Both twins were dressed in black leather, right down to what looked like whips curled up on the side of their legs. I had a few daggers and knives scattered around my person, but I was guessing they had even more stashed on themselves. My sister was in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, all black, but thankfully she wasn’t part of the leather gang yet.
The twins turned and made their way out of the room. Mischa followed, without even a glance for Lienda, who had been hovering close to her. The wolf-mama looked pissed, but there was also fear in those blue-green eyes.
We all held the same worries, Mischa was distancing herself from us and that was bad for a pack animal. Rogue wolves were dangerous, humanity bleeding from them until they became more animalistic. She had the fruit twins, but when they abandoned her, and no doubt they would, the devastation to her animal soul would be monumental.
I grabbed the trench style jacket that I’d left over the end of the couch, the lining thick enough to keep me warm in the snowy outer of the sanctuary. I found myself moving to hug Lienda before we left. When the hell had I became the hugger of the family?
Her voice was low in my ear. “Be safe, and look after Mischa. But I want you to promise that you won’t save her over your own safety. Mischa is old enough to make her own decisions. I won’t lose both daughters.”
I didn’t say anything, I just tightened my arms a little more. It was nice that Lienda made it very clear that she had no favorites between us.
Next to jump on the Jessa hug train was Jacob, his earthy scent familiar as he wrapped me in his arms. “I love you, Jessa babe,” he said, “you got this. Don’t turn your back on those evil bitches, and suspect everyone.” He sang me a few lines of my favorite song, and I was thankful for the moments of calm.
I pulled away, leaving him with a kiss on the cheek. Maximus almost squeezed the life from me, and Tyson’s eyes flashed gold as he kissed the top of my head. I got a little emotional at that point and marched myself out of the room. I wasn’t pessimistic enough to think this was the last time I’d see them, but I didn’t have the best feeling about the entire thing. I didn’t trust the twins at all, and I knew anything could happen.
Jonathon, Louis and Braxton were a few steps behind me; I fought to focus my emotions. Now was not the time to dwell on what might happen in the next hours
I barely noticed the ride down in the elevator. All four of us were quiet, caught up in our own thoughts. Braxton’s warmth pressed along my side as we leaned back together against the wall. His presence worked better than anything at keeping fear at bay.
Mischa and the twins waited for us in front of our building. Standing with them was Quale.
“What are you doing here?” I asked the mystic. Yeah, it was blunt, but we had no time for niceties.
He didn’t pretend to be a moron, answering me succinctly. “You need me to drop the magical barriers.”
Right. I’d forgotten about that. Louis was going to create a step-though for us, but it wouldn’t work from within the sanctuary – the ancient magics which protected this place were too strong.
“How come you could step-through to Faerie then?” I asked Louis.
He shrugged. “It’s much more difficult from inside the barriers, I’d rather not expend that sort of energy right now. It’s easy enough to exit the sanctuary first.”
Fair enough.
We started to walk, following the gray-haired fey. I oriented myself to keep the fruit twins in sight. I knew they had something planned, I wasn’t letting them get the drop on me. I wanted a shot at preempting their next move.
Mischa strode into view, and all of my worries returned. Just seeing her drawn features, the way she trailed those two bitches. This shit had to end.
I caught up to her, reaching out to link my arm through hers. I spoke before she could.
“Look, I don’t get what is going on with you, I have no idea what they offered you, but I need you to remember … you’re my sister. My twin. No matter what, you belong in our pack.”
Mischa blinked rapidly before opening her mouth. I cut her off.
“No, there is nothing to say now. You clearly have an alliance with them and we have no choice but to follow through on this promise. But you and I both know that once the dragon king is dead, they’re going to run their asses underground and hide for eternity.” If I haven’t already killed them by that point. “And then, Misch, I will be right here for you.” My twin was fighting an internal battle, now was not the time for me to turn my back on her.
She bit her lip, suppressing whatever emotions wanted to emerge. We both knew it wasn’t the place to show our weaknesses, but I had to try. I had to extend a hand because I was pretty sure that should I lose my twin, the devastation would be all encompassing.
With a last nod, I let go of her arm and fell back to Braxton. He ran a hand over my hair and I knew he was proud of my moment of maturity. As long as he didn’t expect them too often.