“Okay. If I’m able to figure out anything that I think might help, I will let you know.”

  He pushed the image of him kissing her to her mind as he whispered, “I love you, my Luna.”

  “Fane, stay with me.”

  “Always.” His word was a solemn promise to her alone.

  * * *

  Fane threw open her door and rushed down the stairs. His father and the other wolves were all gathered in the living room. He didn’t see any sign of the girls and assumed they had not made it back yet.

  “Jacquelyn has contacted me through our bond,” he announced, slightly breathless, not because of excursion but from the frantic beat of his heart, knowing she was alive and, as of yet, unharmed.

  “Was she able to tell you anything? Give you any clues to where they might be?” Vasile asked his son.

  “All she could tell me was that she thinks he has her in a log cabin. She said the room that she is in has no windows, but that the furniture is made from wood and the walls were wood like a log cabin.”

  “Did she mention Dr. Steele?”

  “She said that Logan kidnapped them both. It sounded as if Dr. Steele was just as much a victim as Jacquelyn, but something about that doesn’t sit well with me,” Fane admitted.

  Vasile nodded. “I agree with you. I don’t see Dr. Steele as the victim type. She’s a dominant female. She makes her own choices.” Vasile looked at each of his wolves. “If you are not packed then do so now and be quick. Dillon, I will leave you to command your wolves. I will not step on your authority.”

  “I appreciate that, Vasile. I have already sent Dalton and Lee to get our things from the hotel. They should be back any moment.”

  “At this point, the only thing left to do is wait for Lilly, Alina, and the girls to get back.”

  “Do you think Lilly can convince their parents to let them go with us?” Fane asked his father.

  “If Lilly cannot, there are few who can resist your mother.” Vasile gave Fane a knowing smile, and for the moment because he could feel Jacquelyn’s presence in the back of his mind, he was able to give a small smile in return. It was true, after all. His mother always seemed to get her way. Somehow, she was able to make people think that whatever it was she was wanting had been their idea in the first place. They went along with her with a smile on their face, completely oblivious. He had never seen her use it with ill intent. Alina was too kind-hearted for that. He nearly laughed at the thought of poor Sally and Jen’s parents falling unknowingly under her spell.

  Fane felt Jacquelyn stir in his mind. “Share with me what is assuaging your anger, Fane.”

  “My mother and your mother are at your friends’ houses trying to convince their parents to let Sally and Jen leave for Romania today. Obviously, that’s not true but we have to tell them something so that Jen and Sally can come along, seeing as how they would hitchhike if we didn’t bring them.”

  “I see you are learning,” Jacquelyn teased.

  “Funny, my love, but Jen said the same thing to my father.” He could feel the humor she felt at this, and he was glad he could give her some small amount of distraction.

  “What I was thinking was how my mother seems to have the ability to get whatever she wants. People just go along with her. I almost feel bad for their parents. With my mom there, there is no way she won’t get them to agree to let the girls come, and on top of that, they will think it’s the best idea of the century.”

  Jacquelyn was quiet for a moment. Fane couldn’t pick up what she was thinking or feeling, her ability to block him was getting stronger.

  “Luna, you would tell me if he has hurt you.” Fane made it a command instead of a question.

  “I see that distance doesn’t affect your ability to be bossy.”

  It didn’t go unnoticed by Fane that she had dodged his comment.

  “Jacquelyn.” He let her hear a growl in her mind.

  “Under the circumstances, I am as good as can be expected, wolf-man. Tell me when you are around Jen and Sally; I could use a dose of their kind of medicine.”

  “As you say, my love, so shall it be.” Fane would give her the world if she asked it of him, and he would move mountains to make it happen.

  * * *

  Jen and Sally sat in the backseat of Alina’s SUV, both dumbfounded by what had taken place at their homes. One minute, their parents were completely unsure about letting them leave, and then the next, Alina was hugging them and letting them know they were welcome to come to Romania any time. She even told them that Vasile and she would pay for it, and get this, their parents were eating out of Alina’s hands like she was serving the best thing since sliced bread.

