebrows at her.
"Who says Jen's the only one who would think of such a thing?" His voice was filled with unrepentant desire, even amidst all the turmoil they were enduring.
Jacque's response was a snicker and an eye roll at her mate who, werewolf or not, was still very male.
14 days post-curse
Decebel didn't understand why he was nervous about giving Jennifer more of his blood. Admittedly, it was a very intimate experience, but under the circumstances he felt like all he should feel was the desire to make sure she healed. In truth, even with her only conscious in brief stints, he was falling for her, and he desperately wanted her to still have the feelings Sally said she'd had for him.
He placed a hand under her neck and lifted gently to prop her up. Then he bit into his other arm deep enough to make sure the blood flowed freely. He placed the wound over her lips, pushing gently at her bottom lip to open her mouth. He held his breath as he waited to see if she would respond on her own. After several seconds, much to his relief, Jennifer's lips latched onto his arm and she began taking what he offered. Decebel closed his eyes, thanking the great Luna that Jennifer was finally strong enough to drink without coaxing. He tried not to think about how much it pleased him that she seemed to crave his blood, that she recognized him as hers. For a mate, that was a very potent thing.
When he began to pull his arm away he smiled at the disappointed noise that came from her.
"You would suck me dry if I let you."
As Decebel wrapped the towel he had laid on his lap around his bleeding arm, his head snapped up at the sound of a raspy voice.
"I'm not a damn vampire flea bag."
Decebel couldn't stop the wide grin that stretched across his face as he looked down into Jen's blue eyes. Although they had a haze over them, they still held mysteries that he longed to uncover.
He gently brushed her hair away from her face and ran the back of his hand against her cheek.
"You may not be a blood sucker, but admit it, baby, you like my blood," Decebel teased her. The words seemed natural, almost second nature.
Jen rolled her eyes. "I truly want to be grossed out by it, but you taste good. I can't decide if that makes me a sicko or you a freak."
"If you're a sicko than I am as well because I can't wait to taste your blood," Decebel confessed without shame.
Jen's brow furrowed as she stared into Decebel's eyes. His words confused her.
"Do you," she took a ragged breath that had her cringing at the pain, "do you remember me?"
Decebel was shaking his head as he answered gently, "No, baby, I don't. I wish more than anything that I did."
"Then how can you say that to me? How can you want to taste my blood?"
Decebel tried really hard not to touch her but it was impossible. He could no more keep his hands from her than he could stop the tide from rolling in. He took her hand and rubbed his thumb gently across it.
"My wolf knows its mate. He remembers you. Even if I didn't want to stay here with you, even if I didn't want to remember you, remember the love I had for you, he wouldn't let me walk out of this room. If I leave your side even for second he gets feral."
"Why?" Jen asked, genuinely not understanding.
"There is nothing more dangerous than a dominant male Canis lupis
when his mate is injured and helpless. But I need you to understand, my wolf is not the only one who wants you, Jennifer. I want you. I need you to help me remember."
Jen was hurting and her body was desperately fighting to sink back into oblivion, but with the help of Decebel's blood, she was able to hold off the compulsion. She watched in utter disbelief as a tear escaped Decebel's eye. His jaw clenched and though he looked vulnerable, nothing about him looked weak or any less threatening.
He continued to stroke her hand as he talked. "I need you to remind me who I am." Decebel met her eyes, knowing the next words out of his mouth were going to be difficult ones.
"They...they know what will break the curse."
Jen's eyes widened. "Then why are sitting here discussing me somehow trying to fill in your memories?"
"Because love is what breaks the curse." Decebel watched as Jennifer's breath became shallow. He didn't want to hurt her, it was the last thing on earth he wanted. His wolf was angry that he was causing her pain and pushing at him to give him control. "I want to love you, Jennifer. I want to love you more than anything. But wanting it and doing it are not the same when it comes to the curse. I look at you and I feel something. You draw me in and I long to be near you – not just my wolf, me, the man longs to be close to you."
Jen was shaking while she listened to the man she loved more than anything tell her he didn't love her. Oh, he wants to love her, well loddie-freaking-dah. She wants to get up off the damn bed and hit him with a 2x4, but, as she always says, wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first.
She didn't realize she had tuned him out until she heard “Blood Rites” and “break the curse” in the same sentence.
"Wait, excuse me, say that again?"
Decebel took a deep breath. It was obvious he was getting frustrated. "I said, Vasile thinks that if we perform the Blood Rites it will pull the veiled emotions to the forefront. And it's the only thing that will save your life. Your wolf needs her mate. She's no longer dormant, and when the bond was severed between us, the darkness in me reached across to you. You won't live just on my blood, Jennifer."