Page 61 of Wonder
I couldn’t believe I’d been planning to throw him away. To cut this bond. I felt dizzy at the thought of what I’d almost done.
I squeezed Simon’s lax hand. A rush of affection, maybe more, ran through me, and I sent it through the bond to Simon’sunconscious mind. He deserved to know. “I’m sorry, Simon. Everyone told me what a fucking dumbass I was being, but I was stuck on the idea of what I thought I wanted. I promise I’ll do better. I want to be your mate.” I lifted his fingers to my cheek, then I held his hand against my chest as I hitPlay.
Davi looked to the side again. “Shit, I think you’re coming up the stairs. Simon, I would give my life for you if I could. But since I won’t have it to give much longer, I’m leaving you all my possessions instead. Use this computer equipment to find those fucking vampires and save the Elf prince. I love you, and I hope you find your mate soon. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
He blew a kiss at the camera, and the video ended.
I gave in and cried.
WICHITA, KANSAS – OCTOBER, 2017
I hummed “Feel It Still” by Portugal the Man as I finished digging the hole. Isla and Wallace hadn’t had much information to share, and by now I’d learned how to know if they were holding something back.
Torture methods had been discussed in a theoretical way during my Royal Guard training, but back then I’d never had occasion to use them. Things had certainly changed. I even carried around tools for that specific purpose.
As of tonight, only nineluchd-òl folawere left. I’d forgotten to ask Isla and Wallace about Kinnon, but they’d each only had nine connections that weren’t with each other, and by my count that meant he wasn’t with the group anymore. Kinnon was either dead or he’d left them a long time ago. The uncertainty itched in the back of my brain, but I couldn’t do anything about it. The remaining nineluchd-òl folawere still kidnapping Wonders, and that’s what I had to focus on.
I was having a hard time reining in my impatience. I was ready to finish this. Finish them. But there’d been no sign of my mate, and finding him had to come first, according to the Seer all those years ago.
When I’d tracked theluchd-òl folato the United States, I’d been so happy. Surely my English-speaking mate lived here somewhere. But this country was huge, and there was all of Canada to consider as well. I shook my head. No, my mate would be here in the U.S. I had to believe that.
I heaved Isla and Wallace into the pit and shoveled the dirt on top of them. By the time anyone found the grave, vampire decay rates meant the skeletons would appear to be over a century old. The discovery wouldn’t even make the local news.
Nine left.
Nineluchd-òl fola, one Elf Prince, and a mate.
I was beyond ready.
CHAPTER 17
SIMON
I vaguely registeredthe taste of blood as Reno stroked my hair and said something about taking me kayaking. It was weird, but it was better than a lot of dreams I’d had, so I didn’t fight going back under.
I became fully aware all at once, jerking awake and trying to roll to my feet to fight off Marcas. I got tangled in the bedsheets, though, resulting in me only getting to my knees while knocking Reno off the mattress and scattering laptops and cell phones with him.
“Shit, Reno! Are you okay?” I lunged to the side of the bed, reaching over to touch his head, looking for injuries.
He blinked at me as he sat up. “You’re awake!” He smiled, and I felt happiness and relief through our bond. He took my hand and let me help him to his feet. “How are you feeling? Are you hungry or thirsty?”
I sat back on the mattress, tired again. “Um, a little of both, and I have to pee. But tell me what happened with Marcas and Roibeart.” I touched my head where it throbbed. “I guess Roibeart shot me. How long was I out?”
Reno smiled and got to his feet. “About twenty hours.” He gently put his hands on my head and moved my hair to look at my wound. “Marcas and Roibeart are both dead. Nicky boosted my magic, and I sort of crushed their magical cores.”
I leaned back so I could stare at him. “Holy shit! That’s not something even I know how to do.”
He scrunched up his face, confusion coming through our bond loud and clear. “Um, it wasn’t that hard.” He waved this away. “Nicky’s fine. Jackson had their head cut off but it seems to be almost healed up.”
I nodded. “Thedèideagan dìoncan repair themselves from grievous injury.” I frowned down at my lap. I really needed to pee, and probably shower, but I felt like my brain wasn’t processing at full speed. Marcas and Roibeart were dead. Marcas and Roibeart were dead. I gasped, looking up at Reno. “They’re dead! They were the last of theluchd-òl fola!” I smiled into his beautiful eyes. “It’s finally over.”
“It’s finally over.” He hugged me. I had no idea what kind of emotions I was sending through our bond. My brain was bouncing around with a thousand thoughts. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the wonderful sensation of his arms around me, and the affection and happiness coming through from him. Our bond was?—
My eyes flew wide, and I put a hand on his chest. “The bond! It’s whole! How?”
His mouth fell open, and he also looked down. “Wow. It must’ve happened overnight. I—” Then his face turned red, and a wave of guilt and embarrassment came through the bond.
My eyebrows went up. “You...?”
