Page 19 of Wonder (Wonderfall #3)

RENO

I was exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. Probably because I was trying to force myself to. Force myself to sleep and force myself to have a vision. Which of course I wouldn’t be able to do until I was bonded.

And Simon thought I was his mate. We were compatible for sure, I couldn’t deny it.

Both because our magic resonated, and because he was sexy as hell.

But compatibility didn’t mean we had to bond with each other.

I didn’t even know him. Not to mention I didn't want a mate at all. No way was I bonding with him.

But that thought spiral made me even more tense, which prevented me from sleeping, etc. When I heard car doors slamming out front, I took it as a sign I should get up and go back downstairs.

Seeing Cal was a relief. He was mated, with all the skill enhancements that came with that. He could call a vision.

He was handing a cooler to Simon. “Levi had someone from the blood network bring us this for you.”

I didn’t need our connection to feel Simon’s relief. It was in every line of his body. He’d been running low on blood bags, and he’d have had to feed from one of us pretty soon. I shoved away the complicated feelings generated by that thought.

“Hey, guys! Thanks for coming.” I held out my hand to Cal and then Greg. I’d met Greg in person before, but not Cal. It was strange to realize he’d only been with the campaign for a few months. He’d had such a big impact on all of us.

Greg and Cal entered the house as Shane came downstairs with his duffel bag.

“Hey, good to see you both.” He hugged them. “Sorry to bail, but Pia’s super upset about me being around the vampires, and since backup is here now....” He spread his arms out.

“Do what you need to do.” Greg clapped him on the back. “Where’s Ms. Jackson?”

Shane sucked in a breath, and his eyes sparkled. “You have got to see their new form.”

Simon pointed toward the back door. “They’re out in the yard. Come on. Plus you need to meet Nicky.”

“He was one of the captives?” Cal’s concern was palpable.

“Yeah. Try not to react too much to his scars, please.”

Shane dropped his duffel bag by the front door and followed us. Simon set the cooler on the kitchen island as we passed it, and we all trooped outside.

Tucker and Jackson turned to see the newcomers, and Jackson threw their arms wide. “Cal! And Greg!” They rushed over, not quite running, and circled their arms around Cal’s waist, tucking their head against his chest.

Cal’s eyes bugged out of his head. “Ms. Jackson?” He gingerly wrapped his arms around them.

They pushed back from him and grinned. “I go by Jackson now.” They reached for Greg and hugged him as well. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Uh, when did you start using this form?” Cal ran his hand over his head, not taking his eyes off Jackson.

They shrugged. “Yesterday.” They pointed. “Tucker’s been teaching me hand-eye coordination!”

Tucker introduced himself, then Simon guided Cal and Greg over to the fire pit, where Nicky was sitting in one of the chairs. He looked like he had some energy, and his magical core was a little more vivid.

“Nicky.” Simon’s voice was reassuring. “These are some friends of mine, Cal and Greg. Cal’s a Seer, and Greg is the District Monitor for Central Texas.”

“Hi.” Nicky ducked his head shyly. Shit, until yesterday the only new people he’d been able to meet were other captives.

“Crap.” Cal knelt down in front of Nicky. “They really fucked with your magic core, didn’t they?” I let out a little exhale when he didn’t comment on the scars.

Simon moved closer, hovering protectively. I felt a flash of emotion—mine this time—I didn’t want to identify. “They had to keep him drained of blood as much as possible so he’d be weak. Nicky’s not susceptible to vampire mind control.”

“No shit?” He stared at Nicky. “Can I ask what kind of....” Cal slowly stood up, raising one hand to cover his mouth. “No way.”

Greg echoed him, no doubt getting the information through their bond. “No way.”

Cal dropped his hand. “Nicky, does this mean you’ve been held by those assholes since... since before the portal was closed?” Not waiting for an answer, Cal whirled to face Simon. “Is that why you went after them in the first place?”

“Yes and yes.”

“Oh, my god. Shit. I’m....” He sat in the other chair and turned his body to face Nicky. “It’s really impressive that you survived. Most people wouldn’t have.”

Nicky ducked his head again. “They usually left the TV on. I tried to pretend I was a character in one of the shows.”

I couldn’t imagine.

Cal turned to me. “Simon said you were taking a nap. Any visions?”

I shook my head. “Couldn’t sleep.”

