He kept coming towards her and when he reached her, he nipped her muzzle and growled. She lowered her head, but he nuzzled her before she could drop to the ground in submission.

“Stay beside me,” he told her. She took a stance next to him in front of Sally and together they followed Sally from one wounded warrior to the next. Everything seemed to be going rather smoothly, Decebel having taken out several smaller trolls by himself and he and Jen together taking out a large one. Jen should have known things were going way too well.

Their heads whipped around as they heard Sally scream.

“COSTIN!” She was off in a dead sprint before they could take a step.

“GO!” Decebel yelled at her. Jen obeyed, immediately running after the healer. Decebel was on her heels.

Peri saw the three take off running. “Rachel, come on!” She yelled at the healer and headed after Decebel and Jen.

Costin, Skender, Sorin, Gavril, and Drake were the only wolves from his pack that he recognized as they closed in on Mona. They could finally see her. She stood behind Cypher, the Warlock King who was on his knees in a pool of his own blood. Costin could see that a river of it had formed and was flowing to a black seam that was ripping into the air of the human realm. Costin could see writhing forms through the opening, grotesque arms and legs, red eyes and sharp teeth. He shook off the feeling of oily hands rubbing over his body and growled when Mona turned and faced them.

“Welcome! So glad you could make it. Please, come have front row seats. That will make your death quicker at least.” Mona smiled as if she were inviting old friends into her home. The wolves continued forward while the elves stayed just beyond her vision, bows at the ready. Their weapons were the only ones capable of killing demons, so they would be ready when the veil finally opened.

Costin’s ears lowered and his lips pulled back from his wicked sharp teeth. He crouched low as he moved forward. Gavril, Sorin, and the other wolves moved along with him. Mona attempted to keep them all in her line of sight, but she had been cocky, or so the wolves crouching behind her thought.

Gavril lunged first, but his teeth only reached the bottom of her cloak before her hand flew out and sent him crashing into a tree. Costin had begun his lunge before Gavril had reached Mona and managed to sink his teeth into her leg. Each wolf lunged immediately after the other one, not giving her a chance to regroup. She pressed her hand against Costin’s side and he felt a pulse of electricity enter his body. He yelped and fell flat, unable to retain his hold. He felt his heart stutter from the shock and he had to focus to keep from blacking out. He didn’t realize that he had pulled on the healing power of his mate to steady his shocked heart, until he heard her scream.

He shook his head and regained his bearings. He looked up and saw that the wolves were continuing their assault, one after another lunging, some making their mark, others beingthrown back before they could reach her. Costin swung around when he felt a surge of power come barreling past him.

Decebel’s huge form ran straight for the witch. Her attention was focused elsewhere and so she didn’t realize that she had a new enemy until Decebel’s huge head was in her stomach, knocking her to the ground. He tried for her throat, but she blasted him off with a blast of wild force. Decebel landed on his back several feet away. He jumped to his feet, settling into a crouch, snarling, and circling her.

Sally came bursting through the trees with Jen, Peri, and Rachel just behind her. She ran straight to Costin and ran her hands over him.

“I’m fine brown eyes,” he reassured her.

“I felt your heart stop.” Her hands trembled as they ran through his fur.

“You saved me. Now, get back so that the witch doesn’t decide to notice you.”

Sally started to step back but her eyes landed on Cypher. She turned to Rachel, whose eyes were on the King as well. Sally knew that Rachel felt the same pull she did to go to him, to help him. It’s what they were, they healed, and something in them could not stand to see someone in pain. They both started to slowly move towards him, trying not to draw Mona’s attention. Gavril and Costin inched in front of the two healers trying to block any attack.

Peri’s hand shot up just as Mona turned and threw a spell at her. She blocked it and redirected it back at the witch. Peri reached into her pocket and pulled out two stones. She looked down in shock. She'd had all of them, how did she now only have two?

Mona’s laugh broke through her confusion and she looked up. “Your, sister, my dear, really hates you,” Mona sneered. "What did you do to her Perizada?”

Peri’s mouth dropped open and her head turned as Elle and Adam came rushing into the gathering circle. “Lorrelle?” Peri’s eyes filled with betrayal. Elle’s hand came up to cover her mouth and Adam looked just as confused and angry as Peri.

“Yes, Lorrelle. She has been somewhat helpful to me in my endeavors, if not extremely annoying with all the boo-hooing about how you thought you were so much better than her. The truth is that you are better than her, Peri. You are much more powerful and she couldn’t stand it. So, if you are wondering where your precious stones are, you have your sister to thank.”

Peri’s face morphed into anger as her form grew and her light surrounded her. Elle and Adam’s forms changed as well as they stepped forward and drew upon their own power. Alston came roaring through in his own Fae glory, throwing magic wildly at Mona. The other Fae joined in and Mona laughed as she danced out of the way and blocked shot after shot. The wolves began to regroup and circle the witch, trying to get a get chance to move in without getting hit by one of the flying magical bolts.