Page 44 of Wonder
Nicky was a big fan of the beef with broccoli and the garlic eggplant, but he wasn’t sold on the beef lo mein. Simon updated me on some of the messages from the Wonders in the District, but neither of us mentioned the vampire attack on the Mishras. Nicky would only worry.
When dinner was over, Nicky and Jackson went back to the couch. I got out my Switch and put it in the dock so they could playMario Kart 8. Jackson had only played video games a few times, but they were familiar enough with the Switch to help Nicky figure it out.
My chest heavy with the weight of what I had to do, I jerked my head at Simon and went outside to sit in the chairs again.
He shut the back door softly, then came to sit beside me. “You tried calling a vision?”
I nodded, leaning forward to put my elbows on my knees and staring down at my hands. “I didn’t get anything.”
He sighed. “I thought about getting Jackson to make themselves look like Nicky, but their magic is completely different, and Marcas and Roibeart wouldn’t take the bait.”
“We can’t risk Nicky.” I laced my fingers together so I wouldn’t clench my fists. “And we can’t wait for Delphia and Edgar to get back from Europe, but we need to be able to call a vision.”
He went still. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
I forced myself to meet his eyes. “We have to bond. Once I’m mated to you, my Seer skills will be enhanced, and I can call visions.”
A complicated set of emotions came through the connection. Hope, determination, and resignation overrode the rest.
He put his hand over mine. “No. We’ll figure out something else.”
“There isn’t anything else, and you know it. This is the only way.”
His fingers tightened. Our magics sparkled and wrapped around each other, making their opinion on my proposal clear. But Simon was not sold. “Not when all I’m getting from you through the connection is dread.”
I glared at him. “I’ll do it, okay? I won’t back out.”
He let go of my hand and sat back in the chair with a sigh, running his palm over his gorgeous hair. The light was fading, but I could still make out the reddish tint to it. “Reno, the magic won’t complete the bond unless you consent to it.”
“I’m consenting.”
He pressed his lips together and looked to the side. A wave of sadness came through our connection, and I felt like a complete jerk. He turned back to me, his eyes glistening. “Can you please explain to me why having a mate would be so awful? I promise you, I know what I’m doing in bed.” He tried to smile, but his lips trembled.
I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and grabbing his hand. “It’s not you, Simon. I’ve told you. And, hell, if I have to be mated to someone, I’m glad it’ll be you.”
All that got me was a mess of frustration coming through the connection. I tried again. “I want to be single. I don’t want any obligations.” I winced. “Every time the phone vibrates or rings, my blood pressure goes up. It’s like I can’t breathe sometimes. I don’t want to let the Wonders down, but I’ve about reached the end of my rope with this acting DM role. And I know my issues seem like nothing compared to what you, or especially Nicky, have gone through, but all I want—all I need—is time to myself. I can’t have that with a mate.”
He cocked his head at me, his eyebrows scrunched together. “Why would having a mate keep you from getting time to yourself?” He waved a hand. “Outside of the initial bonding period where there’s a distance limit of course. After that, there’s nothing stopping you from taking time on your own.”
I huffed. “You say that now, but I watched my parents. They couldn’t be out of each other’s sight for more than a few minutes without practically having a panic attack. Neither of them had their own friends, only couples they would see together. I don’t want to live like that.”
Simon frowned. “It’s not that way for every mating. You saw Shane. He was fine while he was here without his mates. Our bond will be the same.”
I rubbed my face. “I’m not sure it’s something we can control. But you’re right. Maybe we’ll be lucky.” I slashed my hand through the air. “And either way, we need to bond. I want to do it. I’m ready.”
He disengaged his fingers from mine, then crossed his arms over his chest and gazed out into the yard. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting my mate since that Seer told me her vision in 1949.” He gave me a sad smile. “I was so happy when I met you. AndI want more than anything to give you what you want right now, the time alone you crave. Because I can be patient, and I know one day you’d come back to me, refreshed and ready to be together.”
I blinked at him. Was he right? Would I one day start thinking about the mate who was waiting for me and be ready for that life? Hell, anything was possible.
He grimaced, uncrossing his arms and looking down at his hands. “But I don’t think the Seer meant I could complete my mission just being in the same room with you, without us being mated. I think you’re right. We have to complete the bond in order to finish the mission, to take out Marcas and Roibeart.”
The perfect solution came to me, and I smiled. Simon must’ve felt my excitement, because he whipped his head toward me. I grabbed his hand again. “Then we’ll bond. We’ll complete the mating. And once those two are dead, and Nicky’s safe, you’ll sever it.” He sucked in a breath, and I felt his horror at the thought. I held up a hand. “And after I go do my solo thing, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll be ready for a mate. For a permanent bond.”
PORT OF TEMA, GHANA – APRIL, 1992
I was too late. After I’d tortured this location out of Kier, I’d raced here as fast as I could, but they’d felt him die, and they’d taken precautions
I stared down at the smoking rubble of the house theluchd-òl folahad been staying in. Metal bars stood in one corner, and I hoped they’d killed any Wonders they’d been keeping captive before they set the place on fire.
