The three women had known each other since college so Fiona wasn't surprised that Colleen said that about her. She was creating something. Shading the eyes, elongating the fangs while making the wings longer. "It would work as a fountain. A series of gargoyles climbing up the side of a building or a tower."She could see it clearly in her mind. The water would fall over them as they reached for the sky. There would be three of them, all attempting to beat the other two to the top. Her hand stroked the head of the creature as the blurry vision materialized in her mind. When she finally shook herself from her musings, the four of them were staring at her. "What?""Welcome back," Meg said. "Can I get you a glass of wine?""No. I might have to go into work tonight," Fi said, shifting onto a stool next to Sean."Tonight?" Sean said. "Don't you get time off?""Damien has a large showing coming up and he's not completely satisfied with one of the paintings I did.""Would anyone who purchased
Fiona put brush to canvas. If anyone was watching, they'd probably think she was in a trance. It did feel like that to her some days. This wasn't even her creation. This was Damien's vision, but she could share it. She could reap the pleasure she derived from painting it. He wouldn't. Which brought her a certain amount of satisfaction.What he would reap would be the money he'd receive from selling it. None of which would be passed down to her. She'd heard that other artists gave the actual painter a commission. Not Damien. She'd love to go out on her own. What if she wasn't good enough? What if she didn't have her style and someone accused her of copying Damien's style? He was a bright star in the Philadelphia art world. She'd be ruined before she started. Stepping back, she admired what she'd done then looked over his notes again. "That should do it."She glanced at the gargoyle. "Well, Declan, what do you think?"He remained stony-faced. His fangs hung out of his lips as they wer
"No. She won't. I don't know if that's part of the Fairy Queen's curse, but it is the reality. We live in a world now that doesn't believe in magic. It doesn't believe in fairies or gargoyles.""Tis said," Declan said.Life had been very different in the old days. He'd seen flashes of the new world from his perch on the church. Donal and Sean had filled in a lot also. He'd figure out the advantages of this different place and time and use them. He would make contact with Fiona. Even if his brothers warned against it. He wasn't them and he handled things differently. He'd never been afforded the chance to prove his methods in the old time. "Tis what it is, Declan. We adapt," Donal said."The rule against being with a fairy is gone," Declan said."Aye, but I wouldn't count on it. It might be a fluke that Donal and I fell in love with our fairies. Fiona is a different woman than Colleen and Meg."Declan nodded, but he'd stopped listening. He was itching to figure out how to make contact
Fiona greeted Meg and Colleen both with a kiss on the cheek. She'd been surprised when Meg had suggested they get together. Her two friends rarely tore themselves away from their male companions. Not that Fiona could complain. She needed her friends tonight. They met in a bar near Colleen's work. She was still in her suit, but she'd paired the staid gray jacket with a colorful blouse. Fiona had bought her that blouse knowing she would leave the original firm, eventually. Fiona sat on the stool they'd saved for her. "How is your new firm?" "It is so nice working for myself. Now I just have to find a place out in the suburbs like Meg and Donal," Colleen said. "Sean is itching to get out of the city.""I cannot believe you'll both be out there. I'll be in the city by myself," Fiona said."We are only an El trip away. It isn't that far," Meg said."But not as close as when you lived in the city.""I know," Colleen said, putting a hand on Fiona's arm. "If you lived out of the city, you
"Yeah. We could come up with some ideas between us."Fiona appreciated her friends' desire to help her, but she didn't see how they could. She was that far down the rabbit hole that she couldn't see daylight anymore. A man certainly wouldn't help her. She had to do this herself. Even without the help of her friends. Nope, she'd gotten herself in this mess, she had to find a way out of it. "I thank you ladies, but let's talk about something else."Meg and Colleen exchanged a look, but the subject was dropped. ***Declan's heart raced a little when Sean and Donal asked him to come with them when they were picking up their significant others. He knew Fiona would be there and he wanted to see her now that he was human. The three had been in the city looking at locations for their security agency. Declan had arrived in time to open it with them even if he didn't know enough about the world as it was now. He'd learn. Donal and Sean would bring him up to speed.Right now he wanted to meet h
Fiona couldn't get Declan out of her head. She'd hung on his every word, loving the lilt of his accent and how it felt like music in her ears. She'd never been so enamored of a man so quickly. They usually had to spend some time impressing her before she considered them dating material. The only time she hadn't done that was with Damien and look how that had turned out. At work the next day, she stopped a few times to just stare into space. "Are we keeping you from something, Fiona?" Damien asked offhandedly.He had her and two other assistants in a line. They each had a canvas and Damien would spout directions to them. It was Fiona's least favorite activity. Damien liked to pit the assistants against each other, but they all knew who could do no wrong: whoever was sleeping with him. Fiona had had that favored spot, but she hadn't known how tenuous that position was for anyone. If she'd known, she might not have gotten involved with Damien. He would have lost interest and possibly
