"I really wish you would talk in English and not TV military lingo."

"Fine. The witch found us. Tell Peri to get her butt here and do her thing. Better?"

"Yes."

"It doesn't sound near as cool," Jen grumbled.

"And cool is definitely what we are worried about since your life is at stake," Decebel snapped back at her.

“Just go tell that fairy.”

Jen waited for Decebel's response, assuming he was talking with Peri and the other wolves.

"We're on our way."

"WHAT? No, Decebel. You can't fight her."

"Baby, you doubt my mad fighting skills, I'm hurt," he teased. Peri must have unbound him if he was teasing. “Be there soon.”

This was not what Jen was trying to accomplish. She didn't want Decebel out here, vulnerable to the witch and her evil schemes.

"Relax, love. I'm bringing the rain with me." And just like that he was gone. He didn't close off their bond, but he made it clear he wasn't going to discuss this any further.

Jen looked over at Jacque's sour face.

"Let me guess, Fane's on his way?" Jen asked dryly.

"What is with them! Why can't they just listen to us? All we ask is to tell Peri to come and instead they hear, 'come save me, my furry hero'. I mean, seriously."

"I'm with you. But they are about as cooperative as we are. You know what that means?"

"That they will never listen to a dang thing we say," Jacque answered

"Right you are, my red-headed sidekick. Right you are."

"Peri will not let the wolves leave unless she has a plan," Gavril told them. He stared out of the opening into the dark night.

"Well I hope it's a good one because Fane and Decebel are walking right into the witch's path. They should bring flowers and chocolates since they are throwing themselves at her feet," Jen growled.

A sudden flash of light blinded the four, then again when the darkness returned just as suddenly.

Jacque, Rachel, and Jen all stood up and watched a tall guy who appeared to be in his mid-twenties walk into the small cave. He had shaggy, sandy brown hair and steel colored eyes. Next to him was a girl they quickly recognized as Elle.

Elle smiled at Jacque and Jen, and greeted Rachel with a hug, as if she were an old friend. The guy took Rachel's hand and, with Gavril growling, leaned down and kissed it. He glanced up at Jen and Jacque and winked.

Jacque rolled her eyes. "There's trouble."

Jen nodded in agreement. "With a capital F H."

"Trouble starts with T, Jen."

"Yes, but freaking hot starts with F H."

Jacque snorted. "Man, your mate is gonna have his hands full."

"Didyour eyes get gouged out when you bonded with Fane?" Jen asked, turning to look at Jacque.

"No." Jacque smiled.

"Well, neither did mine. I'm not undressing the guy with my eyes, I'm just appreciating the eye candy he brings into the world."

"Hello, ladies. I'm Adam." He grasped Jen's hand, leaned down, and just as he did with Rachel's, he kissed it. Jen tried not to blush but, crap, she was female and he was hot.

Adam's eyes seemed to watch everything around him at once. Though he was flirty, he was no doubt deadly.

Adam did the same to Jacque and, much to Jen's relief, Jacque blushed candy apple red as well.

"Elle and I are the cavalry," he informed them with a broad smile.

Elle stepped up next to him and smiled. "You ladies ready to do battle?" She handed out small throwing knives to each of them.

Jen grinned wickedly. "Hell to the yeah!"

"Um, Elle, Jen shouldn't be allowed to play with knives," Jacque said cautiously.

"These knives are special." Elle grinned. "These knives are enchanted in such a way that they will only hit what you intend them to. You can't miss. And doesn't matter where you hit, each hit is fatal."

"This is so freaking cool! I mean, like Lord of the Rings cool." Jen's eyes lit up as she took the throwing knife.

"Jen, probably not real kosher to compare them to a movie."

"My bad." Jen smiled sheepishly.

Adam smiled at them. "Elle said you guys were weird. She wasn't kidding."

Jen and Jacque glanced at Elle, who had turned red. "I really was kidding," she said with raised eyebrows.

"Hey, we aren't offended when someone speaks the truth. No worries. Now, if you had said I was sweet, or that Jacque had boobs – well, then we'd be offended."

"Jennifer Adams, I know you did not just say that." Jacque glared at her grinning, completely remorseless friend.

"I don't know who you're speaking to, Red. My name isn't Jennifer Adams."

"Whatever," Jacque snapped.

"So, are we going to get this party started or what?" Jen asked Elle.

Elle nodded. "We're the bait."

Gavril stepped up and grimly looked at Elle. "Peri wants us to distract the witch until the wolves can make it to us."

"Exactly."

"Why did she let the imbeciles go in the first place?" Jacque grumbled.

"Because Peri knows when to say when. Vasile's power was rolling through the house, threatening to bring it in on their heads, Fane was threatening Peri, and Decebel was threatening to eat every Fae that crossed his path from then on."