Chapter 112

October 31, 2003 – 02:15

She turned to look at him, with her eyeglasses back on her face, but before she could answer anything, his lips were on hers. She brought her hand behind his head, passing her fingers through his hair, and responded in the same manner, searching his mouth.

He wanted to push her on the wall behind her, he needed her, but lifted her instead, moving his hands along the back of her thighs and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Before he could make it to the bed, she took his shirt off.

Some times later, he was lying on his back, her head was on his chest. Both were naked, with the bed sheet entangled around them. His arm was around her back, holding her against him. She played with his chest hair, mindlessly.

"I didn't tell Sebastian where I was because I didn't want to put him in an awkward position. I knew you and your sister would ask him about me and you know we don't lie. I figured if you knew where I was, you'd come to me and it wasn't safe. I didn't know who came after me and I was terrified that they would take you instead if you'd come to me."

Frank didn't know what to answer. He was still upset she spent 3 full weeks without talking to him, but she was right. Had he known, he would have driven where she was. He held her tighter and kissed her head.

"Where were you?"

"I was near Toronto when I called Sebastian back. I was trying to get away from those who were trying to capture me when he called on my hologram. I was surrounded. I managed to conjure up a thick fog so they couldn't see me. I didn't want them to locate me by following the sound of my hologram, so I immediately tapped it to turn it off without looking at who was trying to call me."

"I was worried, and so was he when you turned it off and he couldn't even record anything. My mind went to so many places I didn't want to think about. We didn't know what was going on. They followed you when you left the field?"

"Yeah. I tried to lose them around Laval when I realized I was being followed, I didn't want to lead them to you. They weren't amateurs. Even through the fog, they knew where I was by following my scent. I was near Toronto when I finally lost them completely, but at that point, I couldn't just go back toward Montreal. I was afraid to call you, just in case your phone was monitored."

"Ralphonse mentioned that you weren't the only one, but before I could ask anything about it, the stadium staff came to fetch me. What happened exactly? Do you have any idea of who it was?"

He turned to lean on his elbow so she laid on her back, his other hand was on her waist.

"They also went after a few CMMA agents listed on the US most wanted list. We don't know who that was, but we think it's either some special task force or some bounty hunters. The agent who got captured has been listed as killed the following week," she said, lifting her hand to rest it on his cheek. "Remember what I've done to get to Audrey. I fear what I'd become if my foes ever get to you."

He lowered himself to kiss her and positioned himself on top of her. There was no talking for 30 minutes.

Frank sat on the foot of the bed, his elbows leaning on his knees. Coralis stood in the middle of the room, calling for food. Both were still naked.

"Have you been in Toronto for the past 3 weeks?" he said after she ended the call.

"No. I was mostly in and around London or training here in secret with Sonylla. The next day, I went to Winnipeg to spar with her and High Mage Finnas called us both into his office. That's how I found out about the other agents who have also been targeted. I got lucky because they tried to get me while I was flying, a mistake on their part, but some weren't."

"Sounds like it was a large-scale operation?"

"Yeah, it was. They went after those of us who were listed to be shot on sight, so we thought they'd go after Sonylla next and probably try to get me again. One managed to escape, barely, and only managed to do so because of his twinning spell partner, so it was suggested to us that we go for it, so we could help each other to stay alive."

She sat beside him, in the same position and tried to explain what she and Sonylla did. There was a knock on the door. She quickly put her cloak over her naked body and Frank grabbed the bed sheet to cover himself. She opened the door and a small pixie with green hair handed her a tray of food and a pot of coffee.

"Is it like a mating bond?" said Frank after she closed the door and activated another mute-ball, trying not to sound jealous.

Coralis deposited the tray of food on a small table next to the bed and Frank got up to fill a mug with coffee.

"Not exactly, it's more like the dark version of it. With mates, it's like two souls becoming one to complete each other. With the twinning binding spell, however, it's more like a cursed mirror. Even if we're two elementals, we won't feel each other emotions, but if someone cuts my hand, she will feel like someone is cutting hers. If I cut my own, or hers, the other gets the same, but worse."

"It wouldn't interfere with… uh, the one we started?"

"No, not at all. It's a different type of bond, nothing romantic in it. However, there is something I need to tell you about the mating one."

She removed her cloak and searched for her underwear.

"At this point, so long as you're not going to tell me that it was a mistake and you're regretting, I'm listening."

Coralis froze and looked at him. She didn't like the look on his face. He was leaning on the wall next to the table. She grabbed her underwear with her right hand and went up to him. She brought her left hand to his face and gently rubbed his cheek with her thumb. He closed his eyes.

"Nothing like that, don't worry. You made your point. The plan to keep you safe went down the drain with the stunt you pulled. I couldn't say No, but I'm not regretting," she kissed him. "If I ever was to take a mate, I hoped it'd be you."

He wanted to take her eyeglasses off to look at her eyes, but he kissed her instead, his hands on her waist, holding her in place.

"What is it then?"

"I won't be completing it anytime soon."