  “Thelma, could you please tell me what happened back there?” Jen mumbled, her voice in a trance-like state.

  “I’m as lost as you, Louise,” Sally said, looking just as confused as Jen.

  Alina smiled at the girls in the rear-view mirror. “It’s all in the presentation, girls. If you set a flawed diamond in front of someone, at first, all they see is the flaws. But if you pick it up and turn it just right in the light, suddenly the flaws fall into the background, bringing forth the radiance that lies beneath.”

  “Damn, she’s good.” Jen grinned.

  Lilly looked back at Jen and Sally and allowed a small smile to cross her face, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

  Alina suddenly got one of those far off looks that Jen and Sally recognized immediately.

  “What’s the boss man have to say?” Jen asked, not caring at this point if it was her business or not. If it pertained to Jacque, then as far as she was concerned, it was most definitely her business.

  “How did you know I was speaking with Vasile?” Alina asked, true surprise in her eyes.

  “You got the same look that comes over Jacque when she and her fur ball are using their mind mojo. Although, I did ask her once if she was constipated because she just sort of got a constipated look on her face.” Everyone’s eyes were on Jen by the time she stopped talking.

  “What?” she asked.

  Lilly let out a small laugh. “Thank you, Jen. I needed that.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, Ms. P., your own personal comic relief.” Jen looked back at Alina. “So, seriously, what’d he say?”

  Alina looked at Lilly, her face softened as she said, “Jacque contacted Fane through their bond.”

  Lilly took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she let it out. “Is she okay?”

  “Vasile says she told Fane that Logan had not hurt her, but that she was still in pain from whatever it is that was wrong before.”

  “We never got a chance to talk to Dr. Steele about it,” Lilly said to no one in particular.

  “Did she say if Dr. Steele was with her?” Sally asked Alina.

  “Jacque did say Dr. Steele was there, and that they had both been kidnapped by Logan.”

  Jen made a clucking noise with her tongue. “I don’t know if I believe that. Dr. Steele had a backbone. I don’t see her being bullied by any wolf.”

  “I’m with you, Vern,” Sally agreed.

  A few minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of Lilly’s house. Everyone piled out of the SUV and headed for the front door, which opened before they even reached it. Decebel stood in the doorway, looking as ominous as ever.

  “What, no kiss hello?” she goaded him, for some reason finding satisfaction when she could get a reaction out of the brooding wolf. Jen wasn’t ready for the look he gave her in response to her remark. It actually looked as if he were considering her proposal. She scurried past him and heard him chuckle, which Jen decided not to acknowledge.

  When they were all once again crowded into the living room, Vasile went over again what Jacque had told Fane. Finally, he told them the plan for their visit to Denver.

  “Dillon and I decided it would be best if we did not stay at their pack headquarters, especially since we will be questioning his wolves and some might think they are being accused. So, we will be staying in a hotel close by. We will be taking my SUV, which holds nine and Dillon’s SUV, which holds six, to the airport. Boian, you will ride with Dillon and his wolves. It is 2:00 p.m. now. So, by the time we load the plane it will be around 3:00 p.m. The flight is a little over two and a half hours. We should arrive in Denver around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. Any questions?” No one responded so Vasile turned to Dillon. “Do you have anything you need to say?”

  “Not right now. I’m ready when you are.” Vasile nodded his head and, without another word, walked toward Alina. Everyone took that as their cue to gather up their stuff and head out to their assigned vehicles.

  * * *

  Lilly was walking through the house, making sure all the lights were turned off when she felt a gentle hand on her arm. She turned to find Dillon looking at her with eyes that were as haunted as her own.

  “I just want you to know I will do everything in my power to find her,” Dillon told her, and she could tell he meant every word.

