by Willa Blair
****
Darach purposely kept his eyes shut when he heard Arianna return. If Sean contacted her then it would be better if Abby thought he was sleeping.
“Hi Abby. I’ve come to take you to dinner.”
“Thanks but no thanks, Arianna. I can’t leave Darach.”
“Yes you can. Look, he’s asleep.” She motioned toward the bed and Darach quelled his escalated breathing.
“And I know he doesn’t expect you to stay cooped up in here twenty-four-seven. You need some fresh air and food that doesn’t come from a tray. Now, we can do this one of two ways.” Darach could hear the humor in the immortal’s tone. She was a good kid, about half his immortal age, but a proven warrior of justice.
“I can just teleport us to the restaurant but I thought you might want to freshen up. You know, for dinner and for when Darach wakes up again.”
He almost busted a rib trying to keep from chuckling. After easing one lid open, he had to control his amusement as Abby rushed to the mirror over the sink and then turned back to Arianna.
“Oh no. Why didn’t you tell me I looked like I went through a briar patch?”
“Well, it didn’t really seem important while Darach was in the coma, and right after he first woke up. I actually think it was sweet of you to not care about the way you looked while at his side.”
Darach’s ribs hurt so badly, he thought he might have punctured a lung. Arianna had surpassed taunting Abby into leaving. She was now in overkill.
“Okay, so we won’t be gone too long?”
“Naw, we’ll go by your house, let you change and whatnot, and then go to dinner. Two hours tops, three if the restaurant’s busy.” The immortal looked his way as Abby grabbed her purse, and winked.
He winked back, and then steeled himself to lie still when Abby’s sweet, sweet lips kissed his.
No later than five minutes after they left, Sean darkened the doorway.
“I see Arianna did her thing.”
“Aye, thanks for talking to her for me.”
Sean slid into the chair Abby had vacated. “So, what big plan do you have?”
Darach grabbed the bed controls and raised himself to Sean’s eye level. “You mean after I get some food that willna make me feel like a day-old bairn?”
Sean laughed long and loud. “Yeah, we can fix that. What do you want?”
“Just grab something, my plan will be better if I’m not seen outside this hospital.”
“Okay, you want to teleport where?” Sean waited patiently, but Darach needed to think. His house as a meeting place would be best.
“My house.”
“Okay, give me the address.” Sean jotted it down.
Once Sean had what he needed and Darach’s order for a large steak with all the trimmings, he left. Darach decided to keep the short tail hospital gown on, it would make getting back easier. He teleported and was sitting on the couch wearing a robe to hide his bare arse when Sean arrived.
He dropped the takeout boxes on the table and gently placed a six-pack of beer on the marble surface.
“I figured we might as well be comfortable while you fill me in.”
“Good idea, I need something that will get me through the next week.”
Sean’s green gaze was puzzled. “Why, if you’re so much better, don’t you just tell the doc and then check yourself out?”
“I thought about that, but then Angus will learn I’m one hundred percent again. I dinnae want that.”
Sean grabbed one of the boxes, flipped the lid back, and tucked in. After chewing a bite of steak, he asked, “Why not?”
“Because if he thinks I be at death’s door, he willna expect me to be hunting him.” Darach grab a box of his own and reveled in the tender steak. He grabbed a handful of fries and tossed them in his mouth, before chasing it with a deep draft of beer.
The halfling dropped his now empty plate onto the table, reached for some of Darach’s fries, and earned himself a hand slap.
“Hey!”
“Leave me food alone. I’ll have to eat Jell-O and pudding, and other gruel tomorrow.”
“All right, you win. You couldn’t pay me to eat that stuff.” Sean said all that while snagging another beer. “When you get through stuffing your face, Highlander, I want to hear that plan.”
“Didnae ye listen? I told ye.”
“You mean you plan on sneaking out of the hospital every night just to hunt Angus? Ain’t gonna work, man.”
