36. Jake
JAKE
After spending many hours at the library, Jasmine and I stop by Fern to debrief and refuel.
I’m not surprised when I see Hunter there, but I’m surprised to see him at a booth.
“No bar today?” I ask, leading us to him. “Do you care if we join you?”
Hunter laughs, his gaze flitting to Jasmine, but he shakes his head. “Please, sit. Rebecca was going to meet me here but had some late work this evening. I decided to grab some food before I help her. Nice to see you, Jasmine.”
Jasmine slides into the booth after me and says hello. She smiles and reaches for a glass on the table.
I grab the pitcher of water and fill the cup for her.
“How’s the store?” I ask Hunter. “Any issues?”
He shakes his head. “No, thankfully. It’s surprisingly quiet.”
Jasmine and I exchange a look, and she nods for me to ask him for help.
“Hunter, we need your help.” My gaze returns to him.
“You know, I didn’t realize becoming friends with a tourist would put me in so much danger.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean—”
“I’m kidding.” He cuts me off. “Yeah, we can help with anything. No offense”—he dips his head to Jasmine—“but I’m ready for a little less chaos in Fernhollow. So, tell me what you need, and I’ll see that it’s done.”
We order a pizza for us all to split—cheese with extra sauce—and fill Hunter in on our ask.
“That’s it?” he says, mouth full of pizza. “That’s easy for Rebecca.”
“Do you know if there are any, um, side effects?” Jasmine asks then turns to me to add, “When I was in there, I noticed some of the tonics had some.”
Hunter nods. “There’s a time constraint: forty-eight hours. So, you’ll have to be there for less than that, otherwise the spell will wear off and you’ll be vulnerable again.”
“That’s not too bad.” I take a bite of my own slice, racking my brain for any issues.
“That’s not all,” Hunter adds. “The spell temporarily drains your natural source of magic. So, no shifting. There might be more, but Rebecca will have to fill you in on that.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
Jasmine squeezes my leg. “You don’t have to—”
“I’m coming. Don’t tell me I can’t protect you.” I turn my head to look at Jasmine. “You. Me. Together.”
“Together.” Jasmine nods.
We both return to our pizza, the conversation shifting to random Fernhollow topics. The planning for the end-of-summer bash is in full swing, Hunter wants to start a pickleball league (which Jasmine volunteers me for), and for a short amount of time, I forget about our problems.
For a few minutes, Jasmine and I are a normal couple, chatting with a friend in my new favorite restaurant. We’re laughing, holding hands, and telling stories like there isn’t doom lurking over our heads.
Hunter excuses himself after letting us know he’ll text us details to stop by. Even with what’s to come, I’m happy. Fernhollow has surprised me in the best ways, and it’s not just because of Jasmine.
After the rogue wolves attacked Starview, I wasn’t sure if I’d return to my previous self. I lost my purpose, even if I was still tasked with the same job: protect the pack. It’s the only role I’ve known, after all. I grew up knowing I would be a second to Silas.
I’ve found purpose again in Fernhollow.
“Jake, your phone,” Jasmine says, pointing to my phone on the table.
I flip it over to see who is calling. “It’s Silas.” I look at Jasmine.
“It’s only been a day! Do you think it’s bad news?”
I shrug and answer. “Silas. What’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“In a restaurant,” I reply.
“Go to your room and call me. This needs to be private.”
He hangs up the phone, and I know Jasmine already heard everything due to our close proximity, so she stands from the table. I flag down a waiter, tell them to charge the pizza to my room, and then we’re heading up the elevator.
I slip my fingers between Jasmine’s, interlacing them until I can tug her close to me. It’s not like anything will come out of the dark and take her from me, but I don’t want to risk losing her again. I meant it when I told her I’m not going anywhere, and I’m determined to prove it.
Jasmine squeezes my hand and smiles my way, leaning into me as we ride up the elevator.
Once we’re in the room, she slips from my grip and crosses the room to the other side, sitting at the table. It’s the first place she sat after I first brought her here and it brings back lots of memories.
