Dex’s voice comes to me from far down the hall where the pack must be. “We’ll keep watch. Y’all rest. Janelle and I’ll see to it that if anything happens you’ll be awakened.” I close the suite door and turn out the light. I walk to a window and lean my forearms on the sill. As it was out there in the mountains, there’s no light pollution limiting the stars. And standing here, warm and dry, I can actually enjoy the immensity of them. Thousands upon thousands of bright dots in various sizes fill the sky. Huge swaths of gold dust blow against the velvet night. I could get used to this. My life before Jo was so different. So bleak. So lonely.

I blink and tears cascade down my cheeks. Where are you, Jo? Où est mon cœur? I’m so tired. I know I need a good long night of sleep, but my need to know Jo is still alive is almost too much to bear. To know if she’s going to be the Jo I fell in love with again. Janelle said she’d know if Aella was dead, that she does know that Aella isn’t doing well. Jo promised me I’d know these things and more after the claiming. That when we exchange blood while we’re making love, it will be a beautiful and powerful experience. I clutch my wrist to myself. What’s beautiful about the look on her face when she struck me? Or the painful draw of my blood into her mouth, as if she were sucking my artery into her mouth? Could she just mean it would be great for her? Maybe she doesn’t know it won’t be pleasant for me. And she nearly took too much last time. Is that what it will always be like?

Suddenly chilled, I turn away from the window and scurry under the large bed’s fluffy duvet. If I see Jo tonight, I’ll do what I’ve always done. She needs to heal, to rebuild her strength. I’ll feed her. I’ll happily give up every night’s sleep, ignore every pain, if I can visit her and help her. 

I try to focus on Jo and what I need to learn from her if I can. But I’m too tired to keep any thought for long. And this bed is so comfortable. It feels like it’s been a very long time since I felt this warm and cozy. For a bit my thoughts drift aimlessly. Finally, imagining it’s Jo behind me, rather than the pillows I stacked, I drift off with a smile on my face.

The cave is freezing. How did I never notice this before? I wrap my arms around myself, wishing I had anything other than just this flannel gown on. And it occurs to me that I must show up here in whatever I have on when I fall asleep. Well, crap. Thankfully I have thick wool between my feet and the icy rock. Still, the cave floor holds plenty of dangers to unprotected feet so I cross the floor as gingerly and quickly as I can, anxious see Jo. 

It’s a full minute before I realize what my senses have been telling me. Something is...different. I gaze around at the thick fog, willing it to tell me what’s off. Seeing nothing, I close my eyes and listen. A chain rattles, but rather than in front of me, where Jo has been, it’s off to my right. I open my eyes and think. I’ve come three times before and Jo’s always been in front of me when I arrive. Why isn’t she now? Why did I arrive facing a different direction? 

“Don’t just stand there, luv. I know it’s cold but you’re bound to warm up if you move about some.”

His voice nearly makes me jump out of my skin, but I’d know that accent anywhere. I hurry to him as fast as I can without twisting my ankle. When I reach him, my heart breaks. Like Jo, the old Brit clearly had it rough. In addition to his arms and legs being chained, there’s a curved bar securing his neck to the wall. He’s been beaten, severely. Repeatedly. And, like Jo, he’s been starved. But the worst thing of all, the most horrifying, is that where his eyes should be, are just blackened hollows.

“Oh, Niall.” I kneel gently beside him, as if moving the air might make him hurt worse.

“Aye, I don’t need your horror to let me know it’s bad, do I? But oh, am I glad it worked.”

“Glad what worked, Niall?”

“I called you to me, then, didn’t I? I certainly gave you enough of my blood. I hoped it wasn’t so long ago I couldn’t get you. After I heard Jo talking with you, I knew I wanted to call you, too.”

“But, Jo didn’t call me.”

Niall’s eyebrows raise. “No? Then how do you explain your ability to visit her?”

“I—no, there’s no time for that. I don’t know how long I’ll be here.” I swallow hard, bolstering up my nerve. I can do this. I have to do this. My voice almost doesn’t shake at all when I say, “You have to drink from me, Niall. I’ll bring my wrist to you.”
“Ah, luv, I’d be that grateful, I would.”

