put two drops in each eye. It stung a little, but it wasn’t bad. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, then opened them. She looked at Rixaline, smiling at the girl. “Nothing different yet—oh. Wait.”
Before Donna’s eyes, Rixaline’s sharp angles and dusky-colored complexion smoothed and softened, changing in such a subtle way that she was still clearly an otherworldly creature.
In fact, she was strikingly beautiful. More beautiful than she’d already been.
“It definitely works.” Donna faced the group. “Everyone, two drops in each eye. And then we’re ready to go.”
In a few minutes, they were done, and their eyes were adjusting. Donna watched as they all stared at Rixaline in amazement. “Jerabeth, how long will this last?”
“Four to five hours. If you think you’ll need more than that, take a bottle with you.”
Donna declined. “If we’re still there after that long, we’ll have bigger issues than being able to see the stronghold.” She looked at those gathered in the room. “This needs to be a decisive strike. The longer we’re there, the worse our odds become. We get Rico, we get out. Understood?”
They all nodded or answered affirmatively.
“I know some of us have deeper issues with the fae. I sympathize. But I don’t want to lose any of you in the name of revenge.”
More nodding. Except from Reggie. Donna understood. The woman’s need for vengeance wasn’t going to be turned off by a stern talking-to. But Donna wasn’t about to call her out either. Everyone in front of her was an adult, save Rixaline. And she’d be in the car with Pierce and Neo.
Donna took a deep breath. “Temo, you want to go over the game plan one more time?”
“Sure, boss.” He unfurled a large map of the wooded area in Central Park known as the Ramble. Rixaline had obviously helped him by adding the location of the fae stronghold. He tapped several spots around the park. “We’re going in four vehicles. The Ferrises in their own, then the boss with me, Penina, and Kace. Then…”
As he continued, a strange sense of foreboding came over Donna, similar to the nightmare she’d had about Rico being served up as the main entrée at a fae banquet. But deeper and darker and far more troubling.
It was the kind of feeling that opened up a pit inside of her. The kind of feeling that left her unsettled and restless.
The kind of feeling that made her think they weren’t all getting through this alive.
Chapter Seventeen
The drive to Central Park took an hour. It was somehow the longest and shortest sixty minutes Donna had ever experienced. Maybe for Temo and Charlie, too, because they’d both been silent during the ride.
Donna understood. There was a lot to think about. A thousand emotions, thankfully all manageable now, raged within her. Everything from the anticipated joy of freeing Rico, to the terrifying fear of losing a friend.
Temo found a spot alongside the park. A block behind them was Pierce, Rixaline, and Neo. On the other side of the park were the two remaining teams.
Elsewhere, the wolves were either arriving or moving into position. She guessed Ishalan was doing the same. He remained a wild card in Donna’s mind, no matter how much help he’d given her. If he turned against them, she wouldn’t hesitate to take him down.
Bringing Rixaline had been a coin toss. Donna had wanted to leave her at the penthouse, but the girl had begged to come. Donna appreciated wanting to feel useful when the burden of responsibility weighed on your shoulders. No matter how many times she’d told Rixaline this wasn’t her fault, she knew guilt clung to the girl like a black cloud.
Donna glanced out the window. The sky was still dark and would be for another half hour or so. The plan was to get into place and then, as daybreak came, launch their strike. The snow had stopped falling, but a coating of white blanketed everything.
There would be no hiding their tracks.
Temo turned the car off. He pulled something out of his pocket. “Here. Put this in your ear.”
“An earpiece?”
“Yep. You, me, and Charlie are the only ones that have these. If you need me, I want to know.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Temo.” She put it in her ear. It was so small she barely noticed it.
“You got it, boss. Time to go.”
They all got out, letting Donna lead by quite a bit. That was another part of the plan. She’d go first while the others stayed at a distance, in