have a message for you from the Great Luna.” Bethany’s heart was in her throat as she remembered the things she’d seen on the battlefield, and the words that had been given to her to pass on.
Peri’s back straightened and her chin lifted. “What did she say?”
“She said to tell Perizada that I have seen, heard, and felt the pain of my children. This is only the beginning of what must take place.”
The high fae swallowed hard, but her face didn’t betray any emotion other than determination. “So be it,” she said after several heartbeats of silence.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash followed by a shout.
“BETHANY.”
“It appears that your mate is awake and not dead.” Peri’s lips turned up in a small smile, though it didn’t meet her eyes.
“Guess he wants to see me,” Bethany said sheepishly.
“They tend to get testy when they think their mate might be hurt or in danger.”
“You have to calm down,” a woman’s voice warned.
Bethany pushed the blanket away and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Peri stepped forward and held out a hand. “Thank you.” Bethany took the offered hand and pushed herself off the bed and onto her sock-covered feet. It took her a minute, once she was standing, to get her bearings, but after several deep breaths, she realized she was fine. Her stomach was a little sore, but other than that, she was okay.
Bethany stepped around Peri and moved toward the ruckus. There were beds lined up and separated by curtains, much like in a human hospital. She passed three beds with sleeping figures. Some were wrapped in bandages, and some simply looked like they’d just found a place to rest and had taken the opportunity.
When she reached Drake’s bed, she pulled back the curtain and had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. Drake was attempting to sit up, but three females and one male were practically laying on him to keep him flat on the bed.
“If you move around too much you will undo all that Diedre has done,” said Rachel, who was holding onto a leg.
Bethany hurried around the bed and pushed aside the male whom she didn’t recognize. “Drake,” she said firmly and took her mate’s face in her hands. “I’m fine. You need to be still so you don’t hurt yourself.” She had no idea what injuries he had suffered but assumed because of the pain she’d felt in her abdomen when she’d fallen that he’d sustained a wound to his midsection.
“Bethy,” he whispered, her nickname coming out reverently as he lifted his hands. One touched her hair as the other trailed fingertips across her cheeks, which were growing warm. They had an audience, but she was trying to ignore that fact. “You’re okay?” he asked and then quickly followed with, “The baby?”
“We’re both fine.” She nodded as tears built in her eyes. Seeing the emotion in his eyes, how much he loved her and worried for her, made her realize her life was richer than she would have ever expected.
“Thank the Great Luna.” He sighed as he pulled her head down to his and touched their foreheads together.
“Are you alright?” Bethany asked softly. “What happened?”
“I got skewered like a stuffed hog,” he said as he rubbed his nose against hers as if what he said was of little consequence.
She frowned and pulled back so she could look at his face. “You were stabbed?”
He nodded. “In my stomach. I won’t lie. It was bad.”
Bethany stood up and finally looked at the people who’d been holding down her mate. The only one she recognized was Rachel. “You all saved him?” she asked the group that was staring at her.
The male held up his hand. “I just held him down when he went into frantic-mate-mode. I’m Adam, mate to Crina. She’s a member of your pack, but we’ve been off fighting other bad guys.”
Bethany nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Rachel stepped forward and motioned to the two women standing on the other side of Drake’s bed. “Bethany, this is Diedre.” She motioned to the woman with long brown hair that was braided and resting over one shoulder. She had a kind face, and a radiance filled her eyes. “She is a sprite and the head of the clan of luminous sprites.”
Bethany didn’t lift a brow at the news that sprites existed. She wasn’t surprised by anything anymore. There was really no point.
“And this,” Rachel continued, “is Lanora. She is a healer sprite. They