Declan disconnected the call and then smiled at the phone. He had a date with Fiona tonight. He and his brothers had been checking out an office building on the outskirts of Philadelphia. "What's got you smiling like a fecking idiot?" Donal said."I have a date tonight with Fiona. Sort of a date."The real estate agent had left them alone in the offices to have a discussion about the space. Their voices echoed in the cavernous space. They'd have to put down carpeting.Sean and Donal exchanged a glance. Sean spoke. "A date?""Aye. She wants me to escort her to something black tie?""Oh, Declan. You aren't supposed to date your fairy."Declan glanced from one to the other, while he leaned against a stray desk. "Both of you are with our fairies. Why can't I be?"Donal strode to stand directly in front of his youngest brother. "Because we are married or going to marry our fairy. You have no intention of this being anything but a fling. We know your history, Declan. Fiona is not to be used
Declan held the door open for Fiona as they entered the large room filled with tables set for a banquet. He put a hand on the small of her back and she felt a tingle go up her spine. He couldn't have looked more delicious in a tuxedo. The black of the outfit was almost the same color as his hair and it all made his ice blue eyes more vivid. Her mouth had watered when he first opened her door. He'd been nothing but a gentleman so far though he'd been flirting with her. Was this guy for real? An orchestra played in one corner of the ballroom. Uniformed circulated with trays of champagne glasses and hors d'oeuvres. Fiona didn't mind these events, but she wouldn't have chosen to attend it. She might have balked if she hadn't chosen to find her art sponsor. Here would be the perfect place to mix and mingle with people who had deep pockets. She took a deep breath then let it out to settle the butterflies in her stomach. They were as much a result of the location as the man beside her. "L
Declan banged on Colleen's door, knowing full well that Fiona wasn't there. He figured if she was with her friends, he could check out Brent a little more. Then he felt some distress from her, but couldn't tell where it was coming from. It was there, some kind of link, even if she said she hated him. Yes, something was wrong. His phone was dead so he couldn't locate her that way. Damned new technology. No, this was different."The feckin' goblin is blocking me."He didn't know how, but he knew it was Brent. Something more than a gut feeling overtook him. Why hadn't listened to the lessons he'd been supposed to learn? Declan banged on the door again then tried the knob. It opened in his hand. He looked up to see Colleen on the other side. "Where is she?"He stormed into the apartment, feeling like a caged animal. He could feel that Fiona was in some kind of distress, but he couldn't tell what. "She left us. She ran out and I assume she went home, but she didn't pick up when we called,"
Declan wouldn't own Fiona. No man ever would. Which made her mind turn to Declan and it still made her mad that he thought some fancy story would get her into bed. Couldn't a guy just like her for who she was first? Men were poopyheads.Fiona pushed open the door. She found Colleen on the other side, a wine bottle half uncorked in her hand. "Hey."They hugged. Fiona felt relief wash over her. Meg yelled from the balcony. "Hey, Fi."Snacks were arranged on a low table between three lounge chairs. "Go out. I'll be there as soon as I wrestle this wine bottle."Fiona hugged Meg tightly, then plopped onto one of the chairs. "How's the job hunt going?" Meg asked. Fiona shrugged. "Not great, but I have a few weeks before I have to worry." She paused, not sure why she was reticent to tell them about Brent. "I had dinner with this guy.""A date?" Colleen said, walking out with the bottle and three glasses in her hands. "Nah. He wants to sponsor me and my art."A smile broke out onto Meg's f
The goblin was trying to distract Declan. "I want you to leave Fiona alone. Don't contact her. Don't talk to her."Brent laughed then sipped some of his drink. "You know that I can kill you right now."The goblin could and it was arrogance and maybe youthful exuberance that had brought Declan to his door. He began to back away, closer to the door. "Then it won't be as fulfilling for you if you can't kill her in front of me.""I could live with that."Declan had underestimated his opponent. A rookie mistake for sure. Brent had been right about his inexperience. He'd made a tactical error and now not only was Declan going to die, but Fiona would, too, without having any idea why. His brothers might never know what happened to him since he'd never told them who the goblin was. Feck.Without a glance backward, Declan hurried to the balcony, unfurling his wings as he went. A rush of air almost enveloped him, but he was out of range fast enough. The surge of energy bypassed him as he flew a
