Chapter 25
When Selene pulled up to the gates of Fenris Hall’s estate some thirty-six hours later, the tall iron barrier slid open without delay.
“Here we go,” she muttered and continued up the drive.
From the passenger seat, Allie said, “I’m scared. What if Fen can, you know, sense that we’re trying to trick him?”
Selene worried about the same thing. Werewolves could smell emotion, and none of her car’s current occupants would be able to mask the intensity of their feelings. Except perhaps Marley. She didn’t know whether a faerie’s glamour could alter physical appearance alone or hide emotion as well.
“All we can do is focus on the truth, Allie,” Selene advised, reminding herself of the strategy. “Natalie is going to die today. We’re afraid, we’re sad. Those are normal responses to what we’re about to face. You can feel those things without raising Fen’s suspicion.”
I hope.
“She’s right, Allie.” Marley leaned forward, resting his arms on the backs of the front seats.
He’d insisted Allie take the passenger seat because the back seat offered more room and greater, if not perfect, comfort for his wings.
“Fenris will know how you’re feeling, but he won’t know why. We’ll be okay.”
Allie nodded, but her face was pale.
Marley had been the one to suggest they ride together in Selene’s car. His plant delivery van was needed to serve another purpose.
“Even so,” Marley continued. “He’s not going to be happy you’re here. Either of you. Or that we’re so early.”
It was late morning, and when Fenris had called Marley yesterday to request his assistance carrying out Natalie’s sentence, the execution was scheduled for sunset the following day.
“The timing is symbolic,” Marley had explained. “Sun going down, life coming to an end.”
More signs and rituals, which Selene decided called for a little disruption.
If they forced Natalie’s execution to an earlier point in the day, it was more likely they’d be alone with Fenris when it took place.
That might be the case no matter when it happened, but Selene needed the best odds that there would be as few people around as possible when their plan went into action.
“He’s already unhappy,” Selene said to Marley as she parked the car in front of the manor. “But he won’t turn us away.”
With a grimace, Marley said, “I hope you’re right. ’Cause there he is.”
Sure enough, the front door had opened, and Fen walked to the car as they exited it. He spoke to Marley first.
“Sunset, Marley.” Fenris frowned at the faerie. “It’s not even noon.”
“My fault.” Selene moved between them. “I can’t sit around all day waiting for this to happen, Fen. Acid will chew a hole through my stomach.”
He shook his head. “There are reasons for the timing. Natalie understands and accepts them.”
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not as peaceable about all this as the woman you’re going to execute,” Selene said flatly. “But it’s too hard on the people who love her to stick to rules we don’t understand.”
She gestured to Allie, who was lingering beside the car.
Fen’s expression hardened. “She shouldn’t be here. Neither of you should.”
“I won’t let Natalie die alone.” Selene crossed her arms over her chest.
“She won’t be alone.” Fen lowered his voice, gentling his tone. “I will be with her. So will Marley.”
“Not good enough.”
“I know you’re going to insist on being present,” Fen said. “But Allison should remain inside with Josh.”
When he glanced toward the front door, Selene noticed Josh waiting there, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he watched Allie.
Damn it. It shouldn’t have surprised Selene that Josh would want to see Allie, but it made the situation that much more complicated. She silently sent up a little prayer to whatever gods or goddesses might be listening that Allie could hold it together with her boyfriend present.
In the first version of their plan, Allie wouldn’t have been at the manor.
She was going to stay with Tim, waiting for them outside the estate in Marley’s delivery van.
But then Tim and Marley had started to explain the layout of the garden, where Marley was going to suggest the execution should take place, in relation to a service road that skirted the southeast edge of the manor—their best option for an extraction point.
Even with a diagram Tim sketched, Selene was worried that in the stress and chaos of the moment, when every second counted, she’d lose her way.
That was when Allie piped up. “I can lead you out of the garden, Aunt Selene. I know it backward and forward. I go there with Josh all the time.”
Selene initially balked at Allie’s participation, but Tim and Marley agreed with her niece that having a guide was the surest way to prevent a mishap when the time came to run.
As she watched Allie walk slowly toward the manor and Josh come out to meet the girl, she hoped they’d made the right decision.
“Let her stay with Josh,” Fen urged.
“She loves Natalie too,” Selene replied. “If she asks to stay with Josh, then she can. But if she wants to be with Natalie, she should. She deserves to say goodbye.”
