<You are my favorite bondmate.>
<I’m your only bondmate.>
<That’s why you’re my favorite.>
<Flattery will get you nowhere.>
<Frank says flattery will get you everywhere. He says I should roll you up in butter to get extra meat.>
<He means butter me up, not roll me in butter.>
<Would you like that? Being rolled in butter? Will that get me extra meat?>
<You need to stop listening to that lizard.>
“I’m thinking back to what Toson said. He said too much has happened, that he can never go back. Then he mentioned Jen and something about them having a life together. Is it possible she’s setting him up?”
“She could have had it all—with me,” Monty said. “Those were his exact words. It speaks to a relationship of some kind.”
“Yes,” I said with a nod. “Sorry, my memory is a little hazy, I was a little occupied trying not to die.”
“Did she want you to kill Toson to get the artifact back?”
“Funny you should ask,” I said. “I asked her if she wanted him eliminated, considering he was such a threat to her and Red Mountain.”
“What was her response?”
“Not if it can be avoided. She only wanted to get the Earth’s Breath back.”
“There is definitely more here than she shared.”
“We’re about to find out,” I said, pulling up to the front of Ezra’s deli.
We stepped out and approached the entrance. The runes on the threshold pulsed violet as we opened the door—and stepped into the secret garden.
“Extraordinary,” Monty said, looking behind us. “Transdimensional portal physics without an external apparatus. Fascinating.”
“You can go full Vulcan another time,” I snapped, looking around for Ezra. “Where is he?”
“I don’t think you’re here to see him, are you?” Jen said from the bench. “You want to speak to me, about Toson.”
“You’re right,” I said. “We had an interesting conversation with him. Who is he—to you specifically?”
“Toson…is my husband.
“Your what?” I said in disbelief. “Come again?”
“He was my love,” Jen said, staring unflinchingly into my eyes, “and is my sworn enemy.”
TWENTY-NINE
“I’m out,” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “Did you hear her? Toson is her husband…No, I want no part of this. I told you, Monty, I told you: Help me, Obi Wan—”
“Simon, calm down,” Monty said, raising a hand. “We haven’t heard the whole—”
“Calm down?” I asked, raising my voice. “He’s…her…husband. Husband, Monty. Why should I be calm? We don’t do marriage counseling, and let me tell you”—I pointed at Jen—“you two need some serious therapy. Toson wants to kill you.”
“I know,” Jen answered. “I’m afraid his feeling aren’t without some merit. I stopped his takeover of the Red Mountain.”
“Explain,” Monty said, crossing his arms and giving me a look that said, Hear her out, then decide. “What happened?”
I pulled out my flask and took a swig, because if there was ever a time I needed to drink something potent—this was it. I took a deep breath and exhaled…slowly. The Javambrosia coursed through my veins and immediately filled me with divine coffee goodness. I was still livid, but at least I had my coffee. Everything was manageable with a strong cup of coffee.
“Yes, please explain,” I said. “Explain to us how you conveniently omitted the little detail that the mage you wanted us to face was your very pissed-off psycho husband.”
“Simon…” Monty started.
“No, Tristan,” Jen said, raising a hand. “He’s right. I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”
“Why didn’t you?” Monty asked. “Despite Simon’s reaction, he can actually be quite reasonable on rare occasions.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said, glaring at Monty. “It’s not that you’re married,—that’s irrelevant— it’s that you used us as your blunt instrument. You knowingly put our lives in jeopardy, without giving us the opportunity to choose if we wanted to be in that situation. By robbing us of the choice, you played god. You have no idea how I detest gods and their games—and you…you played us. I’m fucking done.”
I walked off and left her alone with Monty. I headed into the small grove of trees with my hellhound by my side.
“That was pretty self-righteous of you,” Ezra said, appearing next to me. “You sure told her.”
“Are you saying I’m wrong?”
“One second,” Ezra said, pointing to the ground and summoning an enormous titanium bowl filled with pastrami. “There you go. I know you’ve been a good boy.”
Peaches looked at me and then back at the bowl, barely containing himself. If he vibrated any faster, he’d shake himself out of the plane.
<Go ahead. Don’t forget to say ‘thank you’. Nicely.>
<Meat is life!>
Peaches padded up to Ezra and nudged him in the leg—hard. Ezra barely moved and chuckled, patting Peaches on the head.
“You’re welcome. Please wait here, Peaches,” Ezra said, then pointed at me. “Walk with me.”
“Sure,” I said, looking around. “It’s not like I have somewhere to go in this place.”
A path appeared beside us, leading into a thicker part of the grove.
“You feel betrayed.”
“Ezra, I’m not a prima donna,” I answered. “I’ve done some dark shit in my life. Things I’m not proud of. Things that haunt me to this day.”
“I know,” Ezra answered. “I was there.”
“Yes…yes you were. This is about the principle of the thing. She used us…used me. It’s like these gods and their stupid, lethal, ego-games. Where we’re just the unknowing pawns.”
“What is the principle you’re arguing? Please share.”
“You want me to go after someone, don’t play the victim. Own your shit, and be straight from the beginning. I’d respect that more than ‘Oh, I should’ve told you—I’m sorry’.”
“Yet, you didn’t ask her pertinent questions.”
“Excuse me?”
“You didn’t ask why she wanted Toson spared, if possible,” Ezra answered. “That didn’t seem important?”
“Of course, it’s important. I was just focused on not getting slammed during the…examination,” I said when the realization hit me. “The motive. Finding the motive was part of the examination?”
“There are always layers when you learn to see,” Ezra said with a nod. “Do you love Michiko?”
“Ezra, what the—? What does that have to do with this?”
“It’s a simple question, isn’t it?”
“Yes…no. Not really. It’s complicated.”
“Only
