“She doesn’t seem ill,” Roska said.

  “Look at her. She can’t get enough of the necklace. Something isn’t right.”

  “Sure it isn’t just jealousy?” Soleil teased.

  I glared at her. “I’m not jealous over a stone. I’m worried about her.”

  Roska patted my hand. “I can’t sense any evil coming from it.”

  “Me, neither,” Soleil assured me.

  “Have either of you studied it yet?”

  “Not as much as she has,” Soleil said.

  I held her gaze and then Roska’s. “I need both of you to find a way to study it. If she doesn’t let you, then do it when she sleeps. Given that it’s so closely tied to that heartless murderer, I can’t help but worry what it’ll do to her.”

  Victoria still stood in front of the mirror, staring at the wolf essence stone. She was stroking it like one would pet an animal.

  My stomach twisted tighter than it already was. Whatever magic that thing possessed, it had my Victoria under its spell—and it wasn’t going to let go anytime soon.

  Chapter 128

  Victoria

  Time seemed to stand still as I admired the stone from the reflection of the mirror. The swirling had calmed down quite a bit since I first found it, but it hadn’t stopped. It seemed to pick up when I kept my hand close. Warmth emanated from it as I stroked it, making me feel like everything would be okay. Fen would leave us alone—that much I was sure of. I’d freed him from his prison, and he appreciated it.

  I couldn’t understand why he was killing so many wolves, though. No one alive had been around when he’d roamed the earth all those years ago.

  Maybe what I needed to do was talk to him. We’d connected back in the cave. He might listen to me. I’d have to convince him that all this death needed to stop before he killed every one of his descendants.

  I’d been trying to reach him, using the stone. It hadn’t worked, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t. He’d been in it so long, he had a connection to it. I just had to figure out how to tap into that. The stone loved me, so it was only a matter of time before it helped me. I closed my eyes and pictured Fen. He was said to be in Alaska, so I pictured him with bears on a snowcapped mountain, surrounded by hundreds of gorgeous evergreens.

  My mind conjured up a scene so real I got the chills, but Fen wouldn’t look my way. He stomped around in the snow, looking for something. Was it a real scene, or just my imagination?

  “Fen!” I cried out inside my mind. “Fen!”

  He continued hunting, completely unaware of me. I pictured myself in the snow in front of him.

  Fen stopped, his eyes wide. “What are you doing here? How’d you get here?”

  “I’ve been trying to contact you through the stone.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t understand its power. Just wear it and let everyone admire your beauty.”

  “Chauvinistic much?”

  “Go back to your pack. I won’t hurt any of your wolves.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Granting you immunity?” He tilted his head.

  “No. Killing so many werewolves.”

  His face contorted. “I promised my enemies that I would make them pay, even if it meant hunting down each and every one of their descendants. I’m not going to stop until I’ve scratched every name off my list.” He sniffed the air. “Some are close. Real close. Let me by.”

  “They’re all innocent. None of them did anything to you.”

  “I need to fulfill my vows. My words aren’t empty, you know.”

  “Everyone knows that.” I put my hand on his arm. “Werewolves everywhere are scared of you. If it’s power or respect you want, you’ve got it.”

  He shook his head. “The only thing I’m interested in is revenge.”

  I ran my hands through my hair and shivered in the cold air. Tiny snowflakes fell around us.

  “You should go back home before you catch your death,” he said.

  “No. I want you to stop the killing spree. You’re not hurting your enemies—they’re long dead.”

  “They feel pain from the other side. As each new member of their family joins them, they know it’s their fault. They’ll have to live with that for the rest of eternity.”

  “Live with it? They’re dead.”

  “You know as much as anyone that living doesn’t stop on the other side.”

  His comment felt like a slap. Though I had vague memories from my time on the other side, most everything was gone. It was like trying to remember a dream upon waking. The memories are impossible to hold—much like trying to grasp air or a stream of water.

  “I need to scratch some more names off my list.”

  “You won’t consider stopping?”

  “No.”

  “You’ll kill every living werewolf?”

  “Just the ones on my list.”

  “What about a fresh start? You’ll forget about revenge if you’re part of a pack.”

  “You think anyone will accept me after this?” he snapped.

  “We will.”

  “Right.” He laughed bitterly.

  “Our pack is full of wolves the world considers misfits—mutts, wolfborns, and even a vampire and a valkyrie. You’re at least a full, normal wolf. You stand a better chance than anyone else.”

  Fen shook his head. “Once I’m done with this, I’m the alpha of alphas, and I’m going to be a lone wolf.”

  “No wolf is happy on his own.”

  “I will be. Once I—”

  “Complete your list. I know. I’m begging you to consider forgetting it.”

  He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

  “You won’t make it alone,” I insisted. “You just won’t.”

  “What do you think I’ve done all these centuries in that stone?”

  “Surviving isn’t thriving. Think of how happy you could be.”

  “Happy? I’ve never known happiness—ever.”

  I stepped closer to him, the icy snow sticking to my socks. “Shouldn’t that motivate you to try?”

