Chapter 28
Graham
I paced Desmon’s estate fence as Meera laughed and socialized with everyone inside.
She was going back to New York, but the girls had decided to all meet one more time.
They were having tea in the garden, and even Mateo sat awkwardly at the table, his huge hands struggling with the dainty tea cups.
Gunnar and Eamon were having a friendly competition to see how many of the mini cakes and pastries they could stuff in their mouths, much to Lillian and Tansy’s chagrin.
Everyone was having fun perfectly fine without me. And every time I got the itch to storm in there, I just had to remind myself that my presence would only make things feel weird. They thought I was on a job, but that had ended over an hour ago.
Meera had rejected the dragon’s offer, something I should’ve known she’d do if only I’d not been so fucking stuck in my own mind and actually listened to her. Instead, I’d listened to my own fears and hang-ups, and lashed out at her. And now I was certain she didn’t want to see me.
I’d gotten confirmation when Lillian had told her I couldn’t make it when she’d arrived, and Meera had looked almost relieved. She’d even said, “Whatever. I’m not here to see him. I’m here for you guys.”
And so I was watching the festivities from the safety of the bushes, wondering how long I’d have to wait for her to forgive me. Because here was the thing: the moment I’d stomped off out of Desmon’s library, the truth of it hit me like a physical blow. Meera was mine. Mine. My mate.
This was exactly what I’d been avoiding all this time, telling myself I was still hung up on Seraphina, that I wasn’t ready.
When the truth was I was too scared to find someone else, only to have them treat me the way Sara had: as disposable.
I’d been so caught up in my own feelings of inadequacy that I’d fucked it all up for myself.
And it wasn’t just the timing or the delivery. It was the whole damn thing. I’d fucked up. Meera had given me no reason to think or say what I did. It had all been in my head. I just haven’t figured out how to approach her and what to say. And I definitely didn’t want to do it with everyone there.
The plan was to wait for everyone to leave so I could have a moment alone with her.
Then I’d tell her how I feel. I knew she had to get back to New York because of her work and her life, but I could go with her.
I’d much prefer to drive her than let someone like Flame do it, because I was sure the ifrit would volunteer for the job.
On the drive there, we’d make up, and I’d ask her to show me around New York.
I didn’t know how things would go, but in every iteration of the event in my head, we’d end up together again.
And when the time was right, I’d tell her she was my mate and convince her to move back here with me.
Or maybe I’d move to the big city. I hadn’t figured it all out yet.
But I needed to get her alone.
Most of the seemingly never-ending supply of baked goods was gone when the first drops of rain had them all bringing the party inside. I’d thought they’d stay in sight within the parlor overlooking the formal garden, but instead they moved farther into the home.
I moved along the fence looking for a window I could see inside, but found none. I was making another round around the estate when a flickering in my peripheral vision had me turning to see a certain annoying ifrit coalescing in front of me.
“What the hell are you doing snaking around, gargoyle?” Flame demanded. “You’re lucky Blaze convinced me not to drag you out of the shadows in front of everyone earlier.”
“I’m allowed here,” I said.
I knew I hadn’t triggered any of the alarms and wards. I technically hadn’t touched the estate line, and even if I had, Desmon had put in an exception for me.
“That doesn’t mean we couldn’t feel your presence lingering like some unwanted ghost. My question is, why the fuck are you hiding here and not saying goodbye to Meera?”
“It’s none of your business, ifrit.”
“Technically, it is. You’re sneaking round the estate, and that is literally my business. I get paid to keep this place safe, and right now you’re an intruder.”
“I’m not inside, and even if I was, I was invited.”
“Fine. Potential intruder. And it’s too late now anyway. Meera already left.”
“What do you mean she left? I didn’t see any vehicles leave.”
Flame rolled his eyes so hard it literally disappeared into the back of his eye sockets for a moment. If I hadn’t seen Eamon and other demons do the same thing, it would’ve creeped me out.
“Mateo set a marker in her apartment so they could get her back easier. Seth just opened a portal. She’s gone.”
“No. But I haven’t…”
“And why didn’t you? You’ve been here long enough.”
“Because I was waiting for everyone to leave so I could talk to her alone,” I ground out through gritted teeth.
“Too late, gargoyle. You had your chance, and you blew it. She left.”
Flame formed his smoky tail into a single large boot. I didn’t have time to get out of the way as it punted me away from the estate. He’d had the decency to make the sole of the boot nice and cushiony, but I knew better than to go back now. The next time, the boot wouldn’t be padded.
I landed in the park down the street. I picked myself back up and dug in my pocket for my phone. Luckily, it hadn’t been crushed by my weight.
I made my way home, fuming that I’d missed my chance. I gave Seth a call first to ask if he could do me a favor. He didn’t even let me ask what the favor was. The asshat wizard just said “No,” and hung up. So much for getting him to open another portal for me to go after my mate.
Mateo wasn’t much help either; he refused to give me her address.
The first thing I did when I got home was try to track her down.
Desmon’s file hadn’t included an address, probably because he’d assumed I’d find her on the road.
I scoured social media, but aside from a few photos of her with that asshole ex on a trip last year, there was nothing useful.
She had a lot of acquaintances and colleagues but no real friends.
That surprised me, since she’d made connections in Darlington so quickly.
But online? She might as well have been a ghost.
The only solid lead I had was Karim. So I started there.
His business was easy to find since it was where the egg had surfaced.
With that information, I logged into the EA network as Eamon and dug up everything I could on the man.
It took most of the evening, but I finally narrowed it down to an address I was certain was Meera’s apartment.
Along the way, I uncovered his other life: fancy dinners with his mistress, the jewelry he’d bought her, the promise to retire early with the profits they made from a very important trade.
He never mentioned the egg, but that must be it.
The fool had platinum in his grasp and went chasing after nickel instead. What an idiot.
I hadn’t exactly been a genius either. But that was over. I’d seen the truth now. Meera was my mate. I was done living in the past and letting it control me. Meera was my future. And if she was indeed my mate, then surely she was perfect for me in every way. That included loving me for me.
And if she didn’t, then I’d just have to spend the rest of my life convincing her.
I’d already landed at JFK in New York—yes, I’d grabbed the earliest flight—when Mateo called me.
“We have a problem, Graham.”
“Don’t expect me to help you when you didn’t help me.” I was still pissed off that he’d made me search for Meera’s address.
“That’s the fucking problem. You need to get to Meera. Now.”
Fear for her safety suddenly had my heart spiking. “I’m already on my way. No thanks to you. Why?”
“We hacked into her apartment’s cameras.
And Owen, Karim’s friend, the cop? Well, he just showed up and bashed the cameras to pieces.
Both of them. We didn’t find any juice on him before, but we know that Karim talked about a big deal with his mistress, so we were monitoring her calls.
She’s with Owen. Something’s happening.”
Shit.
“I just landed. I’ll head over right now. Doesn’t Desmon have anyone here they can send?”
“No, but we are contacting the EA. They’ll want to question them. Just get there now.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I found the closest exit, dug the look-away spell I’d grabbed from the Redrock stash out of my bag—this one was in a paper and foil package and not canned since it wasn’t one of Seth’s—and tore it open.
Then, without hesitation, I dropped my glamour and leaped into the air.