Page 13

Chapter 13

‘Without a hellhound bond protecting my mind, if we go back in time I’ll end up like Mum with more holes in my memory than a Swiss-cheese slice,’ I asserted grimly.

Bastion shook his head. ‘It’s time abuse that causes the phenomenon, not simply one or two trips. No one knows exactly how many trips it will take for your brain to be affected – more than three, certainly. Once the Connection learned about the issue, they tested extensively. Different subjects survived with their minds intact with different degrees of exposure, and four trips was the minimum number where a negative affect was recorded. Soon after that, the Symposium re-shuffled its members. The new members were aghast at the immorality of testing on their employees and shut the programme down.’ He raised an eyebrow at me. ‘Have you been back in time before? ’

I shook my head. ‘Not properly. I’ve used my watch to slow time.’

‘Then we’ll be fine,’ he said with a shrug.

Oscar cleared his throat. ‘I’ve had my three times, so you’ll be going without me.’ He looked at me compassionately. ‘I still think you need one parental figure in your life, and I don’t want to join Luna and leave you bereft.’

Mad as I was at Oscar, I gave him a tight nod. He was right: the thought of losing him… No way in heck was he going through the portal a fourth time.

‘I can get you into the portal, though,’ he promised.

‘Fine,’ I said shortly. I couldn’t bring myself to be warmer than that, but I wasn’t shouting at him so he’d have to take that as a win.

‘I only saw you two – Ellie and Bastion – so I’d better stay in this time as well,’ Frogmatch grumbled, looking downcast. He’d want to cause mayhem so I had no doubt that it was in everyone’s best interests that he stayed right here. One Frogmatch wandering about felt like more than enough.

‘Just you and me, Bambi.’ Bastion smiled. ‘I guess it’s a date.’ He was trying to distract me from my emotions and I let him.

‘And you bitched about Emory taking Jinx to the Kelpies for a date?’ I teased archly.

‘I do a lot of things better than Emory,’ Bastion smirked.

‘Including dates and having a big head?’

He grinned. ‘It’s only big-headed if it’s not true.’

‘So for our first date you’re taking me to meet a Seer,’ I said flatly. ‘Romantic.’

‘No, for our first date I’m taking you to embrace your destiny.’ He winked.

‘Smooth,’ I complimented him drily.

He sobered, moved closer to me and gently cupped my chin, turning my head so I met his dark eyes. ‘This isn’t really a date, Bambi. I want to be clear on that. When I take you out for the first time, we’re going to do something special. Just us.’ His voice lowered. ‘And you’re going to love every minute of it.’

My heart was thundering in my chest and suddenly my mouth was dry. I licked my lips. ‘That’s a bold claim,’ I managed to reply evenly, like my knees weren’t weak at the thought of ‘loving every minute’ of being with Bastion.

‘I’m a bold man. I don’t do things by halves, Amber. When I’m in, I’m all in.’

Now there was a promise. The question was, was I ready to be all in with Bastion?