The Lost Elixir

Chapter Two

"Amachukma," she said, then paused. No, she wasn't fine; but she couldn't show him how affected she was by the Fae king in their dungeon. "I heard you and mom talking about the Fae king."

"Of course you did," Nashoba muttered. "We've talked about this, Rayne. You're too old for eavesdropping."

"I know, I know . . . but why is he chained up with iron? You know they can't heal properly with iron—"

"Until we know he is safe to be around and won't leave, he is to stay down there."

Rayne frowned. She went on to finish her thought when Nashoba's eyes grew stern, and his hold tightened with the purpose of getting her attention. She already knew what was coming next without him even saying a word.

"I don't want you in that dungeon unless Declan or I are with you. And don't argue with me about it—you're lucky I'm letting you come at all."

"Dad, I can handle myself. I'm next in line for alpha, remember?" she huffed.

"I remember," he said, kissing the top of her head. "But I don't trust him around you or Ezra, yet. Part of the pack or not, the Fae aren't to be trusted. Especially around the future of Moonshine. Got it?"

Rayne pouted up at him, but all it got her was a severe warning look. She mumbled out a low, "Ome."

"Good. Now go get Ezra, dinner's ready." He kissed her temple one more time and sent her on her way.

The conversation didn't satisfy her at all, but she didn't have much of a choice. She couldn't wait for her questions to be answered. She needed to take matters into her own hands and fast.

Luckily, she knew just how to do that.

*****

Somehow, Rayne had succeeded in convincing Ronan to go with her to see Jarrah. They were currently waiting around the side of the dungeon only minutes before Jay was expected to show up. Rayne tried to prepare Ronan for his task, but he was too busy waving her off. She frowned at his stubbornness and reminded him it was her plan they were executing.

"Remember, Ro. Act natural and make it quick," Rayne hissed quietly, catching sight of Gamma Jay coming over with a tray in his hands. Ronan smirked.

"Act natural?" he scoffed. "I'm the king of natural. Watch and learn, Raynie baby."

She almost threw up at the nickname combination.

Ronan straightened his broad chest up. Pushing back the waves of light-brown locks from his tanned forehead, he sent a hazel-eyed wink to his best friend and went in for the kill. She almost fainted at his loud, "What up, Jay? Looking like the coolest gamma, as always!"

It was official. Rayne hated him.

Jay paused near the door of the room. A mix of amusement and confusion washed over his face as he took in Ro. "Ronan? What are you doing here?"

Ronan shrugged his shoulders casually, his voice cool despite the subtle tremor of uncertainty that only Rayne could detect. "Thought you could use some help. Rayne's done with training and my dad didn't have any work to give me today. So, mind if I help you spoon-feed the fairy?"

Jay snorted. "You can try. He might bite your hand off."

"We'll see about that."

Jay unlocked the heavily bolted door and creaked it open. Ronan followed closely behind him, their voices growing distant and drowning out until they shut the door securely behind them. Rayne breathed out a sigh of relief. Time for phase two.