  “Thank you,” was all she could utter. She didn’t know what else to say. The love of her life stood right before her, close enough to touch, and yet he was forever out of her reach. But it was enough, Lilly decided, that he loved their daughter. Even if he couldn’t love Lilly, he loved Jacque, and that would be enough.

  * * *

  When everyone was loaded into the vehicles and their bags all piled into the backs of each SUV, Sally took a minute to look at the seating arrangement. Vasile, Alina, and Lilly were in the front. Sorin, Decebel, and Fane were in the back, and Sally and Jen were in the second seat with Skender sitting in between them. Sally looked around Skender to her wicked friend. “What are you up to, Lucy?” Sally whispered.

  Jen had that look on her face that Sally was all too accustomed to. Sally thought of it as the face before the storm.

  “Oh, Ethel, how could you possibly think I would be up to something?” Jen blinked innocently.

  Sally shook her head and noticed again as she sat back that Decebel’s location was directly behind Jen. Great, Jen was in one of her moods where she just had to poke the lion. She just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Sally braced herself for what was sure to be an entertaining ride to the airport, no matter how brief.

  Sure enough, not ten minutes in, Jen let out a dramatic sigh. “Sally, I’m so freaking tired,” she announced. She then tried to lean against the window, appearing as if she was trying to get comfortable. Once it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen, she sat up and looked at Skender. She shrugged her shoulders in a very ‘what the hell’ sort of attitude. Just before she laid her head on his shoulder, Sally saw Jen wink at her.

  Sally jumped when she heard the smack across the back of Skender’s head. She turned to look at where the hit had originated. Decebel was glaring at the wolf, his eyes glowing dangerously. He only said one word, but it was enough to give Sally chill bumps.

  “Move,” Decebel told him. Skender was up so fast that he hit his head on the roof of the vehicle. He slipped around Sally and nudged her leg with his to indicate he wanted her to move over. Sally looked back at Decebel again to see that his glowing eyes were now locked onto the back of Jen’s head.

  “You are a very bad girl. I’ve told you that before, right?” Sally whispered in Jen’s ear.

  “Oh, chillax. I wouldn’t mess with him if it wasn’t so easy, but he just walks right into them, ya know? I mean, seriously, Sally. How can I pass that up?”

  “Well, you could do like the rest of us and grow up,” Sally said in her motherly tone.

  “Ahh, but Ethel, my dear, where would be the fun in that?”

  “Where indeed,” Sally muttered.

  OceanofPDF.com

  Chapter 16

  Jacque reclined in the chair, slightly more comfortable than when she had first woken up now that Dr. Steele, or Cynthia as the woman insisted she call her, had given her some pain medication. She continued to reach out to Fane, although not always with words, mostly just to feel that he was still there, that the bond was still open between them. She had decided not to mention to Fane just yet what Logan had planned. She had been diligently trying to block part of her thoughts from him so he wouldn’t know that Logan was going to try to get her to take his blood. Jacque was sure that if Fane had not killed anyone yet, that little bit of information would tilt the scale.

  “Jacque, how are you feeling?” she heard Cynthia ask.

  “The pain is tolerable right now,” Jacque answered, turning to look at the doctor.

  Jacque eased up into a sitting position in order to look directly at Cynthia without having to turn her head. Logan had taken the handcuffs off their hands when he told them that he had put a lock on the outside of the door. They each still had a foot cuffed to the chairs but at least they could move a little. After Logan had removed the handcuffs and left the room, Cynthia had told Jacque that she could hear another man in the cabin. At first, Jacque was going to ask how she could possibly hear that, but then rolling her eyes, she remembered. Oh yeah, werewolf.

  “Who do you think it is?” Jacque asked.

  “Maybe a member of his pack. There’s no way Logan would leave us here by ourselves if he needed supplies. He has to have someone helping him and it’s rare for a wolf to seek out a human’s help.”

  Jacque thought about her words and realized that could be useful to Fane.

