“What, love?”
“Lying in bed isn't nearly as pleasing when I can't hold you.”
“I agree.”
As they entered the spacious parlor, she flashed her gaze around, taking in the high ceilings, the abundant seating, the ocean-blue palette, and the marble-laden kitchenette. “Wow,” she breathed. Then her eyes grew bigger. “Hey, a TV. It feels like it's been ages since I watched one.”
“Do you miss it?” he asked, scanning the haze around her.
“Not really,” she answered, “but it will be fun to flip through the channels while I wait to get healed.”
He carefully lowered her to the couch. Then he adjusted her sheet and handed her the remote. “Flip away.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled, turning on the television, but her eyes stayed on him as he crossed the room and picked up the phone. Once he began dialing, she turned her attention to the TV.
Quin quietly completed a short conversation with his dad. Then he floated a chair to the end of the sofa and sat. After kissing her head, he looked at the television. “Really?”
She was watching a black and white silent comedy with deliberate overacting, funny clothes, and silly captions.
“What?” she asked.
“Karena keeps all the channels,” he noted, “and this is what you choose?”
“It's funny.”
One of the actors got hit over the head with an oar and toppled from a rowboat, his arms waving wildly.
Layla laughed, and Quin smiled, reveling in the sweet sound. “I guess it is,” he agreed. “I'll have to get you a TV for your house.”
“I don't need one.”
“I've shared my world with you,” he countered. “It's only fair I get to see the things you enjoy. Apparently ridiculous shows are one of them.”
“Television is a pretty big part of the non-magical world, but I didn't watch it that often. I watched it more when mom was sick, but I spent most of my free time reading.”
“You like to read?”
“I
love
to read.”
“What kind of books?”
“Anything and everything, but mostly fiction, and I like them better when they have happy endings. Of course, I'm living my own novel now, so I don't know if they'll hold the same appeal. I don't think even a book could compare to my new life.”
“How about this,” he suggested, leaning closer, “I'll build you a library and fill it with books. Then you can test that theory.”
She smirked, but kept her eyes on the movie. “Do you like to read?”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe I'll build you a library.”
He grinned, thinking he should have seen that one coming. “Are you trying to take away the pleasure I get from spoiling you, Layla?”
“No, but eventually you'll let me reciprocate.”
He leaned on the armrest and buried his face in her hair. “You are reciprocating, love, as we speak.”
After a slapstick end to the silent film and a few cheesy infomercials, which she seemed to thoroughly enjoy, Quin left his chair and knelt in front of her.
“Your grandparents are going to be here soon,” he noted, setting aside the remote. “There's something I haven't told you yet.”
“What? Are they okay?”
“Everyone’s fine. And I wouldn’t even lay this burden on you if I didn’t think you’d find out eventually and be upset with me for not telling you.”
“What’s going on?” she urged.
He sighed then charged on. “Agro dropped into the community last night.”
“What?” she exclaimed.
Quin quickly laid a hand on her chest, keeping her still so she wouldn’t break his numbing spells. “It’s okay. No one was there.”
“Then how do you know he was?”
“Because he left a mess behind, but everyone’s okay, and the mess has been cleaned up.”
“What kind of mess?”
“He killed several of his own soldiers and damaged some of the houses.”
“Oh,” she breathed, letting the news soak in. “I guess it could have been worse.”
“Much worse, so please don’t worry over it. That’s not why I told you.”
“So everyone’s okay?”
“Everyone’s coping fine,” he assured, only slightly ashamed he didn’t give her all the gruesome details – the dead cats and burnt house. She had enough to worry about.
“Is that it?” she asked.
“There’s one other thing we should discuss,” he answered.
She raised an anxious eyebrow. “What?”
“It's going to hurt when they heal you.”
She relaxed and smoothed her expression. “Okay.”
“That's it?” he returned. “Okay?”
“Yeah. I'm done with this numb crap. If I have to hurt for a while to end it, that's what I'll do.”
He shook his head, ever impressed by her will. “It won't be as bad as it was when you went to the bathroom.”
“That's good, because that was no fun.”
“No it wasn't. They'll leave everything numb except for what they're working on, so your entire body won't hurt at once.”
“Okay.”
“There is one option you might consider.”
“What’s that?”
“Magical sedation.”
“You mean knocking me out?”
“It's slightly more tranquilizing than sleep, so there’s a chance you’ll feel a small portion of the pain. Also, there’s a downside.”
“Which is?”
“You can't wake up on your own. You have to wait for someone else to do it. The whole point of the spell is to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, and that means you’ll be powerless to object to what we’re doing.”
“Eww… no, I don't like that idea.”
“I didn't figure you would.”
“Any other options?”
“No. All we can do for the pain is numb it or ease it with sedation. You also need to decide if you want them to heal one spot at a time, or if you’d prefer they target four different injuries at once, which will make it go by quicker, but you'll deal with more pain.”
“Hmm . . . I'll have to think about that one.”
“Sure, love. We need to get you back in bed so they can work around you. I can move the TV in there if you’d like, but since you're foregoing sedation, I want you to try to fall asleep on your own. It won't stop the pain, but it will ease it.”
“Then I’ll give it a try.” She released his hand and clutched her sheet. “Float me away, my hero.”
He obeyed, slowly hovering her to bed. Then he lay down beside her and propped his head on his hand. After brushing hair from her face and tracing her lips, he soberly met her stare. “How would you feel about me leaving for a while?”
“What?” she exclaimed, mouth falling open, but then she closed it and looked away. “Where are you going?”
“Home, to gather our list and take care of a few things. I'll be back before your grandparents finish.”
She picked at the blankets while maintaining a calm expression, but her rapid heartbeat fluttered her shirt.
