Alice’s eyebrows went up. She couldn’t help but be intrigued by what was happening between Finn and Lizzy. “Can he hear what you’re saying to me?”

  Lizzy nodded. “If I want him to. I can block the bond, and so can he. Though based on his growling, he doesn’t like that idea.”

  “Can he hear what I’m saying?”

  “He can’t hear you, but he can hear me hear you, if that makes sense.”

  Alice blinked. “It does not.”

  “It’s sort of like he hears my thoughts,” Lizzy pointed to her head. “Registering what you say.”

  Alice nodded, her natural curiosity growing as she watched Lizzy’s facial expressions. Then the girl jumped and swatted at the air.

  “Stop that.” Lizzy grumbled.

  “What just happened?”

  She turned and crawled up to the top of the bed and leaned back against the headboard. “We can do more than just talk through the bond. Psychic touch, or at least that’s what I’m calling it, is possible. I can feel his hands on me if he thinks hard enough about touching me. Yes, it’s weird. And yes, it still kinda freaks me out. And no, I don’t mean in an intimate kind of way. We’re not to that stage of our relationship yet. Considering we’ve never even met in person.”

  Alice felt a deep pang of loneliness settle in her bones. She usually kept herself so busy that she didn’t have time to think about the fact that she didn’t have any romantic interest and hadn’t for quite some time. When she did leave the lab, Alice went home to an empty condo and usually ate takeout. There were no intimate dinner dates, no inside jokes, or secret smiles from a lover who knew her like no one else. Sitting there and reading about the true-mate bond between Canis lupus had been a punch to the gut. She’d felt a deep sadness that had grasped onto her heart and wouldn’t let go.

  “Are you going to cry? Because I am not good with tears. Comforting isn’t my thing. I suck at it.”

  Alice waved her off. “I’m not going to cry,” she said, and her voice broke.

  Lizzy stared in horror. She thought Alice had it all together. The woman certainly looked like she had it all together—with her dark, chin-length hair, bright eyes, and razor-sharp tongue. But the moment Alice said she wasn’t going to cry, the woman dropped her head, covered her face, and started bawling. Liar. Lizzy called the woman out silently.

  She sent Finn an image of what she was seeing. “What am I supposed to do with that? This is not the same woman who stood in that lab and verbally sparred with the vampire king.”

  “Nobody has it all together all the time,” Finn said, his voice gentle. “Some people are good at putting up the front they want others to see. Eventually, the facade cracks.”

  Lizzy understood that. She’d mastered the “I’m fine” face and displayed it convincingly every time a teacher at school asked her, when all the while she was dying inside. “Umm, Alice,” Lizzy said carefully, as if she was approaching an injured animal. “Not to be judgy, but you said you weren’t going to cry.”

  “I know.” Alice’s hands covering her face muffled her voice. “Give me a minute. I’ll be fine. Everything is fine. It’s all good.”

  “All good is definitely not what I’m seeing here.” Lizzy watched the woman struggle to compose herself, and she saw a deep sense of loneliness in Alice’s glistening, hazel eyes—a feeling Lizzy could recognize from looking into her own reflection. She didn’t want to feel sorry for the woman, but Lizzy wasn’t a complete uncompassionate ass. If she let herself lose all compassion, then she would be no better than Cain. “You’re lonely.” Lizzy spoke gently. “That’s why you’re asking about the bond. Not because it fascinated you as a scientist, but because you are lonely.”

  Alice wiped her eyes and tucked her short hair behind her ears. “Very astute.” She breathed out. “I’ve been keeping it together but reading about the true-mate bond just hit a nerve.”

  “Like ice hitting a tooth just right?”

  Alice nodded and sighed. “I’m sorry I came in here and dropped my crap on you after having injected you against your will. Good grief, I’m a bitch.”

  Lizzy laughed. “You are indeed. But if what you say is true, and you’re not here because you want to be, then you have to figure out a way to survive. If that means become the biggest bitch possible, then so be it. As they say, when in Rome…”

  “At what cost to my soul? How much of my morals am I willing to compromise to survive?”

