Page 12 of The Tides of March (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Eleven

T he big day had arrived and Tony was thrilled to have something else to look forward to as he dragged his aching, nauseous body into the shower. He was bleary and woozy from a night of tossing and turning and terrifying dreams about Ronan. But Tony was determined to put it all behind him and throw himself into the excitement of the day.

Even if he felt like the turd in the punch bowl. Tony was truly happy for Bryn and Everly and would do his best to make sure the day went perfectly. He presented himself in Nox’s kitchen at 8:00 AM, prepared to help. Nelson was ready with his trusty notebook, delegating tasks.

Since Tony could drive, he was sent to pick up the champagne and cake. He also made a run to Silver Spring to drop off more flowers before returning to the townhouse to change into his suit. Tony thought he had cleaned up nicely and had a chance of fooling everyone, but Nox stopped him in the foyer on their way out.

“Wow, T. You…don’t look good,” Nox said apologetically. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Haven’t been sleeping well, but it’s nothing,” Tony insisted, jumping out of the way as Merlin hurried past with his arms full of candles.

“Pardon me! I’m officiating!”

“We heard,” Nox chuckled, rolling his eyes at Tony. “He keeps dropping hints about me and Nelson. But we already had our own ‘commitment ceremony’ and anything else would be like hopping on a kiddie ride at a theme park after bungee jumping from a helicopter over a live volcano.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Tony said and hugged his side when he felt a sharp jab.

“Hey!” Nox gripped Tony’s shoulder and searched his face. “You’re scaring me.”

“I might have pulled something but it’s not a big deal.”

“Tony?” Nox sounded concerned and a little frustrated. “You’re not having a relapse are y?—?”

Tony laughed, cutting him off. “I’m fine! And we’re going to be late if we don’t get going,” he said as he hooked his arm around Nox’s and turned them toward the door. “Nelson’s waiting.”

“We should talk after we get back tonight. I can tell you’re not well.”

“Alright.” Tony nodded, pretending he wouldn’t disappear as soon as the happy couple said their vows.

His mom lived just up the street and Tony was secretly sick of being surrounded by so many happy couples. Tony wished each of them the best—individually—but being single over Valentine’s was bad enough. All the whispers about romantic dinners and sentimental gestures and gifts had made Tony feel extra pathetic.

Had he imagined how he’d surprise Ronan, if they were still together? Maybe. It was normal to think about an ex, after all. Of course, it had only been a month and it had barely been a relationship so Tony felt like an even bigger loser for pining over Ronan harder than he had ever pined over Aubrey. He put on a brave face and allowed his friends to assume he was down about her on Valentine’s Day and when they insisted he didn’t need a date as the wedding drew closer.

“I’ll dance with you, buddy. Nelson doesn’t like dancing when other people can see him,” Nox had said whenever the topic came up.

Tony didn’t want to dance with anyone if he couldn’t dance with Ronan and he didn’t feel like he deserved Nox’s sympathy if he couldn’t tell the truth.

There was no way Tony was suffering from a relapse. They had completely smashed the zombie child’s enchantment. But Tony wondered if he had been struck by a different curse—one that had bound him to Ronan the way Nox was bound to Nelson—and was feeling its effects. He had felt lost and bereft since his return from Pooles Island and Tony suspected that Ronan felt something similar. He also suspected that the excruciating pain he was experiencing was Ronan’s fault as well.

Tony was concerned for Ronan, but…

That’s where his thoughts stopped. He was concerned for Ronan and Tony’s instincts screamed that he should confide in Nox, but bitterness and pettiness stopped him. Spite had reared its head and convinced Tony that Ronan wanted to be left alone and forgotten and that he had brought whatever trouble he was in on himself.

And Tony deserved every minute of his own misery for being foolish enough to fall for and mate with the coldest bastard on the East Coast. He should have told Nox when he returned and first started feeling sick and having shooting pain in random parts of his body. Or about the strange dreams and visions he was having.

Tony had kept it all to himself because he didn’t want anyone’s pity and because he didn’t want to drop a weird bombshell in the middle of the investigation and wedding preparations. Everyone was distracted and busy, but Tony might have had another reason for hiding the truth from Nox. That kind of spite and pettiness was usually beneath Tony and he considered the burning throb in his side a form of penance.

“Will you two come on!” Merlin waved from his Bentley. Even he seemed to be happily in lust with his driver and butler, Jeff. Normally dressed in a pristine black suit, Jeff was turned out in a silver ensemble, complete with fringe, beads, and sequins to match Merlin.

