“Has anything happened with Thadrick?” she asked.

  Lips pursed, Peri shook her head. “Fane is requesting to speak with him before the larger meeting as well.”

  Lilly found it hard to see Fane as the leader of not only his pack but of all the supernatural races. Sometimes, she still saw him as the teenage exchange student her daughter had quickly become infatuated with a few short years ago. Lilly learned very fast that her daughter’s relationship with Fane was so much more than infatuation. In fact, it was Lilly’s worst fear come true at the time. She’d wanted a normal life for her daughter. Did she still feel that way? Lilly wasn’t sure. After all Jacque had endured, would she take Fane away from her daughter, knowing what she knew now? The queen mentally shook her head. No, she wouldn’t. Living meant you endured pain. To try to live one’s life without experiencing pain wasn’t actually living at all.

  “Let’s go then.” Peri stepped closer to Lilly.

  “I’ll take care of things here,” Gerick offered.

  “Thank you.” Lilly hoped her voice held the sincerity she truly felt toward her general. Over the past few months, she’d come to understand why Cypher had trusted Gerick so much. He was loyal, hard-working, and vigilant.

  He bowed his head to her as Peri wrapped a hand around Lilly’s arm.

  Instead of flashing them to Vasile’s old office as Lilly expected, Peri landed them outside. It was night, but glowing orbs lit the sky and provided more than enough light for the wolves and other gathered supernaturals. Some were sparring, others were practicing battle formations, and still others were kneeling in small groups discussing tactics.

  “Day one after the mourning period and he’s already got them moving their butts.” Peri's voice was full of approval.

  “I’m not going to lie,” Lilly said. “I had my doubts about Fane. I thought Decebel would be the better choice.”

  “That’s why we’re the peons and the Great Luna is the goddess.” Peri pointed toward a large semicircle of people. In the middle stood two massive wolves. One she recognized as Fane’s wolf form. She remembered him being large, but now he was massive.

  The wolf facing him was more grey than black, also large, but not as big as Fane. They were moving in a slow circle. The hackles on their backs and necks were raised, and their muzzles were pulled back revealing long, sharp fangs.

  “I thought the challenges hadn’t started.” Lilly began to follow Peri, who’d started off toward the wolves.

  “They haven’t,” Peri said. “This is Fane showing his own pack and the rest of the supernaturals why he was appointed alpha.”

  They were only ten feet away when the grey wolf lunged for Fane. At the same time, three other wolves came bursting from the crowd, from different locations. Fane pushed with powerful legs and jumped over the attacking wolf, landing on top of one of the three wolves who’d joined the fight. His open jaws wrapped around the back of the wolf’s neck, and as soon as Fane’s four paws hit the ground he pulled his head back and around. The motion jerked the other wolf with him, and its body hit the ground with a sickening crunch while a yelp of pain emerged from the beast.

  Fane didn’t stop moving. He released the downed wolf and rolled just before another of the three remaining beasts would have landed on him.

  His speed was unlike anything Lilly had seen. And he seemed to be able to sense where his opponents were without actually having eyes on them. When he was back on his feet, Fane dove forward, slid, and rolled onto his back just as a wolf jumped over him. The alpha raked his sharp claws on the soft belly of the wolf. Blood splashed across Fane’s black fur, soaking him.

  He flipped himself to the right, but not before a brown wolf landed on his back. Fane didn’t go down. Instead, he bucked like a wild, pissed-off bull. The attacking wolf went flying, desperately trying and failing to land on his feet. The final wolf rushed in, snapping his teeth at Fane, millimeters from the alpha’s throat. Fane moved like lightning, his return bite latching onto the wolf’s muzzle, holding it tightly shut. The other wolf slung his head from side to side, attempting to dislodge Fane’s grip, but it was no use. The alpha was just too strong. The other wolf’s body went limp, and Fane immediately released him. Lilly watched closely and saw that the wolf was still breathing. Whether it had just given up or simply went unconscious from lack of air, she wasn’t sure.