Darach set his Styrofoam plate down, inhaled a deep breath. “I am more than a bit full.”
Before the last word was out of his mouth, Sean had the plate in his hand. Darach grinned at how the mortal-demon did everything but lick the box.
“Dinnae ye ever eat?”
“Sure, but it’s the demon metabolism that makes me want to eat and eat and eat.” Sean tossed the box down and took a deep pull of his beer.
“Okay, back on track. Let’s say you did manage to sneak out, how are you going to disguise yourself as anything but an executioner.”
“That’s where ye come in. I need to look totally different. I thought ye could snag me a policeman’s uniform.” Darach hoped Sean would agree.
“All right, that might be possible, but won’t Angus recognize you if he gets close enough?”
Darach felt his eyes go molten. “Oh, I pray he does get close. Then I will kill him.”
Sean almost dropped the bottle. “Whoa, did I misunderstand? I thought you had to capture the spawn and turn him over.”
The halfling’s disbelief grew Darach’s ire.
“Ye think I could just let the man who killed me family go free?” Darach’s tone resembled a caged animal’s.
“I get it, but what will you do about Michael’s orders not to kill him. You’re going to get more than a slap on the wrist.”
“Aye.”
“Bummer.” Sean’s green-eyed gaze sympathized with Darach.
“It stinks but…”
Sean sat there and then blew out a breath of air. “Well, Michael could probably hurt him a lot more than you could anyway.”
Darach thought about that a moment and then replied. “Nay. I dinnae care. I still plan to kill him. Not only for what he did to Briene and Jamie, but what he would do to Abby if he gets his hands on her.”
“We’ll make sure he doesn’t.” Sean held out his hand and they shook on that promise.
“What time do ye have?” Darach asked.
“About eight or so, why? You plan on hunting tonight?” Sean raised an eyebrow.
“Nay, but I need to talk to Michael.”
“Abby’s got your cell phone.”
“There’s another way.” Darach looked up at the ceiling. “Michael, we need to talk.”
When nothing happened, he spoke again. “Now Michael, ’tis about Abby.”
A second after his body began to lift off the couch. Sean’s mouth flew open, and Darach found himself in front of Michael’s desk.
“I see you are feeling much better. You must be to order me around.” Michael looked Darach up and down like he was bug crawling on a wall.
“Dinnae be playing hard and furious with me. I dinnae have time to play. And it would be nice if ye asked me how I’m feeling.”
Michael threw back his head and laughed. “Sit down, Darach. And just so you know, I have been in touch with the earthly realm on a daily basis. I know that Abby is still worried sick. I also know about your little rendezvous with Sean earlier today and then tonight.”
Darach took a seat in the chair that materialized out of nowhere. “Then ye also know why I’m here. I need to find Angus. His demons almost killed me. That is what he wants so he can get Abby. I willna let that happen.”
“I agree, the demon has to be stopped, but you can’t just keep fooling Abby. She loves you. And I like the woman, Darach. She would be good for you.”
“Until I got her killed or got killed myself.”
“Ah…now we come to why you want
ed to talk to me.” Michael relaxed back in his chair and eyed Darach.
“Aye, but I be sure what your answer will be.”
“Why not ask me first?”
Darach drew a deep breath into his lungs and then expelled it. “I want to marry Abby.”
“Why?”
The one word question threw him. Darach had expected a full-blown tirade.
“Because, if Angus succeeds in his quest to kill me, I ken ye will do everything ye can to make sure Abby is safe, but I want her to be looked after once this is all over.”
“Looked after?”
“Aye, I have money I’ve saved over the years.”
At Michael’s raised brow, he explained. “The gifts you gave to help us fit in with the mortals have always been generous. For many centuries, I didnae need much, could be from my background, but I invested some of the coins and now I have more than enough to support Abby for decades to come.”
“You can set up a fund to look after her, you don’t have to marry her. And might I remind you, that immortals do not marry, and they certainly don’t marry mortals.”
