“YEAH!” All three elves shot their hands up in victory.

  “That was a close one,” Revion muttered, as he leaned over, trying to catch his breath and wiping a bit of ichor from his clothes.

  “Too true,” Thalion agreed. “Come, we must get back.” He told them as he turned and once again took off in a sprint.

  Mona ground her teeth, drawing in her power, ready to make her escape. Once again, she realized that she had been defeated.

  “OH, NO YOU DON’T,” Peri yelled and she pushed even harder, attempting to wrap her power around the witch to hold her in place.

  Just then, Vasile burst through the trees, his power nearly knocking everyone to the ground. He never paused as he took one step and leaped across the thirty or so feet to where Mona fought the Fae. He landed on her chest as his massive jaws wrapped around her throat. He sunk his teeth until he felt them hit her spine. He pulled with all his might, swinging his head violently until he ripped her head from her body.

  The raging storm immediately stopped and the silence froze everyone in place. Vasile’s body heaved as he victoriously held the witch’s head in his mouth. He dropped it on the ground and howled a long, deep bellow into the still, dark sky.

  No sooner had the howl ceased than they all heard a loud slow clapping. Their heads turned towards a very tall, very large, unfamiliar man, who came striding through a billow of black smoke rolling out of the forest. His eyes were a brilliant yellow and his face was pale. His jaw was sharp and his lips thin and tight across his face. He strode casually into the opening where they had battled Mona.

  “Well done,” he drew out in a deep voice, as he continued to clap. Vasile’s eyes narrowed on the newcomer and his lips curled back. The wolves around him gathered and followed the Alpha’s lead.

  “You have done what no one else could have, and honestly, I have to say thank you.” The man bowed his head slightly at Vasile, but they weren’t fooled by the false sincerity. “With that witch out of the way, my plans can proceed. However, since you have defeated such a powerful foe, you might think yourself capable of stopping me as well. Therefore, I feel it necessary to demonstrate that I shall not be so easily thwarted. So, you should think twice before getting in my way.” His words had barely registered when his hand flew outwards and a black bolt shot forth and slammed into Vasile’s chest. He was thrown back into a heap and Alina, who had already, began to run for her mate, dropped in mid-stride. One by one the members of Vasile’s pack felt the pain of their Alpha’s death, even those who were no longer in his pack sensed the loss and agony.

  Peri screamed and turned, firing her own power at the man, but he was already cloaked in the black smoke and then gone.

  “Alston, get the healers,” Peri yelled as she ran to Vasile’s still form. She ignored the howls of the wolves and focused on the fallen Alpha.

  Alston ran over to Rachel and Sally who lay exhausted on the ground, their mates hovering over them. “MOVE!” He yelled at the two snarling males. “If you want your Alpha to live then move.”

  Costin and Gavril phased back into human form, heedless of their nudity. Each male picked up their fatigued mates. They carried them over to where Peri crouched over Vasile. Peri handed Alston a stone and he took it and pressed it to Sally’s head. Peri did the same to Rachel.

  “DECEBEL,” Peri yelled. “Get over here and give your healer strength.”

  Decebel ran over, still in his wolf form. He laid his head on Sally’s lap and drew on his power as an Alpha. One by one, the Alphas all walked over and laid a hand on the healers, using the power bestowed on them by the Great Luna. They gave freely in hopes of pushing life back into the Alpha who had united them as one and defeated an evil that none of them, on their own, could have beaten.

  Jacque, Jen, Crina, Elle, and Cynthia formed a circle around Alina protecting the Alpha female, waiting, and hoping to see her chest move.

  Sally felt the darkness receding, she tried to open her eyes but stopped as soon as she felt the faint trail of a spirit she knew very well, a spirit she had brought back once before at a time when Vasile’s life had been hanging in the balance due to a deadly poison.

  “Vasile?” She called out. “Have you fallen? Vasile answer me!”

  There was no answer, nothing.

  She felt power pouring into her and her gypsy blood knew instinctively what to do. She sought out the source of the injury, what had brought down so great an Alpha. It wasn’t a spell it was damage. Vasile’s heart looked charred, almost like it had been cooked. Her heart fell, she didn’t know if she could heal this. She felt Rachel and could tell that the healer was moving Vasile’s blood through his body and willing his lungs to take in air. She was keeping him alive. Sally felt it was hopeless. Regardless, she pushed forward, determined to save the Alpha whom she had come to love as a father, who had given her a family and a home.

  She touched his heart with her healing light, and as she felt tears on her face, she called out. “Please, you said if we called on you, you would answer, you would help. Don’t take him from us just yet. He is still needed. Surely you are aware of this.” Sally continued to try and heal the damage done to his heart but knew that she could not do it alone.

  “Sally, chosen of your bloodline,” she heard the Great Luna’s melodic voice in her mind, “mate of Costin, and healer to the Serbian pack. I have heard you, you who are pure of heart, and give of yourself so freely without regard to your own safety. I will grant you this. Do not give up Sally the battle is not over. You have been tested and found faithful; my children have proven that goodness can prevail. So take heart now, your Alpha, my beloved, will live, and you may rest for a short time. But, where one foe falls, another arises. You must continue to stand firm, you must continue to be what I have called you to be, to follow the path set before you and if you stumble I will be here to help you regain your footing.”