  “No. You’re too optimistic for your own good. Go home before you freeze. And stop calling me.”

  I struggled to find my voice. “You heard me all those times?”

  Fen grumbled. “You’re hard to ignore. If I didn’t fear being trapped in there again, I’d take that blasted stone from your neck just to keep the silence.”

  “Please at least consider stopping this vendetta.”

  “Is that what it’ll take for you to go away?”

  I nodded.

  “Fine. I’ll consider.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Right after I take out the nearby pack.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know, but that’s what I’m offering. I’ll think about it after this.”

  “But they’re innocent!”

  His nostrils flared. “Werewolves are not innocent.”

  “They’ve done nothing to you. Think of the children. The babies. What have they done?”

  “They’re being raised to be the same as their parents—who’ve been raised to be the same as theirs, all the way back to the days when their ancestors tormented me.”

  “But that’s a long time. People change. Packs change.”

  “Not from what I’ve seen.” His lip curled in disgust.

  My mouth dropped. “How did you know?”

  He snorted. “Go warm up before you catch your death. Then I will consider your request. Stay and continue to annoy me, and I’ll add more names to my list.”

  I gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

  “You don’t think so?”

  There was no doubt in my mind he would. I released my hold on the stone. Everything spun around me and a force pulled me backward. My eyes squeezed shut. I stumbled. My feet landed on hardwood.

  I opened my eyes. I’d returned to Moonhaven. Everyone in the living room stared at me, wide-eyed.

  Toby ran over to me. “What just happened? Why are you covered in snow and pine needles?”

  I shivered, but couldn’t find my voice. He helped me up and dusted me off.

  Soleil, Roska, and Jet ran over, all talking at once.

  “Stop.” I held up a hand. “I spoke with Fen.”

  Their mouths all dropped.

  “That’s where you went?” Soleil exclaimed.

  “Where is he?” Toby asked.

  “Is he going to stop?” Jet demanded.

  I tried to catch my breath. “He’s going to consider it.”

  “Consider it?” Jet clenched his fists. “What’s to consider?”

  “He’s stuck on repaying those who hurt him.”

  “They’re already dead!” Jet aimed his fist at the wall, but stopped half an inch from it. “What’s his problem?”

  I shivered. “He’s had a lot of time to do nothing other than stew over the wrongs done to him.”

  Toby wrapped his arms around me. “We need to get you warmed up.”

  “We need to stop him!” Jet scowled. “Where is he? I’ll take him down myself.”

  Toby guided me to the couch and grabbed a blanket from the back. He wrapped it around me and turned to Jet. “Need I remind you that nobody is to kill him? At least not until we know with full certainty that his death won’t kill us all.”

  I continued shivering while the two of them argued. Soleil patted my leg. “I’m going to draw a hot bath for you.”

  She and Roska exchanged a knowing look before Soleil headed upstairs. If I hadn’t been so cold—if my teeth would stop chattering—I’d have demanded to know what they knew.

  Roska sat next to me. “Do you need anything? Want me to get you some coffee or hot cocoa?”

  Shivering, I nodded.

  “Which one?”

  “I-I d-don’t c-care.” I pulled the blanket tighter around me.

  She nodded and left the room. Jet and Toby were still going at it.

  “W-would y-you two s-stop?”

  Toby took a deep breath. “Yes, but Jet, you need to chill. Got it?”

  “We can use the stone to capture him! What’s stopping us?”

  “Other than the fact that the stone isn’t going to send an army his way?”

  “How do we know that?” Jet narrowed his eyes. “It just took her over there. We have no idea what it can do.”

  “Exactly. We have to be careful.”

  “Well, when you’re ready to take action, come and find me. I’m going to check on Ziamara and Sebastian.” He stormed up the stairs.

  I met Toby’s gaze. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. He’s the one refusing to listen to me.”

  “That’s not what I meant.” All of this was my fault. I’d been so eager to find the stone, I hadn’t taken any time to research what the repercussions might be. There may have been a warning somewhere about a murderous werewolf attached to it.

  Roska returned with a steaming mug. “Your mom says this is the way you love it.”

  “Thanks.” I took it and sipped. My mouth filled with hot, super-sweet chocolate. It was certainly the way I had preferred it as a kid. But all I cared about was the warmth. I drank it down, allowing it to warm me from the inside out.

  Toby took the empty mug and set it on a side table. “Can Roska look at the stone?”

  Instinctively, I covered it. “And do what?”

  She sat next to me and smiled sweetly. “I just want to have a look. I’m not going to do anything to it. We just need to understand it—more than just the fact that it’s powerful. How could a werewolf live inside of it? Can it really break the curse? How were you able to transport yourself to where Fen is?”

  My fingers tightened around it. “Then what?”

  “We can figure out what to do next.”

  “He said he’d consider stopping. Let’s see if he does.”

  Toby frowned. “Do you really think he will?”

  “He said he would.”

  “Stop?” Roska asked.