“Sure,” she agreed. “Whatever you need to do.”
“I need to know what's going on in that lovely head of yours.”
Her jaw flexed as she slowly raised her gaze. “It's just unusual – you wanting to leave at a time like this. Not that it isn't okay. It just doesn't seem like something you’d do.”
“I'll stay if you need me to.”
“Of course I do, Quin, but that's never going to change, no matter how healthy I am. And I understand the need to do things by yourself, but it's weird; yesterday you didn't want me leaving the bathroom.”
“You'll have four amazing bodyguards,” he explained, “and no one outside our family knows you're here. I don't have to worry about your safety right now. Just your pain.”
She furrowed her eyebrows as she searched the air around him. “Is that why you’re leaving? So you don’t have to watch?”
“No, my love. I’m suggesting this because we're going to be here for a couple of days, and having your grandparents here will give me a chance to gather our list and prepare for our stay.”
“Oh… okay.”
He watched her eyes and knew she wasn’t okay. “Please be honest with me, Layla. Are you just a little uneasy with the idea because you’ll miss me? Or does it go beyond that?”
“It goes beyond that,” she confessed. “At the moment, I feel wretched about it. I’m scared, like you won’t come back or something. I know that’s irrational, but I can’t help it.” She paused, looking down as she obsessively straightened the sheet she’d been twisting. “Maybe having my grandparents here will help, and if I fall asleep, there’s no reason for you to stay.”
“Then I'll wait and see how it goes,” he offered. “How about that?”
“It feels rotten, Quin. Either way. I don't want you to leave, but I hate making you stay. I don’t want to be that girl. I told myself I’d never be that girl.”
“Look at me, Layla.”
She struggled to tuck in a pout as she timidly met his stare.
“You’ve been through hell this week,” he whispered. “And less than twelve hours ago, you were dealing with a terrifying and life-threatening experience. Irrational feelings are expected under these circumstances, so don’t feel guilty over them. Besides, I love that you want me here, because this is where I want to be. But if I go now, I won’t have to leave your side again until you tell me to get lost. We’ll have all the undisturbed time we want, for as long as we want it.”
She watched him for a long time then looked away. “We'll see how it goes.”
“Good plan,” he agreed, pulling her gaze back.
She glanced at his grin and instantly cheered up. “All the undisturbed time I want, huh?”
“Yep. Until you're sick of me.”
“That won't happen.”
“Good, because I'm looking forward to it.”
“Me, too. And I can't wait until I can move my damn body so I can hold you again. It's been too long.” She wrinkled her nose as her pout returned. “I think I'm having withdrawals.”
He leaned in, sweeping his lips across her cheek as he whispered. “I'll give you a fix as soon as you’re better, and I won’t stop until you decide you’re done.”
“You just committed yourself, Quin. Just so you know.”
“I do know.” And he did. The angel beside him didn’t know it, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind – she’d already secured the biggest commitment he had to offer.
Chapter 20
“Layla,” Morrigan breathed, flying into the room.
She darted to the bed and was immediately followed by Daleen, but Caitrin and Serafin kept their feet on the floor as they entered. They were quietly speaking with Quin, who’d greeted them at the door.
Layla tried to listen in, but there was no hope. Her grandmas had settled themselves beside her and were touching and kissing her while taking turns talking.
“How are you doing, sweetie?”
“You look better.”
“Do you feel better?”
Layla opened her mouth to speak, but then Serafin and Caitrin abandoned their discussion and flew closer. She shut her mouth as they took turns kissing her forehead and asking about her condition. Then she offered everyone a smile.
“I can't feel much of anything right now. I'm all numbed up.”
Daleen moved a curl aside and stroked Layla’s cheek. “You sound better.”
“Do I?”
“Much better,” Morrigan confirmed. “You were in awful shape last night.”
Layla looked at the chandelier, trying not to get overemotional. “Yeah. That's what I hear.”
“You must have been so scared,” Daleen whispered.
“I’m just glad it’s over,” Layla replied. “Psychos and magic don't mesh well.”
Serafin sat at the foot of the bed, drawing Layla’s attention. His usually active aura was sluggish, and his face was etched with regret, making him look ten years older than the last time she saw him. “We're sorry we let this happen, Layla. If we'd known Finley's obsession ran so deep or been aware of his desperation, we would have kept him away from you at all costs. We never should have allowed him to stay. We were fools for not seeing it, and we deeply regret our decisions.”
“Don’t,” Layla insisted. “You had no way of knowing.”
Caitrin gently wiggled one of her toes, his eyes glistening amid strained features. “It was our mistake, sweetheart. Fear clouded our judgment. We're sorry we didn't see what kind of wizard we were dealing with before things got out of hand.”
“There's a lot we didn't know about Finley,” Layla whispered. Then she paused, twisting the sheet in her numb hands as she looked at Quin. As suspected, his aura had darkened and sped up – a chaotic flow of anger that coursed around tense muscles. The subject of Finley pissed him off, and he didn't even know the full extent of the damage. She looked back down, still wringing the soft sheet. “Finley was really crazy, guys.”
“We know,” Caitrin replied. “We're sorry we didn't catch on sooner, and we’re sorry you paid the price for our mistake.”
“No,” she countered, “I don't think you do know.” She took a deep breath, preparing to shock them all. “Finley’s parents were killed when he was a toddler, and then… well, I don’t really know what happened after that. He was very vague about the whole thing. But I do know he was in a bad situation, because it drove him insane. Seriously, things didn’t work right in his head. He was convinced the entire world owed him for his bad fortune, and he was prepared to do anything to get what he wanted. Kidnapping’s the least Finley's done in his quest for compensation.”