  Sally felt renewed strength flow out of her and watched in awe, as a heart that was beyond repair, was healed, strong, and healthy once again. It pounded in the Alpha’s chest and pushed blood through his veins. His lungs drew in fresh air and filled the blood with oxygen. With every beat, life returned to Vasile.

  “He’s breathing,” Sally heard Peri say. She kept her eyes closed and felt strong arms pick her up.

  She was so tired. She just wanted to sleep, for a very long time.

  “Not too long Sally mine, you have a wedding to attend.” She heard the precious sound of her mate’s voice in her mind and took comfort in knowing he had her.

  “Always,” he whispered, against her ear.

  Chapter 23

  “Every little girl dreams of her wedding day. She picks out her wedding dress and flowers. She imagines the music playing as she walks down the aisle to a faceless groom she has yet to meet. She pours her hopes and dreams into a day that may or may not come. My day has come. It is nothing like I dreamed. There is no music or flowers. There is no elaborate dress adorned in rows of beads. There is only me and my groom, who has an amazing face. No, it’s nothing like I dreamed; it’s better.”

  ~ Sally Miklos, Mate of Costin Miklos

  “What gifts have you brought to give your mate,” Vasile asked Costin as he and Sally stood before him. The only other people in the room were Decebel, Jen, Jacque, Fane, Peri, and Alina.

  It had been two weeks since Mona had been killed and the strange man had attempted to murder Vasile. Though Rachel and Sally had healed many of the wolves, there had still been casualties. The Alphas of the fallen wanted to bury their dead in their homelands. Vasile had declared a night of mourning and they all had shown their respects to the Alphas and the wolves that had given their lives.

  Dillon had stayed for two days after his pack had traveled back to the states. He spent this time with Jacque. He had even gone to Lilly and Cypher, wishing them a happy life together. Cypher had frowned the entire time while Jacque and her mom had tried to keep from laughing.

  Lilly was with Cypher, who had a very long recovery ahead of him. Vasile had granted him protection if he wished to stay and recuperate in the mansion.

  So, now they stood in the small indoor garden in the mansion, bathed in moonlight. Sally wore a simple white dress with lace sleeves that showed her skin beneath. The back was low, but her hair covered it completely, much to Costin’s relief. Costin was in his customary jeans, but he was wearing a white dress shirt at least, though it was un-tucked. Neither of them wore shoes, because of the customary washing of feet during the ceremony. Much to Sally’s embarrassment, Costin had washed not only her feet but her calves all the way to the tops of her knees and probably only stopped there because she had swatted him with the towel. He had kissed down her legs to her feet and Sally was giggling like a school girl by, the time he was done.

  Decebel had rolled his eyes and said loud enough for everyone to hear “We’ll be lucky if they make it to their bedroom.” This only caused Sally to blush even more.

  “The three gifts I have brought for my beloved,” Costin smiled as he held out a box wrapped in shimmering silver paper. Sally took it and unwrapped it slowly. Costin took a step closer to her and watched as she opened the box. Inside were three items. The first was an ancient looking book bearing no title.

  “Peri and I did some digging into the history of the gypsies and, with Wadim’s help, we found your lineage. That book,” he motioned to it, “is the story of your ancestors.” Sally’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the book. So many questions of how she came to be a gypsy healer and the answers might lie right before her, because of him. “Thank you,” she told him but knew that she could never express her gratitude in a way that was worthy.

  “Oh, yes you can brown eyes,” He winked at her. Sally laughed as she looked back in the box.

  There were two other items. The second was another book. This one was leather bound and when she flipped it, open she saw that the pages were blank. She looked up at him. “It’s blank.”

  “It will be our story, our history. You and I together will fill the pages with the legacy that we bring to our people. One day our children will read it and see what amazing things we experienced, trials we overcame, and most importantly, the love their parents had for one another, a love that nothing and no one can come between.”

  Tears streamed down Sally’s face as she held the book to her chest. It was the most touching, thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her.

  “And, the third gift,” Costin said as he reached into the box and pulled out a much smaller box. He opened it and held it out for Sally. She gasped and nearly dropped the journal. In the box lay a locket. A locket that she knew had been in her family for generations. She’d seen her mom wearing it before. Now, that she stared at it, the piece of jewelry took on a whole new meaning. Strange symbols adorned the outside of the locket, symbols that she had often wondered about in the past. Sally, now understood, that the markings were gypsy runes. She pulled it out and opened it and there inside was a picture of Costin and Sally. She looked up at him. “How did you get this?”

  Costin grinned and that wicked dimple flashed. “Your mother likes me.”

  Sally’s eyes widened. “You told my mom we were getting married?”

  Costin's smile widened, “Sure. I just didn’t say when.”