  “As much as you have to, but hopefully not so much that you lose yourself in the process.” Lizzy knew what she’d do to survive. There’d been times on the street when her own moral compass had been pointed in the wrong direction. But she had refused to become the victim again. People had gotten hurt, but not good people. People who deserved what they got. It wasn’t much of a consolation, but it was all she had. Now, Lizzy recognized Alice found herself in a similar situation. “You’re not just dealing with corrupt humans, Alice. You’re dealing with powerful supernaturals. And one of them is the king of the vampires, which essentially makes him the devil’s brother. So that automatically means he has no soul. Dude is just out there navigating the world with only his wants and desires as his guide.”

  “This is a good thing,” Finn said.

  “Are you kidding me? This woman’s about to crack, and you’re telling me this is a good thing?”

  “No, no, not that part. But she needs to get her information about the supernatural world from us, not Cain. We can tell her the truth. I’m surprised he’s allowed her to find out about gypsy healers and true mates.”

  “Maybe he was attempting to gain her trust by being honest? It doesn’t matter his reason. What else should I tell her? Not that I know jack, other than what you’ve told me or Cain has shared.” Lizzy waited for his answer.

  “Ask her if the book talked about the healers’ abilities and their effects on others.”

  Lizzy pursed her lips. “What do you mean, the effects on others?”

  “Gypsy healer magic is unique. It’s pure.” His voice held that awe again that set her teeth on edge. “Their very presence is calming to supernaturals, and they have a pull that draws people to them, especially male wolves.”

  “Then you can just keep your furry, happy butt in that cell because there will be no drawing you to her with her gypsy healer mojo.” Lizzy practically snarled. “I wasn’t the kid who shared her toys in the sandbox. I didn’t have many toys, or a sandbox, for that matter. But if I did, I wouldn’t have shared. And I still won’t.”

  She felt him attempting to soothe her anger, sending warmth that made her all tingly. “Once a male finds his true mate, he is effectively blind to all other females. You have nothing to worry about, my Lizzy.”

  She turned her attention back to the sniffling Alice. “Okay so, Finn”—she snapped his name out because she wasn’t quite done being annoyed with his admiration of gypsy healers—“said to ask you if the book mentioned anything about healers’ abilities or their effect on other people.”

  Alice wiped her eyes. “Um, you sound annoyed. Why?”

  Lizzy tilted her head back and groaned. “What’s annoying is you answering my question with a question. Why do you do that?”

  “I’m curious by nature. It’s pretty much why I became a scientist.”

  “Fascinating.” Lizzy had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. “Back to the book. Abilities and effects. What do you know?”

  Alice tapped her chin. “It mentioned that they have healing abilities.”

  “Well, I could’ve guessed that part. It’s in the name.”

  “And as far as affecting others, the book discussed how gypsy healers could calm or bring peace to those around them. Apparently, the effect seems to be stronger on supernaturals, especially Canis lupus.”

  “Sounds like you’re supposed to be a walking, talking weed gummy. I’ve been around you multiple times, and I have felt no calming vibes rolling off of you, making me all mellow and crap. Maybe you’re defective.”

  Alice shrugged. “Maybe I am. I don’t know. I don’t seem to calm Cain at all. In fact, I purposely try to irritate him as much as possible.”

  “You’re still jealous?” Finn asked Lizzy.

  “Shut it, Fish Fin.” That he could feel her emotions was annoying. But that she was too emotional to keep him from feeling her emotions was even worse. Stupid supernatural bond. “I’m not jealous.” Lizzy mentally huffed. “Okay, I am jealous. But you sound like gypsy healers are the best thing since sliced bread, and you’d fall over dead if you ever got to meet one. How would you feel if I talked about a guy like that?”

  “That’s not how I sound.”

  “Totally is.”

  “You look a bit pissed off.” Alice interrupted Lizzy’s mental conversation. “Everything okay?”

