“I want you to take my blood. I am your mate. You will take my blood so you can get better and then you will take it so we can complete the Blood Rites.”

  Fane tilted his head back, bearing his neck to Jacque. “Your instincts should help you out, love. Just close your eyes and bite.”

  Jacque looked at Fane’s neck, his beautiful smooth skin and the markings that ran across it. She couldn’t believe she was going to do this, but she was in so much pain that she no longer cared. She did as Fane told her and closed her eyes. She scooted closer to him, leaning forward and gently touching her lips to Fane’s neck. She kissed him once before parting her lips and pressing her mouth down. As her teeth began to apply pressure to his skin, to her surprise, she felt her incisors lengthen, and then she was able to pierce his skin with almost no resistance.

  She squeezed her eyes tightly when the taste of Fane’s blood hit her tongue. Instead of the metallic taste she had been expecting, there was almost a spicy quality to the liquid. She felt him pull her tighter against him, and she tightened her mouth as she continued to swallow his blood. It should have grossed and freaked her out, but instead it felt right.

  * * *

  Fane closed his eyes as he felt Jacquelyn’s mouth on his neck. His body stiffened briefly when he felt her teeth sink into his flesh. He couldn’t describe the feelings stirring inside at the pull of her mouth if he wanted to. It was something so private and special between mates. He let her continue to take in his blood for several minutes. When he thought she had gotten enough, he reached into her mind. The thoughts he found there gave him pause before he finally spoke to her.

  “Love, it is enough for now. You may stop.”

  Jacque slowly pulled her mouth away from Fane’s neck. She blinked several times as Fane’s face slowly came into focus. His breath caught as he saw Jacquelyn’s teeth. He lifted her upper lip to look at the incisors that had lengthened. “Interesting,” he muttered. As he pulled his hand away, he watched them retract.

  “That was,” Jacque paused to swallow and catch her breath, “intense.”

  Fane grinned at her, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “That’s putting it mildly, Luna.”

  She looked into his eyes, enjoying being so close to him, once again being able to touch him, smell him, and taste him. “Will it always be like that?”

  Fane cocked his head to the side at her. “I don’t know, but you are welcome to find out anytime you want.” He grinned and was encouraged to see a little smile on her lips.

  “How are you feeling? Any better yet?”

  “The pain has actually dulled quite a bit. It’s still there, but it’s not keeping me from breathing.”

  “Do you think you can move?” he asked her gently.

  “As long as you aren’t asking me to run through the woods from a crazed wolf,” she teased. Fane didn’t find it funny, and he let her know by growling at her.

  “I’m ready to take you home to Romania. I want to be bonded to you, Jacquelyn. I want to complete the Blood Rites. If you are up to it, we are going to fly out tonight.”

  “What about my mom? Jen and Sally?”

  “They are coming with us. My mother and your mother somehow convinced their parents. Do you think you can travel, Luna?” Fane was desperate for her to say yes. He wanted out of this country. It seemed like only bad things happened to Jacquelyn here. He wanted her home with him, where she belonged.

  “I’m ready to be bonded to you, too. Let’s do this.” Jacque winked at him, and he felt that wink all the way to his soul.

  Fane stood up and began to go toward the door.”Wait, where are you going?” Jacque asked him. He turned to look at her face and saw panic in her eyes. He realized then that his brave, sarcastic, fierce Luna had not walked away from this unscathed.

  “I’m just going to let everyone back in to tell them we are going.” He sat back down on the bed next to her and took her hand. “What is it, Jacquelyn?”

  She hesitated but then looked him in the eyes with her chin held up. “I hate to be weak and to feel helpless, and I refuse to always be this needy, but right now the idea of not being able to see you terrifies me. If that makes me pathetic then so be it.” Fane could tell it took so much of her to admit her fear to him.

  “None of what you just told me could ever make you pathetic, and if you think that, then you are going to think I’m completely psycho because I’m never letting you out of my sight again, nor will another male ever be close enough to touch you.”

