“It seems like he and Victoria have some kind of connection. He—”

  “No,” I corrected. “They’re both connected to the stone, not each other.”

  “But it might be enough to draw him here. She wants to wear it for the wedding, right? Everyone is going to see it—gathered together in one place.”

  “I think she has a point,” Roska said. “If not the stone or Victoria, then a huge gathering of werewolves and other supernaturals.”

  They definitely had a point, but I didn’t like the idea of using all our guests as bait.

  “You don’t like my plan?” Soleil pouted.

  “I don't like the idea of using everyone we know and putting them in danger. There’ll be a high number of werewolves there, and if you hadn’t noticed, those are the people Fen is killing en masse.”

  Roska nodded. “Right, but if we’re prepared, he won’t be able to hurt anyone.”

  “I find that hard to believe given how many packs he’s overtaken on his own.”

  Soleil sat taller. “Did any of them have a witch and a valkyrie?”

  “Gessilyn would definitely show up for your wedding,” Roska said.

  I took a deep breath. “Let me process this.”

  “Victoria would be thrilled,” Soleil said. “You know I’m right.”

  “She does want to get married as soon as possible, but she also wants it to be special. If Fen shows up and kills all the guests, that’s going to put a real damper on things.”

  Roska held my gaze. “Don’t you see? He won’t be able to. You’ll have an entire coven of witches, including the high witch.”

  “And a valkyrie,” Soleil added. “Not to mention whatever Tap has stored at the Faeble. He had the half of the map we needed to find the stone. Imagine what else he keeps locked away under the bar.”

  “You two are convinced, aren't you?”

  They both nodded.

  “I still want you to look at the necklace while she sleeps.”

  “So, you agree?” Roska’s eyes lit up.

  “I’ll talk to Victoria after she gets out of the bath. If she doesn’t like the idea of having our wedding crashed by that wolf, then it’s off. If she’s for it, then so am I.”

  “I’ll go check and see how she’s doing.” Soleil jumped up and rushed up the stairs.

  “Do you really think this will work?” I asked Roska.

  “It has to. A high witch trapped him before. You’re going to need Gessilyn’s power—it’s really grown. You should see her.”

  “I’m sure she has grown more powerful, given all the training since we last saw her. Maybe you should find out if she’s learned anything in her books since you’ve been here while I talk with Victoria.”

  “Good idea.” She pulled out her phone and slid her finger around the screen.

  I got up, walked over to the big picture window, and read through the avalanche of new texts. Fen had attacked and annihilated another Alaskan pack. Everyone was waiting to see where he would go next. They were hiding their women and children and preparing for battle. Neighboring packs were joining forces, ready to take on the ancient wolf.

  I sent a quick text in all-caps reminding them not to kill him, or protecting loved ones could be pointless. Hopefully, the witches or Soleil could figure out how much truth there was to all the rumors floating around about Fen. In the meantime, we couldn’t take any risks.

  Soleil came down the stairs. “She’s pretty sleepy. You’d better talk with her now, or you’re going to have to wait a while.”

  I flew past her, up the stairs to Victoria’s room. The door was open, so I went in. She sat at the vanity wearing a thick purple bathrobe. Her wet hair was slicked back and soaking into the robe.

  “Victoria?”

  She turned around. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. “How’s everything going? Did Fen stop his killing spree?”

  “I heard of one more pack in Alaska, but nothing since that.”

  Victoria brought her hands together. “He said he had to take care of one more pack, and then he would consider stopping. Maybe he did.”

  “We can only hope.” I scooted next to her on the tiny bench seat and barely had enough room. “Did Soleil tell you what we were talking about?”

  She shook her head. “What is it?”

  I hated the idea of using our wedding for anything other than celebrating our love. What if she did, too? I took a deep breath. “First, you need to know that if you don’t like this idea, it’s off the table.”

  “What is it?” she repeated. Her eyes grew wider.

  My throat went dry. I cleared it. “They suggested that we might be able to lure Fen to our wedding.”

  Victoria arched a brow. “Meaning?”

  “If we move the date closer and invite as many werewolves as we know, he might show up. Then Gessilyn can work her magic to stop him before he wipes out more of our kind.”

  She didn’t say anything, and her expression didn’t change.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Obviously, I love the idea of getting married sooner, but what if he’s done killing?”

  “He said he’d think about stopping, right?” I asked. “He didn’t say he would quit?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “What if he takes out another pack?”

  She played with a nail. “Then he needs to be stopped.”

  “So, what do you think? Should we push the date of the wedding?”

  “To when?” She looked back up at me.

  “Tomorrow?”

  Her gorgeous eyes widened. “That soon?”

  “Everyone’s eager to stop him. Most everyone would drop everything to help make that happen.”

  Victoria rubbed the stone and stared into the mirror for a minute before turning back to me. “How about this? We plan the wedding, and if Fen stops killing, we enjoy our ceremony and take a nice, long honeymoon together. If he doesn’t stop and we manage to lure him, then we’ll deal with him and get married once he’s… what? Trapped somewhere?”

  I nodded. “I’ve given strict orders to everyone—he’s not to be killed.”

