Heart's Ease

“How do you feel?” Edwin asked.

“Not bad. I can’t remember much though.”

“Charles will be here soon. Before you talk to him, there’s something you should know.”

Chantelle blinked. Everything was still a little fuzzy. Charles was okay, though. That was a relief.

“Charles’ ex-girlfriend Alice was one of the shifters who infiltrated the chalet. She is one of the wolves you…stopped in the basement.”

“What?” It all came flooding back. Gwen held her shoulders, sitting beside her on the bed. “What did I do?” Chantelle cried. A lump caught in her throat as she fought back tears.

Gwen answered, “You did what you were born to do. What you had to do to protect your—Charles’—pack.”

“What do you mean?” None of that made any sense.

“You saved all our people in the basement,” Edwin said. “But we have to talk about Charles’ ex. We don’t know yet how she’s involved.”

“She really hurt Charles. He’s going to need you,” Gwen said.

“I’ll do everything I can,” Chantelle said, wiping her face.

Charles burst in the bedroom and ran to her side. Henri and Thomas were right behind him. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” Charles hugged her tight then looked her over.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” She held him, knowing everything was going to be all right.

When Charles looked at Gwen and Edwin, they nodded. He exhaled loudly and pushed the hair from his forehead. “Okay, what else?” Edwin took Chantelle’s hand and squeezed it before turning to Charles. Gwen led Edwin, Thomas and Charles out of the room.

Henri stepped in to sit beside Chantelle. He gave her a big hug. “How’s my Fae Queen?”

Chantelle started to shake. “What did I do?”

“You must be pretty overwhelmed. You’ll get through this.” Henri held her and she started to calm down.

“I’m supposed to be there for Charles, too. How can I do that when I don’t even know who I am and what I’m doing?”

“Just keep being you—nothing different. You are a bad-ass warrior princess.”

She tried to hide inside his arms, so much like Charles’.

“Just rest for the moment. Thomas and I will shift with him and we’ll go for a run,” Henri said. “Shifting can help heal emotional and physical wounds, but he’ll need you when he comes back. We’ll bring him back here when we’re done.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

“Yes. We all will make sure of that. Family is the most important thing.”

She rested her head against him. He moved and pulled back the covers on the bed. Rose petals fluttered to the ground, but she was too tired to cry. Henri helped her lie down and tucked the blankets around her.

Kissing the top of her head, he said, “Get some rest now.” Overcome with exhaustion, she fell asleep.