Darach allowed the blow of Michael’s words to flow over him. There had to be a way to get his agreement.
“Then I think ye need to make an exception.”
Michael’s tight-lipped smile did not make him feel very warm or fuzzy as Abby would say, but he was a MacRath, and they didnae just give up without a fight.
“Why should I ask to have the rule changed?”
“Because if ye dinnae then I’ll bed Abby anyway. I willna go to my grave this time without tasting love once more, and I cannae believe ye would ask that of me.”
“Good, I was wondering how long it would take you to admit it to yourself.”
Darach wasn’t sure what had happened, but Michael seemed overjoyed.
“Does this mean…”
“That you can marry Abigail?” The archangel’s countenance took on a serious expression. “Yes, but only after I get approval.” He stood up and walked around the desk.
“This is unprecedented, and I will have to make sure that by marrying her, you will not be changing events that must occur.”
“Any idea when ye will know?”
“Soon. Now back to Earth. I’ll be in touch.”
Darach landed a lot softer than he did the last time he and Michael talked in person.
“I take it you saw Michael?”
“Aye, and now I think it be time I get back to the hospital. I want to see Abby.”
Sean’s face showed no sign of shock about what had occurred, only curiosity that would need to be satisfied at a later date.
“Lock up when ye leave, please. And let me know if ye can get the uniform.”
Sean gave him a mock salute. “Will do.”
****
Abby enjoyed the walk from the restaurant to the lot where the rental car Arianna had leased was parked. The night air was crisp, and the slight breeze carried the combined scents of the gulf waters, pogie boats, and people. She loved NOLA.
“So you ready—”
“Don’t look back, but we’re being followed.” Arianna’s words were calmly spoken but still scared Abby out of her wits. Her heart sped up and the recently awesome food became an unwanted lump in her stomach.
“What do we do?”
Arianna caught her arm in a tight grasp, one that would look like she was holding Abby up.
“Just follow my lead,” she whispered. A second later she spoke again.
“Come on, sister, you ain’t gonna let a few drinks go to your head like this are you?”
Abby swayed on her heels and managed to act the part of a woman who’d had too much to drink as they moved toward the car, and an encroaching darkness, she didn’t like. And she really didn’t like not confronting whoever was following them.
“You’re doing great. When we get to the car, I want you to slump over, and then when I yell, you get behind the car.” The whisper was soft but adamant.
“Why don’t we just stop and see what they want?” Abby’s question was met with a look of disbelief from Arianna.
“That could get you killed.” She whispered again. “Not much farther, then we’ll get you home in a flash, sugar.” Arianna’s attempt at a southern accent was actually good in Abby’s opinion and much louder.
“Here we go.” The slight push she received almost sent Abby over the hood of the car, but she caught herself with her hands, and played her part.
“Now!” Arianna’s voice was loud and clear and Abby darted around to the other side of the red convertible.
“All right, who are you and why were you following us.”
“I uh, just wanted to say hello.” The thin and reedy voice sounded like…Nate.
Abby popped her head over the hood of the car just as Arianna put the teacher in an armlock.
“Arianna!”
“Abby, stay back. I want to find out what this guy is doing here.” The immortal’s red curls shook as she pulled out a pair of handcuffs and locked them around Nate’s wrists.
“Arianna, I know him. It’s okay.”
“Fine, he’s human so not much of a challenge anyway.”
Nate’s eyes grew wide, but he managed a smile as she made her way to them.
“I’m sorry. I saw you leave the restaurant, and I wanted to say hi. I also wanted to know if you’d heard anything about Lance Dumont. We tried to call him but couldn’t get him. He was supposed to be in town. We wanted to see if he wanted to help with Cecil’s wake.” He gave her a slight smile and then turned to Arianna. “Do you think you could take these off? Metal makes me break out.”