“We’d better get going,” Tony said and playfully offered Nox his arm.

“Later,” Nox said sternly.

“Sure.”

It was a short ride to Silver Spring and Bryn and Everly’s place and Nox was caught up in the festivities as soon as they arrived. Everything was just about ready and the twins had already started drinking with Fletcher and Howard. Tony declined when he was offered a beer and went to see if Merlin needed help.

“No, no! I have this all in hand. You should go rest, you’re looking peaked, my boy,” Merlin had insisted so Tony took a seat and pretended to check email messages on his phone.

Thanks to Merlin, the grooms celebrated their union with a uniquely pagan ceremony. The entire evening felt sacred and magickal and Tony was moved to tears as Merlin cast a protective ring around them. He declared that their love would endure for all of eternity before Bryn and Everly kissed.

Even with Tony’s terrible track record, he optimistically hoped that he’d been wrong about Ronan and that his perfect mate was still waiting. He hadn’t had any luck holding onto love for more than a few months, but if Tony had learned anything from Everly, it was to never give up on love. The sweet halfling had been truly cursed by love and still found his hunky hellhound.

“I’d ask if Bryn had a brother but he’s already taken,” Tony noted with a sigh. He couldn’t begrudge Arawn and Fletcher either. They were both lovely people and seemed so complete and at peace together.

“Not much of a dancer these days, I’m afraid,” Howard said apologetically, lowering onto the seat next to Tony’s. “My hip and my back,” he explained. “But it’s been ages. I haven’t danced since my Kathleen passed, many, many years ago.”

“Ah, well.” Tony gave Howard’s knee an affectionate pat. “I wasn’t really in the mood. Glad you came to keep me company, though,” he told the elderly man. Tony truly wasn’t in the mood and was having another one of his odd attacks. The pain in his side was getting worse by the moment and he felt sick and queasy.

Howard held onto Tony’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “You don’t look very well. We’ve all noticed that you’ve changed and we’re all worried.”

“Me?” Tony laughed it off. “Just a bad run of romantic luck, that’s all. Although… It’s hard not to wonder what’s wrong with me on nights like this,” he confided, earning a scolding jab from Howard.

“You cut that out right now, Anthony Costa! I don’t know of a sweeter, kinder, and more worthy soul. There isn’t a thing wrong with you.”

“Thanks, Howard,” Tony replied, shrugging. “That doesn’t work as well as you’d expect these days, unfortunately.”

“The right person is out there, I promise,” Howard said and Tony was tempted to ask if they had to be a human person.

Just then, Nox sidled over and offered Tony his hand. “Time to dance, T!” he said loudly but Tony shooed him off.

“Go ask Nelson. I’m busy boring Howard.”

“Not at all!” Howard said.

Nox gave Tony a gentle nudge. “Come on! Just one dance.”

“I’m not feeling up to it at the moment,” Tony confessed when there was a hot bloom of pain in his side and he became dizzy and nauseous. He stood, hoping he could make it to the bathroom before he threw up or fainted.

“I think you should sit,” Nox said but Tony shook his head.

“I’m fine,” he said, which was a mistake. Tony’s skin erupted in prickly heat and the backyard spun around him as his legs gave out. The last thing Tony heard before the yard went dark was Nox’s shout.

When Tony regained consciousness Nox was patting his cheek and Merlin was wafting him with a fan.

“Drink this,” Nelson said as he arrived with a glass of water.

“Thanks,” Tony said, taking a careful sip. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare everyone.”

Nox gave him a severe look. “Don’t be silly,” He pressed the back of his hand to Tony’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever, but you don’t look good, T.”

Tony bit back a pained curse as he felt another sharp stab. “I haven’t felt right all day. I think it’s Ronan. I think he’s in trouble.”

Nox traded concerned glances with Merlin. “Ronan? Why would he be in trouble and how can you tell?” Nox asked, making Tony snort.

“If I had to guess why, I’d say it’s because he’s a miserable dickhead.” He hugged his middle as the pain became unbearable. “We…mated before he cut me loose and now, I always feel what he’s feeling. You lousy motherfucker!” he choked out and held onto Nox. “I think he might be dying.”

“Dying?” Everly said, looking around him. “What are we going to do? Ronan needs our help!”

Tony shook his head. “Your help, maybe. To hell with Ronan O’Sullivan,” he said before he felt another burst of blinding pain and fainted again.