I stare at Niall’s nose. It’s the only part of his face that isn’t painful to look at. I’ve never seen lips so chapped and his cheeks are heavily criscrossed with cuts in multiple stages of healing. I’m trying to figure out the safest way for me to be positioned so if he drinks too much I don’t fall on him and hurt him worse than—

His menacing growl makes me snatch back the arm I was stretching out to him. “Why do you smell like fear?”

“Ah. Um.” Yes, that’s very helpful. I picture Jo hovering over me, rubbing blood on my lips to revive me. I drop my head in my hands. Niall can’t do that with his head barred to the wall. Oh, Gods.

Suddenly Niall sounds way too calm. “I’m too injured to read your mind, love. But I know you and have a sneaking suspicion you’re thinking of doing something foolish.”

I clutch my arms together and rub my freezing skin, and keep my mouth shut and try not to look at him too closely. “We’re wasting time here. Are you done?” 

“No, I’m bloody well not bloody fecking done!”

“Niall, please. I can’t stay here long, I’m freezing. And you clearly need to eat.” I exhale. “Please.”

“Bloody hell. You don’t understand, love. You stink of fear. And I’m starving. The two aren’t exactly conducive to keeping you conscious.”

I stare at him, rubbing my wrist. “No?” I try to slow my breathing, slow my heart. “That’s unfortunate.”

“Aye, that it is.” He leans his head back against the cold stone. “I’m sorry to be the cause of your fear. I’m sorry to cause you pain.”

“I know.” I’m here to help. If it were Jo, I’d do it without a thought. That calms me. I settle myself against the wall beside him and lift my wrist to his mouth. 

***

I wake early, hungry and thirsty as Niall cautioned me I would be. Thinking of him makes me smile, despite him hurting me, too. His fangs ripped into my wrist, and the blood being drawn from my body felt just as it did when Jo drank. Like Jo’s his lips were dry and cracked and their roughness chafed against my skin. But he stopped sooner than Jo did. When he finished, I still felt as strong as when I’d come in. I sat beside him for the time I had left and we talked. He wasn’t able to offer any more information about where they are than Jo did. He told that since all he has now is his hearing, he hears a lot more than before. Like he’s heard three separate wolf shifters. He wasn’t clear which wolf died, but confirmed that at least Mac and Steve, or “that right pretty bloke” as Niall referred to Mac’s best friend, survived. He also confirmed that Aella and Chris are still alive. But only about half of their security force was taken with them and he couldn’t say if the ones who aren’t here died at the house or were killed since. I caught him up with the abbreviated version of what happened to us, starting with the crash and ending with our contentious talk before I came to bed.  

When I come out of the bathroom, there’s a bottle of water, a steaming cup of coffee, two blueberry muffins, and a folded note. Whoever left this must have assumed I fed Jo last night. Well, I did feed a vampire. I take a huge bite of the muffin and almost moan. It’s still warm and so moist and delicious. I chase the second giant bite with half the bottle of water. Chewing the last of muffin, I open the note. 

Thought you could use a little replenishment. Plane ready when you are.

D.

I settle in a cushy chair with the second muffin and the coffee. The bottle of water and first muffin transformed me. Now I can take my time and enjoy what I’m eating. The coffee’s good. I haven’t had it in days and I’d gotten kind of used to having the chocolate. While I nurse the coffee and pick at the delicious muffin, I consider what to pack, things I might need. 

And bolster myself for what’s coming.

Since I was a kid and Dad took me near the airport to watch the planes take off I’ve loved everything about flying. I love the power of it, the wonder and adventure of being suspended in the air, the change in perspective you get from above the clouds. Of course, that was before the jet was blown out of the sky. 

Right now, I’m not entirely sure I can board that plane. I know the chances of something like that happening again are small. So small. Still.