The immortal’s disgust showed in the curse that ripped the air, but she did unlock the cuffs.
“So have you heard anything?” Nate’s gaze was on Abby as he rubbed his wrists.
“No, but I’ll try to find out.”
“Thanks, Abby. I can stop by your house tomorrow if that’s okay.”
“Uh, I’m not staying at home right now. A friend of mine was—” Abby looked at Arianna.
“Let’s go, Abby, we don’t want to be late.”
“Late?”
“Yes, weren’t you planning on being back in a few hours? Well, if we hurry we should about make it.”
Abby realized Arianna didn’t want her to say anything about Darach. Of course, she should have realized that anyway, but Nate wasn’t a demon. He was just concerned about a colleague just like she was now.
“Look, Nate, I’ll find out what I can and leave word at the coffee shop we met at the other day. Okay?”
“Sure, Abby, whatever you want to do is fine by me.”
Before she could say anything else, Arianna hustled her to the car. The ride back to the hospital was filled with what she should or shouldn’t say in reference to Darach. By the time they rode up in the elevator, Abby was more than ready to see Darach.
She pushed the door open and then stopped almost causing the immortal to run into her. Darach wasn’t in the bed.
****
Angus looked at the specimen the demon brought him for fun. He would endure better than the last teacher. More muscular, and more able to fight back. It would enhance the torture. And Angus would enjoy the time between now and when he struck Darach a fatal blow.
As soon as he sent Darach back to Earth, Michael allowed himself a big grin. A pat on the back would be nice also, but his wings wouldn’t allow it. Of course, he didn’t allow them to show all the time but when dealing with mortals or immortals, he’d found it was a bit of a power rush. Yet, he couldn’t be more pleased over Darach’s attitude. The Highlander might think it was concern over Abby’s well-being and lust driving him to marriage but Michael knew better. Now he just had to get permission for a wedding. And if he did, he hoped that would keep Darach from his quest to kill Angus.
Chapter Sixteen
Darach teleported into the hospital room to the open-mouth stares of Abby and Arianna. The sheen of moisture in
Abby’s deep blue eyes made his heart ache. The condemning look the immortal gave him made him want to look for the nearest rock. However, he was more concerned with Abby’s feelings.
“Leave us.” He spoke to Arianna, and her cocked eyebrow had him hastily adding, “Please.” The immortal had been invaluable in looking after Abby, and in helping him get some time with Sean and Michael.
“Fine, but you upset her again, and I’ll show you how much I’ve learned since you trained me, Darach.” She followed her words with action and teleported away.
Arianna’s loyalty to Abby was a plus. If something did happen to him, he’d have no apprehension that Abby wouldn’t be guarded like the President of the United States. He stepped closer to the object of his desire.
She moved away.
“Abby, please. I can explain.” Darach made a move to get even closer.
She held out a hand to stop him. “Explain what? That all this time I thought you were still too weak to be able to talk to me? That I was scared to death that you could still die?” Abby closed a bit of the distance between them.
“I can’t believe you would do that to me, especially after I told you I loved you. But then again, you didn’t really say it back did you?”
“Abby, dinnae be this way. I was waiting for the right moment.” Darach knew the hole he was digging for himself was getting deeper by the moment. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be up to his eyeballs in dirt.
“Moment? I truly don’t understand. What makes any moment better than another?” Abby’s hurt suddenly seemed to dissipate, leaving behind confusion.
“Abby…” Darach thought about what she said and knew he was wrong for not telling her he loved her when he’d first awakened from the coma. He couldn’t be sure if he told her now she’d believe him. Better to wait until he heard back from the archangel.
“Don’t bother, maybe I just expected too much from you when I knew better. I’m a job to you, one you can make love to, apparently without remorse.”
He reached for her, but she sidestepped away. “That ’tis not true. I do care for ye more then my job.”
“Really? Well, then what if I asked you to give up this hunt for Angus? Would you do it?”