He made a face. “Too bad. You’d get a lot more nuance out of a vision than I will. But I’m here to try.” He slid more firmly into the chair and leaned his head against the seat back.

“Um, here? You don’t want to lay down or anything?” I couldn’t imagine getting a vision with six people staring at me.

“Nah. We’re in the shade. This works.” He relaxed, putting his hands on his thighs and closing his eyes. “Okay, I’m trying to see where the escaped vampires will be later today, right?”

“Yes.” Simon stood beside me, close enough I could feel the warmth from his body even though it had to be over ninety degrees out here. My dick was interested, but I eased away from him, not wanting to give our magics more opportunity to mingle.

Everyone went silent, and in seconds, Cal’s hands clenched into fists and his eyes moved back and forth behind his closed lids. I’d never actually witnessed another Seer having a vision before. There weren’t that many of us around, and it wasn’t like I needed lessons in how to have them.

I kept time on my watch, and just after the two-minute mark, Cal opened his eyes. “Fuck.” He pressed his fingertips to his forehead.

“What do you need?” Greg was at his side, rubbing his shoulder.

Cal clasped Greg’s hand in his. I’d never had anyone to hold onto after a scary vision, I thought wistfully. Not that I needed anyone like that; it just would’ve been nice.

Beside me, Simon was leaning forward, almost balanced on his toes. His jaw was clenched, and I knew he wanted to shout at Cal to tell us what he saw.

I touched his forearm with two fingers. “Give him a minute. It can be disorienting.”

He put his weight back on his heels and gave me a nod.

Nicky, however, wasn’t willing to wait. “Did you see them?”

“Yes.” Cal scowled. “I think it will happen around noon. There weren’t significant shadows.

The vampires were chasing a rabbit shifter, but she stayed in her human form.

They caught her right as she was running out from under some trees onto a grassy area.

” He closed his eyes and leaned his head against his and Greg’s clasped hands.

“They bit her neck.” He made a face before taking a deep breath.

“They took turns draining her dry, then they left her body out in the open and walked away.”

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” Simon’s voice was gentle. “Were there any landmarks?”

Cal lifted his head again and opened his eyes. “Yes. It was a park. There was a path off to one side and a huge tree that looked like it’d been hit by lightning.”

Tucker met my eyes. “Roy Miller Park.” I nodded. Back when my cousin Daniel had been alive, he’d hosted several District get-togethers there. Tucker squinted at the sky. “The park entrance is about twenty minutes from here, but that tree is another ten-minute walk at a minimum.”

Simon shifted restlessly. “We need to leave now.”

I scowled. “Not without having a plan.”

He swallowed back whatever he wanted to say, but I could feel his tension and frustration through our connection. Now was not the time for me to start feeling his emotions, dammit.

Cal stood up. “I brought my bat’leth, and Greg’s got a sword.”

I turned my frown on him. “Okay. So we all walk in there with our weapons? We need to find the Wonder, but then what? The vamps will hear us coming.”

“I can go ahead in mist form. If I don’t see them, I’ll turn back to human and I’ll be able to smell them.” Simon put his hands on his hips.

Tucker rubbed his jaw. “If they don’t want to fight, won’t they just turn into mist themselves?”

Simon shook his head. “Not if they haven’t eaten recently. My guess is last night they stayed in mist form as long as they could. They won’t have the energy to change forms today.”

Greg pulled out his car keys. “I can drive.”

“I need to get some weapons out of my minivan. I’ll meet you out front.” Simon took off at lightning speed into the house.

I gritted my teeth. We still didn’t have a fucking plan. I waved Greg and Cal toward the back door. “Y’all go on ahead. Tucker and I will be right behind you.”

“I’ll stay here with Nicky and Jackson.”

I looked at Shane in surprise. “Are you sure? Didn’t you want to get on the road?”

“Not yet. My grandmother is here. I’m sending her with you.” He held out a hand toward... nothing. Luckily I was aware Shane could interact with ghosts. “This is Dimi.” He made a face. “She’ll let me know if things... go badly, and I’ll take Nicky and Jackson with me to Houston.”

Fuck. “Ah. Okay. Good plan.” At least someone was thinking strategically.

I faced the space Shane had gestured toward.

“Uh, nice to sort of meet you, Dimi. Thanks for helping us out.” I regarded Nicky.

