Page 28 of The Tides of March

Had he imagined how he’d surprise Ronan, if they were still together? Maybe. It was normal to think about an ex, after all. Of course, it had only been a month and it had barely been arelationship so Tony felt like an even bigger loser for pining over Ronan harder than he had ever pined over Aubrey. He put on a brave face and allowed his friends to assume he was down about her on Valentine’s Day and when they insisted he didn’t need a date as the wedding drew closer.

“I’ll dance with you, buddy. Nelson doesn’t like dancing when other people can see him,” Nox had said whenever the topic came up.

Tony didn’t want to dance with anyone if he couldn’t dance with Ronan and he didn’t feel like he deserved Nox’s sympathy if he couldn’t tell the truth.

There was no way Tony was suffering from a relapse. They had completely smashed the zombie child’s enchantment. But Tony wondered if he had been struck by a different curse—one that had bound him to Ronan the way Nox was bound to Nelson—and was feeling its effects. He had felt lost and bereft since his return from Pooles Island and Tony suspected that Ronan felt something similar. He also suspected that the excruciating pain he was experiencing was Ronan’s fault as well.

Tony was concerned for Ronan, but…

That’s where his thoughts stopped. He was concerned for Ronan and Tony’s instincts screamed that he should confide in Nox, but bitterness and pettiness stopped him. Spite had reared its head and convinced Tony that Ronanwantedto be left alone and forgotten and that he had brought whatever trouble he was in on himself.

And Tony deserved every minute of his own misery for being foolish enough to fall for and mate with the coldest bastard on the East Coast. He should have told Nox when he returned and first started feeling sick and having shooting pain in random parts of his body. Or about the strange dreams and visions he was having.

Tony had kept it all to himself because he didn’t want anyone’s pity and because he didn’t want to drop a weird bombshell in the middle of the investigation and wedding preparations. Everyone was distracted and busy, but Tony might have had another reason for hiding the truth from Nox. That kind of spite and pettiness was usually beneath Tony and he considered the burning throb in his side a form of penance.

“Will you two come on!” Merlin waved from his Bentley. Even he seemed to be happily in lust with his driver and butler, Jeff. Normally dressed in a pristine black suit, Jeff was turned out in a silver ensemble, complete with fringe, beads, and sequins to match Merlin.

“We’d better get going,” Tony said and playfully offered Nox his arm.

“Later,” Nox said sternly.

“Sure.”

It was a short ride to Silver Spring and Bryn and Everly’s place and Nox was caught up in the festivities as soon as they arrived. Everything was just about ready and the twins had already started drinking with Fletcher and Howard. Tony declined when he was offered a beer and went to see if Merlin needed help.

“No, no! I have this all in hand. You should go rest, you’re looking peaked, my boy,” Merlin had insisted so Tony took a seat and pretended to check email messages on his phone.

Thanks to Merlin, the grooms celebrated their union with a uniquely pagan ceremony. The entire evening felt sacred and magickal and Tony was moved to tears as Merlin cast a protective ring around them. He declared that their love would endure forall of eternitybefore Bryn and Everly kissed.

Even with Tony’s terrible track record, he optimistically hoped that he’d been wrong about Ronan and that his perfect mate was still waiting. He hadn’t had any luck holding ontolove for more than a few months, but if Tony had learned anything from Everly, it was to never give up on love. The sweet halfling had been truly cursed by love and still found his hunky hellhound.

“I’d ask if Bryn had a brother but he’s already taken,” Tony noted with a sigh. He couldn’t begrudge Arawn and Fletcher either. They were both lovely people and seemed so complete and at peace together.

“Not much of a dancer these days, I’m afraid,” Howard said apologetically, lowering onto the seat next to Tony’s. “My hip and my back,” he explained. “But it’s been ages. I haven’t danced since my Kathleen passed, many, many years ago.”

“Ah, well.” Tony gave Howard’s knee an affectionate pat. “I wasn’t really in the mood. Glad you came to keep me company, though,” he told the elderly man. Tony truly wasn’t in the mood and was having another one of his odd attacks. The pain in his side was getting worse by the moment and he felt sick and queasy.

Howard held onto Tony’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “You don’t look very well. We’ve all noticed that you’ve changed and we’re all worried.”

“Me?” Tony laughed it off. “Just a bad run of romantic luck, that’s all. Although… It’s hard not to wonder what’s wrong with me on nights like this,” he confided, earning a scolding jab from Howard.

“You cut that out right now, Anthony Costa! I don’t know of a sweeter, kinder, and more worthy soul. There isn’t a thing wrong with you.”

“Thanks, Howard,” Tony replied, shrugging. “That doesn’t work as well as you’d expect these days, unfortunately.”

“The right person is out there, I promise,” Howard said and Tony was tempted to ask if they had to be a human person.

Just then, Nox sidled over and offered Tony his hand. “Time to dance, T!” he said loudly but Tony shooed him off.

“Go ask Nelson. I’m busy boring Howard.”

“Not at all!” Howard said.

Nox gave Tony a gentle nudge. “Come on! Just one dance.”

“I’m not feeling up to it at the moment,” Tony confessed when there was a hot bloom of pain in his side and he became dizzy and nauseous. He stood, hoping he could make it to the bathroom before he threw up or fainted.

“I think you should sit,” Nox said but Tony shook his head.

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