  “Peachy keen. Just dealing with some new relationship issues. The honeymoon period is officially over.”

  Alice’s eyes widened. “But you haven’t even met him in person.”

  Lizzy rolled her eyes, her lip curling in dismissal. “Apparently you can be irritated by a werewolf dude before even meeting.” She tapped her chin and shot Alice a withering glance. “Might as well note that in your little book of rules. You never know when it might come in handy when you finally meet your true mate.”

  “What is with you and this imaginary notebook you keep telling me to write in?”

  “You’re a scientist-doctor person. Observation is sort of your thing, and typically in observation you write crap down so you can remember what you observed. Right?”

  Alice smirked. “Good point. I do have a notebook. But I’m not going to record that werewolf males are irritating.”

  “Well, don’t come crying to me when you’re all shocked and shaken because your soulmate isn’t making you feel all warm and tingly, and you’ve forgotten they were irritating.” She pointed at Alice. “Because I’ll just say, ‘check your notebook,’ and guess what? The pertinent info won’t be there. Some scientist you are.”

  “Can you get back to the part where you ask her about her abilities?” Finn said. “We will talk about your irritation with me after she has left.”

  “Can’t. I’m scheduled to sleep then. I’ll have to check my calendar for when I have some free time to chat you up.”

  She refocused on Alice. “Forget the notebook. Have you tried out any of the healing stuff?”

  Alice shook her head. “Nope, I wouldn’t know how to begin.”

  “And you haven’t noticed anyone being chill around you?”

  “I don’t think so. I mean, I haven’t really been trying to notice if others are relaxed in my presence. I guess I’d have to know how they normally act to know if they were being chill. For all I know, Cain is an even worse psychopathic killer when I’m not around, and his most recent behavior is the cooled-out vampire king. But I don’t feel any different despite learning what I am.”

  “Maybe something has to trigger it. Like finding your mate.”

  “That’s a good point,” Finn offered.

  “Nobody asked you, gypsy-healer groupie.” Lizzy huffed. Gah, she was getting on her own nerves with her insecurities. “Is there anything else I need to ask her or tell her?”

  She could feel him trying to decide if he should share something with her. “What aren’t you telling me, wolf?”

  “While you were unconscious, I reached out to Fane Lupei.”

  “Oh, excellent. And how is Dear old Fane?”

  “You don’t even know who Fane is,” Finn said dryly.

  “True, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ask how he is. I’m trying to learn to be more caring.”

  She felt his humor. “Really?”

  “No. But it seems like a good idea. Maybe I’ll consider it after we’ve made our great escape. Is he hot?”

  “Provoking me is not a good idea, mate.” He growled.

  “See, you’re in a cell somewhere away from me, so provoking you seems like a fantastic idea. Now, back to this possibly hot Fane guy.”

  “Lizzy, are you still with me?” Alice’s voice interrupted her mental conversation.

  “Yep, just getting some info that might, but probably won’t, be helpful for you. Just carry on with your breakdown, and by the time I know what I’m allowed to tell you, perhaps you’ll have pulled your crap together.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a peach, an absolute joy to be around?”

  “Nope.”

  “I’m shocked.”

  Lizzy focused back on Finn, who still hadn’t answered her. He was definitely feeling provoked. That probably shouldn’t please her as much as it did. “Still waiting.”

  He growled. “Fane is the alpha of the Romania pack. He has a true mate.” She nearly laughed at his need to toss that fact in there. “And the Great Luna has recently made him the alpha of alphas.”

  “Uh-uh, uh-uh, right.” Lizzy nodded her head, though Finn couldn’t see her. “And she’s the creator of the Canis lupus?”

  “And all supernaturals.”

  “And just how many supernaturals are there, exactly?” She felt his hand run down her hair in a gentle caress.

  “It’s not important at the moment,” he assured her. “What is important is that when I spoke with Fane, I told him about you and about the gypsy healer Cain has. He’s sending help for you and me. He didn’t mention if that included saving her, as well, but I’d be shocked if it didn’t.”