  “So, either way we’re getting married tomorrow?”

  “It appears that way.”

  She threw her arms around me. “I need to tell my mom. We need to call Tap. Oh, and the guests! They need to know.”

  “We have a lot to do. You’d better get some rest. We can’t have a tired bride.”

  “There’s too much to do.” She jumped up from the bench. The shift of weight nearly sent me to the floor, but I stood in time. She gave me a quick kiss and ran from the room.

  I blinked, feeling dazed. I’ve wanted to marry her for centuries, and now it was happening the next day? It seemed unreal—like someone would snap their fingers and I would wake, only to discover the other side had never opened, allowing her escape from death.

  My phone rang. It was Rick, the outspoken Canadian alpha.

  “Rick, what’s going on?”

  “You need to check the texting conversation.”

  Blood drained from my body. “What happened?”

  “Another pack was taken out. This time in northern British Columbia.”

  Chapter 130

  Victoria

  I barely recognized myself in the full-length mirror in the downstairs of the Faeble. The dress my mother had made fit me like a glove, and flowed so elegantly to the floor—thank goodness for her supernaturally quick sewing abilities. The wolf essence stone sat against my chest, just above the neckline of the dress. I looked like royalty.

  My heart pounded like a jackhammer. It was so hard to believe that Toby and I were finally getting married. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen since new enemies seemed to arise against us every time the last one was taken down. Now our wedding might even help us catch Fen.

  Part of me felt bad about that—tricking him so he could be imprisoned again. But it had to be done. If he’d considered my request at all, he hadn’t honored it. Three more Canadian packs had been taken out. He was moving closer to Washington state.

  My mom came into the room. “You’re so beautiful, my darling. Are you almost ready?”

  “Is it already time?”

  “Just about. All the chairs have already been filled. Tap has no more. Do you mind people standing, or should we turn some away? We all agreed it’s up to you.”

  “They’re welcome to stay if they don’t mind standing.”

  She kissed my cheek. “I’ll let them know.”

  “Wait.”

  “Yes?”

  “Did you get ahold of Elsie?”

  She frowned. “I’m sorry, hon.”

  “It’s okay. I was just wondering.”

  “We’ll convince her to join the pack eventually. She’ll see that her life will be so much more fulfilling with a pack. It’s what we’re meant for. But given the one you girls were raised in, it’s no wonder she wants to run the other way. She doesn’t realize how good we have it with Toby.”

  My heart warmed. “We really do.” And soon, if all went well, I would be married to the most wonderful alpha alive.

  Mother squeezed my arm and gave me a reassuring smile before leaving the room. I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Soleil ran into the room.

  “Are you ready?” she asked. “The bridesmaids are all lined up, ready to go.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll return to my place in a minute. Do you need anything?”

  “Other than to get through the ‘I do’s’?”

  “No matter what happens with Fen, you’ll be a married woman headed for your mystery honeymoon in no time.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I know so.” She gave me a kiss and scampered out. Harp music drifted into the room.

  It was almost time.

  I turned back to the mirror and looked for anything that needed fixing. Everything looked perfect. Between my mother, Soleil, and Stella, they’d turned me into a work of art.

  Wanda, one of Tap’s sisters, came into the room. “We’re just about ready for the bride.” She looked me over. “Beautiful, just beautiful.”

  “Any word on Fen?” I asked.

  “Not that I’ve heard. Don’t worry about him. It’s your day.” Wanda grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway to the stairs leading up to the transformed bar. I’d only seen part of the magic before being banished to the downstairs in fear of Toby seeing me. Everyone had gone out of their way to keep us apart all morning. He and some of the guys had left to pick up the tuxes before I was allowed out of my room for breakfast.

  The music grew louder with each step I took. Other stringed instruments had joined the harps. It was a lovely, magical melody. Wanda and I stopped at the bottom of the old staircase. Each step was faded and worn in the middle from so much use.

  “Give it just a minute.” Wanda winked at me.

  The song grew softer, until silence echoed all around. Nervous excitement ran through every inch of my body. A new lyric began.

  Wanda ushered me up the dark, creaky stairs. Music echoed around us. Chairs and feet shuffled on the floor above. Whispers of muffled conversation sounded. The scents of over a dozen supernatural creatures danced around us, some tickling my nose.

  We reached the top of the stairs and Wanda opened the door. Bright light assaulted my eyes, but they quickly adjusted. The aromas of several dozen flower types filled the air. Tap stepped forward, dressed in a gray tuxedo. He handed me my bouquet of white and red roses.

  “Thank you.” My voice came out barely above a whisper.

  He gave a slight bow and looped his arm through mine. With my father dead, he stood in his place to give me in marriage to the love of my life. We turned and headed down the new aisle. The music grew louder and I took in all the people looking at me—some I’d never met before. There were so many guests! Flowers covered the walls—it was quite the sight. I couldn’t even see the Faeble underneath it all.

  My heart raced, but then I looked at the platform and saw Toby. As our gazes met, he broke into a wide grin. Instantly, I relaxed and my steps became lighter.

