"I'm sorry," Bethany whispered.

She felt his hand cup her cheek and apply gentle pressure so she would look at him. "You do not owe me an apology, A Mea. You don't owe me anything."

"Why were you trying to break the cage?"

"My need to comfort you and my wolf’s need to shelter our mate is strong. To see you hurting like that, it was more than I could stand. You aren't alone. Never again. I will always be here. And if you let me, I'll bear your burdens when they become too much."

She felt something brush her mind and warmth flooded her. "What was that?"

His eyes held her as he spoke. "That is me reassuring you that you aren't alone. All you have to do is reach out to me through the bond."

Bethany tentatively attempted to do just that. She thought of Drake, about his passionate words and gentle touch. When she pushed out with her own emotions she heard him sigh and felt his warm breath on her face. She'd sent him her gratitude. He'd rescued her and been tender and patient. He'd repeatedly told her that he wouldn't leave her, that she wouldn't be alone anymore. She needed him to know how much it meant to her. Regardless of the fact that she was a mess, she did appreciate him.

"What now?" she asked still staring up into his face.

"For now, we'll just rest. Peri will return and let me out of this cage and then if you will allow it, I would really like to hold you."

Bethany felt a strange tightening sensation in her lower abdomen as she imagined what it would be like to be in his strong arms. She imagined that she must have been held by her father once in a caring way, but she couldn’t remember it now. She only knew the touch of violence. Bethany was pretty sure that when Drake held her she just might not ever want to leave the shelter of his arms.

Chapter 17

"Betrayal's a bitch. That's all I got." ~Peri

"Do you think she's going to be okay?" Sally asked Jacque and Jen as they stood by the cell where Bethany had been held captive only a few moments ago.

The males were just a tad ticked off with them over their latest stunt and refused to let the girls accompany them on their search of the vampire stronghold. So there they were stuck worrying and wondering.

"Better question," Jen said as she tapped her thigh with the tip of the sword Decebel had left with her, which drove Sally crazy and she was sure that's the only reason she did it. "Will we be okay once our mate's aren't distracted by a huge hoard of child stealing, dormant enslaving, bloodsuckers and can fully appreciate the fact that we totally had Peri bind them." She paused, no doubt for effect. "Again."

Jacque blew out a breath through her parted lips causing them to vibrate, making a motor sound, and then sighed. "It's really hit or miss with their reactions."

"True," Jen agreed. "They really are indecisive in their responses to our indiscretions. Some consistency would be much appreciated."

Sally laughed. "How 'bout you tell them that, Jen?"

Jen snorted. "Please, I'd rather stick my finger in a light socket repeatedly than deal with those hardheaded flea balls."

"Speaking of flea balls," Sally said. "Either of yours got the bond open?"

"Nope," Jacque answered.

"Locked tight," Jen chimed.

"Something isn't right," Sally said, unable to keep the worry from her voice. Something bad was going to happen. She didn't know how she knew, but she just knew.

"They'll be fine, gypsy lady," Jen reassured. "Our boys are beasts. I mean that literally and figuratively."

"Yeah, we got that," Jacque said dryly.

Sally leaned back against the stone wall. There were two doors to the dungeon, one to the left of her and one to the right. She was staring at the one to the right, which was the direction their mates had departed earlier. Her gut was rolling with fear and it was growing worse by the second. Something was coming. She didn’t want to worry Costin any more than he already was so she was keeping a wall up in her mind. Finally, after several more minutes of frustrating silence and blood pulsing worry, she pushed away from the wall.

"That's it. I'm not just going to sit down here and worry and wonder and fret."

"Worry and fret are pretty much the same thing," Jen interrupted.

"Not. The. Point," Sally ground out. "Vampires are attacking the people we care about. There might be more dormants somewhere in this hell maze. Drake has gone off the deep end. And I for one am not just going to sit on my thumb and spin."

Jen whistled. "I don’t know what Peri fairy is feeding you gypsies these days, but it must have 'grow a pair' fertilizer in it because you, Sally dear, are totally packing some cajones."

"Eww," Jacque retorted. "But I do concur with our disgusting friend."

"Okay, well, good," Sally breathed out as she paced restlessly. "Ballsy is better than ball less I suppose."

"Oh dear," Jacque muttered.

"So are y'all with me?" Sally asked, ignoring her red headed friend’s comment.

"I'm in, Ballsy. That your new nickname btw," Jen said, winking at her.

"Um, no." Sally shook her head and then turned to Jacque. "You in?"

"I'm totally with you in spirit. But I think I'm going to have to stay back here and worry and fret because I'm pretty sure I'm in labor and I don’t think chasing after my mate who is chasing after vampires would be what a doctor recommends at this stage in my pregnancy."

Sally's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

Jen wasn't as speechless. "What the hell do you mean you're in labor? Why didn't you say something?"

"Sort of just did," Jacque pointed out.

“What’s wrong?”Costin’s worried voice reverberated in Sally’s mind. In her shock, Sally had released the small hold she had on the bond, and her mate had immediately picked up her panic loud and clear.

“Uh, well, Jacque is sort of in labor.”

“Sort of? I thought labor was labor. You’re either in it or not in it.” His voice was getting deeper as his frustration grew.

“It might not be real labor. And even if it is, labor can take a day or more. My mom was in labor with me for like twenty-eight hours. So I’m sure we’ve got time.” Sally’s voice was steady, which surprised her considering she was feeding her mate a load of bull. Oh, what she’s said was true enough, but there was no way Jacque was going to be in labor that long.