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Authors: Lori Handeland
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fairies left on the earth after the doors of heaven slammed closed.
The fairies had been lost. They had no idea how to survive. They were suddenly human, and they had no idea how to be.
Certain beasts of the earth helped them, and as a reward they were given the gifts of flight and shape-shifting. Gargoyles can sprout wings; they can turn to stone.
Once the fairies could manage on their own, the gargoyles were charged with protecting the weak and unwary from demon attacks. The more humans the gargoyles saved, the more human they became.
“Summer sent you,” I said.
The man nodded, his gaze on Megan’s second-floor window. “No one will hurt her while I am here.”
There was a slight cant of the Irish in his voice, but not much. I’d been told that many of the fairies had gravitated to Ireland after the fall because the rolling green hills reminded them of heaven. I’d bet money that a lot of the gargoyles had gone along.
Jimmy put away his switchblade. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Quinn Fitzpatrick.”
“And you just hang out in Megan’s yard all night?” I asked.
“Shouldn’t I?”
“What about during the day?”
He grinned, his teeth no longer sharp and large but normal, if extremely white. “I’m the new bartender.”
My eyebrows lifted. “The one who’s so lame Megan doesn’t believe you can walk and chew gum at the same time?”
Quinn’s grin faded. “She said that?”
“Not in so many words.”
“Well, I didn’t want her to know, you see, that I was sent. So I had to pretend to be more human than I am.”
“By dropping things?”
“How else?”
I had no idea. How did one seem more human? If I knew, I’d have tried it long ago. I’d always been considered odd, even before Ruthie had touched me and made me even more so.
“Megan doesn’t know?”
“That I’m her bodyguard? No.”
“Keep it that way.”
Megan had told me in no uncertain terms that she didn’t need any help. She was wrong, so I’d ignoredher. But I wouldn’t put it past her to make life hell for Quinn if she discovered he was the babysitter.
“Have there been any Nephilim sniffing around?” I asked.
“Legion.”
Man, I hated that word.
“When you say ‘legion,’ ” I continued, “I don’t get a clear picture.”
“Dozens, mistress.” He straightened, puffing out his extremely nice chest. “They’re all dust.”
“Uh—nice job.”
I thanked God again that I’d sent someone to watch over Megan. Thanked Him three times that Summer had actually listened, and that she’d sent someone who knew what he was doing.
“The more Nephilim I kill, the more hours each day I can remain in this form,” he said. “Soon I will be completely a man.” He glanced up at the window again. “Although I do not protect her for my benefit. I would protect her even if I lost my humanity instead of gaining it.”
Hmm. Interesting.
“Any clues as to why they’re after her?” I asked.
“They aren’t after her, but you.” Quinn’s gaze met mine. “They think you’ll come back to see your friend. Visit your home.” He spread his huge paws—I mean hands. “The grave of your foster mother.” He peered around nervously. “You should go.”
“You’ll watch over Megan and the kids.”
He put his hand over his heart. “With my life, mistress.”
“Call me Liz.”
“Liz. I’ve ended more Nephilim here than I ever managed when my seer was alive.”
“Your seer died?”
“In the recent purge.”
Jimmy turned away, but not before I saw the pain flash across his face. He still thought it was his fault.
Technically it was. Jimmy could dream walk—stroll through a person’s mind while they were sleeping and pluck secrets from the mist. That he’d been compelled to steal the names and locations of the federation’s members from Ruthie’s head by his vampire father did not make what Jimmy had done hurt him any less. That so many had died because of it—that Ruthie had—was
The fairies had been lost. They had no idea how to survive. They were suddenly human, and they had no idea how to be.
Certain beasts of the earth helped them, and as a reward they were given the gifts of flight and shape-shifting. Gargoyles can sprout wings; they can turn to stone.
Once the fairies could manage on their own, the gargoyles were charged with protecting the weak and unwary from demon attacks. The more humans the gargoyles saved, the more human they became.
“Summer sent you,” I said.
The man nodded, his gaze on Megan’s second-floor window. “No one will hurt her while I am here.”
There was a slight cant of the Irish in his voice, but not much. I’d been told that many of the fairies had gravitated to Ireland after the fall because the rolling green hills reminded them of heaven. I’d bet money that a lot of the gargoyles had gone along.
Jimmy put away his switchblade. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Quinn Fitzpatrick.”
“And you just hang out in Megan’s yard all night?” I asked.
“Shouldn’t I?”
“What about during the day?”
He grinned, his teeth no longer sharp and large but normal, if extremely white. “I’m the new bartender.”
My eyebrows lifted. “The one who’s so lame Megan doesn’t believe you can walk and chew gum at the same time?”
Quinn’s grin faded. “She said that?”
“Not in so many words.”
“Well, I didn’t want her to know, you see, that I was sent. So I had to pretend to be more human than I am.”
“By dropping things?”
“How else?”
I had no idea. How did one seem more human? If I knew, I’d have tried it long ago. I’d always been considered odd, even before Ruthie had touched me and made me even more so.
“Megan doesn’t know?”
“That I’m her bodyguard? No.”
“Keep it that way.”
Megan had told me in no uncertain terms that she didn’t need any help. She was wrong, so I’d ignoredher. But I wouldn’t put it past her to make life hell for Quinn if she discovered he was the babysitter.
“Have there been any Nephilim sniffing around?” I asked.
“Legion.”
Man, I hated that word.
“When you say ‘legion,’ ” I continued, “I don’t get a clear picture.”
“Dozens, mistress.” He straightened, puffing out his extremely nice chest. “They’re all dust.”
“Uh—nice job.”
I thanked God again that I’d sent someone to watch over Megan. Thanked Him three times that Summer had actually listened, and that she’d sent someone who knew what he was doing.
“The more Nephilim I kill, the more hours each day I can remain in this form,” he said. “Soon I will be completely a man.” He glanced up at the window again. “Although I do not protect her for my benefit. I would protect her even if I lost my humanity instead of gaining it.”
Hmm. Interesting.
“Any clues as to why they’re after her?” I asked.
“They aren’t after her, but you.” Quinn’s gaze met mine. “They think you’ll come back to see your friend. Visit your home.” He spread his huge paws—I mean hands. “The grave of your foster mother.” He peered around nervously. “You should go.”
“You’ll watch over Megan and the kids.”
He put his hand over his heart. “With my life, mistress.”
“Call me Liz.”
“Liz. I’ve ended more Nephilim here than I ever managed when my seer was alive.”
“Your seer died?”
“In the recent purge.”
Jimmy turned away, but not before I saw the pain flash across his face. He still thought it was his fault.
Technically it was. Jimmy could dream walk—stroll through a person’s mind while they were sleeping and pluck secrets from the mist. That he’d been compelled to steal the names and locations of the federation’s members from Ruthie’s head by his vampire father did not make what Jimmy had done hurt him any less. That so many had died because of it—that Ruthie had—was
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