Page 30 of Wonder
She frowned at Cal and the rabbit shifter as I relaxed and grimaced ruefully at the others, who’d all gone tense at my reaction. “Sorry, Dimi’s here.” I carefully didn’t look at Reno as I walked over to Cal.
Dimi waved a hand at him. “Jackson is willing to try to heal both of them, but they’re worried they might not be able to due to the restrictions the Elves put on that ability.”
I thanked her and relayed what she’d said to the others.
“What restrictions?” Cal winced as I lifted him into a bridal carry.
I was glad of the distraction answering him gave me. Between the fight and Reno’s rejection of our mating, I was not interested in being alone with my thoughts. “Jackson is adèideag dìon, which is a sentient being created by powerful Elves when their children are born. Thedèideag dìonhave their own magic for protection and healing, as long as it is for the benefit of a child. They can heal any child, not just the one they were created for, but for them to heal an adult requires the magic to be convinced it’s necessary for a child’s well-being.”
I began walking back the way we’d come. Greg hovered at my side, glancing anxiously at Cal’s head every few steps.
“But Jackson healed Nicky, and he’s not a child.” Reno scanned the park continuously, probably looking for civilians.
“No, and Jackson says they don’t remember this, but Nicky is the child for whom Jackson was created.”
This caused some murmurs of surprise. Cal touched his fingers to his temple and grimaced. “So when I gave Jackson my magic a few months ago, did it, like, turn them into some sort of super version of, um, whatever you called it?”
I smiled. “No, you helped them get to where they should’ve been. As the child they are paired with grows, thedèideag dìonslowly absorbs enough of the child’s magic to go through what we call ‘Becoming’, which is basically an evolution from a barely cognizant toy into a being capable of complex thought and body shapes. It is considered a sign an Elf is a great leader if theirdèideag dìonBecomes capable of taking the form of an adult Elf. Or, in this case, an adult human. Jackson’s Becomingwas inhibited early on. When I found them after Nicky was kidnapped, they were unusually small for their age, and I believe that was caused by their giving Nicky a majority of their magic to try to fight off the vampires. And then of course later they were stuck in one room for decades.”
We reached the cars without any humans coming near us. Reno said he’d call Dominic to update him on the fight. I put Cal across the back seats of Greg’s SUV, and Tucker put the rabbit shifter in the back of his car. I would have preferred to ride with Reno, but there wasn’t room, and he didn’t want me near him anyway.
Cal dozed and Greg was silent on the way back to Reno’s house. He kept flexing his hands on the steering wheel, and I could tell he was checking on Cal through their bond every few minutes. Cal’s magic looked strong, and he was already healing. He probably wouldn’t need Jackson’s help, but he’d have to take it easy for a few days. The rabbit shifter wasn’t bonded, so she wasn’t as resilient.
When we arrived, Cal was able to stand to get out of the car, and he let Greg help him into the house. “I just want to lie down for a little while, and then I want to go home.” Greg nodded and kissed him on the forehead. I offered Cal the guest bedroom, and Greg went with him.
Tucker carried the rabbit shifter into the living room and set her down on the couch. Reno waved a cell phone at me as he went toward the backyard to get Jackson. “Her name’s Meg. I found this in her pocket, and I was able to get hold of her emergency contact, which is her roommate. They’re in town from Colorado for some conference. The roommate’s on her way over.”
Great. If Jackson could heal her, Meg would be well enough to leave with her roommate. We had enough on our hands looking after Nicky.
Jackson and Shane came inside. Jackson hurried over to Meg, and Shane gestured toward the backyard. “Nicky doesn’t want to see another vampire bite.” I suppressed a wince, hoping he never had to see me feed.
Jackson perched on the couch cushion next to Meg’s head. They frowned. “She needs healing, but my magic won’t let me do it.”
Reno sat down on the ottoman he had instead of a coffee table. It looked like it might be hollow inside, and I imagined sitting next to Reno on the couch, pulling my knitting out of the ottoman while he watched TV or played a video game. One day.
Reno leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He still had smears of blood on his arms, but the cuts from the fight with Roibeart were healed. “Jackson, Nicky can’t bear to see another vampire bite. He won’t be able to come inside until Meg here is healed.”
I smiled. My mate was so smart. Then my smile died and I sighed. I wished he was my mate.
Jackson gazed at Meg as they considered this, but they shook their head. “Not enough.”
Reno held up Meg’s cell phone. “I don’t know their relationship, but Meg lives with a very young girl.”
Jackson cocked their head. “How young?”
Reno shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you exactly, butveryyoung.Very.” His voice rang with conviction.
Jackson smiled and used one finger to scoop some glittering goo out of their knee. Shane went back outside, and I headed for the kitchen to wash my hands and find some snacks for Jackson to replenish their energy. Everyone else would probably want to eat as well. I needed blood, but I didn’t have the same urgent hunger I usually did after misting.
I put together a tray of cheese, fruit, and crackers and gave it to Reno, who had been looking at his phone while he and Jackson waited for Meg to wake up. I took another plate of the same snacks outside, though I doubted Nicky would be very hungry after I told him Marcas and Roibeart were still alive.
ATHENS, GREECE – JUNE, 1961
Once I was close to the airport, I pulled thedèideag dìonout to see if they had any instructions, but they gave me nothing.
The Seer had mentioned a bar, and it seemed likely that people flying to America would have drinks at their hotel. I drove toward the airport until I saw a couple of Wonders standing in front of a small hotel. Perfect.
After I parked, I pulled thedèideag dìonout again. “Is this the right place?”