“Come on,” she pleads. “Call him. Stop staring at me.”
“I can’t help it. You’re too beautiful.”
She giggles, and it makes me happy that even though the world is on fire and death is looming, she can still be a breath of fresh air around me.
I want to ground her, to bring her back to reality, to show her that life doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom.
We can want things and go after them, even if we risk failing.
I sit down at the table with her and call Silas back. After ensuring it’s on speaker, I set the phone down in the middle of the table so both of us can hear the conversation.
He answers immediately. “We’re good to go.”
Jasmine gasps.
“Already?” I ask. “They didn’t ask any questions?”
“I didn’t say that,” Silas says. “They had plenty of questions, most of which revolved around the timeline of events, and I had to lie to them, which is something I don’t want to do, and tell them you saved Jasmine thinking she was a human and found out about the mate bond at the same time. Although, at first, they said no.”
“Okay…” I don’t understand. “What changed their mind?”
“I, uh, had my own bargaining chip of sorts. I need you to know it was a last resort, and the only reason they said yes.”
“What did you do?” I ask.
Silas sighs. “The good news is you can still have the Council seat. But in order for the Council to honor the mate bond and bless the pairing, you have to marry Jasmine.”
“What? Why?”
“Jake, it was that or they required more time to assess the situation. Their words, not mine. The Council doesn’t want an alliance; they don’t see the problem.”
“I don’t understand how marrying would solve the problem.” I look at Jasmine and add, “I would marry you in a heartbeat. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I do,” Jasmine says.
Silas clears his throat. “They don’t trust demons. Jasmine can’t take the demon seat. Marriage assures them a level of trust since it’s political.”
“It’s not just political, though,” I say. “I love—”
“Did I say that?” Silas demands. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“Sorry, Alpha,” I say, responding to his tone. “Who would take the demon seat on the Council?”
“How am I supposed to know? I don’t have demons on speed dial.”
Jasmine’s eyes meet mine and I know who she’s suggesting without her saying it.
“Marisole? You sure she’d do it?” I ask.
Jasmine nods. “She’d do anything for me, and once I fulfill my end of the bargain, she’ll want to live primarily in this realm.”
“Okay, so it’s settled, it seems. Yes? Okay. I have to go, Junie is baking and the entire fucking pack is here, so I’m being required to entertain.” Silas groans. “I’m not going to say goodbye, because you need to survive. Both of you. So, call me when the problem is dealt with.”
Silas hangs up the phone, and I’m left staring at the black screen with my mouth open.
“What just happened?” I ask Jasmine, not necessarily looking for an answer, but in shock about what Silas said.
“Well, it seems like a lot rests on our shoulders,” Jasmine says.
I nod. She’s right. Not only will we have to make the bargain, but we have to survive. Silas would want revenge, and the God of the Underworld would care even less about his demons infiltrating this realm illegally.
“So, when do we go to the Underworld?” I ask.
“I suppose we have to go, don’t we?” she asks and I nod. “Let’s visit Rebecca tomorrow and find a door tomorrow evening. There’s no use in waiting, right?”
“Right.”
We sit in silence, taking in everything.
We’ve done everything we’re supposed to do to get ready, or as much as we can do.
This time tomorrow, we’ll have crossed the threshold into the Underworld, which is something I never thought I’d do.
But if it’s not clear, I’d go to the ends of the world to ensure Jasmine is safe.
For the rest of the evening, we still spend time going over every detail, wanting to be as prepared as possible.
I’ve also been having Jasmine fill me in on what she remembers about the Underworld.
She doesn’t remember specifics, unfortunately, but she’s been able to tell me about the landscape and climate.
It hits me when we’re lying it bed that I’m going in blind.
I don’t know the lands; I don’t have anyone on my side.
If something goes wrong, it could mean the end of all of this.
Jasmine somehow manages to sleep, but me?
I’m unable to stop staring at the ceiling, replaying all the different ways things can go wrong.