  Jacque couldn’t stop the small laugh that escaped her lips.

  “Why do you find this funny?” Fane asked, the confusion evident in his voice.

  “You can’t very well keep every male away from me forever.”

  “Yes I can. I am the next alpha in line. I’m the prince of the Romanian Grey wolves. If I say they are to stay fifty feet away from you at all times, then that is what they will do.”

  Mischief glimmered in Jacquelyn’s eyes. “Fifty feet? Are you sure that’s enough? Maybe you should make it, I don’t know, several hundred feet. That may be more reasonable.”

  “Are you making fun of me, Luna?” Fane asked with a low growl.

  “Why yes, Fane, I am. However could you tell?”

  Fane glowered at her as she smiled innocently, then surprised her by kissing her on the nose. “I’m glad to see that you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

  “Wolf-man, if you keep making outrageous statements like that, then my sense of humor will only improve because I will have you to make fun of.”

  Fane stood and walked again toward the motel room door. When he pulled it open, he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “So glad I could be of service to you, Jacquelyn.”

  Jacque turned bright red as everyone filed in, their eyes darting between the two.

  “Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Jen asked. She looked at Sally. “That’s what I’ve been doing wrong. I haven’t been saying I wanted to be serviced.”

  Every male in the room coughed to cover up laughs, and Sally swatted Jen’s arm.

  “I’m just saying, you learn something new every day.” She winked at Jacque.

  Fane shook his head, a smile on his face simply because his Luna was smiling.

  Vasile was the first to recompose himself. He looked at Jacque. “How are you feeling?”

  “A little better. I was telling Fane the pain is bearable.”

  “So you think you can travel? It’s a long flight to Romania,” Vasile told her.

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’m ready to get off this continent. I’m convinced it has something against me.”

  Fane glanced at Cynthia, who stood off to the side looking like she wanted to crawl in a hole. “Do you think it is okay for her to travel?”

  Cynthia looked at Jacque and then at Fane. “If she says she feels up to it, then yes. If she begins to hurt badly again, you will just need to give her more of your blood.”

  Jacque blushed as Fane looked at her with a wicked grin.

  Jen looked between the two and then at Sally. “Do you see that fine wolf grinning wickedly at our best friend?”

  Sally looked apprehensively at Jen. “Yes,” she answered cautiously.

  “I thought I told you I wanted one. Where is he?” Jen asked dryly.

  “And I thought I asked if you wanted fries or tots with that, and you said you preferred whipped cream. Much as it pains me to tell you this,” Sally took Jen by the shoulders and looked into her eyes in all seriousness, “and you might want to brace yourself, apparently wolves don’t do whipped cream. They all said it makes their hair sticky.”

  Jen grinned at Sally while the entire room erupted into laughter. Jen held out her fist for Sally to bump. “Niiiiiice.”

  Vasile turned to Fane still grinning, obviously enjoying the lightheartedness after so many days of worry and fear. “Get them ready to go. Sorin has the plane waiting.”

  Fane nodded, still smiling. “As you say, Alpha.”

  Jen and Sally boarded the private plane Vasile had chartered. Jen whistled while Sally’s jaw dropped open at the sight of such luxury.

  “Sally, I take it back. I don’t just want a wolf and whipped cream. I want a rich wolf with whipped cream.

  “Ok, let me just write that down for you since you seem to think I’m your personal assistant,” Sally responded, her tone clipped.

  “You ever noticed how assistant starts with ass? Do you think that’s a coincidence?” Jen shrugged her shoulders and raised her eyebrows at Sally.

  * * *

  “Oh, how I’ve missed my two snarky best friends,” Jacque quipped as she boarded the plane, closely followed by Fane.

  Jacque had begun to follow Jen and Sally when she felt Fane tug her hand. She turned back to look at him.