  “Consider it.”

  They exchanged a worried glance.

  “He said we’re safe,” I insisted.

  Roska squeezed my hand. “You want to be able to break the moon’s curse, don’t you?”

  “That’s why I went in search of the stone.”

  “Let me have a look.”

  Fear ripped through me, starting where the necklace rested against my skin.

  Soleil bounced into the room. “Your bath is ready. Hurry up, or I’m going to climb in. I added some salts that will relax and soothe you while the heat rids you of the chills.”

  I rose, continuing to cling to the stone. “I’d better not leave it waiting.”

  “The stone?” Roska held out a hand.

  “I’ll consider it.”

  “That’s all I can ask.”

  I followed Soleil upstairs, even though I knew where the bathroom was. She made a production of waving me inside. “What do you think?”

  The tub was filled with bubbles, shining every color of the rainbow. The room smelled of a mixture of roses and citrus. Steam already clung to the mirrors.

  She held out her hand. “Want me to hold the stone for you while you bathe?”

  Anger raced through me. “Is that why you did this?”

  Soleil covered her heart. “I’m hurt you’d think such a thing.”

  I glared at her.

  “Fine, it played somewhat into it. Yes, I was hoping you’d let me study the stone, but it was mostly to help you—you haven’t stopped shivering since you came back.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but I’m going to keep it on.”

  “You aren’t worried that the water will harm it?”

  “Not in the slightest. It spent centuries in a damp cave. Besides, nothing happened to it when I took my shower this morning.”

  “Don’t you trust me?”

  “Yes. You’re one of my best friends.”

  “Then let me have a look. Who knows more about essence than me?”

  I studied my friend. She was right. I had no reason to distrust her. My fingers reached for the stone, but my hands shook as though repelled from it. I still couldn’t bring myself to take off the stone.

  Chapter 129

  Toby

  Soleil came down the stairs and avoided my eye contact.

  “She didn’t agree, did she?” I asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Do you think the bath will make her sleepy?” Roska asked.

  “I know it will. She won’t be able to keep her eyes open after soaking in the mixture of salts I used. Once she steps out, she’s going to be overwhelmed with sleepiness. Then we can study the stone.”

  I sighed in relief and turned to Roska. “What has Gessilyn found in her books?”

  “So far, just something about a werewolf being imprisoned inside an essence stone. But it’s a start. We know it was a high witch who stuck him there.”

  “But it didn’t say anything about the stone? Or Fen? Or how he was put there?”

  “She’s looking. The books aren’t organized like anything we’ve ever seen. Gess has to decode the words to figure out where related topics are written—usually in a completely different book. Most of the books are written by various high witches, and there are still plenty of blank pages for her to add her own notes for future high witches.”

  I took a deep breath. “Any idea how long this might take?”

  Roska shook her head. “It’s all still so new to her.”

  “You two have to study the stone when Victoria sleeps. It’s eating me up that we don’t know what effect it has on her.”

  Soleil patted my shoulder. “She isn’t showing any worrisome signs, and like we said before, there’s no evil emanating from it.”

  I leaned back against the couch. “I guess I should be glad about that. Do you think she really spoke with Fen? Or could it have been some kind of mirage?”

  “We’ll have a better idea once we look at it,” Roska said.

  Jet came down the stairs, not looking much happier than when he’d stormed away.

  “How’s Zia?” I asked.

  “Fine, just resting with the baby.”

  “Are you ready to discuss this like two alphas?”

  “You mean by tearing each other’s throats apart?” He sat next to me, staring at me.

  “I don’t mean traditional alphas. I’m talking about having a mature discussion, alpha to assistant alpha.”

  He folded his arms and raised his brows. “I can handle that.”

  “Good, because I’d rather work with you on this than against you.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  I sat up and rubbed my temples. “I think we need to find a way to lure Fen to us.”

  “You want him here?” Jet exclaimed.

  Roska and Soleil exchanged worried expressions.

  “At least wait for us to study the stone,” Roska said.

  “I wouldn’t consider anything else. We need a plan—a solid one. And understanding the stone is the most important element.”

  “What are we going to do once we have him?” Jet asked. “Stick him back in the stone?”

  I shook my head. “If we want to use it for breaking the curse, I can’t imagine it working with him inside.”

  He scratched his chin, looking deep in thought. “Whatever it is, it will probably have to involve Victoria.”

  My chest constricted. “You think so?”

  “You don’t? She’s the one wolf who found the stone. It transported her to where he is! She’s going to have to be front and center of whatever we do to lure him.”

  Roska and Soleil added their agreements.

  “Okay, but only if you can guarantee her safety. I don’t trust Fen farther than I can throw my Hummer.”

  We sat in silence for several minutes before Soleil snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it!”

  “What?” I exclaimed.

  “The wedding.” She stared at us like we should have praised her brilliance.

  “You’re going to have to explain,” I said.

  “If you guys move up the wedding date, it might be enough to draw him to us.”

  “I’m not sure he’d care.”