Dane POV
The Bloodstone hardly looked as if the fight between Melisande, Daxius, Ravyn, and the shifters and Wildefell witches had taken place at all. If anything, all the crystal displays were brand-new, and artfully arranged on shelves. Daxius Houdini, who wore his black hair longer and tied in a ponytail these days, greeted Dane and the rescue party, which consisted of the core group of Crestas and extended family, minus Kyon and Azandra, as well as Talon and Kelara. Genevieve had remained behind in Crimsontail territory with William. Several of the Alphas such as Caden, Tyrell, Jett, and Heller stood outside guarding the shop.
For obvious reasons, the entire army of shifters had chosen to stay outside Wildefell. Just the Crestas and extended family and a few other Alphas ventured into the city.
"So, Ravyn's gotten herself in trouble again," Daxius said. "At least I'm not responsible this time."
Dane bared his teeth. "No one is responsible--even Jude. Who would ever have thought that Queen Ylavi would become completely insane? Blame the Dark Goddess."
Marieke, glowing with happiness in this setting, approached Dane and gave him a hug. "It is good to see you, but we seldom seem to meet when circumstances are ideal."
"Indeed not," Dane growled.
Daxius' turquoise eyes glittered like the crystals surrounding him. "Dark Fae are tricky at best. Ever since Lilia sent a message about the situation, I've been researching what can be done in the realms of magic to protect you. ESPECIALLY from the Dark Goddess. It seems that she's found a new plaything."
Patch, beside Dane, couldn't resist a sardonic quip. "If our pups treated their toys like the Dark Goddess does hers, they'd be playing with sticks and rocks indefinitely."
Jiro's eyes narrowed. "Daxius and Patch have good points. If Ylavi is the Dark Goddess' instrument now, it may be too late for her."
"Not necessarily so," Daxius replied. "It wasn't too late for Cyran or Naomi. It was for Hades--but he broke free in the end."
Marieke raised a trembling hand. "And you also have living proof here. Daxius and I got away from her too."
Jiro smiled kindly at them. "Technically, you were tormented and trapped, not possessed. Lucky for you, and unlucky for Queen Ylavi, there is a gargantuan difference."
Marieke made a face. "If you say so."
Garnet appeared beside him. "Trust me, Marieke, we have extensive experience with the Dark Goddess' ways. Unfortunately."
Anneliese joined the group, her pink hair the same color as some of the deep rose quartz. "And we still didn't foresee this happening."
Jiro shook his head. "A year ago, Queen Ylavi chose to visit the Crimsontails when Garnet, Naomi, and Cyran had all gone off on a covert mission. I remember thinking that it was an ill-timed visit, but Queen Ylavi said the timing couldn't be helped--she wanted a separate trade agreement with the Crimsontails for some reason."
Daxius' eyes sharpened. "Did you find that odd?"
Pausing, Jiro considered. "Not really. Many kingdoms negotiated side agreements with different packs. I have no idea to this day what her real motivation was. But it doesn't matter now. Not when she holds Jude and Ravyn prisoner."
Daxius' turquoise eyes met Jiro's own that were identical in color. "It's hard to know what the Dark Goddess' motivations truly are for anything, if she's the one making the decisions for Ylavi the way she tried to do with Hades."
"I hate to disagree with you, but we do know what her motivations are," Patch said, his face full of fire. "Burn it all down so she can rule. And in the meantime, make people run around in circles so they can't question what she's doing."
"Patch is right," Garnet said with feeling. "We all saw it when Cyran 'killed' Hades the first time--Daxius, you weren't there. Obviously."
Daxius smiled slightly. "Knowing you all, I have no doubt it was the stuff of epic poetry. I'm just grateful I get to be a part of it, in some small way."
"Me too," Marieke said with feeling, her green-eyed gaze sincere.
Dane's heart swelled. His other mother-in-law and father-in-law had grown on him. Powerful roots that took hold and wouldn't let go until he departed this world to run with the Moon Goddess. "So, Daxius, what have you and Marieke come up with?
Marieke blushed. "I'll just mind the shop while Daxius shows you."
Dane kissed her on the cheek. "You are a jewel to rival any treasure in this room, Mother."
Blushing, Marieke said, "You all have made me feel like family. I always wanted to live among shifters, and now I'm part of a pack!"
"Forever," Patch declared in a brassy voice. "Pack and family forever."
Daxius pointed to the hidden stair that led to Ravyn's and Lilia's old apartments. "And with that, follow me. You will be surprised at what we have done with the old place."
As they climbed the narrow stairs, Dane remembered every squeak of the steps and every groove in the walls. "D'you know, Daxius, that when Ravyn and Lilia and Anneliese first brought me up here, I was completely unconscious from silver and wolfsbane poisoning?"
"He was absolutely gorgeous, and suffering because of his bravery," Anneliese added.
Daxius stopped briefly, then resumed his climb. "Ravyn and Lilia and the rest of the family mentioned something about it. How did that happen?"
"Cyran's rogues," Dane said simply. "When he was dark and obsessed with Lilia--but that was the Dark Goddess and Hades."
Daxius made a disgusted sound. "Cyran is a sweet boy at his core."
Dane smiled slightly. "You didn't know him when he was dark, but you'd also be the last to condemn him. At any rate, I was obviously out of commission, and your ladies brought me up here. I woke up in Lilia's bedroom, and lounged around the house recovering while Ravyn made vegetable stew and cobbler."
"And Ravyn no doubt had you up and around and washing dishes and running round the apartment in no time," Daxius replied.
Lost in a warm wave of memory, Dane sighed. "She only pushed me as far as she knew I could take it, but she was gentle."
Daxius' voice was soft. "As Ravyn so eloquently pointed out, I missed all of that."
Dane pretended to lean on Daxius for support on the last step before the landing. "It was stolen from you, Father."
A frisson went through Daxius. "You know ... I love Lilia, but I wanted sons. Now i have more than I could ever dream of."
Below, Patch imitated playing a violin and someone, probably Anneliese or Jiro, smacked him. Grinning, Dane followed Daxius from the landing into the apartments above the shop.
What a transformation met his eyes! What a sight!
Instead of the cozy living room, Dane found himself in a wizard's lair, with crystals, curious artifacts, potions, and objects he couldn't even begin to name. Just as in the days when Ravyn lived here, the place smelled of herbs drying on a rack. Dane's wolf, Ross, howled, feeling the buzz of energy in the room. A constant hum, an electric sensation. The hallway remained the same, and from what Dane could see of the kitchen, it, too, was unchanged.
"You've done some remodeling," Jiro observed in his dry way.
"Daxius, this is what i think of when I think of a wizard's den," Garnet complimented.
"Ravyn wanted to have something like this all along," Anneliese volunteered, taking in the new and improved version of the Rolfe-Houdini home she knew so well. Make that the Rolfe-Faolan-Houdini home. "She talked about it all the time. But she could never figure out how to create it. But this is marvelous--who needs a sitting room?"
"Except for family, we're not doing much entertaining these days," Daxius commented dryly. "But we are conducting some serious wizard research and development."
"Then show us," Dane said, his eyes glittering in anticipation.