After a pause, Selene added quietly, “And she needs to understand what it means to join your pack.”
“That’s not fair, Selene,” Fen countered. His expression made it clear he was not only taken aback but offended by her assertion. “What’s happening today is an exception. An unfortunate outcome that could have been avoided.”
“We’ve already talked about what’s fair, Fenris. Haven’t we?” Selene said stiffly. “And it could still be avoided.”
“You want this to be simple when it isn’t.” The defeat in his voice threatened to soften her. She longed to comfort him. To reassure him that despite everything, she still loved him. She couldn’t afford that.
Selene replied with a shrug even though she felt heartless as she did it. She needed to focus on Natalie.
Josh and Allie were speaking in voices too quiet for Selene to hear, but Allie stepped into his arms after a minute. She let him hold her, then gently pulled away, shaking her head. Josh’s expression fell.
Selene’s heart hurt for him, for both of them, but she was proud of Allie’s courage and resolve as she walked away from Josh.
“I’m ready, Aunt Selene,” Allie said when she reached Selene and Fenris.
“Hello, Allison,” Fen said.
Allie wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Hi, Fenris.”
“I’m sorry about all of this,” he told her. “I hope you know that.”
“Yeah, I know,” Allie replied, kicking the ground with the toe of her shoe. “Can we go see Natalie now?”
Jaw clenching, Fenris looked from Allie to Selene, then he beckoned to Marley.
As soon as Natalie opened her door, Allie burst into tears and hugged her. Josh hadn’t followed them to Natalie’s room. Instead he veered off down another hallway after they’d entered the house. Allie must have told him to stay away.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Natalie petted Allie’s head while the girl cried. “It’s so thoughtful of you to come and see me.”
After smiling sadly at Selene, Natalie caught sight of Marley and frowned.
“Aren’t you . . . early?”
Fenris answered, disapproval threading through his words. “It has been requested that your sentence be carried out at midday.”
Natalie tilted her head. “It has?”
“Sorry, Nat.” Selene didn’t fight the fear and sadness welling inside her. Despite the deception at work, none of this was an act. It was all far too real. “Us humans just aren’t as stoic as the paranormal crowd.”
“Oh, of course.” Natalie frowned slightly, but then she nodded. “I didn’t think . . . You want to be with me when it happens?”
Selene’s stomach lurched. It hadn’t occurred to her that Natalie might refuse, which she had every right to.
“If it’s okay,” Selene said, voice weak.
“It’s okay,” Natalie said, reaching out her hand to grasp Selene’s. “I would never have asked, but it means a lot to me. Thank you.”
“Do you need time to prepare?” Fenris asked.
There was an odd flicker in Natalie’s eyes, but after a slight hesitation, she shook her head. “No. Not really.”
“Are you certain?” Fen frowned at her. It was obvious he didn’t like breaking protocol one bit. What a surprise.
Marley fluttered closer. “I’d like to administer the compound in your garden, Fenris. My formula will be most effective out of doors, with the encouragement of nearby flora.”
Fen inclined his head to Marley, then looked at Natalie. “Are you amenable to accepting your sentence in the garden?”
With another sad smile, Natalie replied, “The garden would be lovely. Lead the way.”
Natalie was right. The garden was lovely. Stunning, actually.
Sun-drenched and verdant, the garden’s twisting paths and bubbling fountains exuded hope and joy. Spring flowers in hues delicate, daring, and everything in between suffused the air with their sweet, luscious perfumes.
That a place celebrating life would bear witness to the death of a person as wonderful as Natalie felt like a terrible, twisted joke.
On the other hand, if Selene were the one about to die, the garden would be a better place than most to draw her last breath.
A reminder of beauty and light before eternal darkness fell.
Selene groaned inwardly. All this drama was turning her maudlin.
Fenris let Natalie lead the way, making Selene wonder how familiar Natalie was with the estate grounds. Did she know where she wanted to die, or was she wandering until she found a spot that felt right?
Natalie stopped in front of a long reflection pool. Sculptures of dancing naiads decorated either side of the shining water. Natalie looked at them, smiling, before sinking onto a bench at the edge of the pool.
“Here.”
Selene snuck at glance at Allie. She had no idea where they were in relation to the service road where Tim would be waiting in the van. Was it close, or had Natalie selected a location on the opposite ends of the grounds?
Allie glanced at Selene and gave the tiniest of nods. Selene breathed a little easier.