  The brown wolf returned. Instead of attacking again, it dropped to his side, rolled, and exposed its vulnerable neck and stomach. Fane walked over, leaned down, and nipped the wolf on the neck, hard enough that the submitting wolf whined.

  “That’s Fane telling him that he acknowledges his submission, but also a reminder that he will kick his ass if he changes his mind,” Peri explained.

  “Huh,” Lilly said, her eyes wide as she watched Fane shake out his fur. “Seems reasonable.” It totally did not seem reasonable at all.

  “As Vasile used to say”—Peri folded her arms across her chest—“this is a dictatorship, not a democracy.”

  Lilly saw Jacque step out of the crowd and walk over to her mate. He was so large that his face was nearly level with hers. He lifted his snout and she leaned down. The wolf touched his nose to her neck, just below Jacque’s ear. Then he pulled back and let out a loud howl.

  This was some sort of signal because everything stopped, and warriors, male and female, began to pick up their weapons and gear and march toward the mansion.

  When Lilly looked back, she saw Jacque and Fane headed her way. A few seconds later, Jacque pulled her into a fierce hug.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  Lilly couldn’t help but worry at how tired her daughter sounded. She squeezed Jacque tight but released her quickly. “Hey,” she said back. “Your mate is kicking butt and taking names.”

  Jacque glanced at Fane who was watching all of the other people around them. His ears were constantly shifting. Listening for danger.

  “He’s unbelievable,” Jacque said, pride filling her voice.

  “He is,” Jen joined their small group, “but you should have seen your daughter earlier.” The blonde whistled. “I don’t know what she’s drinking, but I want some.”

  Lilly tilted her head at Jacque. “Oh?”

  Jacque shrugged. “Apparently the Great Luna saw fit to give Fane and me a little extra get up and go.”

  “Makes sense.” Peri dropped her arms and turned toward the mansion. “You can’t be expected to pull off miracles unless you’re empowered with miraculous abilities.” She motioned with her head toward the huge house. “Are we walking, or do you want me to work my own miracle?” Her question was addressed to Fane.

  Fane started walking. “Guess that answers that,” Peri muttered.

  When they entered the house, everyone went their separate ways except for Jacque and Lilly. “Fane and the others will meet us in the study.” Jacque led Lilly in that direction.

  “How are you?” Lilly looked at her daughter from the corner of her eye.

  Jacque didn’t answer immediately. She closed the door, and after a few moments, she finally spoke. “You remember me asking you how on earth you managed to be a single mom, a business owner, and keep track of all the things that usually took two people?”

  Lilly nodded.

  “You told me it wasn’t something you always consciously thought about, you just did it. Because you had to, because no one else was going to get up with me in the middle of the night when I was a baby. Nobody else was going to open up the bookstore when you were sick and didn’t feel well enough to do it. No one else was going to pay the bills, go grocery shopping, hold my hair when I was puking my guts up when I had the flu. You did it because it had to be done.” Jacque’s voice was earnest as she sat down on the couch. “But you also said it wasn’t just about the fact that you knew no one else would do it. It was because you loved your life. You weren’t always happy. It wasn’t always easy, but you loved what you’d been blessed with. And because of that, you did whatever you had to do in order to protect it, nurture it, and keep it going.”

  Lilly was smiling by the time Jacque finished speaking. “Having revelations?”

  Jacque laughed. “I guess you could say that.” She ran her hands across the tops of her thighs and nodded. “I get it. I understand what I couldn’t then. I don’t know how it’s going to all get done or how it’s going to turn out. But I know I want to do everything I can to protect this life, and the lives of those who I love. But even more, I want to protect the lives of those who have no clue they’re in danger.”

  Lilly took a seat across from Jacque and lifted her chin. “Remember that feeling,” she said. “Remember that what you’ve been given, the amount of power you hold, is very precious, but also precarious.”

