André sat on the floor playing with Lorenzo and Celeste. His eyes constantly on the three women tied together with ribbon. It had been over an hour.
"Hey! Where is everyone?" Luc's voice sounded loud in his head. He watched Theo straighten and Celeste begin to smile.
"Luc. We're in the hospital wing. Room 8. Welcome home." Standing André smiled as Celeste gathered Lorenzo up and stood with him. Hurried footfalls sounded. Tall, thinner then when he left, golden brown curls disheveled, and with dark half circles under blue eyes, Luc burst into the room.
And froze. His eyes drifted closed as he breathed in deep. They snapped open and shot to the blonde standing sentinel. He took a step towards her only to come to a glaring stop as André stepped into his path.
"André get out of my way. That's my mate standing there."
"Yes. I could tell. Congratulation. But it'll have to wait." He met Luc's shocked look calmly. "Your mate is the sorceress here to bring Yvonne back from the darkness. Those three are tied up together in a spell right now. And I was told not to let anyone touch them. We might be risking them all if we do."
"Luc? Don't you want to say hi to Lorenzo?" Celeste asked with a smile, ending the stare off between the brothers, as Luc looked down.
"Hey. Of course I do." He lifted Lorenzo high, mock glaring at him. "Little man you scared us." He shifted his focus to his little sister. "CeCe. I missed you, but I don't think you'd like Africa. It's hot." He laughed at her wrinkled nose and ruffled her hair. "I brought gifts."
"Yvonne will be awake soon! Isn't that great?"
"It is. What's the blonds name?"
"Eevi something. But you'll have to ask André about her. They were already deep into the spell by the time I woke up and joined."
Luc looked at his mate and, clenching his jaw, took a step. Halted by André's hand on his arm.
"You can't Luc."
"You don't know what you're asking."
Theo snorted. "Oh, he knows."
"What?"
"You were already on a plane by the time I realized." André rolled his neck, "Phoenix is my mate. I've been living with this no touch rule. I do know."
Luc began to grin. "Congratulation to you as well." He cuddled Lorenzo close. "Got tired of waiting for your Dad, did you? Went out and found your Momma all by yourself?" He began to laugh. Then halted and shot a concerned look at the females.
"Don't worry. I've been told a marching band could walk through here without bothering them."
Luc nodded. "Tell me what you know of her."
André began listing the information he had. "She's a powerful sorceress, her spell allowed Phoenix to save you and Yvonne from your kidnappers. She could tell where Phoenix was over the phone without her telling her. She knew when Phoenix was about to kiss me. Her call stop our first kiss, just so you know. She's a New York City Wolf." He smiled at Luc's widened eyes. "Yes. She wealthy by the clothes she arrived in. She can incase herself in an icy aura. According to Phoenix once she gives her loyalty there is no one better. She knows her worth. And that's all I know."
"The Moon Goddess doesn't mess around, does she?"
"Yvonne always said she'd have special ones for us."
Luc grin stretched. "The Phoenix is your Luna! How awesome is that?"
"Just wait. Let me get you caught up."
"Do tell me all. And I'll fill you in on what happened over in Africa."
***
Luc looked up from tucking Celeste and Lorenzo into the second bed with a crooked smile. "They're asleep."
"Good."
"How long have they been like that now?"
"A little over three and a half hours."
"When do we get worried?"
"I don't know."
"So... We wait?"
"It's all we can do."
Suddenly a bright flash filled the room and both men spun. Eevi held a lit match in one hand and the other, while empty now, as if she had just let go of something right in front of Phoenix's face,
"Eevi?" André asked quickly moving to her side. "What was that?"
"Flash cotton." Never looking away from Phoenix, she blew out the match and placed her hand back in the empty space. "You've seen the magic tricks with flash paper, right? It lights up and burns to nothingness in, well, a flash? Cotton burns faster and brighter."
"Why?"
"It's not good sign. She needed to see something hiding in the shadows."
"Why not a flashlight or candle, why something so quick?"
"She's in good hands with you, isn't she? You're clever and calm. It has to be quick so whatever it is she looking at doesn't realize it's been seen."
"Now what?"
"We wait for her next request. It'll let me know what's in there with her. Then I'll prepare. There is a bit of good news. It also means she's found Yvonne."
Her hand moved to a small wooded sword and she lost what little color she had. Moving swiftly she placed the hilt into Phoenix's free hand.
"Eevi?" Andre breathed, not needed to be told that that request was a very bad sign.
She picked up a white green colored bundle of herbs tied in a red string and holding them at a forty five degree angle, lit them. Watching the flames for a long ten seconds before blowing them out. The smell of sage and smoke filled the air. Placing the smoldering bundle in an abalone shell, she picked up a brown feather. Leaving her table for the first time, she moved to Yvonne's side of the bed. Walking a large circle around Luc. Not seeming to see him.
André watched his jaw clench.
"Mate." Her voice was soft. "Open the window, please."
Luc jumped and stared at her. "Yes. I know. And let's pretend we had the option of you offering me your hand. Consider it taken. I didn't let Phoenix pretend, but she did get to take his hand, so I think it's fair. Now open the window. Please. The male I still don't know the name of." Her cold gold eyes landed of Theo. "The children need to be removed. Now. Alpha," her mouth almost smiled. "Stand beside Phoenix. But don't touch, not yet, we need its power at the right moment. Same goes for you, Mate. Be prepared to touch. But only when I say so. Come on, Phoenix" She used the feather to spread the Sage smoke over Yvonne, starting at her head and working down, while pulling the ribbon that connected her to Phoenix taut. "Make it out."