  Lizzy looked at the woman in question and saw that she had indeed pulled herself together. “Should I tell her?”

  She heard Finn sigh. “Well, if you are sure you trust her not to tell Cain, then yes, it might be a good idea to warn her. She’s a healer, and as I’ve mentioned before, and in no way am I inferring that I desire her or am in awe of her, healers are rare and considered precious. They help a pack in many ways. So I can’t imagine Fane leaving her behind, and if the other healers learn about her, they will most likely jump on the save-the-new-healer bandwagon.”

  “She says her father brought her here against her will, and I believe her. She can obviously see that Cain is a terrible dude. I don’t think she will be signing up for team vampire anytime soon.”

  “So, Alice…” Lizzy rubbed her hands together and tried to look reassuring. “How do you feel about possibly meeting others like you and maybe getting busted out of here by some werewolves on team ‘good guys?’”

  “Are there werewolves on team ‘bad guys?’”

  “Finn?” She’d left the bond open enough that he could hear what Alice was saying to her.

  “Yes, there are wolves who do not support Fane or any of the packs that follow him. I wasn’t on team ‘bad guys,’ but as an alpha of my own pack, I didn’t warm up to the idea of being under the control of another alpha.”

  “Considering you walked up in this place of your own free will; you’re not building a strong case for being on team ‘good guys.’”

  He sighed. “Yet another thing we will need to talk about some other time.”

  “Yep.” Lizzy answered Alice’s question. “Just like there are humans on team ‘crappy humans.’ I’m sure every supernatural race has its jackasses. Good-versus-evil is a universal thing.”

  Alice nodded. “Makes sense. Just seems weird that any wolves would want to have anything to do with what Cain is doing.”

  “Well, why does anyone like plain M&M’s over peanut? Because they’re crazy, and crazy people make questionable decisions. No offense if you fall into that category.”

  “Are you implying I’m crazy?” She didn’t miss the perturbed sound in Finn’s voice.

  “Do I honestly need to remind you of the fact that you came with Cain on your own instead of supporting a werewolf who doesn’t like vampires?”

  “You came with him, as well.”

  “We’re not talking about me,” she snapped. “We’re talking about Finn St. James. Alpha, proud werewolf, and gypsy-healer mega fan.” Lizzy scowled because her description of him seemed much too accurate.

  Alice’s face scrunched up as she looked at Lizzy. “Do you feel okay?”

  Lizzy rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. This is my usual charming personality. The blood you injected me with isn’t making me a smart ass. It’s my typical state of being. Oh, and my true mate wants your autograph and a picture for his memory board.”

  “Good to know. And what the hell are you talking about?”

  Her mate snarled at her, but Lizzy ignored him. “Never mind. Forget it. Let’s get back to the rescue operation. We don’t know what’s going to happen or how. So that means you need to be prepared for anything. Maybe some werewolves are going to go all DEA SWAT team on this place and raid it. Or maybe some magical little healers are going to use their soothing lullaby magic to make everyone so chill they won’t mess with us, and we will just walk out the front door. Just don’t be surprised if they try to make contact with you.” Lizzy sprang to her feet, suddenly full of restless energy that needed an outlet. She realized, despite what she had just said, that she was far from okay. But that wasn’t the most important thing right now. Right now, she needed to make sure Alice didn’t freak out if some supernaturals managed to get in contact with her, not that Lizzy understood how on earth they could do that.

  “How in the world would they make contact with me?” Alice scooted forward to the edge of her seat again.

  Lizzy planted her feet and held her hands out. “No idea, and Finn doesn’t know either.” Why on earth was she acting so dramatically? And why did she suddenly want to crawl out of her own skin? “I’m thinking you should be prepared for anything. Literally anything.” She pointed to her head. “Maybe they can talk to you through some weird gypsy bond. Or maybe they can tap phone lines and call you. Your guess is as good as mine.” Lizzy dropped her hands and paced again. “The main thing is, don’t act weird if it happens while you’re around Cain. It might tip him off.”