By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(77)

“Would you stop fucking doing that? You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days!”

“Sorry,” he snickered, so not sorry. His face became serious. “But really, I’m doing you a favor.”

I sighed. Right. Everyone’s doing me a favor today. “How’s that?”

“Demon, keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you,” Quinn all but growled.

Bill sighed, long-suffering. He showed an unexpected flare for drama. “I’m doing you a favor too, wizard. I hope you remember that.” He focused on me. “You realize if Quinn frees you from the bond, he also destroys his magic, right?”

I snorted. “I’m sure he can bond with another dragon. He’s pretty convincing.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Quinn flinch again. If it made me feel like crap for hurting him, well, I’d deal. My dragon, on the other hand, was pissed at even the mention of him bonding with another.

“Nope, not how it works,” Bill chirped. “Right, Quinn? He’d be just another human at that point. I don’t know about you, but it would be a HUGE sacrifice to give up my magic for someone. Especially someone who planned to let me go.” He shrugged. “Humans aren’t the smartest bunch. I need to remember to add that to my notebook when I get the chance.”

Quinn shot Bill a murderous glance before holding out his hands again, not meeting my eyes. “Let’s go. I need to get this over with.”

I didn’t touch him, a sinking feeling in my gut. “Is Bill telling the truth? Will it destroy your magic?”

“Does it matter? You don’t want to be bonded to me and I won’t give you to Brandsome. It’s the only solution.” He reached over and clasped my fingers in his, then began the spell again.

I yanked my hands away, took a step back as if he’d burned me. And I guess he had. “Hold on a minute. Just what in the lower realms do you think you’re doing? You love being a wizard. It’s who you’re meant to be. You can’t give all that up.”

He looked at me, a tear spilling down his cheek. He swiped it with the back of his hand. “What choice do I have? I don’t want to be tied to someone who doesn’t want me and only feels hatred and betrayal. I can’t hand you over to Brandsome. You don’t understand how evil he can be. What he’d make you do. How he’d use you. I’d never forgive myself. This is the only way, Twig. Please. I know I fucked up, but I’m willing to pay the price to set things right. Being with you was . . . the highlight of my life. It was worth it.”

“Fascinating.” Bill snapped his fingers and his journal appeared. I startled, having forgotten Bill’s presence. Which considering he was a Red Fury really said something. He began scribbling in that damn tome and I wanted to toss it across the room. “This must be what humans call love. I’ve heard of it, of course. Read lots of books on it. But being a demon, I’ve never had the chance to observe it firsthand. So interesting, isn’t it, Twig? Do dragons love too, or is it only humans?” He paused his scribbling, looked at me like I’d really answer him right now.

“Bill. You need to go.”

He huffed. “Seriously? It was just getting good. And it’s not like I can sit in your lobby with that gorgeous creature there. He’ll try to force my name for sure.”

“I don’t care where you go, but you need to leave. Now.”

“Fine. See if I ever do you a good turn again.” He stomped his foot—the princess routine again—then disappeared.

“Quinn, we need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing left to say.” He tried to meet my eyes and failed.

I tilted his chin with my fingers. “There’s obviously more to say than I realized.”

“D-don’t. I know I let you down. If it matters, I’ll be punished for not mating you. Brandsome will make sure I suffer.” He gave me a watery smile, like I’d be pleased.

“I don’t want him to hurt you.” In fact, my dragon was going nuts at the thought of Brandsome touching Quinn again. A bruise formed on his cheek from where Brandsome backhanded him and just seeing it made me fight my dragon for control. It wanted to rip Brandsome into tiny little pieces.

“You don’t need to worry about me anymore. Once he takes my contract back, I won’t be your concern. You can get on with your life and I’ll get on with mine.”

“That’s what you want?” I raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“It doesn’t matter what I want. It hasn’t really mattered since I turned twenty-one and couldn’t pass my wizarding test. It taught me life isn’t always fair. The good guys don’t always win. But I can give you your freedom. And that’s as close as I can get. Keeping you away from Brandsome will be so worth it.” He reached up and stroked my cheek. “I know you don’t believe me, but everything I said to you was real.”

“Which is why I can’t let you do this.” I placed my hand over his.

“It’s why you must let me do this.”

I stepped away. “No.”

“Twig, it’s the only way.”

“I don’t believe that.” I paced, my movements rough. “It’s not right.”

“It’s the best we’ve got.”