  “Fane, there is another man here with Logan. We haven’t seen him but Dr. Steele says she can hear him.”

  “Ask Dr. Steele to see if she can hear Logan use a name. Any name Logan might say could be useful.”

  “Okay. Where are you?” Jacque asked.

  “We are on the plane on our way to Denver. Sally wants me to tell you ...” Jacque felt the reluctance in Fane tell her.

  “She wants you to tell me what?” Jacque prompted.

  “This really should be a conversation that you have with your friends, but Sally won’t let up, so ... she wants me to tell you that Decebel saw Jen naked.” Jacque could hear the embarrassment in his words, and she could picture Jen threatening to throw Sally out of the plane.

  “What!” Jacque actually spoke out loud as well as in her mind before she could stop herself. Cynthia gave a start at Jacque’s sudden outburst. Jacque looked at her timidly. “I’m okay, just some technical difficulties.”

  “You’re talking to Fane, aren’t you?” Cynthia asked her.

  Jacque nodded and then directed her thoughts back to Fane. “I really want to know why Jen was naked in front of him, but I know what they are doing, they’re trying to distract me.”

  “Distraction is Jen’s specialty, love.”

  “Keep me posted, wolf-man. I’m gonna try and see what Dr. Steele knows.” Jacque tried to block out the pain that had begun to burn through her body; she swore it felt like someone was trying to cook her from the inside out. “Jacquelyn, you’re in pain. What’s wrong?” She heard the worry in his voice and felt him pouring love through their bond. She had to cut him off until she could get herself under control or she would drive him mad, knowing she was hurting and out of his reach.

  “I’m fine, wolf-man, just some cramps. I’m gonna get some rest before Logan comes back. I love you.”

  “I’m with you, Luna.”

  “I know, wolf-man.”

  * * *

  Cynthia watched as Jacque curled into a ball, her eyes squeezed closed as if trying to shut out the pain that was tearing through her. She didn’t ask if there was anything she could do to help because she knew there wasn’t. Until Jacque got wolf blood, she would continue to hurt, and more than likely it would get worse. Finally, Jacque’s body relaxed, but the pain had left her breathless, and she strained to drag air into her lungs.

  “Be honest, doc,” Jacque spoke, opening her eyes and fixing them on her, “how much worse is this going to get?”

  Cynthia knew that she wouldn’t want to be lied to, nor would she want the truth sugarcoated, so she wouldn’t do that to one of her patients either. “It’s going to get a lot worse, Jacque. Your body is going to continue to attack itself, and if you don’t get the wolf blood, your organs will begin to shut down. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but I will always be honest with you.”

  Jacque nodded. “Do you know how long it could take? I mean, do you think I will be able to hold out until Fane gets here?”

  “You sound so sure that he will find you.” The look in Cynthia’s eyes said she didn’t think Fane had a hope in hell.

  “He will find me, of that I have no doubt,” Jacque said with confidence. “But the interim is what concerns me. You see, I’m not too keen on the idea of taking Logan’s blood. So I’m just trying to prepare myself.”

  Jacque watched as Cynthia met her gaze and without ever blinking told her, “Prepare for the worst.”

  Jacque didn’t say anything more after that. She slept when the pain would abate but would come awake screaming when it returned. She was constantly trying to focus on keeping her shield up in her mind so Fane wouldn’t know how badly she was hurting. Every now and then, she would simply say his name through their bond just to hear his response. She remembered waking a couple of times to the sound of Cynthia telling her to eat, but food had no appeal because she knew she would just throw it up. Another time she was awake, Cynthia tried to get her to drink something, but again Jacque refused. She didn’t know how long she had been in this room with Cynthia. She didn’t know if it had been hours or days. All she knew was the pain was getting worse, and though she bit her lip fighting the need to scream, it didn’t work.

  “Ahhhhhhh!” Her scream died down into sobs that shook her body. The door to the room flew open, and Logan came rushing in.