by Susan Hayes
He turned to face Adina, cupping her face in his hands so she had to look at him. “I would rather have one day with you than live a thousand empty years, sweetling. This is what I want. You are what I want.”
“But…” she trailed off and raised her hand to cover his.
“I love you and I want to spend the rest of my days with you. When your time here is over, I want to follow you into whatever adventures come next. You’re not leaving me behind, Adina. Not ever.”
“Wow. Where do I get me one like him, cousin? If you don’t say yes right now, I’m going to assume you have lost your damn mind.”
Adina’s lips quirked into a slight smile, “Then I guess I better say yes. I love you, too, Stone. I just hope you don’t regret this someday.”
“Never,” he murmured and kissed her until Anneke had to clear her throat to remind them they weren’t alone.
“So, that’s a yes on the life binding thing. It means you’ll age at the same rate Adina does. That’s the only big physical change. You’ll still be able to shift forms and use the other gifts the spell gives you. Flight, acute senses, and that nifty accelerated healing thing you can do.”
Adina’s brow furrowed. “What accelerated healing thing?”
He chuckled. “Surprise. Not fun when the shoe is on the other foot, is it? I can rapidly heal from any injury if I revert to my granite form for a few hours. It’s how I get by without sleep or eating, too.”
“And it’s a good thing you heal fast. I fear you’re going to need it,” Anneke said, drawing his attention back to the matter at hand.
“More bad news?”
Anneke touched the pages of the book in front of her. “This is one of the nastiest spells I’ve ever come across. The last time you experienced it, they took your memory of what was done to you. This time…it’s going to hurt, Stone. Then, when it’s done, you’ll remember all of it.”
“It will be worth it to be free to live a real life,” he said.
“That leads me to the last bit of news. I can’t be certain, but I suspect that when we rework the spell, you’ll remember who you were before this was done to you. In a sense, I’ll finish what your first master started, which is to complete the merge between your two halves and make you one complete being with no more gaps or limitations. When it’s done, you’ll be disoriented and probably have an epic hangover. I think it would be smart to assume that once the spell is cast, you’ll need some time in your granite form to recover.”
“Is this dangerous, Anneke? If something goes wrong, what could happen?” Adina asked, her voice heavy with worry.
“If I didn’t think it was safe, I wouldn’t do it. But you know that magic like this…it comes with a price. In this case, the price will be both physical and emotional pain. There is no other way.”
“When can you do it?” Stone asked.
“We already assembled the things I’ll need. I could be ready by tomorrow night. I would like to have my mother there, and your family too, if they’re willing to come, Adina. They could lend me their energy, which would make this easier.”
Adina nodded. “I’ll ask them. I’m sure they’ll want to be there. They know how important this is and how much Stone matters to me.”
“I would be honored to have them there,” Stone murmured to Adina.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Of course they’ll be there, you’re family.”
Her words hit him with all the force of a sledgehammer to his chest. Family, after centuries of being an outsider, he had a family and a woman who loved him. It was an incredible feeling. One he never expected to experience. “Thank you.”
“You keep saying that, but I haven’t done anything. Not really.”
He gathered her into his arms. “What do you mean, you haven’t done anything? You saved me.”
“Oh, well. Yeah, I guess I did, didn’t I?” She was smiling as she stood on her toes to meet his kiss. “In that case, you’re very welcome.”
Eventually, he let her go and they made their way back to the storefront. On the walk back to the car, Stone started grinning, the light in his heart rivaling the glory of the sun overhead. He was going to be free. Adina would be the last owner he ever had. He would never have to live his life in the shadows again. He would be free to walk in the sunshine, and he planned on taking every step of his new life with Adina at his side.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Adina’s stomach was doing backflips as she counted down the minutes until the ceremony started. They had decided to use her studio for tonight’s event, and so she and Stone spent the afternoon clearing away her various projects and opening up the workspace. Stone even took the time to put away all her tools, which were now hanging in neat rows in their assigned spaces. It was the first time everything was in its proper place since she moved onto the property.
Her parents and Hal were together, talking quietly amongst themselves while Anneke and her mother were going over the spell again. They muttered softly as they discussed pronunciation and pacing. The sound would almost be soothing if it weren’t for the fact that Adina was too agitated for anything to calm her at the moment. The only thing that would make her feel better was getting this whole thing over with. Stone wasn’t in any better shape. He was prowling the perimeter of the studio again. He hadn’t stopped moving since they got out of bed this morning.
“Adina,” he called her name and suddenly changed direction, coming straight across the floor to stand in front of her.
“Yes?”
“Before I do this. There is something I need to say.”
He dropped to one knee, and her shock at his actions was only slightly lessened by her amusement that even kneeling, he was almost as tall as she was.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“No way,” Hal muttered. “I’m getting a gargoyle for a brother-in-law?”
“Not if you don’t shut up and let him ask her first,” Nadira hissed, elbowing her son in the side.