Fiona held her breath. Why did his opinion matter? She'd just met him, but he had seemed concerned about her from the beginning. Genuinely. Not that fake concern to get into her bed. She picked up her wine glass again to have something to hold."I see. Did you at least meet him in a public place?"She responded with a tilt of her head. "I'm a single girl living in the city. I'm not stupid."He picked up his wine glass and leaned back. Staring at her over the glass, he sipped. "The one I warned you against.""Yes. You're not my keeper, Declan. I can do what I want.""Even if it puts you in danger?"She rolled her eyes at him then let out a breath. "Declan. You're so dramatic. He's a nice man who just likes art." And maybe me a little bit, but Brent would get past that. "You aren't my brother or a boyfriend. You have no say."He nodded then sipped. After putting down the wine glass, he placed his hands on the counter. "I have something I need to tell you.""You aren't going to give me a
Brent leaned back in his chair, his gray eyes looking as if they were memorizing her features. "Business first.""Business, Brent. I don't mix that with anything else. I'm a serious artist and if you're serious about your offer, I want to know exactly what it is."He snagged his wine glass then swirled it in his hand. A wry grin creased his face. "I like you, Fiona. You know what you want.""I do and if you aren't my means to that then I need to move on and not waste either of our times."She glanced out the window again. They sat at a table for two and the streetlights were below them, illuminating the sidewalk. Fiona didn't notice anyone lingering. The building across the street was dark, but she couldn't see on the roof. When had she become paranoid?"Pragmatic as well as beautiful.""Seriously Brent. This isn't a date. You don't need to flatter me. You know I have no job and you have the upper hand. Let's get to what we need to discuss."He chuckled as he put down his wine glass. "
She'd only ever done art for Damien. Her stuff never left her apartment. She looked around her bedroom to make sure none had left on its own. Silly as that idea was, she couldn't figure out how he would know what was hers and what was Damien's. "I've been around the art world for a few years. I know what goes on. Even if it has Damien's signature on it, I know it isn't always his. The colors you use are more vibrant than most of his paintings. I've been drawn to them and finally figured out that was the difference. You keep to his style, but his colors are more muted. As are those other assistants he has."Okay. So he knew what went on with artists. Fiona wasn't going to confirm or deny anything, but then she remembered Damien had fired her. That let her out of her contract. He'd broken it not her. "Okay. I'll admit that we often battled over color."Brent let out a guffaw. "I've known Damien for a few years. I think battled is a good word.""You know Damien?"Was this a setup? "Yes.
Declan's heart was beating fast. Not because of the exertion, but because of holding his fairy in his arms. He didn't want to feel this way. He should be detached, but Fiona had already gotten under his skin. As if she belonged to him. He unlocked the front door of her apartment building then carried her up the steps. She was singing the whole time. Hopefully, no one was sleeping.He put her down to unlock her apartment door. She fell against him, but he was able to get her into the apartment and lock the door behind them. He looked around having been too busy looking at Fiona when he'd picked her up the other night. He dropped the keys on a table then picked her up again. "Declan, you're carrying me to bed?""Just to sleep."Not that he wouldn't want to be with her. She was a beautiful woman. He'd never get tired of looking at her. He set her down on the bed, then went to work on her shoes. She leaned down and grabbed his hair. "I'm up here, buddy.""Fiona, let go of my hair."She d
Damien must know about her conversation last night. She could lie and blame it on Declan, but she didn't. "Oh?""I know that you were checking out possible sponsors last night."Had she been set up? Had the man who approached her told Damien for some reason? Did her potential sponsor want her to be in a crappy position to negotiate? "I spoke to one man about making some art for him. Nothing was agreed upon."He smacked his hand on the desk, making her jump. "You know you can't create art for anyone else while you are under contract with me.""That contract will be up this year. There is nothing in it that says I can't lay the groundwork for that now."She'd read it again last night just to cover her butt. Damien shook his head. "I think you think that you are better than you are, Fiona. On your own? Mediocre. Maybe slightly better with my tutelage."God, he was arrogant. What had she seen in him? She remained silent, letting him get out whatever he wanted to say so she could go back to
The nerve of him! was all Fiona could think as she scoped out the ballroom. There were only fifteen minutes left in the cocktail hour and then people would populate the tables. If she made contact with the person here, would it get back to Damien? This was a public place as Declan suggested. Feeling angry and petulant, Fiona wanted to leave Declan in the dust. Were he just some guy she might. Too bad he was the brother of her best friends' significant others. Get-togethers would be awkward. She roamed around the ballroom, deciding that settling at the bar might help her chances of someone talking to her. This was different than just picking up a guy. She could do that without breaking a sweat. No, this was business and important to the rest of her career. Hopefully, she wouldn't say something stupid.Fiona stopped at the bar and ordered a soda. "Make that two," Declan said next to her. "I never said you didn't have talent, Fiona."He hadn't. She'd read into his words and come up wit