I shower again, simply for the sheer pleasure of being able to do so. Then I dress in layers, and throw a couple changes of clothes and necessary toiletries into an empty duffel bag I find. After days hiking in the worst conditions, this all seems like so much luxury. But I have a feeling we won’t be slumming it quite so much any more. Unless, of course, something happens to the plane. Nice. That’s very helpful, brain. Thanks.

For a few minutes I settle back into that comfy chair, holding my necklace. I run my fingers over the gold rope chain, a choice Jo made not for its beauty, but its strength. She knew how worried I get about losing it. The ring holder is the most beautiful pendant I’ve ever seen. And proof Jo knows what I like. Crystal clear pink ruby petals darkening to a circlet of sparkling fiery red surrounding a glittering black diamond center. An exquisite Gerbera daisy – my favorite flower. It’s uniquely shaped with a hump, to allow the rectangle heirloom diamond to lay nestled between two petals. Except for the 4 carat diamond that had belonged to Jo’s mother, all the gems are lab-created. Even the alternating diamonds and sapphires Jo says match my eyes that line the platinum band. She readily agreed to my request to use them, knowing how I feel about mined gems. 

She commissioned them before she even asked me to marry her. She was that hopeful I’d say yes. She loves me that much. I settle the necklace around my neck and wrap my hand around the pendant and ring. I pause before tucking it inside my base layer and close my eyes. I will find you, my heart. I will find you if it’s the last thing I do.

With a sigh, I slide the duffel’s straps over my shoulder and head out to find the others. I find Emma and Janelle chatting on the couch in the lounge. I recognize the pair of vampire stationed at the door from last night. We’ve never met, but they nod at me as I walk in. I almost trip over my own feet when the guy with the pointy chin says, “Morning, ma’am.” I still haven’t gotten used to them treating me like they do Jo and Niall. 

“Morning,” I mumble. I drop the duffel onto the floor and sink into a chair. I’d kill for a cup of the pack’s hot drinking chocolate right now. Kate wanders in and waves limply at me. She settle in the seat next to mine and drops her backpack to the floor. 

“You sleep at all?”

Kate shakes her head. “Not much.”

“She’s alive. As long as they’re alive, we have hope.”

“Oh, I know. I know. It’s weird. I guess I kinda had this idea that if we could just get here, everything would be fine.” Kate picks at her nails. “Like, we’d find them all here, or we’d find these great clues that would tell us exactly where to find them. I guess that was pretty naive.”

“I don’t know,” I let my head fall against the chair back. “It’s not naive to hope. And it was that kind of thinking that kept us moving. Got us here together. Alive.”

Kate sighs. “But we still have no idea where they are. What if it takes us too long to find them?”

“Doubts are normal. Just don’t let them take root,” Janelle warns. 

Emma lays her hand on Janelle’s arm. “That’s good advice.” She looks up as Dex walks in, leading Carmelo, Marcos and Len. “Oh, good. Now that we’re all here, Libby can tell us what she learned last night.”

I wait for everyone to find a seat. A couple more vampire walk in and take up positions at the windows again. They bookend the windows, and I know they’re paying just as much attention to us as they are the gradually lightening day outside.

Carmelo gestures to me. “Sorry we held you all up. We were making arrangements. Please, begin. Tell us how Jo was last night.”

I shake my head. “Unfortunately, I have no idea. I didn’t see her last night.” When I see several people ready to ask questions, I hold up my hand for them to wait. “I didn’t see Jo, but I did see Niall.” Emma gasps and several people look...amazed? Shocked? “Okay, before you start getting all upset, I wasn’t thinking of him, I was thinking of Jo. But he,” I look at Dex, who has a strange look on his face, “he called me.” I can feel the attention of the vampire in the room. “Dex, you remember when he had to give me a lot of his blood so that I could heal?”

Dex nods, looking relieved. “That I do, Miss Libby, that I do. And it wasn’t so long ago that a strong vampire like Niall couldn’t have still called you. So how is he? What could he tell you?”

 

I spare no detail about the condition Niall was in, even after feeding from me. The pack members seemed especially glad to hear three of the four are confirmed alive, particularly since one of them is Mac. Kate lets out a long breath. I guess even though I said it earlier, she didn’t believe it until now. I’m glad I could relieve her, and Janelle and Emma, too. Dex and Marcos question me for ten minutes about any differences in the two caves or anything I might have heard or seen that would help. I’m sorry I have nothing new to offer, but I finally cry Uncle. 

