Protected by April Zyon Page B

for me a little later, and then you were there
in the restaurant, and I knew I was right about us. It all depends on the
individuals involved.”
    Vivian shrugged. “Well, let’s
just hope that when he finds his other half that he won’t mess it up. I could
be wrong, but I think James needs his other half more than just about anyone.”
He seemed to be lacking balance, seemed to be lacking a tie to the world that
would keep him in the light.
    “Maybe,” Jason said as they
exited into the lobby and strode straight out the front doors. She noticed him
tense as soon as they were outside, like he was on alert, looking everywhere
and yet not lingering on any particular thing. At the truck, he loaded the
bags. They hopped in, and he took off, following her directions.
    Vivian scooted closer to Jason,
her hand sliding easily into his. “Jason? Are you okay?” She looked around them
as well, trying to see what he did and failing. She instead directed them
toward her home, worried about him and the way he seemed to be sizing everyone
up for their coffins.
    “Of course,” he said with a nod.
“Why do you ask?” He glanced at her before turning his attention back to his
driving and the surrounding area.
    “Because you’re looking around
at people as if you’re fitting them for their funeral garb. Have I mentioned I
really don’t do the whole cloak-and-dagger thing very well? I was only in the
park that day because I was trying to figure out what it was about the case—the
murders—that was bothering me. I knew there was something missing, but that’s
the most I’ve ever done that was anything out of the ordinary, so to speak.”
    “I’m assessing potential risks.”
He chuckled. “You did mention that before. And I believe you, given how twitchy
you are. Try not to worry. We don’t have a tail, and there’s nothing obvious
standing out to me, so it’ll be fine. Better to be overly cautious than to be
taken by surprise and unaware.”
    “You would tell me if there was
trouble, right?” She didn’t know if he would or not, that was the troubling
part. He might just keep her in the dark to protect her from herself.
    “Of course I would tell you,
Vivian. And you might be surprised at how attuned you are now that we’re bonded.
You’ll pick up on my emotions and feelings through the link we share. We can
even talk through it, or so one of the other guardians was telling us.”
    “Really? That would be very
cool. To be able to talk to you via a private link. To have conversations
without anyone able to overhear.” She leaned her head back. Closing her eyes,
she yawned. “I guess I do pick up on your emotions and feelings, but I didn’t
even recognize it for what it was. I thought it was just me worried for you.”
    “You’ll start to figure it out
as we get closer and the bond strengthens. Hector even said that he was able to
utilize Riley’s abilities with the link. Hector is a guardian, and Riley is his
soul mate,” Jason explained. “Not entirely sure how that works, but he said it
was pretty cool.”
    “And what are his abilities?
Riley’s?” she asked with a frown. “I thought you said that the soul mates were
women?” she added, as almost an afterthought. “Okay, I’m confused. And I think
I did it all to myself.”
    Jason laughed. “You are. Riley is
a woman, and she’s a VV like you are. Her abilities are to see the truth of all things. She’s a walking, talking lie
detector, to simplify things down to the barest of bones. She’s pretty amazing,
actually. You’ll like her. Oh, and then there’s Emily, Gaius’s soul mate. She’s
pretty special, too. I’m not exactly sure how to explain her ability. Probably
best to get that one straight from her.”
    “Huh, okay. I think that’s
pretty awesome, that she can tell the truth from lies. I like that.” Vivian
looked over at Jason and cocked her head to the side. “I would be very happy if
you could use my ability. I’d rest easier