“I choose to remain what I am.”
The lights, which had been swirling so madly they made his eyes hurt, paused.
“Quinn?” Megan whispered.
He ignored her, gaze on those lights.
You have killed legion. You have saved multitudes. It is your destiny.
“No,” he said. “She is. And if I’m human, I can’t protect her against those that aren’t.”
“Quinn, don’t.”
If he was a gargoyle, he would lose her. He’d seen that truth the instant she’d seen what he was.
But if he accepted his due, that gift he’d worked so long for, the humanity he’d strived even harder for once he’d found her—then she would die. No one would protect Megan like he would. So he would protect her always.
He had no choice.
Besides, even if he were human, she would never love him. The only man she would ever love was Max. Quinn had hoped it might be different once he was different, but he knew better.
Choose, Gargoyle. Humanity now, or never?
“Never,” he said.
So be it.
“No!” Megan ran forward, but it was too late. The stars swirled up and away, as Quinn turned to stone.
* * *
Hours later, when he was able to walk on two legs once more, he found her at the kitchen table. At the first sight of him, she gasped.
He looked down. Clawed, bitten, bloody. He was a mess.
“Your hand,” she said.
He turned it over. His hand was fine.
“The cut healed.”
“’Twas a burn, but aye.”
“What about those?” She waved at the marks on his body. “Should I clean them?”
The idea of her running a damp cloth all over him made him turn away so she would not see what those words did to him.
“They’ll heal.” If he’d been less human and more gargoyle they would have already.
“Quinn?” When he didn’t answer, she stood and came closer. “Why did you give up what you wanted so badly for me?”
“You’ll die, Megan. I can’t allow that.”
“There are others who could protect me.”
He turned. “None would protect you like I can.”
She searched his gaze, then she reached for his hand, tangled their fingers together and held on when he would have pulled away. “Why is that?”
“You heard the sparkly lights. I’ve killed legion.”
“Oh.” She looked down and sighed. He’d disappointed her somehow. “I thought maybe...”
“What?” He discovered himself running his thumb over the back of her hand and stopped. His nails were crusted with dirt and panther blood. Maybe dragon blood too, it was hard to tell. He tried to tug free again. Again, she tightened her hold.
“I thought...” She lifted her eyes, swallowed, then swallowed again. “I thought you might have done it because you loved me.”
“I’m stone, Megan.”
“Stones don’t bleed.”
“I’m a beast.”
She shrugged. “Who isn’t?”
“I will never be human.”
“Because you chose to give that up for me. Why?”
He couldn’t speak; he couldn’t think. He wasn’t sure what to say.
“Come on, Fitzpatrick. You faced a dragon and who knows what else. You can’t be afraid to tell a woman you love her.”
“You love Max,” he blurted. “You said his name in your sleep.”
Sadness flickered over her face. “I’m sorry if that hurt you. He came to say goodbye.”
Quinn frowned. “Goodbye?”
“I’ll always love him. But he’s gone. He isn’t coming back. You’re here, and I don’t think you’ll ever leave.”
His eyes met hers. “I won’t.”
“I swore I’d never love another man.”
Quinn’s throat went tight. She didn’t love him; how could she? “I understand—”
“I don’t think you do. Losing Max devastated me. I didn’t think I’d survive it again, so I cut men, love, sex from my life.” She shrugged. “Didn’t miss it.” He scowled, and she laughed. “Until you.”
“You’re going to have to explain just what in hell you mean, Meggie.”
“You’re damn hard to kill, Quinn.”
“Aye.”
“That’s just what I need. You’re who I want.”
“Because I’m hard to kill?”
He wasn’t sure he liked that.
“I’m not saying this right. I don’t love you because you’re hard to kill. But it sure makes loving you easier.”
Before he could get the sense of that through his head—she loved him?—Megan kissed him, and then he couldn’t make any sense at all for quite a while.
Eventually she lifted her mouth from his. “Never leave?”
“Never.”
“Don’t die.”
“I’ll do my best.” He felt compelled to clarify something. “You understand that I was given a choice. The one I made means I’ll never be human.”
She touched his face. “You’re more human than anyone I know.”
She believed it. How strange.
“It might be a bit difficult to explain why I never grow old, and you do.”
“That sucks.” Her hand fell to her side as she wrinkled her nose. “The way you and Liz tell it, we’ll all be lucky to grow old at all. Explaining your lack of wrinkles and gray hair is going to be the least of our worries.”
“I’ll never let anything hurt you,” he vowed.
“I know.”
“Nor the children.”
“The children!” She glanced at the window, through which the morning sun shone. “How long before they arrive?”
“A few hours yet.”
“We should probably wash up.”
“We?”
Her lips curved, and his body responded as bodies do. She led him toward the still broken red door. “A few hours might be just enough time.”
* * * * * * * * *
If you enjoyed this Phoenix Chronicle novella,
please check out the other books in the Phoenix Chronicles.
Any Given Doomsday
Doomsday Can Wait
Apocalypse Happens
Chaos Bites
as well as the short story “There Will Be Demons”
in the collection Hex Appeal
About the Author
Lori Handeland sold her first novel in 1993. Since then she has written many novels, novellas and short stories in several genres—historical, contemporary, series, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and historical fantasy—for such publishers as Dorchester, Kensington, Harlequin, St. Martin’s, HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster and Penguin.
She has been nominated five times for the RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, winning twice, for Best Paranormal and Best Long Series Contemporary. She is a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, USA Today and New York Times best-selling author.
As well as writing The Nightcreature Novels, The Phoenix Chronicles, The Shakespeare Undead series, The Luchetti Brothers and several stand alone novels, Lori also writes the gritty, sensual western historical romance series Once Upon a Time in the West under the name Lori Austin.
Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband enjoying occasional visits from her grown sons.
Connect with Lori:
Lori can be reached through her website at www.lorihandeland.com or www.loriaustin.net. You can also follow her on Facebook at LoriHandeland and on Twitter at NightCreatures.
If you'd like to keep up to date with her release schedule, please sign up for her newsletters.
For paranormal join the Full Moon Club:
http://www.lorihandeland.com/full_moon_club.html
For historical join Once Upon a Time in the West:
http://www.loriaustin.net/newsletter.php
Visit with Lori and her friends at http://www.reddoorreads.com
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Handeland, Lori, Dances With Demons - A Phoenix Chronicle Novella
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