Stone grinned. “I think your brother figured it out before you did, sweetling. I’ve already spoken to your father, and he has given me his blessing. So, Adina Diggersby, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Adina tried to speak but all she managed was a strangled squeak. When the words wouldn’t come, she nodded in silent agreement.
“It’s not official until you say it out loud,” Hal called out, earning himself another well-aimed elbow from their mother.
“Halberd Elias Diggersby, you hush! I’ve waited a long time for this moment.”
Adina finally managed to find her voice. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Thank you,” Stone said and reached for her left hand. A moment later he pulled something from his shirt pocket and she felt the slide of warm metal gliding over her ring finger.
“When did—how did you manage to find a ring?” she asked as she lifted her hand to stare at the ring she now wore. It was a slender band of hammered silver, simple but beautiful nevertheless.
Hal snickered. “You’re cute, sis, but you’re not too bright—ow! Mom quit hitting me.”
“Your father’s skill isn’t limited to weapons, sweetling. Once I asked his permission, he offered to make a ring for me to give you. Do you like it?”
“I think it’s perfect,” Adina said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Stone stood up and kissed her, and for once she didn’t care who was watching. She threw her arms around him and held on tight. His mouth slanted over hers, claiming her with a fiery passion that left no doubt of his need for her. “I love you and I’m never leaving you. Remember that.”
“Damn right, you’re not leaving me! We’re going to be married.” She kissed him and then burst out laughing. “Which means my last name is going to be Carver. How appropriate.”
He laughed too, and then kissed her one last time before letting her go.
“It’s time,” Anneke said.
For a moment
, Adina was tempted to run back into his arms, but she knew she couldn’t. This was his choice; his chance to have a real life and she wouldn’t stand in his way no matter how afraid she was. His words from yesterday came back to her and she dashed away her tears and offered him a smile as she stepped backward, leaving him alone in the middle of the room. Stone had told her he would rather have one day with her than a thousand empty years. She had to let him do this.
“Come back to me,” she whispered.
“Always,” he said and then turned to face Anneke. “What do I do?”
“Kneel. Everyone else, come stand behind me and join hands,” Anneke directed, her voice carrying more authority than Adina had ever heard from her before.
Anneke placed several items into a blackened bowl, doused them in oil and set them on fire. As an acrid scent filled the air, she raised her hands and began to chant. Soon the air around them was crackling with energy. Adina stood between her parents, each of them holding tight to one of her hands as they lent their positive thoughts and support to Anneke. It could have been a few minutes or an hour that they stood together, but finally, something began to happen.
A nimbus of shadow gathered around Stone’s body, deepening slowly until he was almost impossible to see. Energy danced and flickered inside the shadows. At first, they were only red and gold sparks, but the energy continued to build until it appeared as though Stone was caught in the center of a lightning storm. A crimson bolt flared and for a second she could see him clearly, but then the bolt slammed into his chest and he arched in pain.
She would have run to him but her parents held fast to her hands, holding her back. A wind started to blow inside the studio, swirling and howling as the miniature storm raged all around Stone. She watched in horror as he was struck by many more of the terrible bolts and Anneke’s voice rose above the din. For a long, terrible stretch of time, it was nothing but noise, light, and fury; and then, suddenly, it stopped. The storm vanished, the wind died, and Anneke’s final word echoed around the now silent space.
“It’s done,” Anneke said and nodded to Adina. “Go to him.”
He was still on his knees, shoulders slumped, head bowed, and his hands on his thighs.
She raced to his side and dropped to her knees. “Stone?”
He lifted his head and her heart ached as she spotted the blood flowing from his nose and the pallor of his skin.
“I know my name. My name…was William.”
“William’s a good name, but to me, you’ll always be Stone. Are you okay? That was hard to watch,” she said, stroking his cheek with a trembling hand.
He chuckled softly and took several slow breaths before speaking. “It wasn’t much fun for me, either, but I’ll be okay. I need to rest now. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about the man I was.”
“I would like that. I want to hear it all.” She leaned in and kissed him, ignoring the blood that was smeared across his lips. “You came back to me, just like you promised.”
He kissed her back. “Always.”
She moved back with reluctance, not wanting to be parted from him but knowing he needed to heal. He shifted to his gargoyle form with a soft groan of pain and settled himself into the same pose he was in when she first saw him, crouched low, with his clawed hands resting on his knees, and his wings folded over his back. The next change happened slowly and she watched, fascinated as the living being in front of her transformed into a cold and lifeless piece of sculpture.
“Stone’s not the only one who needs some rest, ladybug. Why don’t we walk you to the house and get you settled before we go?” her mother said.
“I’m not leaving him.”
Her father came to stand beside her, his hand on her shoulder. “He’ll be like this until morning. You can come back then and—
Adina cut off her father’s suggestion with a negating wave of her hand. “No. I’m staying here. He is still aware, even like this. I want him to know he isn’t alone.”
“Then I’m bringing you some blankets. You can rest on the couch and wait for him to wake up,” her mother said.
“I should stay right here.”
