Asanni (13 page)

“I believe you, and I don’t want to know who
told you that,” Jack said, tucking the blanket around me. “Do you
want me to close the blinds?”

“Are you going to have enough light to
work?”

“Honey, I can see in the dark,” Jack said and
kissed my forehead.

Oh, God!
Are you planning to move
downward?

“Eventually. Don’t be impatient.”

“Eventually what?” I asked before I closed my
eyes.

“Oh, I love that little wolf of yours.” I
heard his soft laugh.

Or I thought I’d heard it, before I dove into
a warm sub-reality that smelled of rain, wind and sun, and felt as
good as a lover’s touch.

ALL OUTSIDE noise seemed magically cut off.
The only sound that filled the room was Astrid’s deep, regular
breathing and the steady rhythm of her heart. Jack smiled: he’d
been quite enjoying listening to her heart. Her logical mind may
have questioned everything that had happened in the last few days,
but her heart couldn’t lie. It would pick up speed every time they
touched, every time they were close enough to sense each other,
every time Astrid thought about him.

He wished she could hear his heart and its
frantic pounding that hadn’t stopped since the first time he’d seen
her. Musical as she was, her hearing needed improvement, and that
would likely happen when Astrid the Wolf finally joined her human
self.

He placed his laptop on the table and
occupied the armchair across from the couch. He opened his e-mail
and instantly a chat message popped up from James:

Hello, son. How’s it going?

Fine. How’s everything there?

Good. How is my niece?

She’s fine. Sleeping. Worked the night
shift.

When are you bringing her here?

After her next change. I need to see it. T
& L say she’s in a lot of pain.

I know. Arnaldur told me.

Why didn’t you tell me, then?

Jack, her spirits are not linked.

That’s what I think.

She hasn’t completed the process.

I know, James.

Does she have a boyfriend, anybody who would
give us grief?

I certainly won’t make it difficult.

Jack, hold on. What’s going on between you
two?

James, I’m gonna phone you. Now.

JACK SLAMMED his laptop and rushed to his
room. James answered after the first ring.

“James, we are bond mates,” Jack said,
keeping his voice barely audible. “She’s mine. I’m not letting
anybody else near her.”

There was a long pause. “I see. That’s good.
That complicates things a bit, but then it simplifies them a great
deal at the same time. How did that happen?”

“How did what happen, James? Are you asking
me how the bond happened?”

“Jack, take it easy. I’m happy. That’s
actually a perfect solution, son.”

“I’m taking her home as my mate, whether you
like it or not.”

“I hear you, Jack. Is Astrid all right with
that?”

“She will be. She is incredibly open about
moving and everything that waits for her.”

“You told her?”

“I did. She had a right to know.”

“Jack, listen. If she’s yours and if she
thinks you are hers, that’s fine. But you have to wait a bit. You
have to bring her as Hal’s daughter and our Ellida. Only the Ellida
herself should decide if she is going to stay, and if she is going
to mate or not. She can’t mate with you before that. Jack, let them
see who she is before you take her. For some people here, she’s
also Rowena’s daughter. I don’t want to risk a small civil war over
her... Jack, are you still there?”

“I’m here.”

“Wait just for two months. Until she
announces her decision. Let Red Cliffs get to know her. We must not
leave any room for any potential problems. Jack, son, you would’ve
done the same had you been in my shoes. And I hope you will be
soon. It’s time, and you’ve found your mate... Jack?”

“I’m here. I know. I can wait as long as it
takes, but she’s mine. Ellida or not, she is mine. We’ll be there
in about two weeks. She’s far from being out of danger, James.”

“She’ll be safe here with us. She’s pretty,
isn’t she? She’s Hal’s spitting image. Tell me about her?”

“She’s the most fascinating person I’ve ever
met. Smart, beaufiful, funny, caring and down to earth.”

“Logical, huh?”

“And emotional. And a hell of a doctor.”

“Jack, call me after she changes. Let me know
what it looks like.”

“Her wolf is trying to come out. Her eye
color shifts sometimes, from blue to amber, and she has memory
lapses.”

“That will disappear, don’t worry... Oh, God,
what news! You’ve made my day, son. Take care. Here is your mother;
she wants to hear your voice. Talk to you soon.”

