Page 45 of Seer

He cleared his throat. “I think the campaign would be the poorer to lose a connection as strong as yours, but, uh, in the event you choose not to pursue a bond, you’d need to stay away from each other, yes.”

Greg’s phone rang. He answered it, greeting someone named Barbara. He listened for a moment, then he said, “Great news. Thank you for letting me know.”

His voice did not sound excited.

When he hung up, Edgar didn’t pretend not to be curious. “Good news, Greg?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I put an offer in on a house, and it was accepted.”

Edgar grinned widely. “I see Delphia was right after all. You are nesting.”

Greg made a weird hissing noise. I turned to look, and he was scowling at the back of Edgar’s head. “My apartment is noisy as fuck. You’ve been there; you know this. I wanted to move. There’s nothing more to it.”

Edgar hummed but didn’t respond.

Great. More crap I wasn’t in the know about.

“Nesting?” I asked, looking between Greg and Edgar.

Greg turned his head to gaze out the window like a pouting toddler.

Edgar, though, smiled. “Magic-carriers, like—for instance—District Monitors, exhibit a kind of subconscious foreknowledge when they are about to meet, uh, a very compatible person.”

“Greg mentioned that. He said it happens when their mate is going to show up? And it’s called nesting? As in creating a nest?”

He grinned wider and nodded. “Some will merely rearrange their furniture or clean out their closets. But others will go so far as to move.”

“Huh.” I couldn’t think of anything more to add.

Edgar drove us to the pet resort so I could pick up my truck. I followed them to Greg’s apartment building and parked in a visitor spot. My ancient Ford had looked out of place among the fancy cars the pet resort customers drove, but it was right at home in Greg’s parking garage.

The drive over was in no way enough time to process everything that had happened today, so I decided I needed to distill it down to a to-do list. I wished I had my white board, but I had to make do with dictating into the notes app on my phone.

“Okay, number one: figure out what the fog monster is. No, that’s number two. Number one is to give Greg the questions to ask the other DMs about other Wonders dying recently.” I was frustrated at not being able to question the other DMs myself. But I knew how to delegate effectively, and I’d make sure it got done.

“Number three is to remind Edgar to find out about the psychic who can get info from objects.” Hopefully he’d still be alive, but it sounded like he’d be too old to travel. Taking Thomas’ water bottle to Idaho would be a huge time suck, but it might be necessary.

“Number four is to make a list of all the questions I have so far regarding magic and Wonders, etc. Especially find out if I’m magically married forever to Greg, or if it can be undone.” Though Edgar had implied it was permanent.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat. I’d always known it was a long shot that I’d end up with someone. But I’d have been far happier staying single the rest of my life than being tied to a man who found me repulsive.

I flashed to the vision I’d had of the man kissing me on the cheek. Was that supposed to have been Greg? I didn’t see how. People don’t suddenly go from being icked out by someone to finding them attractive.

Feeling adrift and unwanted, I opened my text thread with Steve and Felix. Edgar and Greg would have to wait for me to go up to the apartment when I was ready.

Steve, I need the rest of the week off work. I can help out with a few things here and there remotely if needed though. I told you Greg and I managed to head off the woman in my vision from this morning, so she’s fine, but the killer got someone else. Oh, and it looks like I accidentally got magic-married to Greg, but he made it clear he won’t touch me with a ten-foot pole.

Felix

Um, I have many, many questions, but first, are you okay?

No

Felix

Do you want to Facetime?

No. I mean, yes, but I have to go help Greg and his uncle find this killer