Vasile placed his hands on either side of his mate’s face and gently pulled her toward him. Their lips touched, and even after two centuries, the passion that started as embers burned bright and strong. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes to get closer. Vasile growled softly and Alina laughed lightly as she pulled away. He looked into her eyes and saw the man she believed him to be. A man can go to his grave with pride when he has seen in his woman’s eyes that he is her hero, her lover, her friend, and her confidant.

~

Jen, Jacque, Sally, Rachel, Crina, and Cynthia all sat around the coffee table in one of the many sitting rooms. Each held a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

“Do we know if Peri has been able to get Legolas’ brothers and sisters to join our cause?” Jen asked as she took a sip of her hot chocolate, cringing as it stung her tongue.

Crina and Cynthia, who had also been taking sips of their drinks, immediately began choking as they laughed at Jen’s words. Rachel was smiling, beginning to understand some of Jen’s humor, even if she didn’t understand the reference.

“Jen, just because they are Fae doesn’t mean they are anything like the Lord of the Rings characters,” Sally pointed out. "Not to mention, Legolas was an elf."

Jen shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s so much more fun to refer to them as Legolas' cousins or baby’s daddy than just calling them Fae.”

Jacque nodded. “She does have a point.”

Cynthia was shaking her head. Once again the three girls were trading banter like the world wasn’t coming to an end.

“To answer your question,” Sally said, “Peri told me during one of our little…”

“Potions classes?” Jen blurted.

“Harry Potter!” Jacque yelled out.

“Point.” Jen nodded at Jacque.

“Seriously? You guys are going to play 'what’s it from?' now?” Sally asked. She crossed her arms across her chest, attempting to look intimidating.

“What is 'what’s it from?' now?” Rachel asked.            

Jacque piped in. “It’s a game where we just have normal conversations like usual.  But then throughout the day we throw movie quotes out that are appropriate for the topic. To get a point you have to be the first one to call out what movie or television show it’s from. It’s a very mature game for very mature women.”

“I’m afraid this game isn’t going to make a whole lot of sense to you considering you've been living on fig trees for decades and your only form of entertainment was injuring your werewolf husband so that you could use your healing skills.”

Everyone but Rachel gasped at Jen’s bluntness.  Rachel was laughing. She had told Jen about how Gavril would purposefully injure himself just so she would have something to do.

“I’m just saying,” Jen spouted at the outraged faces.

“Anyway, Rachel,” Jacque continued, “that is the game.”

“Perhaps I will just listen then.  I’m sure Jen will say something that, though I may not understand, I will still find amusing.”

Cynthia laughed. "That’s an easy thing to do. Jen only has to open her mouth and you’re just about guaranteed to laugh, and despite their brashness, she probably means no harm.”

“She’s really very short on charm!” Jacque hollered just as Sally and Jen yelled, “The Princess Bride!”

"Good one, Doc." Jen grinned at Cynthia.

"Okay, seriously," Sally said, collecting herself. "Peri said the council isn't going to lift a finger to help us out."

Rachel snorted. "That's no surprise."

"What do you mean?" Crina asked.

Rachel leaned forward and set her cup on the table. "The Fae are the most powerful of all the supernaturals and, at one time, they were the disciplinarians of our realm."

"Like the police of the sups?" Jacque asked.

Rachel stared at Jacque blankly.

"Rach, just go with it," Jen encouraged.

"Okay then, yes, like the police," Rachel agreed. "After the purge of the witches they retreated beyond their Veil and have had very little to do with this world. Especially since the absence of healers. So it doesn't surprise me that they don't want to get involved. They live in peace, safe in their world."

"Yeah, well, what happens when this world is brought to its knees and the death and destruction brought on by Mona comes knocking on their door?" Sally asked. "What is Peri going to do?"

"She hasn't really come out and said it in so many words, but I think Elle and Adam are going to be helping out again." Sally noticed Crina's shoulders stiffen when she mentioned the Fae. Maybe she didn't like them, Sally thought.

"Sally mine, we're getting ready to meet." Sally jumped at the sound of Costin's voice and let out a yelp.

Jen jumped up at that. "Bloody hell, Sally. Are you okay?"

Sally blushed. "I forgot to mention something," she muttered.

Jen's head snapped around to Jacque. "I told you she was holding out on us. Didn't I tell you she was holding out on us?"

"Yeah, yeah. You told me.  Now sit down and zip it so we can grill her for information."

"I'm just saying – I knew she was acting weird. But does anyone listen to Jen? Nooooo, of course not. It's not like I'm brilliant or anything."

"Jen."

"What!" Jen snapped.

"Sit it and shut it." Jacque pointed to Jen's seat. "Now," she growled, pinning Sally with her emerald eyes. "Spill it healer."

"Well, I was going to tell you guys last night but then the meeting and Peri and then…" Sally stammered.

"Blah, blah, blah. Sally, get to the point." Jen made an impatient motion with her hand.

"Costin and I can hear each other's thoughts," Sally blurted out.

"Shut up!" Jacque grinned.

"That's what I'm talking about. It all starts with the mind talk and next thing you know you're rolling around getting wrapped up in the sheets like a burrito." Jen was up, doing a little dance as she spoke. She stopped when she realized everyone was staring at her. "What?" Her forehead wrinkled.