AFTER A lengthy conversation with his mother
and then his sister, who wanted to know everything about Astrid,
Jack came back to the living room. He carefully lifted Astrid’s
legs so that he could sit on the other end of the sofa. He placed
her feet on his lap and covered them with the blanket. Astrid
stirred, and let out a deep, sensual sigh, but didn’t wake up.

Jack closed his eyes, and let the warm
current claim him.

HUNDREDS OF miles away, in Red Cliffs, Jack’s
stepfather looked at his wife with a broad smile spreading all over
his face.

“Can you believe that, Betty? They are bond
mates! I don’t remember to whom I prayed, but He decided to give me
even more than I asked for. Jack and Astrid! A reluctant Einhamir
and our Ellida!”

Betty smiled, not completely at ease. “My son
and Hal’s daughter... So you hope—”

“Well, if he wants his queen, he has to take
the kingdom as well. They come as a package. As much as I like this
job, I’m ready to retire, and Jack’s ready to take it over.”

“Jack’s never wanted it before.”

“He wasn’t ready, Betty. And he didn’t have
Astrid. He’ll want it now. He is going to be a good leader. Those
reluctant ones are always the best. You’ll see.”

“James, Seth’s not going to stop. He’ll try
again.”

James wrapped his arms around his wife,
holding her close. “Yeah, he will, my love. And we will be ready.
We will fight him to end this mess forever.”

ASTRID’S PHONE made a soft ring, and then,
increasing in volume, chimed one more time: d-e-c-C-G, the five
tones of
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
. Astrid’s hand
immediately emerged from under the covers and grabbed it.

“Duplant.”

A stern woman’s voice informed Dr. Duplant
about her patient’s progress.“Dr. Blake was here when she woke up.
He checked her and told me to phone you later.”

“Is she in a lot of pain?”

“No. Dr. Blake adjusted the Duramorf, it’s
working fine. He thinks we can switch to Tylenol 3 and Motrin 400
mg alternately every four hours starting tomorrow. She’s sleeping
now.”

“How is the rest of the family?” Astrid
said.

“They’re fine. Dr. Blake checked them as
well. Their relatives are on their way here. They’ll take the girls
with them as soon as they’re ready to go.”

“Good. I’ll pop in later. Thank you for
phoning, Molly.”

“You’re welcome, Dr. Duplant. Sorry for
waking you up. See you later, then.”

“Molly, if anything changes, please call me
or Dr. Blake.”

“Of course, Doctor.”

“WHAT TIME is it?” Astrid said, yawning,
suddenly aware of her feet on Jack’s lap.

“Almost six. How are you feeling, Miss
Spock?”

Astrid stretched and wiggled her toes.
“Regenerated, like your Seven-of-Nine,” she said. Her voice was
still raspy from sleep.

Jack stroked her feet, soft and warm. “Didn’t
I tell you? I broke up with her. You are my girl now.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and then continued
pounding double-time. “Oh, I like that… What did you do while I was
sleeping?”

“Talked to your uncle. Slept a bit. Held your
legs on my lap. That was nice.”

She tilted her head. “And talking to James
wasn’t? What happened?”

“Some practical problems, so to speak.
Nothing to worry about,” Jack said. “I told him about the
bond.”

“Oh! What did he say?”

“He was delighted, actually.”

Astrid could feel hesitation in Jack’s voice.
“What’s the problem, then? You’re not telling me everything, I can
tell.”

“Everything’s fine. They’re expecting us in
about two weeks. They’re looking forward to seeing you.”

Astrid pulled herself into a sitting
position. “You’re going to be there, right?” she asked, feeling
suddenly uneasy. “You’re not going to drop me off and
disappear?”

Jack stretched his arm and pulled her against
his chest. “I’m not going to leave you, Astrid. Ever. I’ve just
found you.”

“
Ever
could be for quite a long time,
you know.” She buried her nose into his neck and surrendered to
Jack’s scent, the sound of his heart, the smoothness of his skin.
Tristan was right, she thought, this was a gift. And she wouldn’t
waste it.

Jack kissed her hair. “You must be hungry.
Will you help me make something? Or I can take you out for dinner,
if you like.”

