Chapter 16 Reno #2
The door to the guest room was shut, so Cal must’ve been asleep.
Shirley and Tucker were sleeping on a couple of the sectional’s recliners, and Nicky was sacked out next to Jackson, whose neck actually seemed to be attached to their body now.
The goo had dried in a ring where the cut had been, but they were breathing and they glimmered with magic. Thank fuck.
I looked at Simon’s bottle warmer, but it was too much bother to figure out how to use it at that hour of the night.
The blood bag had a little tab on one end I could cut off for Simon to drink from, so I decided to warm up the entire bag.
I grabbed a couple of kitchen towels, got them wet, then heated them in the microwave, making sure to stop it before the timer went off.
Then I wrapped the hot towels around the blood bag.
Hey, it worked for tortillas in a pinch, so it would work for blood.
I managed to sneak back upstairs without waking anyone.
I snipped off the end of the blood bag with my cuticle scissors—I washed them first!—and Simon immediately started sucking the blood down as soon as I got it into his mouth. He drained the bag in minutes, but he didn’t seem to want more, so I decided to wait a few hours before getting him another.
I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the video on Simon’s computer.
I really shouldn’t watch it. It was private.
But, on the other hand, if I was planning on staying mated to Simon, wouldn’t it be important for me to know more about him as a person?
Who better to tell me than his only friend?
Decision made, I sat up and put a couple of pillows behind me so I could lean against the headboard.
I put on my reading glasses and opened the laptop back up.
After glancing at Simon one more time to make sure he was still unconscious, I clicked on the video.
Davi appeared, wearing a red t-shirt and huddled under a blue and green knitted throw blanket.
Simon had mentioned Davi had taught him to knit.
“Hey, Simon.” His grin lit up his thin, ashen face.
“I know you told me to stop thanking you for everything you’re doing for me but, too bad!
I hid this video well enough that you won’t find it until after I’m gone.
You’ll just have to sit there and take it!
” He chortled, swinging from side to side in what must be a desk chair.
He was wearing the jaguar head pendant. “You may have noticed I’m speaking English instead of Portuguese.
That’s because I want you to show this video to your mate when you find him. ”
I eyed Simon guiltily. I’d taken that choice from him.
Davi pointed his finger at the camera. “You have to, or I’ll haunt you. You won’t be able to hide from me!”
He had to have completely passed on, though. Simon would be able to see his ghost if he hadn’t.
“Okay, first the thank yous. Not that I can ever thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.
Before I met you, I was mostly wishing this disease would hurry up and kill me.
None of my family or friends would speak to me, and I was about to resign myself to living out my days at the hospice clinic. ”
He turned his head and wiped his eye with the back of his hand.
“Fuck, I should have brought some tissues.” He cleared his throat.
“Sorry. Anyway, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You are the best friend a person could have, and my only regret in this life is that I can’t go with you to find those fuckers who kidnapped your prince.
I’d do anything to help you and ease your burden.
Be your family.” He spun around in his chair and craned his neck as he looked to the side, then he spun back with a cheeky grin.
“False alarm. I thought you’d come back early, and I’m not done yet.
“I can’t be there for you, but that Seer told you about your mate, so at least I know you’ll find him before your mission is completed.
” He pressed his palms to his chest. “Hi, Simon’s mate.
I’m Davi, and I wanted to make sure you know you won the mate lottery.
Simon is the best person in the entire world.
He’s kind and thoughtful, and he’ll do anything for the people he loves.
And you know he’s fucking handsome as sin.
” He cupped a hand over one side of his mouth and leaned toward the camera.
“And don’t be jealous, but I can tell you from personal experience, he’s got skills in bed.
” He sat back, grinning and waggling his eyebrows while he fanned himself. “You are one lucky bastard.”
I paused the video, swallowing against the lump in my throat.
I really was lucky, wasn’t I? And I’d been a selfish jackass, whining about my two years of helping Wonders, when the worst thing that’d happened to me was having to quit my job and losing my weekends.
What had Simon lost? His family, his home.
He’d spent decades with no way to make friends or put down roots.
And when he’d wanted to be my mate I’d essentially shitted on him.
And he hadn’t even been mad. He’d been hurt, sure. But instead of throwing a tantrum like I’d done, he’d... helped me. He’d responded to the Wonders, even transferring some of the conversations to his own phone. He’d helped me investigate Emiliano Duran. He’d taken on some of my burdens.
Like a mate would.
I couldn’t believe I’d been planning to throw him away. To cut this bond. I felt dizzy at the thought of what I’d almost done.
I squeezed Simon’s lax hand. A rush of affection, maybe more, ran through me, and I sent it through the bond to Simon’s unconscious mind.
He deserved to know. “I’m sorry, Simon. Everyone told me what a fucking dumbass I was being, but I was stuck on the idea of what I thought I wanted.
I promise I’ll do better. I want to be your mate.
” I lifted his fingers to my cheek, then I held his hand against my chest as I hit Play.
Davi looked to the side again. “Shit, I think you’re coming up the stairs.
Simon, I would give my life for you if I could.
But since I won’t have it to give much longer, I’m leaving you all my possessions instead.
Use this computer equipment to find those fucking vampires and save the Elf prince.
I love you, and I hope you find your mate soon.
You deserve all the happiness in the world. ”
He blew a kiss at the camera, and the video ended.
I gave in and cried.