 

“I promise I’ll keep thinking about it and if anything comes to me, or if I go back the caves tonight I’ll let you know, but I’ve told you everything I know. I wish it was enough to find them, but we’ll just have to keep to the plans we made last night.” I reach for the duffel straps and stand up. “Y’all ready?”

Dex stands up, too. “You heard the lady. Grab your gear and let’s roll. The planes are ready and our pilots are standing by. Remember, stay under the radar as much as you can. No side trips. Go straight to the areas you’re assigned and start searching. Quietly. Last thing we want to do is spook or piss off The Empress. We don’t want her to feel threatened. Keep your phones on. You remember the code if you find something?” Dex looks pointedly at Len.

She clenches her jaw but her tone stays polite. “I have the code.”

Dex nods. “Good.” He looks around the room. “Good luck. Be careful who you trust. She has ears everywhere.”

With those encouraging words ringing in our ears, we file out of the lounge and head out into the snow, and the hangars where our planes await us. It’s cold. I’d think I’d be used to it by now, but when we first step out, an arctic gust sweeping up the slope takes my breath away with it. Hunkered down in our winter layers, the three of us remain silent. The wolf pack and vampire seem to be in heavy discussions, but I, for one don’t have it in me to focus on them. I’m too busy psyching myself up for the flight.

“Well, this is us,” Carmelo says. He pats the nose of the first plane in the hanger, a blue Cessna. “Godspeed, everyone. We’ll be in touch.” With a curt nod to Dex and Janelle, he spins on his heel and marches to the open doorway. I watch the rest of them climb into the plane. Marcus and Len wave goodbye to us from the doorway before it closes them in.
The only other plane in this hanger makes the Cessna look like a toy. It looks familiar. It takes two steps when it hits me. This is the same plane that blew up a few days ago. Well, not the exact same plane, but its twin, certainly. I try to take another step, but my feet are rooted. Emma and Kate stop on either side of me and together we stare at the jet. 

“Okay,” Kate says. “I knew we’d be flying again, but I wasn’t prepared for this.”

Emma’s so close to me, I can feel her bob her head in agreement. “Really not ready for this.”

“Jo,” I say. “Chris. Mac.”

Kate takes a deep breath. “Mac, Chris, Jo.”

Emma groans. “Yours are sure things. I’m not sure what Chris and I are to each other, yet. We haven’t had enough time.”

Looks like we’ve all got the yips. I link my arm in hers. “I get that. Look, you can turn right around and go back to the house. I know Dex is keeping a handful of security here to protect the place. No one will think less of you. I certainly won’t.” I slip my arm though Kate’s and look at both of them. “This is going to be so dangerous, y’all. Risking our lives on this airplane is just the beginning. Neither of you have to do this.”

Kate scoffs. “Okay, and what about you?”

Emma rolls her eyes. “Here we go, the martyr is climbing up on her cross again.”

I yank on Emma’s arm. “Come on, now that’s not fair.” I drop their arms and step forward, then turn around to face them. I gesture behind me. “You think this is scary? I’ve seen what The Empress did to Jo and Niall. I’ve smelled the blood and sweat and...stuff. She might take us, too. Kill us. I just want you to be absolutely sure this is what you want. Because once we get on this plane, we’re committed to seeing this through.”

Kate closes the distance between us and links her arm in mine again. “You give a nice speech, there, red, but I was committed when you kept encouraging us to keep going, when you could barely move your own legs. I was committed when you stood up to the Denver pack and convinced them to help us. And I just got my Mac in my life again, I’m not giving her up without a damn good fight.”

Emma links up with my other arm. “And I was committed when those bastards tried to blow us out of the sky. Besides, we’ve all proven we are made of tough stuff. And friends show up for one another—”

“Regardless of the cost,” Kate and I say with her. Still laughing, perhaps a little too hard, we board the plane.