  “Power corrupts,” Jacque said. “Is that what you mean?”

  “It can. And often does.”

  “Vasile and Alina never let that happen.”

  “They didn’t.” Lilly leaned back and crossed one of her legs over the other. “I think we learned at the Blood Moon ceremony why that is. They always kept their Creator at the forefront of their choices. It was never about what they could gain from their position. Keep your eyes on the one who gave you the life you have and sustains you through all things. Vasile and Alina remained humble despite the fact they had every right not to be.”

  The door to the study opened, and Fane walked in. His gaze immediately landed on his mate. His eyes softened, and his lips tilted up slightly. Lilly loved the fact that her son-in-law looked at Jacque with even more love than he had when she’d first met him. Lilly knew that their relationship wasn’t a walk in the park. They had worked hard for what they’d built, and she thanked the Great Luna that Jacque had a mate willing to do the hard work to have a healthy relationship.

  She swallowed back the pain that still rose unbidden anytime she thought about the life she wouldn’t have. Lilly knew she would eventually come to terms with the loss, and her pain would ease. It would never go away, of course, but she was sure there would be a time when simply breathing would no longer hurt. There had to be. The queen had a very long life ahead of her. She wasn’t sure she could live it with the anguish currently festering in her heart.

  “Mom?” Jacque asked, her brow drawn low as she reached out a hand.

  Lilly shook her head and smiled. “I’m good.” She paused and then corrected herself. “I will be. At some point, I will be good.”

  “How are things with your people?” Fane walked over to stand behind his mate. He reached out his hand and ran a finger along the back of Jacque’s neck. The touch was so gentle and intimate that Lilly had to look away.

  “Things are better now that I’ve dealt with Lysander. They are ready to focus on the matter at hand, which is building a strong alliance with the other supernaturals and dealing with the Order.”

  Fane didn’t respond, which made Lilly look back up at him. His face was pensive, his eyes narrowed in thought. The young man that she'd met a few years before was gone, and in his place stood a man who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  After at least five minutes, the Romanian alpha spoke. “Decebel will likely have to act in my stead, depending on how much time these challenges take.” His head turned toward the window. The lights that had been keeping things bright in the night were now gone, and darkness had settled over the forest. "They’re out there, but they’ve yet to make any move.” It sounded as if he was talking to himself, contemplating something, rather than speaking to Lilly and Jacque.

  “Fane has been trying to decide if he should just issue a challenge himself. Sort of get the ball rolling and get this over with,” Jacque explained.

  There was a knock on the door that brought Fane’s attention back to the room. “Come in,” he said without raising his voice.

  Costin walked in with Sally behind him. Decebel and Jen followed, then Lucian and Peri. The high fae closed the door and glanced around the room.

  “Anyone else coming?” Peri asked.

  Fane shook his head but didn’t offer an explanation as to where the rest of the inner circle might be.

  “All right, then.” Peri took a seat. Jen and Sally also sat while the males remained standing.

  Fane turned to face them and took a slow breath. His blue eyes glowed softly as they landed on each of them. Lilly’s stomach tightened, and she sat a little taller. She was here as the queen of the warlocks, not as Jacque’s mother, Fane’s mother-in-law, or Slate’s grandmother. She needed to have her mind in the game.

  * * *

  Fane slid his hands into the pockets of his black cargo pants. His mind jumped from one scenario to the next. A million things could go wrong if he made a bad decision. But doing nothing wasn’t an option. Inaction would be worse than making a bad move.

  “Lilly.” He looked at the queen of the warlocks. “Give us a report on the fae and djinn inside the Order. Have they been compromised in any way?” Jacque’s mother had met with him briefly after things had settled down from the attempted coup and told him about the alliance she had made with Tenia and Myanin.

