Page 17 of Becoming One

Nelson paced back and forth. “So, they found a burnt stuffed animal in the middle of the road, why go ape shit over that?”

Jewel sat in a chair bouncing his leg nervously as he bit on his nail. “Ezra said it wasn’t just one, it was a bunch. All of them were in the middle of the road and—I really think Orion needs to tell you.”

Nelson walked to Jewel pointing and wiggling his finger in the man’s face. “Oh no. You know, you tell me. What’s going on, Jewel?”

“He does have a right to know, Jewel,” Briar said fluttering.

Jewel looked at Briar, his aggravation evident. “Would you please go bother Helio. Nelson and I are having a conversation here.”

Briar huffed and flew off high inside the solarium.

“Jewel’s right, you really should wait for Orion and the Re to get back,” Kragen said.

Nelson turned around hissing, “You do know that I blew up Fallon and thousands of his army, right? I don’t think you will be any harder to kill. Now back off and go guard something.”

Kragen stepped back and looked at one of his men, pointed a finger at his head and started making circles.

Nelson lifted his hand towards the Dire and Kragen immediately stiffened and stopped making the crazy motion. Turning back to Jewel, Nelson practically growled, “Jewel, out with it.”

Hell, as it was his fox was begging to come out and claw the man if he didn’t tell them what was going on.

“According to what Ezra said, Orion told him they were from some movie you and he watched when you were still out of it. One that Ollie told Orion to try out to get you to come out of your coma,” Jewel said then went back to bouncing his leg and biting his nail.

“Gizmo?” Nelson asked.

Jewel nodded, saying, “Damn you’re good.”

Nelson waved his hand in the air brushing Jewel’s comment off, saying, “It was something we did years ago to piss Pascal off. Ollie would order a pizza and offer Pas some, then pull it back yelling, “Oh sorry, it’s after midnight.”

Jewel snickered. “That’s funny.”

Nelson sighed. “It was at the time. Seeing a burnt one kind of takes the humor out of it.”

“I guess so, but not as much as the warning Orion was given,” Jewel said then his eyes went huge and his hissed, “Shit! Ezzy is going to be so pissed.”

Nelson looked at his best friend. “Jewel?”

“He told me to keep my mouth shut,” Jewel said nervously.

Tiny butterflies mixed with glitter started falling out of nowhere. Nelson looked around, and realized it was coming from the nervous man in the chair. “Um, Jewel?”

Shrugging, Jewel softly said, “Then again he should know by now I’m not really good at keeping secrets. Damn, what if he doesn’t do that special thing he always does that makes my toes curl.”

“Jewel!”

Jewel looked up, meeting his gaze. “What? He might, and I really like our special thing and he might use it to punish me for telling you about the note telling Orion to back out of the Ceremony or lose you.”

“What?” Nelson gasped.

Jewel tossed his head back in frustration. “Shit! I did it again.” Looking around Jewel noticed the mess for the first time. Rolling his eyes, he snapped his fingers clearing the room of all the glitter and butterflies. “Damn it. Since I got pregnant my magic gets away from me. Hell, it seems so does my mouth.”

“My mate was threatened by who? Nicu?” Nelson asked in awe.

Jewel shook his head. “Were you not listening? I saidyouwere threatened, Nelson. You. Not necessarily Orion, although the note did say his past could come back and repeat itself.”

“The past often repeats itself. If you don’t want yours to do the same with your mate, drop out of the Ceremony now,” Orion said from the door.

Nelson gasped, turned and ran to his mate, jumping into his arms. “You’re here and you’re safe! Thank the Gods.”