  “Let me check the plane before you and your friends go exploring.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze and then walked toward the back of the cabin. Jacque noticed that there was a small alcove that was blocked off from the front of the plane.

  “This thing is huge. Where do you think that goes?” Sally asked, pointing in the direction Fane had disappeared.

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out,” Jacque said to her friends with a wink.

  The three girls sat down on a plush seat that ran the length of one side of the plane. On the opposite side of the aisle were bucket style seats, two to a row. Each set of two faced opposite another, and there was a small table in between each set. Jacque counted three sets. To the right of her on the wall that separated the back of the plane, was a large flat screen television. Below that was a bar with various drinks in a glass case.

  Fane came and stood next to Jacque, apparently finished with his inspection. Jacque, Jen, and Sally watched as the others began to board the plane. Alina and Lilly took one set of the bucket seats while Sorin and Vasile sat across from them. Jacque had to pinch Sally when she started laughing because Boain had attempted to sit on the bench seat next to Jen, and Decebel snarled something in Romanian at the poor wolf, causing him to go pale and jump up so fast it looked like he had been stabbed in the butt with a hot poker. Jen acted as if she didn’t notice.

  Cynthia sat next to Skender, across from the now trembling Boain and the frowning Decebel. Fane reached down and grabbed Jacque’s hand, tugging at her as he indicated the bucket seats for them. Jacque stood up and motioned to Jen and Sally to join them in the facing seats.

  With everyone safely buckled in, the plane began its journey down the runway, picking up speed until finally Jacque felt her stomach drop as the plane’s wheels left the ground. She felt like she was finally getting away from the nightmare she had been living this past month. That was until the pain ripped through her again.

  She leaned forward in her seat, arms wrapped around her middle and laid her head on the table in front of her. She heard startled voices but could not make them out with the sound of blood rushing in her ears. She clenched her teeth to keep from screaming out. Jacque had thought that since she had taken Fane’s blood that she was better, but Cynthia was right when she said it would take more than one time. She felt someone undo her seat belt and then strong arms lift her into the air. She curled her body into the strength that she knew had to be Fane.

  Jacque didn’t open her eyes until she felt him laying her down on a soft surface. She didn’t bother looking around. The only thing she wanted to see were Fane’s eyes. She watched him as he stretched out beside her, never taking his eyes from hers.

  “You need more blood, Luna,” he told her gently.

  Jacque watched as he unbuttoned the first three buttons on his black shirt and pushed the collar back to expose his throat. As the pain continued to course through her body, she barely registered that her canines had lengthened the moment Fane bared his throat to her.

  Fane gently wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and guided her mouth to his skin. This time, Jacque didn’t hesitate. When her teeth met his flesh, she pierced it without a thought. Once again, Fane’s spicy essence poured into her. She closed her eyes and welcomed his healing blood.

  * * *

  Fane pulled Jacquelyn close, sheltering her with his body as she took what he offered.

  He whispered in her ear using his native language, telling her how much she meant to him and how he could never imagine a life without her. And when he told her he loved her, he felt her body tremble in his arms. She pulled back this time on her own, and Fane saw the tear tracks down her cheeks.

  “Why do you cry, love?” he asked her gently.

  “I knew you would come for me, but I didn’t know if I would be the same person when you found me.”

  Fane watched as she moved forward again. He felt her tongue run across where she had just bitten him. As she pulled back this time, he saw that her cheeks were tinged a soft red. He ran his fingertips across her face and felt the heat on her skin.

  “Sorry, there was, um, some blood.” She let her words trail off.

  Fane chuckled and wiped away the evidence of her tears. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, Luna. You can run your tongue across my neck anytime. I assure you, I will never object.” He laughed when she swatted at him, but he was glad he had gotten a smile out of her.

  “How are you feeling now? Has the pain lessened?” His tone now was serious.

  Jacque took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She closed her eyes, concentrating on her body. She could still feel a dull ache, but she could tell the pain had lessened.