  “As far as I know, there have been no issues. I don’t think the Order is suspicious. But I haven’t been able to speak to them since last month. Alston and Ludcarab have been keeping them busy. And what they have them doing is a tad alarming and something we need to keep an eye on. Ludcarab and Alston are building a vampire army using human inmates from prisons. I don’t know how many inmates have been taken, but it’s not something that will go unnoticed by human authorities.” She paused and then continued. “Gerick has been in touch with Myanin. I’m sure you’ve been informed that they are mates.” She glanced at Peri.

  Peri nodded. “He's been informed, as has everyone else in the need-to-know category.”

  “Gerick reported that Myanin and Tenia—” Lilly stopped mid-sentence when Sally sucked in a sharp breath.

  Costin shot Fane a glare. “What?” Fane’s voice came out rougher than he intended, but he didn’t rebuke his third. The alpha understood how protective Costin was of Sally and rightfully so. The healer, of all of them, had been through the worst kinds of hell. She was extraordinarily strong, and Fane had the utmost respect for both of them.

  Costin walked around the end of the couch and sat down next to his mate. He took her chin in his fingers and turned her face until she was looking at him. “That’s the fae female who came to our room.” He addressed Sally but projected his voice so Fane could hear. “She took you from me. Did she hurt you?”

  Fane’s eyes snapped to Lilly who had shifted and leaned forward as if she wanted to say something.

  “No,” Sally said quickly. “She didn’t hurt me.”

  “Why do you sound unsure?” Fane’s eyes slowly left the warlock queen and returned to their pack healer.

  Sally tried to pull her face from her mate’s hand, but Costin let out a low growl. “She took me to Alston,” Sally said, “but I got the distinct impression that she did not want to be carrying out the orders she’d been given.”

  “Did she hurt you?” Costin asked again more forcefully.

  “No.” The word came out with finality. Fane couldn’t see her eyes as her head was turned away from him, but he imagined they were glaring at her mate. He had a feeling that Sally had not shared with her mate everything that had happened to her while she’d been in Alston’s clutches. No doubt trying to protect him from Costin’s own emotions of guilt at not being able to keep her safe.

  Costin stared at her for a few moments longer before he released her, but he didn’t move from the spot next to her.

  “I can shed some light on Tenia,” Lilly spoke up.

  Fane nodded for her to continue.

  “Tenia is a fae that is working for the Order against her will,” Lilly began.

  “If she didn’t want to be in the Order, she’d walk away,” Jen said, her voice sharp as she glanced at Sally. Fane knew the she-wolf was every bit as protective of her two best friends as he and Costin were.

  “She can’t walk away, no matter how much she wants to.” The queen turned her sharp gaze on the blonde.

  Jen started to respond but Lilly continued before she could interrupt.

  “They have her child.”

  Jen’s mouth snapped shut.

  Sally’s eyes closed briefly, and Fane watched as a single tear trailed down her flushed cheek. Her jaw clenched, and she swallowed several times before finally opening her eyes again. “Have they hurt the child?”

  “If they have, Tenia didn’t mention it,” Lilly answered. “I don’t know what your experience with her was, Sally, but she’s not a part of the Order. She’s just trying to keep her son safe.”

  “I don’t blame her. I’d do anything to protect Titus.” Sally’s hand went to her stomach, as if she was giving the same vow silently for her unborn child.

  Fane walked around to the desk and, much like he’d seen his father do many times, leaned back until he was sitting on the edge, his legs stretched out in front of him. Slipping his hands from his pockets, he crossed his arms over his chest. His wolf stirred inside of him as his mate stood from where she’d been sitting and followed him. She hopped up onto the desk next to him, close enough that the side of her body from shoulder to hip was pressed up against him. Fane felt her love flowing through their bond. It was a constant reminder that she was with him, always. She had his back and would stand beside him no matter what. It took quite a bit of his control not to lean over and press his lips to hers. If it was up to Fane, he would spend a lot more time kissing his mate than he currently found time to. Jacquelyn nudged him and spoke through their bond. “Focus, mate.” He let his attention return to the room and looked at Lilly. “Please tell everyone as much as you can about Myanin and Tenia.”