Page 6 of Wonder
Perhaps. But that still didn’t explain the violation of our standard procedures. One car might have stopped to render aid, but not all five.
The Guards I’d brought with me stood watch at either end of the grisly line of cars while I searched each one for clues. Prince Nicol’s luggage was in the boot of the first car, but he wouldn’t have been riding in that one.
I was searching under the second row of seats of the third estate car when I saw what looked like a small statue on the floor. I pulled it out. “Oh, hello.” Prince Nicol’sdèideag dìonwas in the shape of a small cat curled in on itself with their face hidden. Hope flared. Had they seen anything? I leaned over. With the car door open, they would’ve been able to see part of the road from their spot under the seat.
I held them to my chest and stroked their runes carefully. I hadn’t interacted much with many of thedèideagan dìon.I knew they were sentient, and only the rich and powerful Elves had the resources to create them for their children. They served first as companion, and later, as they Became alongside the child they’d been given to, as protector and advisor. This one was still small, so Prince Nicol must not have found them interesting enough to interact with regularly. Typically a child of twelve Earth years would have adèideag dìontwice this size.
Unless... unless thedèideag dìonhad given their magic to protect Prince Nicol or to keep him alive. They would’ve lost mass as their magic went to the prince.
I stroked them again. “You’re safe. I’ve got you. You remember me, right? I’m Sìomon. I lead the Royal Guard. Can you tell me what you saw?”
After several seconds thedèideag dìonmoved, stretching out to display more surface area. Its runes flashed.Guards cut own connections. Took prince. Traitors.
CHAPTER 2
SIMON
I’d found him!I’d found him at last! Giddy with joy, I let myself watch Reno—my mate!—for a few seconds as he left the cover of the trees to duck behind the fence separating this property from the neighbor’s. I’d almost given up hope of the Seer’s vision from all those years ago coming true, but here he was. The thin but already strong and bright mate connection stretched between us. I didn’t think he’d noticed, so I’d wait to tell him after we’d finished here today.
He was probably in his forties, with graying dark hair, stunning brown eyes, and a stocky, barrel-chested frame. His ass was just as nice as the Seer had promised. He had several strong connections, mostly friends and family, with a few others that were more like distant acquaintances. I’d have to ask why he’d made those connections. I couldn’t wait to get to know him.
But before anything else I needed to heal myself so I could fight off whichever one of the remaining threeluchd-òl folawas coming to find out what happened to Tormod. After that, Reno and I could take out the other two and rescue the captives.
I tore into Tormod’s thigh, and the magic of those he’d fed from sparkled on my tongue and eased the pain from the knife wound.At least I had my answer as to whether Prince Nicol was still alive. His magic was unmistakable for anyone else’s.
As to what decades of captivity had done to him mentally and physically, well, that could be dealt with after I’d rescued him.
I drained what was left of the blood in Tormod’s body, then I took my shirt off and dropped it on the ground. It was drenched in blood, and I didn’t want to make it any easier for them to track me. My wound wasn’t quite closed, but it was getting there. I got to my feet and carefully leaned over to pick up the mek’leth and Tormod’s blade.
I left the small clearing and eased into the trees, trying not to make a sound. The birds and insects went silent, and I didn’t think they were reacting to me.
I chose a spot a few yards from the clearing before going still, listening for footsteps or clothing brushing against a leaf. Only luck had me looking in the right direction when Ciorsdan stepped out from behind a tree and fired her gun.
I misted just in time, but I wouldn’t have the energy to do it again. I reformed right in front of her, too close for her to shoot. Bullets wouldn’t kill us, but a head shot took too long to recover from.
She dropped the gun to block my mek’leth with her forearm. I was slow bringing Tormod’s knife up, and she punched me in the stomach, right over my still unhealed wound. Fuck. I gasped at the pain and dropped back, which gave her the space to draw her blade.
She appeared fit, but her hair was long and she hadn’t put it up to keep it out of her face. She was wearing a threadbare t-shirt, cut off sweatpants, and some ancient Air Jordans. For comfortor because they couldn’t afford anything new? I’d never been able to find that they kept any bank accounts.
As expected, Ciorsdan only had two connections. Marcas and Roibeart. Time to deal with them after I killed her.
She moved to the side, looking for an opening, and I shook my head. “I can tell you haven’t been training regularly. Relying on a gun, and not having a backup weapon ready?” Itsked.
She bared her fangs. “You always were a sanctimonious asshole.” She stepped to her left, no doubt trying to get me to move with her, which would put the sun in my face.
I smirked. “We both know you can’t take me down.” Which was a bit of an overstatement, if I was completely honest. I was tired from the fight with Tormod, shifting into mist twice within minutes, and healing. Ciorsdan and I were probably evenly matched at the moment. But that would only change my strategy, not the outcome. I’d win this fight. I had Reno as well as Prince Nicol to motivate me now. I would not lose.
She mirrored my grin. “Oh, but I will. And I’ll celebrate by drinking from Nicol. I’ll tell him how close you got to rescuing him, but, so sad, you?—”
A big tawny cat leaped from behind a large shrub and tackled her, knocking her to the ground. They were huge, their body covering Ciorsdan’s full length and then some. They had short fur over their undulating muscles and claws as long as my fingers. The faint shimmering outline of their human form overlaying their cat form told me this was a shifter.
Before Ciorsdan could bring up her blade, the cat’s enormous fangs flashed as they sliced into her neck and ripped out her throat. They froze, blood dripping from their mouth and chin.They looked up at me, scrunched up their face, and gagged like they were trying to hack up a hairball.
“Yeah, that’s the magic from the people she’s drunk from. The captives.”
I moved forward cautiously, my mek’leth held out to the side and Tormod’s knife dangling loosely from my other hand. Ciorsdan wouldn’t die unless I cut off her head, but would the cat let me?
The cat, or I guessed I should say mountain lion, grimaced again and jumped away, leaving Ciorsdan to me as they frantically rubbed their chin and cheeks in the grass.