  “I feel much better,” she told him honestly. Her brow furrowed when she asked, “Fane, will this affect the Blood Rites since I’ve taken your blood?”

  “No, Luna. Because I have not taken your blood, the Rites are not yet complete.”

  Jacque nodded her understanding. She rolled onto her back, and for the first time, looked around at her surroundings. She realized they were in a small but luxurious room. There was soft overhead lighting along the edge of the room. She and Fane were lying on a queen sized bed that almost completely filled the space.

  “Is this the back of the plane?” she asked him.

  Fane nodded. “This is the only cabin on the plane. I came back here when we first boarded to make sure it was ready should I need to give you blood again.”

  Jacque’s face once again took on the rosy red coloring. “I suppose they,” she indicated with a nod in the direction of the front of the plane, “all know why we came back here.”

  “Well, I’m sure they are assuming it’s because you needed my blood, but we could give them a reason to believe it was for something else,” Fane teased. He started tickling her and she couldn’t hold back the soft laughter that came pouring out of her.

  * * *

  Jen and Sally sat tensely in their seats wondering if Jacque was okay. She had been so pale when Fane had carried her off. Alina kept trying to reassure them that Fane would take care of her. Still, they couldn’t help worrying. About the time the plane hit cruising altitude, they all heard a gentle giggling from the direction Fane had carried Jacque. Jen rolled her eyes and unclipped her seatbelt.

  “Oh, for crying out loud.” She stood up and glared at Sally. “If Jacque gets to get her freak on at 80,000 feet, I’m at least going to get my game on.” She turned to look at the other wolves. “Skender, Sorin, Boain--,” She was interrupted before she could finish.

  Decebel stood up, nearly ripping the seatbelt before he remembered to unbuckle it. “Jennifer,” his voice was deathly soft, “what the bloody hell do you mean to get your game on with three of my pack mates?”

  Jen had to slap Sally on the back because she started coughing at Decebel’s words.

  “Well, when you put it like that, it does sound pretty bad. But those were your words, Sparky, not mine.” She turned to Alina, ignoring the daggers that Decebel was glaring at her. “Do you have a deck of cards on this ride?”

  Alina’s eyes crinkled. “I bet we could find some.” She unbuckled her seat belt and started going through various compartments that didn’t look like compartments until she started hitting buttons that made them open. Finally, after a few moments, Alina held up a deck of cards triumphantly. “We’re in business.” She smiled at Jen.

  Jen took the deck and looked at Sally. “You in?”

  “Always.”

  “Okay, boys, let’s see what you got,” Jen taunted. She sat down on the bench seat across from the others.

  The three wolves looked tentatively at Decebel.

  “Oh, for crying out loud, Dec. Tell them you won’t beat them if they play cards with the two humans.” Jen glared at him.

  Decebel had not taken his eyes off of Jen since she had declared she wanted to get her game on. Finally, he relented and turned to his pack mates, who all cringed under his scrutiny.

  “No touching.” He sat back rigidly, angled so he could watch every move of the game.

  The three wolves joined Jen and Sally. Uncertain of where to sit, they all sat right on the floor in front of the bench seat Jen and Sally occupied.

  “So are we playing hold ‘em?” Skender asked Jen.

  Sally snorted while Jen continued to deal the cards. “Hold ‘em’s for sissies,” Jen teased with a wink. “We’re playing something a little less civilized.”

  “What would that be … exactly?” Sorin raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips.

  “Strip poker, of course,” Jen said innocently while all three wolves coughed into their hands. “But remember,” she added with a wicked look directed at the brooding wolf sitting behind the others, “no touching.”

  The low sound that rumbled from Decebel’s chest caused the other wolves to cringe. “Jennifer,” Decebel growled in warning.

  “Fine. Strip poker is out; go fish is in.” Jen glared at Decebel. “Who invited you to this party, anyway? Can’t your invitation be revoked?”

  “That only works with vampires, Jennifer.” His eyes narrowed.