Page 79 of Centaur Bolt

“And was it?”

I pretended not to understand, trying to buy myself time. Time for what, I wasn’t sure. “Was it what?”

“Simple?”

I added milk to the eggs and began to beat them. “I Jumped to the place Kiko took a picture of.”

Cara put a tray of sausages out beside Kiko, who obediently fed them into the pan. “It was a helluva surge that I felt. Did anything else happen?”

Where to go with that? That I turned into a Dire dude and Kiko gave me a blowjob wouldn’t be my first choice. That cracked open far too many wtf doors. But it was still a surprise when my mouth opened, and said, “I went back in time.”

Cara froze. Whatever she’d been expecting, it hadn’t been that. And by the look on her face, I wouldn’t have to worry that confessing I’d sprouted fur and a dick would throw her.

This was doing it all on its own.

She set my bowl beside Kiko. “Cook them up when the meat is done,” she said. Then she took my elbow and directed me to the table, sitting me down and then taking the chair next to me.

Her steady blue gaze regarded me. “Tell me everything.”

So I did. Well, sort of. I left out all mention of fuzz, and the entire dude-blowjob scenario. And I did some highly creative re-imaginings, having Kiko merely meeting Scott at the arbor to take the pictures. Although I wasn’t sure Cara bought that they’d gone inside to have a chat. She shot the Satyr a look, but didn’t pursue it.

Me going back in time seemed a suitable distraction.

“So they didn’t see you?” she asked when I was done.

I shook my head. “I kinda panicked when I realized what happened. I was pretty quick to Jump back to the right timeline.”

She looked again to Kiko. “How long was she in limbo?”

The Satyr didn’t look up as she poured the eggs into the pan. “Long enough that I was a bit worried. But I’m not sure how long she waited for me to get into position before she Jumped. Couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, I don’t think.”

The furry blur on the video had only lasted a few seconds. But I didn’t want to mention it, because then Cara would want to see it…

The Watcher sighed and rose to fetch the tray of cooked meat. She set it on the table, then plunked a glass in front of me and filled it with water.

I raised a brow. “No tea?”

“Food and water are the order of the day. What you did required resources, and I can’t imagine how you managed it. If I’d had any idea—I would have come out to help you.”

I experienced a stab of guilt. She really did care about me. “I thought it was a simple exercise.”

She fixed me with a look. “These things are never simple. And to be honest, Riley—we have no idea what you might be capable of. But your concern for Marcus is pushing you to be reckless.”

“You don’t think the dream thing will work, do you.” It was a statement, not a question.

She sighed. “I think getting enough clarity for a safe Jump from images in a dream will be unlikely.”

While I wrestled with the lead weight in my stomach, Kiko placed the plate of scrambled eggs on the table and sat down across from us.

“Eat up,” Cara ordered. “You need to replenish.”

“I ate loads last night,” I admitted as I forked eggs onto my plate. “And I had a dream I wanted to ask you about.”

Kiko paused in mid-sausage slice, before continuing to eat. But I sensed her increased interest.

The Watcher’s gaze sharpened. “About Marcus?”

“No. At least, I don’t think so.” I gathered my thoughts, and asked, “What does Isobel look like?”

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