“So she’s a scholar?”
“Not really. I had to bribe her into it.”
“What sinful act did you promise her?”
“I told her we’d be normal for one evening. We’d go to a movie and just hang. She’s wanted that for awhile now.”
“Normal? Why would anyone aim for normal?” Arden laughs to herself. Then she holds up her drink and makes a toast to the crowd.
“Let the Coy flow and your inhabitations go!” she shouts.
The hundreds of Angel partygoers can be heard screaming and cheering throughout every inch of the mansion. My team is more than happy to follow the partygoer’s example.
Miku is dancing with the only guy who wasn’t scared of her or turned on by the fact that she used to be Redd. Jay and Isabelle talk over full glasses of Coy. Ameana is standing off to the side doing what I knew she’d be doing, pretending not to stand next to Wolf (while standing next to Wolf). He’s fully recovered thanks to the healers at Daraquin.
The only Guardian I don’t see is Rio. I call his cell and it goes straight to voice mail. I head off towards the unlikely couple. They’re deep in conversation but it’s hard to tell if it’s a personal one or not.
“So, is there any other member of your team you kissed?” Wolf asks.
Okay, definitely personal. And for Wolf, very dangerous.
“I don’t owe you a rundown of who I have and have not been with,” my ex counters.
“I just need to know how many Angels I have to compete against, to get you.”
“I’m not a prize,” she says.
“So far…no,” Wolf mumbles.
“What is your problem?”
“You work hand in hand with your ex. I’m about free love but that’s too free.”
“Why does it matter to you who I work with?”
“You know why.”
“Wolf, I can’t be what you need, okay?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not into that anymore.”
“Oh, so you’re into girls?”
“Funny.”
“I know a lot of really cool lesbian Angels. I could introduce you.”
“I meant I’m done with dating.”
“Forever?”
“Yeah.”
“Your aura is getting dark. That’s what happens when you lie.”
“I’m not lying, I’m done with relationships.”
“Well, then it’s too bad because you’re already in one.”
“I told you before, you and I—”
“I mean you and Marcus.”
“He walked out of our relationship months ago.”
“Exactly,” he says. She looks at him, confused. He turns to her and closes the gap between them.
“Ameana, Marcus left you months ago, but you’re still standing here having a relationship with his ghost. Marcus walked away, why can’t you?”
Not wanting to hear the answer, I clear my throat loudly.
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt but have you guys seen Rio?” I ask.
“He said he was going back to the house,” Wolfs replies. Ameana is avoiding eye contact with both of us.
“Okay, thanks,” I say awkwardly.
I know the mission is over, but since we lost Reese, I don’t like not knowing where my team is. So I head back to the house. Once there, I head to Rio’s room and find it empty.
I call his cell and it goes to voicemail. I turn on the tracker that the Council gave us months ago. Most of the time it is accurate about our location but we stopped using it because it wasn’t one hundred percent. I call Jay to see if he might know where Rio is.
“No, I haven’t seen him. Did you ask the other Wonder Twin?”
“I don’t want to worry her if he’s just talking a walk or something.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Do you need me to help you find him?”
“No, it’s okay. Stay and hang out with Isabelle. Just watch the others for me.”
“No problem. Hey, is it cool if I mention the Quo to Isabelle? I mean they should be a hot topic soon right?” he asks.
“We did promise to keep it quiet but they should be out in the open in a few days so…yeah, I guess.”
I hang up with Jay and call Emmy, but she hasn’t seen Rio.
“Have you tried his cell?” she asks.
“All I get is voicemail.”
“Marcus relax, everyone is just blowing off steam. You should be, too. Weren’t you supposed to be at Arden’s party?”
“Yeah but—”
“But you went all First Guardian and overprotective. The mission is complete. When will you give yourself a break?”
“You’re right. I can hang back for about an hour. If I don’t hear from him by then, I’ll gather the team.”