“Shane, if you don’t have anything else to do while you’re waiting, could you go online and order Nicky some more clothes and a phone? ”

Nicky’s worried expression lightened a little. “I get my own phone? I’ve never even held one.”

Shane nodded. “Yeah, definitely. We’ll pick one out together.”

That’d be a great distraction for Nicky.

I shifted on my feet. I needed to go. “Get him anything he might need. Toiletries and stuff too. Text me the total and I’ll Venmo you.”

He grinned. “No need. Rory’s almost got the fund set up for District Monitor stipends, and expense reimbursement will be part of it. I’ll make him use this as a test run for the system.”

“Shit, man. Tell him thanks from me.” One of Shane’s partners had come into a lot of money recently. When he’d learned about the campaign, he’d been horrified that none of the Texas DMs received any sort of compensation for the work, so he was donating the money to rectify the situation.

I headed inside, needing sturdier shoes and my guns. I didn’t know how to use a sword, but I had a knife.

After I was dressed suitably and armed, I met Tucker at his car.

He’d gotten a Kevlar vest out of the trunk—the one that didn’t say “Police” across the back—and he’d stuck it in the rear seat with his baseball bat.

His gun was in a hip holster. He might end up shifting, but he always liked to have options.

“I hope we don’t run into any NPCs.” He opened the driver’s side door and slid inside.

“Fuck, a bunch of humans having a kid’s birthday party would be the icing on this shit cake. Let’s try to come up with some sort of plan by the time we get to the park.” I got into the passenger seat and set my backpack between my feet.

He reversed out of the driveway. “I called my mom, but she’s watchin’ my niece and nephew, so she can’t help.” He glanced at me. “But before we get to the vampire plan, do you want to talk about findin’ your mate?”

I crossed my arms. I knew I was pouting, but, fuck it, I felt like pouting.

“It’s....” I uncrossed my arms so I could throw my hands in the air.

“I wasn’t looking for a mate. I don’t need a mate.

Mates aren’t the be-all, end-all people make them out to be.

I know my parents thought so, but I’d rather never have a mate than end up with a relationship like theirs.

All I want is for a real District Monitor to show up.

Then all the Wonders will stop messaging me all the time, and I can get my life back.

Maybe one day there’ll even be another opening in the department, and I can work with you again. ”

He threw me a sympathetic grimace, but I knew what he was thinking. When I’d quit, I’d given up any chance of being a police detective again, at least in this town. They’d promote from within before rehiring someone who’d quit for reasons he wouldn’t tell them.

I crossed my arms again and stared out the window.

“I agreed to be acting DM because the Wonders needed somebody, and I was the best choice. But I didn’t expect to still be in the role after two freaking years.

I didn’t expect to have to quit the job I loved because this volunteer position takes so much of my free time.

I haven’t had a weekend to myself in over a year, Tucker.

My kayak is full of dust in the garage. I’m always helping Wonders, talking to Wonders, worrying about Wonders.

It’s suffocating me.” I slapped my hand over my phone in my pocket.

“I responded to all of my messages a few days ago. Zero unread on text or Discord. This morning I had almost a hundred new ones to go through.”

I crossed my arms yet again. It was comforting.

“It’d be better if I had the abilities of an actual DM.

I’m constantly stressed I’m missing something important, letting them down, or making the wrong decision.

” I huffed. “And now on top of everything else, I’m supposed to mate with some guy I met yesterday?

I know it makes me sound like some whiny-ass entitled prick, because most people would kill to have their mate show up, but I didn’t ask for one.

And Simon thinks our connection is permanent, so if I want to have sex again, ever, I have to bond with him.

” I pressed my lips together and tried to swallow against the lump in my throat.

“When do I get to choose the path my life will take? When can I do something for me?” I glared at the sign pointing the way to the ocean as we passed it, going in the opposite direction.

Tucker was silent for a moment. “I’m not denyin’ you’ve been forced to make some sacrifices, and you deserve to make all the decisions in your life.

But this mate thing just got sprung on you last night.

” I felt him looking at me, but I didn’t turn my head.

“Let it sit for a while before you decide for sure you don’t want to be mated.

Get to know Simon. Give him a chance. He seems like a good guy, and he’s definitely not hard on the eyes. ”

I heaved a huge sigh. “Fine. Can we talk about something else now? Like how we’re going to keep from getting killed when we get to the park?”