  Finally, we stopped walking in front of the platform. Soleil stepped next to Toby and made eye contact with Tap. “Who gives this bride?”

  “Her mother.” The small but mighty troll extended an arm to Laura, who sat in the front row. She rose and nodded.

  “Come on up.” Soleil held out her hand to me, and helped me onto the platform, though I could’ve gotten up myself—I probably could’ve soared up with all the excitement racing through me.

  Toby took my hands in his, and Soleil started talking, but I couldn’t focus. All I could pay attention to was Toby standing in front of me, so handsome in his tuxedo. He had always been the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen, but now standing in front of me minutes from becoming my husband, he was even better looking than ever before. I knew I should listen to Soleil’s words of wisdom, but despite all the people around us, the world only consisted of Toby and me.

  A clatter sounded from the back of the Faeble.

  I pulled my gaze from him and turned toward the noise. Gasps sounded from the back of the audience and they moved forward. I couldn’t see what caused the commotion. Guests jumped from their seats and pressed themselves against the walls, stumbling over each other and crying out.

  I turned to Toby, worry seizing me.

  He squeezed my hands and turned to Soleil. “Declare us husband and wife!”

  She was focused on something behind us.

  “Stop the wedding!”

  Fen.

  We’d successfully lured him. Disappointment ran through me. I’d been hoping he wouldn’t fall for the bait so that Toby and I could marry and then come back and deal with him. But that was selfish considering how many lives he’d taken in such a short period of time. All because of me. I reached for the stone and rubbed it.

  From the corner of my eye, I watched Gessilyn and her family. They held hands and their mouths moved, yet despite the heavy silence in the room, I couldn’t hear their voices. They disappeared, using the rune of a handheld mirror to get outside and work more powerful magic.

  Fen glanced around the room, his gaze landing on us. I pleaded with my eyes for him to end his reign of terror. He marched down the aisle. Guests cried out. A couple fell to the ground. Fen glared at Toby. “Hand over the bride and nobody gets hurt.”

  Toby pulled me close. “You’ll have to kill me first.”

  “No!” I pulled against him and turned to Fen. “Don’t hurt anyone. I’ll go.”

  “Don’t!” Toby grabbed my arm.

  I turned to him and asked a question I already knew the answer to. “You’d rather everyone die?”

  “Of course not.”

  I stared deep into his eyes. “Then let me go.”

  His face fell, but he nodded.

  Fen jumped onto the platform. “I said hand her over and nobody gets hurt.”

  Toby gave me a quick kiss and stepped away from me. I held onto his gaze as long as I could before turning to Fen. Nervousness pulsated through me, despite how much we’d prepared for this.

  “Come on,” he ordered.

  I pulled up the skirt of the dress and stepped off the platform. Without a word, I walked down the aisle an unmarried woman, away from the man I loved more than life itself. Fen and I made our way to the main entrance and went outside.

  “Why did you stop my wedding?” I demanded.

  His brows came together. “There are nearly twenty men on my list in there. I don’t want to harm you. Run from here to safety.”

  “But my friends are in there.” I clenched my fists.

  “They’re with people on my list. They have to die.”

  “You think I’ll stand for that?” I exclaimed.

  “No need to shout.”

  “You want to kill the people I love!”

  “But I will always spare you because you freed me from my prison.” He eyed the wolf essence stone.

  Instinctively, I covered it with my hand.

  “Run far away.”

  “Let me take my pack.”

  Fen shook his head.

  “Why not?” I demanded.

  “Some of them are on my list.”

  Blood drained from my body. “You can’t be serious.”

  “With a mixed pack like that, I don’t see how you can be surprised.”

  My mind raced. “What if you take me instead?”

  He flinched. “What?”

  “Your list is insanely long, right?”

  Fen nodded.

  “And you’ve already taken too many lives. Take me in place of everyone left on your list.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t want any more deaths.”

  “I’m not killing you.”

  “And I can’t let you harm anyone else.”

  His face scrunched. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “I’m fine with that.”

  Fen threw his arms into the air and paced, kicking up mud. I stepped back, not wanting to get my dress dirty. He stopped pacing and glared at me. “If I go inside, you can’t stop me. You do realize that?”

  “I’ll throw myself between you and everyone inside.”

  “I’m sure you will,” he muttered and went back to pacing.

  “Why don’t we go somewhere and talk?”

  “What good will talking do?”

  “We could come to an agreement.”

  “That’ll never happen. I need to cross every name off my list, and you want them all to live. There’s no room for compromise.”

  I took a deep breath. “Humor me. Let’s go for a walk.”

  He looked at the Faeble and back to me. “You don’t seem to understand. I can cross off over twenty names from my list, and you want me to walk away—probably so they can all make an escape.”

  “No.” Actually, I needed to take him to a nearby clearing where the coven waited.

  “Really?”

  “I swear. We won’t leave the woods, and we won’t go far.”

  “You won’t convince me to drop my list. My enemies need to pay.”

  “Understood, but will you hear me out?”

  He grumbled. “Fine. I’ll listen to you right here. I’m not leaving this bar.”