Page 59 of Dark Island: Rescue
Wonder stood on the porch, and Esag's stomach dropped when he saw her expression.
"Wonder." He reached for her, reflexively wanting to pull her into his arms, then stopped himself, unsure if the comfort he wanted to offer would be welcome. "What happened? Did you talk with Tula?"
She nodded. "Your vision was spot on. She's pregnant."
Relief and dread warred in Esag's chest. Relief that his vision had been accurate, that he still had the gift of second sight, and dread because confirmation meant Tula was just as trapped and desperate as he'd seen in his vision.
Remembering that they were still standing at the door, he moved aside and motioned for Wonder to come in. "Why do you look so despondent? Is Annani refusing to help Tula?" He led her to the couch.
Her eyes widened. "Annani would never refuse such a request." She sat next to him. "It's just that Areana wants us to save three additional people, one of them being Tula's partner, Tony, and it doesn't seem that we can."
For some reason, the mention of Tula's partner made his stomach revolt. Why was it important to her to save the human? Did she love him?
"Who are the other two?" he asked.
"Tamira, who is an immortal and a lady of the harem, and Elias, her human partner."
"Another one?"
Wonder tilted her head. "Another who?"
"Human partner. Tula and Tamira should know better than to get attached to humans."
Wonder shrugged. "They both know the relationships were doomed from the start, but for now, it's irrelevant. What's relevant is that if the clan refuses to save the other three, Tula will be heartbroken. And if they agree, the added complexity might derail the mission, and I might lose my sister." Her eyes misted with fresh tears. "I can't lose her again. I've already lost too much."
He reached for her hand, and when she didn't pull it out of his grasp, he let out a relieved breath. There was comfort in touch, and right now, Wonder needed it.
"It's going to be okay," Esag said, because what else could he say?
Wonder turned to face him, and the hope warring with devastation in her eyes made his chest ache.
"I had another vision about her," he blurted out before he could stop himself. "About Tula. Last night."
Wonder's expression shifted away from devastation and more toward hope. "What did you see?"
"She was here. I mean, in my workshop." Esag gestured toward his bedroom. "But this time it wasn't only visual. We actually talked."
"What did she say?"
"She was angry," he said. "Which makes sense. She blamed me for hurting you—for hurting Gulan. She told me she hated me for what I did, for leading you on when I was engaged to Ashegan."
Wonder was quiet for a long moment. Then, to Esag's surprise, she laughed. "That sounds like Tula," she said. "She hated you with a passion. She used to warn me constantly not to believe anything you said, that you were just using me, and that I should stay away from you."
Esag winced. "She was smart. You should have listened to her."
"I was young." Wonder leaned back against the couch cushions, her posture relaxing. "I fancied myself in love. Teenage infatuation combined with the thrill of defying expectations. I was the tall girl no one wanted, and I was being pursued by one of the most sought-after bachelors." She smiled, but it was sad around the edges. "It got to my head. I thought what I felt for you was the greatest love story ever told."
Esag cringed. "I wasn't worthy."
"It wasn't your fault, well, not entirely. I made you bigger than life in my mind. It was only when I met Anandur that I realized that what I had felt for you had been just a young girl's infatuation. What I feel for Anandur is the real thing."
Her expression of love and adoration made Esag's chest tighten with envy.
"I'm glad," he said, and meant it. "I'm glad you found someone who deserves you. Who loves you the way you should be loved."
Wonder tilted her head, studying him with those perceptive green eyes like she used to do as Gulan. "So, why do you look pained?"
"My pride is a little wounded, I suppose. No man wants to hear that he's second best." He managed a self-deprecating smile. "But mostly I'm relieved. I've carried guilt for so long. Guilt about you, about Ashegan, about my family, about every choice I made." Esag rubbed his face with both hands. "It has been crushing me throughout the millennia. Knowing that what you felt wasn't the epic romance that I'd built it up to be in my mind makes it easier to bear. Makes it less tragic."
