"But she's never done this before?" Jen pointed out. "And we've been in some pretty crappy places since joining your merry band of furballs."

Peri shrugged. "The Great Luna has changed the game. There are so many things happening that have never happened before. There's no telling why a healer suddenly has such a gift."

"This is not a gift," Sally ground out through clenched teeth. "This is a form of hell."

Costin wrapped a hand around the back of Sally’s neck, attempting to soothe her.

Jen turned back in the direction they'd come. "Well we aren't going to figure it out right now. There's no point standing here making her feel all those emotions. Peri, can't you get her out of here?"

Peri nodded and took Sally's hand, flashing out of the tunnel.

Costin growled and turned, running past Jen at an inhuman pace. Peri could have taken him along with his mate, but she loved poking testy wolves. Jen was pretty sure the fae got her kicks from it.

Costin desperately needed to kill something. Killing the vampires hadn't been enough, not after seeing his mate curled up in a ball screaming in anguish. He jumped through the manhole with a powerful push of his legs and landed in a crouch. His head swung around, ignoring everyone else and looking for Sally. She was off to the left with Jacque’s arms wrapped around her.

An irrational surge of possessiveness filled him as he stepped toward them. She was his to comfort, his to hold, and his to protect. He wasn't jealous of Jacque, not the way he would have been had it been a male wrapped around her. But, he didn't like anyone else doing what he longed to do for her.

Sally’s head rose suddenly and turned to look at him. Her eyes pinned him in place. Did she want him to hold her? Maybe she didn't want him. Maybe she wanted it to be her friends comforting her.

"There is no room for insecurities, Costin. Not between us. I always need you and always want you." Her words were a soothing balm to the festering wound that the doubts had been causing.

Costin started toward her again; this time in better control. Jacque stepped aside when he reached his mate. He gave Fane’s mate a slight nod of his head, acknowledging that he appreciated her allowing him access to Sally.

Costin pulled her into his arms and struggled not to squeeze her too tightly. His hands ran over her back, attempting to appease his wolf by touching her. Skin, his wolf growled. He was a needy bastard but Costin couldn't help but agree. Feeling her warm soft flesh reassured them that she was okay.

Sally reached behind her to grab his hands. She pulled them up to her face, placing one on either side. She looked into his eyes and gave him one of the smiles she reserved only for him.

"I’m better now," she said softly as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "It was just too much, but it's all gone now. Only the memory of it remains."

"I don’t want you to have those kind of memories," Costin growled. His mate was a light—pure and precious. Nothing so dark as the emotions she had felt should touch her. It was once again a foe that he could not vanquish.

Her head tilted thoughtfully and her eyes filled with compassion. "Someone should know what those poor children have gone through. Someone should know the truth because their parents never will. They shouldn't have died like that, Costin." Her voice broke.

He pulled her head to his chest, massaging the back of her neck. "Why does it have to be you?"

"If not me, then who?" Sally challenged. "It would not be fair to wish it on anyone else. How many times has Vasile told us that we are held to a higher standard, a higher calling because of the gifts we have? I know it sucks, believe me. But instead of questioning it, I need you to help me endure it." Sally pulled back to look up at him. Her big brown eyes pulled him in as they always did. "Can you do that?" she asked.

He blinked several times, trying to break the spell she held over him. Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Costin pulled back just far enough to whisper, "For you, I can do anything."

Peri watched the group of wolves check on Sally. They were a family. Regardless of the fact that they were from two different packs, they were still family. Wolves were a protective bunch and she knew it was necessary to let them each reassure themselves that one of their own was okay. Even the warlock king was checking on her, though none of the pack would let him get close enough to touch her. “Overprotective fleabags,” she thought.

A subtle movement to her right had her turning her head. Okay, so maybe not all of them needed the reassurance. Drake stood on the opposite side of the alley, leaning up against the wall of the brick building. He watched the others as well, but his face was blank, leaving her in the dark about what he was feeling.

She walked over to him and narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you defective too?"

Drake eyes shifted to look at her. "Too?"

"I've got a wolf mated to one of the new healers who avoids the affection of the pack members. That's not normal, not for a wolf. So, do you also have a haunted past? One that keeps you from acting like a healthy member of the pack?"

Drake's brow quirked up. "You don’t mince words do you?"

"Tiptoeing around the issue would indicate that I give a flying flip on how you feel about the topic. I don't. I do care about having defective wolves with me on a mission as important as this one. We don't have the luxury of holding your hand if you suddenly lose control and give into the darkness. I’m going to have enough trouble putting down the vampires. I don’t need a feral wolf to put down at the same time. Do I need to be concerned?"

He stared back at her, still giving nothing away. Her mate had that ability and it always made her want to pinch the crap out of his nipple just to get a reaction. Of course, she wouldn't be pinching Drake’s nipple; that would just be awkward.

The wolf let out a resigned sigh. "I don’t know."

Wow. Honesty. She hadn't been expecting that. "You can stay as long as you promise to let your Alpha know the minute you think the wolf is going feral."

He gave a single nod.

"Good," Peri said and then turned back to the others who were now standing quietly, looking everywhere but at her. Stupid supernatural hearing, she mentally huffed. She met Decebel's eyes. He gave her the barest nod, indicating that he'd heard the conversation. He would deal with it, but that didn't mean Peri wouldn't be keeping a close eye on the wolf.