“Adina Diggersby, don’t argue with your mother! You can see him just fine from over there and I’m not going until you agree to be sensible. You say he can see and hear you right now? So he knows you’re planning on spending the night on the floor? What do you think he would say about that if he were able to speak?”
Damn it. Her mom had a point.
“He wouldn’t be happy,” Adina conceded.
Nadira snorted with amusement. “Exactly. So, up you get. He is supposed to be resting, not spending his energy worrying about you while you worry about him.”
“Yes, mom.” Adina found herself obeying her mother though she did pause to kiss Stone’s cheek before standing.
“You can stay here. We’ll grab some blankets and bring them out. He’s going to be fine, ladybug, and so are you.” Her mom kissed her cheek, and then herded her dad and brother toward the house. Anneke and her mother stayed behind to gather up their things and to say good night. Adina hugged them both, grateful beyond words for what Anneke had done.
Within ten minutes Adina was settled on her couch with enough pillows and blankets to be comfortable and still have enough left over to build a sizable blanket fort. Her mother even made her a mug of chamomile tea before leaving. Curled up and comfortable, Adina lay quietly and watched the unmoving form of her fiancé. They hadn’t even had time to celebrate their engagement yet. She was still coming to grips with the events of the day. So much had happened. Hell, the past week had been the strangest, most wonderful time of her life. It was like she had fallen into a fairytale complete with a cursed hero, magic, and true love. The only thing missing was a villain. She snickered to herself. The only person she could think of that fit that description was the overly dapper and rather obnoxious Maxwell Webb. He hadn’t even tried to call or email her today. He must have finally given up and gone home empty handed.
* * *
Stone was adrift in a place somewhere between wakefulness and true sleep when something intruded on his awareness. Someone was nearby, sneaking around Adina’s home. He came awake in an instant and focused all his senses on the presence coming nearer. The crunch of a heavy foot on the gravel path came first. Then a faint cough muffled behind a hand. More than one person was out there, and none of them had good intentions.
With all his focus on the interlopers, it took Stone a moment to remember that he wasn’t alone in the studio. Adina was staying with him. He shed his granite form and rose to his feet, scanning the dimly lit interior until he spotted her. She was asleep on the couch, cocooned in blankets and unaware of the danger coming their way. He had to warn her. Moving silently, he crossed the studio and crouched down beside her sleeping form.
“Adina, wake up. We have company,” he whispered.
She stirred almost instantly, her eyes flying open to stare at him with joy. “Stone?”
“I’m here. But we’ve got a problem. Someone’s creeping around outside. I need you to get somewhere safe, sweetling.”
“You woke me up to tell me to hide while you go kick some intruder’s ass? Think again,” she whispered back as her brow furrowed.
“My job is to protect you, remember? We don’t have time for this discussion right now. Is there somewhere you can get out of sight, at least?”
She still didn’t look at all pleased, but she eventually nodded. “The loft. I’ll head up there in a second, but boy, you’re going to get yelled at later. You should have told me you were awake and feeling better.”
He briefly considered telling her he only woke up because of the threat outside and that he wasn’t one hundred percent yet, but decided against it. She would never leave him if she knew he was still feeling the after-effects of the magic spell that had torn through him a few hours ago. Anneke was right; it had hurt like hell, and he still needed time to assimilate the memories of who he was before and
what was done to him.
The men outside weren’t going to give him that time.
“Go. Stay out of sight. I’ll be back once I’ve dealt with our uninvited guests.”
She nodded and sat up. “I bet it’s that idiot, Maxwell. I hoped he had given up. I guess not. I’ll call the sheriff and let him know we’ve got trespassers.”
“I suspect you’re correct about it being our friend, Mr. Webb. I’ll deal with them and your sheriff can take them away.” He stole a quick kiss before standing and helping her to her feet.
Adina headed for a ladder he had never noticed before. It was mounted to the far wall and made of the same rough wood as the rest of the barn, making it hard to see. Perfect. She would be safe up there.
The moment she reached the top of the ladder, Stone headed for the door. He could hear two men roaming the gravel pathways between the studio and the house. He would deal with them first. There was another man somewhere near the front of the house, and judging by the faint hint of bergamot and cloves in the air, that man was Maxwell Webb.
“Do you see the statue we’re looking for?” One of the men whispered to the other one.
The other man snarled back. “I can’t see a fucking thing. All these hunks of rock look the same to me. Maybe it’s in that barn?”
“Why would a chick keep a statue in a barn?”
“Why would any chick have this many statues, period? It’s fucking creepy.”
“Did you leave your balls in the car? Man up and keep looking.”
“Fuck that! You already said you checked this place out the other day and couldn’t find the thing. I bet it’s in the barn. Why don’t you check in with the boss man and I’ll take a look-see.”
“Just be quiet about it. The guy that was here last time was a big son of a bitch. If he is still here, I would like him to sleep through our little visit.”
“Now who needs to man up. We can handle one guy and his little girlfriend. I’m checking out the barn and then we can get the hell out of here.”
