Dylan (Bowen Boys, #3)(57)
“I think this is big enough to buy us a country,” he said. She laughed as she picked up another drive and handed it to him. “What is this? What do you suppose this means?”
She said she had no idea but got up to get her laptop. He picked up several more of the drives and they each said one word on them: tiger, panther, bear, and so on. There seemed to be a drive for each species of animals. When she sat down again he handed her the one that said panther. She brought up the file, and he looked over her lap at what was there.
“Oh my God, it’s a list. A list of every panther known, as well as mates and children. Your family is here, as is my name and Monica’s and Caitlynne’s and their children.” She moved the mouse more quickly now, then stopped. “This is a list of known abilities that each may have, as well as a list of things unique to them. What on earth do you suppose he gave this to us for?”
There was a small notation near his name, and he asked her to read it. He knew what it said before she started. Someone knew what he could do, as well as Monica. He was afraid.
“It says ‘Special Ability: No boundaries. Dylan Bowen is able to read the mind of every being with a mind. Animals as well as human. He will pass this on to his children and them on to theirs. He is to be saved at all costs.” She looked at him. “Dylan, what does he mean that you should be saved at all costs?”
“I don’t know. Does it say the same with Monica?” It did. “Are there any special notations for you?”
He waited while she looked. He was not just afraid but terrified that it wouldn’t have anything for her, and he would not want to contemplate living in fear for her the rest of his life. She said that it did. She looked at him, as afraid as he was.
“It says that I must be saved above all else, with the exception of my mate and children. It says that I am the one to safeguard the records.” She reached for his hand. “Dylan, there’s more. Are you ready for it?”
He nodded, but had wanted to shake his head. He didn’t what to know what he knew, but now that he did, he also knew that it would be impossible to ever forget it. When she looked back at the computer, he held her hand.
“It says that the records are ours to keep safe at all costs. That you and I as a mated pair of panthers will live for an ‘entirety,’ and by doing so we’ll safeguard the races against people who would harm them. We’re the Keeper of the Records.” She closed the computer and leaned back against him. “What does it mean to live for an entirety? Should it have been an eternity?”
He doubted it was a mistake. “Eternity means an infinite time or time without a beginning or an end. Entirety means law undivided or the sole possession. I think it means that you and I are the law governing all species.”
She didn’t move nor did she say anything. He waited for her to say something that would be anything he could agree with, anything other than what he’d just told her. She simply sat there for a long time and looked at the contents of the box.
“He gave us this as a prepayment to our job.” He nodded. “And I wonder if we have the ability to say no. I’m thinking it’s too late for that. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I think the moment you and I met it was too late for that.” Dylan picked up the stones and put them back in the chest, as well as the other thumb drives. “How will we know what to do about updating the information?”
“I have a feeling that it will be done for us. I have a feeling that the moment you and I have a baby….” She laughed bitterly. “Hell, probably the moment one is conceived, it will be on the records.”
Dylan nodded. He watched her pull out the drive and drop it in the box with the others, and he closed it up. She put the computer on the floor and lay down. He spooned in behind her.
“I want to go home now. But I want to come back here often if you don’t mind.” He agreed with her. “Dylan, we’ll need to figure out where to hide these things, including the jewels.”
He told her he knew just the place. “You know where the place is as well. It’s the only place on earth that no one but you and I, and maybe Khan, will ever know about; the wedge between the river and the stone wall.”
She agreed, and they lay there together until morning. After putting the box where he’d suggested, they went home. Dylan had a feeling that things were about to get nuts. He glanced over at his wife and knew that he’d not have it any other way.