Oliver Thinks of Everything (Dani’s POV)

“All right, I have it planned out,” Oliver had piles of papers spread across our tiny kitchen table. I blinked at the mess, hoping that he intended to explain it quickly then move it so we could eat.

“Ok, so explain,” I said calmly, glancing around the kitchen for a sign of dinner.

“I have booked us open-ended tickets from Seoul to Inverness, then from Inverness to Milan, and then from Rome to Seoul.” He looked rather proud of himself.

“Why not Milan to Seoul?” I asked out of curiosity.

“My personal home is in Milan but the family estate is in Rome. I want you too see my home before I take you to meet my family.” I could tell he was excited to show me his place in Milan.

I looked closer at the stacks of paper on the table. When my eyes saw the prices of what he was paying to fly us first class I just about fainted. “Oliver, please tell me that these prices are in Korean won and not US dollars?”

He stared blankly at me. “Of course they are in US dollars. I found the best rates using American websites.”

“You’re spending what I made last year as a teacher just in airfare. I’m fine traveling coach.” I pictured all the books I could buy with the money he was spending on airfare and almost cried.

“It is a small price to pay for the comfort of first class,” he assured me.

“How big a difference can four inches make?” I pleaded with him to see reason.

“I swear it makes a HUGE difference to me.” He pointed to his height to emphasize the point.

I crossed my arms over my chest and almost pouted. “Please tell me then that there is dinner?” I gave him my best poor-me eyes.

He smiled. “I thought we would go out for Thai food tonight. That cute little place in Itaewon you like?”

“Are you trying to placate me with pineapple fried rice?” I asked as he stacked the papers neatly before shoving them into a manila envelope and tucking them into a bookshelf.

“Absolutely,” he answered, grabbing his car keys. “And if the Thai food doesn’t work I’m willing to bring out the big guns and take you for ice cream.”

My eyes narrowed on him. “Oh, I’m going to need ice cream.”

Fifteen minutes later we were seated in his little car stuck in traffic. He played with the radio until he found a station that would appease both of us. The last little bit of the chorus to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” played loudly and I found myself singing along, sad that it ended so soon. When a commercial started playing he turned down the volume and glanced at me. “Have you heard anything from Kat about Ian?”

I shook my head. “No, what about you?”

He sighed. “I’m sure when Cariss passes the OAC will be one of the first groups notified, but I guarantee Kat will know before even the OAC.”

I eyed him suspiciously. “You make these comments from time to time that make me think you know something the rest of us don’t. Can she see the future and just doesn’t know it yet?”

Oliver looked shocked and started laughing. “Lord help us all if she can. No, she and Ian have a deep bond. I’ve seen it several times. Ian’s blood during their battle wouldn’t have been enough to complete her transformation if there wasn’t a link there.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Hue and Ian plotted to complete her Darkling transformation. It required Ian’s blood. She had already taken Hue’s blood before. As mates it should have been enough.” Oliver pursed his lips for a moment. “I don’t know what the connection totally is yet, but I believe that for as much as she is Hue’s Soul Mate, there is just as strong a bond between her and Ian.”

I thought about his words for a moment and remembered her plans to retrieve Leonide and Hue. In both cases it hadn’t been just Kat – t was Kat and Ian. I bit my lip and ignored the radio, really thinking about what Oliver had said. “Do you think she would have succeeded at any of her recent quests without Ian?”

Oliver shrugged as he drove. “I don’t know. She may be super woman, but I know that Kat, Ian, and Hudraer are each ridiculously powerful and put together they are near unstoppable. I wouldn’t want to fall on their list of enemies.”

I laughed uncomfortably and focused on the passing surroundings.