Page 54 of Dead Air
“Right…” Niall pushed out a frustrated breath. “Work with me. Give me something that isn’t illegal.”
Cenn’s eyes swept upwards. “A demonic hobby or a passion that isn’t illegal…” he murmured, shaking his head slowly. “I fear we’re still not seeing eye to eye on what demons do and you might be a little confused if you think I give a flick about some random biologist we’ve never even met.”
“You really don’t have a passion foranything?” Niall thought it was terribly sad. His passion for nature and helping others fed his soul— “Oh.” Niall’s heart broke as he recalled all the times Cenn had explained that he didn’t have a soul. He wasn’t driven by any of the things that mattered to Niall because Cenn didn’t feel any of the emotions that inspired him.
“You inspire me. You’re my passion,” Cenn whispered as he gathered Niall’s face in his hands. “Perhaps I could make a career out of that, while I’m on my hiatus with you?”
Niall had started to cry, imagining how empty Cenn’s existence must have been and touched to the depths of his silly soul that he could inspire anyone that much. “Stop!” His laugh was watery as he threw his arms around Cenn.
“I mean it. I could happily paint a hundred portraits of my love and they would all be masterpieces. Or I could write volume after volume of poetry or dozens of novels about the most beautiful soul I’ve ever known. I’d rather do any of that instead of chasing salamanders and counting their eggs, and I suspect that would bring a lot more people joy. But I’d come back as a ‘real’ biologist and spend the next fifty years counting the little buggers if it made you happy.”
“I don’t think that’s an option anymore, now that Shelby knows. And we should probably leave the salamanders alone.” Niall didn’t want to think about Shelby or the salamanders anymore either and was ready to make Cenn and their life together his passion. “Wow. Maybe this is changing me. A month ago, I didn’t think I’d ever be ready to let anyone in my cabin, let alone my life. Now, I have a boyfriend and Iwantus to have a real home together. I’ve also found people I want to be friends with,” he added with a surprised laugh.
“I didn’t see any of this coming a month ago and I’m delighted,” Cenn said, then glared at the door. “Not as delighted about your choice of friends but I can be a bestselling author or a renowned artist and be civil for your sake.”
“You’re awfully sure of yourself. How do you know you’d be any good?” Niall asked and there was a long pause before Cenn answered.
“Why would I choose to make bad art or write lousy books? I’m Cenn Cruach, whatever I do will be exceptional. Especially ifit’s inspired by you,” he said with utter confidence, making Niall roll his eyes.
“You’re going to cheat. So much for growth.”
“I would have thought that not becoming a hitman or an executioner was growth. Do I have to be a starving artist or a struggling author as well, or am I allowed to have some fun and earn a respectable living? I can’t bring joy to the world with my art if it stinks,” Cenn countered and Niall threw up his hands and threw in the metaphorical towel.
“We don’t have to figure this all out tonight. Today has already beena lotand I’m just glad you’re still here. I don’t know whatweshould do, but I like the idea of taking it one step at a time, together, and doing it with as little magick as possible.”
Cenn made a knowing, weary sound. “You will always choose the hard way but you wouldn’t be worth all this trouble if you could be tempted into an easier, flashier life,” he said and Niall shook his head.
“I’m not a flashy kind of guy. I’m just regular, boring Niall and I’m fine with that,” he declared with a defiant nod, making Cenn choke back a laugh.
“Are you forgetting about what happened fifteen minutes ago? If there’s one thing I’ve learned from today and my time on this mountain, it’s that you are anything but regular or boring.”
A wide, drowsy smile spread across Niall’s face. “I like that but I don’t need anyone else but you to know that about me.”
“I won’t tell a soul,” Cenn promised. “Although, it is a little unfair that everyone thinks you’re the innocent lamb and I’m corrupting you. You’re the one who’s filthy and insatiable, I just do what you tell me to do.”
Twenty-Two
Most of the campers on Niall’s lawn had cleared out just after dawn to Cenn’s relief. MacIlwraith and his throne were still there but Cenn had no interest in entertaining them. Niall was waking up and his tea was nearly done steeping.
Cenn set it on the bedside table and stretched out on the bed next to Niall. “Good morning, my sweet,” he whispered in Niall’s ear and watched as his lips twitched into a smile and his eyelids fluttered and opened. “My love.” He turned Niall’s face and kissed his eyelashes, his nose, and his lips. “The last of our guests are leaving soon and we’ll have the mountain to ourselves again,” he said but Niall frowned.
“Did Merlin leave?” he asked and gasped when Cenn nodded. “I didn’t get to say goodbye. I have so many questions!”
“I don’t take any pleasure in saying this but I doubt that’s the last we’ll be seeing of the wee weasel,” Cenn sighed, but had to bite down on a smile. He’d never admit it to another soul, but he found the little rascal amusing.
“Good. I really like him and Nox.”
“He’sstill here with Nelson. They’re waiting to say goodbye and the demigod would like to have a heart to heart with me,” Cenn sighed, shaking his head. “Too bad I don’t have a heart.”
“You do too!” Niall pulled Cenn on top of him and hooked a leg around his waist. “You love me and you couldn’t do that without a heart.”
“I still haven’t figured out how that works, exactly,” Cenn confessed. “But he doesn’t need to know that. What would you like to do once we’ve gotten rid of them?”
Niall gave Cenn’s back a swat. “Stop!” he laughed, then became serious. “I think I’m going to head down to the visitor’s center and use their computer. I still don’t know what our next step should be but I should send in my resignation. It could take them months to find a replacement.”
“Why?” Cenn pushed off the bed and sat back on his heels. “This is your home. You belong here.”
“No.” Niall shook his head. “I belong with you butwecan’t stay here like this. Shelby knows and I can’t ask him to pretend or cover anything else up for us. And I don’t know exactly why, but we seem to attract a lot of the wrong kind of attention. I don’t want to bring anymore of that to the park and make more trouble for Shelby.”
