Costin slipped into her mind, wanting to see if her dreams were peaceful. He didn't want her to have a fitful night, knowing that she desperately needed rest. Her sleep was dreamless and for that he was thankful.

He buried his face in her neck, loving the way her hair tickled his face. After several deep breaths he finally succumbed to sleep and immediately fell into a dream. He was kneeling and the warmth and power of his Creator flowed over him.

"Peace, child of mine," she spoke gently and Costin felt every muscle in his body relax.

"It is an honor, Luna," he said, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"You have been through much and yet there is so much more to come."

Costin wanted to ask what was to come but waited for her to continue instead.

"You and Sally will be used in a great way. Joy is coming for you, yet it will be lined with sorrow.”

For several long moments, Costin held his breath and neither spoke.

“You have questions," she finally said.

Costin’s head remained bowed as he spoke. "This evil that we are battling is more extensive than anything we've fought before. Even when the witches had grown too powerful, they didn't have these kind of numbers. How can we defeat this? How do we repeatedly run into evil and remain untouched?"

"That is why you were not designed to be alone. On your own, it would be too much. Without your mate by your side, the evil would leave a stain on you each time you encountered it. But I've given you a pack, a family, both in blood and by choice. Together you are stronger. Together you can hold each other accountable. You can remind one another that evil, in whatever form it comes, will do one thing and one thing only—kill you. Maybe not instantly, but eventually. It will reach inside of you and start eating away at your soul. It will contaminate your thoughts, your actions, and remove your ability to see right from wrong. Stand together. Don't allow there to be any division among you. I live in each of you, and, in my light, no darkness can exist. I am always with you."

Costin felt the dream slip away, but the peace his Creator filled him with remained. The danger they were facing was still there. He knew it was going to be more than difficult, but knowing he had his pack, his mate, and the Great Luna fighting with him made it seem like victory was possible.

Alina held a cup of hot chocolate in her hands, enjoying the warmth that seeped into her cold fingers. Her girls, as she'd begun to think of Jacque, Jen, and Sally had gotten her addicted to the chocolaty drink and now, anytime she had things on her mind, she also had a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

She'd curled herself up in her favorite chair in their suite and stared out into the night sky. The stars that filled the sky were as numerous as the worries running through her mind. But unlike the stars, her worries wouldn't fade with the rising of the sun. They would only grow as they continued to pursue the vampires that had grown too great in numbers. Alina felt as if there would never be a time that she wouldn't be worrying. Would there ever be a time when her family was safe, truly safe?

"We will make them as safe as we can." Her mate’s voice came from directly behind her just before his hand caressed her neck. Vasile kneaded the tension that had gathered between her shoulders as she continued to stare out the window.

"We will," she agreed, just before taking another sip of the hot chocolate.

"Do you think Sally will be alright?" Vasile asked her.

Alina’s chest tightened as she thought about how the healer had come apart in her arms. She'd never witnessed anything like it before, and the frustration of not being able to fight tooth and claw against what it was that hurt Sally had been overwhelming. Alina may have been female with a stronger inclination to comfort than to fight, but she was every bit as much a wolf as her mate and the need to protect ran deep in her veins.

"I don't know, Alpha," she finally admitted. "Sally is strong, but how many times can silver be exposed to the flame before it begins to weaken?"

He made a thoughtful sound. She felt his hand leave her neck and then pull the tie that had held her hair up. Vasile ran his fingers through the loose locks, causing chills to run down her back.

"We will just need to keep an eye on her. Those girls aren't known for showing any sort of weakness." He took the cup from her hand and set it down on the table beside her. "Let's get some rest so we have the energy to worry some more tomorrow." Vasile smiled down at her as he held his hand out. Alina took it without hesitation, as she'd been doing for over two centuries, and let her mate lead them to their bed.

As her mate’s arms came around her, pulling her body close to his, Alina set the worries aside. She thanked the Great Luna for the strong arms that held her, for the new life growing in Jacque, and for getting them all out of the first day’s battles alive. Did those things cancel out the fears? No, but they did make facing the fears worth it.

"Sleep, Luna," Vasile murmured against her neck where he'd buried his face.

She smiled to herself. "I'm going to sleep, but not because you told me to."

Vasile’s breath tickled her skin as he chuckled. "Whatever you need to tell yourself, Mina."

Jen held her sleeping daughter in her arms as she sat in the dark nursery. The only sound was the whispered whooshing of the fan, which they ran to help Thia sleep. From the minute Peri had flashed them back to their home, Jen had picked Thia up and not put her down, except when Decebel made her take a shower. She'd needed the tangible proof that she was fine. Their daughter hadn't been snatched by the vampires. Their daughter hadn't been tortured and sucked dry. Their daughter was safe.

Jen didn't notice the tears on her cheeks as her arms shook. She didn’t hear her mate come into the room. Though he knelt in front of her, she didn't see him. All she saw was faceless bodies of children.

"Jennifer," Decebel’s deep voice rumbled through the quiet room. "Let me take her, love." He started to slip Thia from her arms but Jen snarled and jerked her back. Her stoic mate didn't react. He stared back at her with compassion and love.

"I have to hold her. I have to," Jen began, but her words faded as the tears flowed faster. "Why is our child safe and those children are not? Why did something so utterly horrific happen to them? How do I know she will continue to be safe and why can’t we keep the others safe?" Her voice broke and this time, when Decebel reached for Thia, she relinquished her.