  Sally made a sound that was half groan, half sigh of relief. Costin took the locket and walked around her. She started to move her hair, but the growl from Costin made her freeze. He positioned her so that her back wasn’t visible to anyone and then moved her hair over her shoulder. He wrapped the locket around her neck and clasped the ends. Before he pulled her hair back over her shoulder he ran his finger lightly down her spine and chuckled when she shivered.

  Vasile cleared his throat and brought their attention back to him.

  “Costin has informed me that he wishes to say his vows in private,” he said to the audience.

  Costin nodded.

  “Okay, then I will simply ask, do you take Sally to be your wife.”

  Costin smiled. “Definitely.”

  “Sally, do you take Costin to be your husband?”

  Sally shook her head, and then laughed at Costin’s frown.

  “Yes,” she finally said, “yes, definitely.”

  “I pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss your bride.” Vasile smiled at the couple.

  Costin cupped Sally’s face and pulled her to him. She stood on her tippy toes as he kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around him and sighed into his stronghold.

  A throat clearing caused them to pull apart. Costin grinned at her. “Wanted to make sure it sticks.”

  Sally shook her head. “The kiss isn’t what makes us married.”

  Costin’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, what does make us married?”

  Decebel groaned. “Get a room already!”

  Costin swept Sally up in his arms and she squealed. He strode quickly past the others while Jen yelled at his back. “Details Sally, I want details! Take notes if you have to!”

  “Are you needing pointers?” Jacque asked her.

  “Psht, girl, please. You think I got like this,” Jen pointed to the small hump in her belly, “if I needed pointers?”

  Jacque raised a brow at her friend, as she stared at her stomach. “Too true, you have got the whole mating thing down to an art.”

  “Oh and what a beautiful art form it is,” Jen grinned at her mate.

  Decebel growled, he grabbed her hand and waved to Fane and Jacque. “My female and I have art to make.” He tugged a giggling Jen after him.

  Jacque looked over at Fane who had an amused look on his face. She smiled up at him and he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

  “I suppose you want to talk,” he told her.

  “I always knew you were a bright one,” Jacque took his hand and pulled him forward. “Night, Vasile and Alina,” she hollered over her shoulder.

  “Do we at least get to make art first?” Fane asked. He turned those glowing eyes on her and it made it very difficult to hold her ground.

  But she did. “Nope. You’ve been holding out on me.”

  Fane groaned. “That means what I think it does, doesn’t it?”

  “As I said, I always knew you were a bright one.”

  ***

  Costin led Sally from the bathroom, into the bedroom, and then over to their bed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She wore a black nightgown that barely came to the top of her thighs. It was cut low in the front and nearly non-existent in the back, which allowed him to see the marks on her soft skin that matched his own. He turned her to look at him and smiled when she blushed. She reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt with shaking fingers.

  “Shh,” he murmured, as he slowed her hands down. “We have all night love and, personally, I plan to make the most of every minute.”

  “You’re not helping calm me, if that was your plan,” she teased.

  He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her scent at the same time. Costin groaned as the desire of his mate hit his nose. His head fell back as he fought his own desire to keep from rushing her or worse, scaring her. He opened his eyes and pulled his head back down to look at her. She stared up at him with such love that it nearly drove him to his knees.

  “Are you nervous?” Sally asked him.

  Costin smiled at his mate, his wife. He took in her long, brown locks, her large expressive eyes, and her beautiful smile. She was amazing, and she was his.

  “Of course, I think that’s normal,” he admitted.

  “Why?” She asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why are you nervous? I mean look at you, Costin. You have the physique of a freaking Calvin Klein model, you're more handsome than any man I have ever seen and you have a dimple that could give most girls ammunition for years of fantasies.”

  Costin laughed and shook his head at her. “I’m nervous because I have the most amazing woman as my mate and she deserves the best, the best of everything, even the best first experience making love. Can’t you see how that would make me nervous? If you wake up tomorrow and you regret tonight it will be because I didn’t give you what you need, and that is one of the scariest things for any man to face. The idea that he can’t be what his female wants and needs.”

  Sally started to speak, but Costin stopped her with a finger to her lips. “This is important, I need you to hear.” She nodded and he took his finger away but rested his hand on her neck. “There are so many things that are important in a mating, a marriage; communication, respect, love, and even the physical aspect of it. I need to know that I am doing everything I can in each of those areas to make you feel loved, cherished, and adored. You need to know that you are the only woman I want. You’re the only woman I desire, the only woman who makes me feel like the man I want to be. I’m nervous because tonight is the first time of many that we will share in something so important and precious. I need you to feel all of these things by the way I love you tonight.”

  Sally blushed. She didn’t know what to say to him. Her mind was reeling at all the things he had said and she just wanted to throw herself in his arms and scream do it already. She nearly laughed out loud at herself. She wondered what he would say if she did just that. She looked into his eyes and could see the earnest need for approval there. He truly wanted to please her, wanted her to know just how precious she was to him.

  “If you aren’t ready, Sally, we can wait. I won’t rush you.” Sally knew that he meant every word. He would wait for her forever if she asked.

  “Costin,” Sally huffed, “we did the Blood Rites. I wear your markings and your bite and now I’m your wife, what else am I waiting for?”