She didn’t want to go anywhere and disrupt
this perfect afternoon. Not yet. She would need to go to the
hospital later, but for now, she was absolutely happy in her small
house with Jack in close proximity.

“I can prepare something. It’s not fair that
you cook all the time.”

“I can do your laundry instead.”

“You cannot! I’m not ready for that level of
intimacy.”

“I’m just teasing you. Let me make us
something to eat, then.” Jack stood up pulling Astrid with him.
“Have you talked to Ella and Arnaldur since I came?” he asked.

“I haven’t. You know what, Jack Canagan?
You’ve totally distracted me.” She giggled and grabbed her phone.
“Do not eavesdrop, please. I know you can tune me out if you
want.”

“I know you can soundproof your room, if you
want.”

“Yes, but that takes a bit of time,” she said
and walked toward her bedroom.

HER GRANDMOTHER answered the phone.

“Hi, Ella.”

“Hello, darling. How are you? How’s
Jack?”

Tristan! That telltale!
“Fine, fine...
Jack came a few days ago, as Tristan apparently told you.”
Or
was it a few years?
“Ella, I think I’m going with him.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Listen, Grandma, something else happened
with Jack...”

“Astrid?”

Astrid covered the phone with her palm.
“Jack, I smell something burning,” she said in a low voice, trying
to figure out if Jack could hear her or not.

There was no response from the kitchen.

“Astrid?”

“I’m here, Ella. Jack and I are sort of a
predestined couple. Have you ever heard of that?”

“You mean bond mates? That’s fantastic,
Astrid! Oh, wait until your Grandpa hears it!”

“Do wizards have bond?”

“Of course. All humanoids have bonds, one way
or another.”

“How do we recognize it?”

Astrid’s grandmother laughed. “We give each
other an algorithm and fall in love, working toward the
solution.”

Astrid was sure she could hear a soft chuckle
from the kitchen.

“You just know,” Ella continued. “Something
clicks between two people and you know that you cannot live without
him.”

“Did it ‘click’ between you and Grandpa?”

“It did.”

“Can it happen to me with a wizard, too?”

“It cannot!”

That was Jack’s voice, humorous and
dead-serious at the same time.

So much for the privacy of her telephone
conversation! “Jack, stop eavesdropping!”

“Don’t be greedy,” Ella said. “You can bond
either within or outside your kind, but Jack’s right, you’re
normally bonded to only one person at a time, and
that
person is a good man, Astrid.”

“Thanks, Ella.” Jack said, making sure this
time Astrid’s grandmother could hear him.

“You’re welcome, Jack.”

“Jack, stop listening! I know, Ella; I’m not
complaining... You know that I’m an Ellida, don’t you? Why didn’t
you tell me?”

Astrid’s grandmother sighed. “I’m sorry,
Astrid. We thought it’d be better for you not to know before you
were ready. It was a mistake. I wish we’d told you.”

“It’s all right, Granny. I’m just thinking
that I’m old enough not to be treated like a child.”

“I know, darling. Grandpa and I have always
tried to protect you, even when it wasn’t necessary, and we’ve
become overprotective.”

“It’s all right now. Don’t worry. Is Arnaldur
there? May I talk to him?”

“He’s in New York. I’m going tomorrow.”

“How long are you going to stay?”

“We’ll be back in a week. Call us there.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Astrid, could you and Jack come to Seattle
before you go to Red Cliffs? Or maybe we can visit you before you
leave?”

“Jack!?” Astrid said.

“Sure, why not? We’ll stop to see them.”

“Did you hear him, Ella?”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to seeing you both,
then.”

“Love you, Granny.”

“I love you too, Astrid. Jack, take care of
my granddaughter.”

“I will, Ella. Say hello to Arnaldur,” Jack
said.

“Thanks. Call us, Astrid.”

“I will, but Tristan will keep you posted
anyway.” Astrid laughed and ended the call.

She joined Jack in the kitchen. “I asked you
not to listen,” she said, arms folded across her chest.

“It’s not easy for me to ignore anything
about you. I tried, it didn’t work. You’ll soon learn to talk in a
low voice so that nobody around can hear you, except the person
you’re talking to. Including me. ”