“Earth, water, wind, and fire,

Hear me now, feel my desire.

I call on your forces and your ancient power,

Rumble, blow, burn, and shower.

Let no female leave unharmed,

All males desperate and alarmed.

Every step will pulse with pain,

Every cry will be for his name,

Let fire come between each one,

Until they, fall and I have won.

Her eyes flashed open as she felt the power leave her body, the spell riding on the wind. It would grow in power as it sought out its quarry. Owing to the size and power of the spell, it would take some time before it reached her prey.

Mona let out a deeply, satisfying breath and wiped her hands on her clothes. “Well, I’ve threatened a pixie, plotted with a traitorous Fae, and will soon hear the screams of the wolves. If that isn’t freaking awesome, I don’t know what is.”

“Who are you speaking to?”

The deep voice made Mona jump as she whirled around, ready to defend herself. A heart stopping shot of fear ripped through her as she stared, wide eyed at the one before her.

“How did you get in here?” She asked, after she had pushed the fear away and reminded herself of whom she was. But, that didn’t change the reality of the individual who was standing before her. This is bad, she thought to herself, very, very bad.

Q

Sally’s eyes watered as she desperately tried to focus on anything but the pain, which had become a constant companion as she fought her need to be with Costin. He was behind her with all the other males and she could feel his eyes on her, burning a hole in the back of her head. She could feel him willing her to turn around, to come back to him. And she wanted to so very badly.

“How’re you holding up?” Jen asked, matching Sally’s pace as they continued trekking through the mountains.

Sally gritted her teeth and composed herself before she spoke.

“I’m dealing,” she finally answered.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

Sally’s brow wrinkled as she looked at Jen in surprise. “You’re having doubts?”

Jen shrugged. “We’re not the only ones hurting. Dec is in more pain now, than when I died.”

“How?”

“I think because I’m rejecting what was determined for us before we were ever created. I belong by his side and I’m choosing to deny him that.”

Sally frowned. “Not to sound childish or anything but they denied us first. There are consequences to every action Jen, and their action to keep their mates out has brought on this consequence. It’s up to them to fix it.”

Jen grinned at her and Sally saw the gleam in her eyes.

“You did that on purpose didn’t you?”

Jen gave a little nod of her head. “I could tell you were really struggling and so I thought maybe you neededreminding of why we are doing this. Decebel is relentless, pushing on my mind, and I honestly don’t think he is using his full power because I’m pregnant.”

“Are you hurting?” Sally asked.

Jen’s mouth tensed just before she spoke. “Badly.” Then as only Jen could do, she pushed away the pain and sought out a way to ease the tension. “So I was examining my mate’s oh so encouraging words from earlier. He said that we had given ourselves to them in every way, basically. Because of that fact, then we no longer can make our own choices. I found a loop hole.”

Sally laughed as she shook her head. “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s the loop hole?”

“You,” Jen grinned. “I thought about Crina and Elle, and they may very well fit into that category as well. However, I don’t really know their business like I know yours.”

“What?”

“Sally, my little wall-flower, you haven’t given your body, as B so eloquently put it, to your mate. You’ve completed the Blood Rites, but that is only one of the ingredients in the mixed drink that is bonding.”

“So,” Sally drew the word out, waiting for Jen to elaborate.

“Oh good grief woman, I’m saying that according to Dec’s jacked up idea of independent thinking, you my dearest, are still allowed such a liberty.”

Sally laughed and though the pain didn’t leave, for that brief moment in time, it wasn’t consuming her.

She heard a growl and a powerful push as Costin shoved his way into her mind.

“It will be remedied as soon as this ridiculous tantrum of yours is over.”

Sally’s mouth dropped open and she couldn’t believe he had just said that to her. She whipped around to look at him, and refused to give him the intimacy he was trying to force by using their bond.

“Are you seriously talking about making love to me while calling me childish in the same sentence?” Sally watched in satisfaction as Costin’s eyes began to glow. She had struck a nerve and maybe it shouldn’t have, but, damn, it felt good.

“Sally,” he started, but Sally cut him off.

“I’m not real experienced in this aspect of a relationship, but I’m pretty sure calling your mate childish is NOT the way to go about getting some.”

Jen coughed on a laugh and watched as not only Costin’s face contorted in anger, but all of the males. She just couldn’t resist this one.

“And by getting some she means tail,” she paused and just in case their hazed over brains didn’t register it she said it again a little slower. “Getting—some—tail. You know, because we’re wolves?” Jen looked around and when she noticed Crina grinning she smiled, “I knew someone appreciated my sense of humor.””