Page 62 of Outside the Veil
“But it was no longer her. She was gone. It was simply meat.”
Diego squeezed his eyes shut and counted to five. He lacked the energy to explain desecration of the dead. “Finn, if I were dead, would you eat me?”
“Eat—” Finn wrinkled his nose. “Ugh. No. Humans taste disgusting.”
“Never mind. The point is that it was taunting me with Tara’s body. It threatened more murders, though, that was what got to me.” He told Finn everything that had happened and every thought the creature had sent to him.
“A moment. I find myself confused. You heard it so clearly? You understood it so completely?” Finn tried to sit up and gave up on a little moan.
“Yes, there’s no question what it wanted.”
“How curious. Its thoughts seemed so indistinct to me, so muddy and jumbled.”
“Maybe it’s used to talking to humans. Or maybe it was so muddled when it had you the first time because it just woke up.”
“Perhaps.” Finn chewed on his bottom lip. “And it called you Shaman?”
“Yes. Is that important?”
“It may well be. I must think on it after I have a nap.”
Diego stroked a finger over Finn’s cheek, his voice cracking as he spoke. “Mi vida, we can’t think any more. We’re out of time. That thing killed because of me and it’s going to kill someone else tonight unless I give it what it wants.” He closed his eyes against the sting of tears. “You have to keep your promise tonight.”
He buried his face against Finn’s shoulder, sobs wracking his body.
“Wsht, now.” Finn held him close. “While I encouraged you to weep, you need not weep over this. Not yet. The beast is wounded and sleeping. It will not hunt tonight. We have at least that much time, my hero.”
“How can you be sure?” Diego choked out.
“I may not understand its thoughts as thoroughly as you, but I hear it quite well. It will not stir tonight.” Finn shifted on a little grunt. “Neither will I.”
“All right.” Diego heaved a shuddering breath.I don’t want this, to be a martyr. I’m just a second-rate writer, not a hero. I just want to run away, to be with him. God, it’s not fair.
“Childish, stupid…” He seized Finn in a fierce hug. They had an extra day and a night, at least, time that needed to be well spent.
He heaved Finn up on his shoulders, the long body lighter than a human his size, and carried him up to the bed. The rest of the morning, he spoiled Finn without shame with cream, scrambled eggs, roasted chicken and a long backrub.
“If you were any other man, I would question the motive behind all this kindness.” Finn’s muffled voice rose from the pillow. “Lie down with me, my love. Let me bask in your heart-fire a bit.”
He stripped down to his briefs and slid in next to Finn, his skin still cool but no longer icy. The last time he had felt so comfortable simply holding a lover, without anxious thoughts about expectations and who should do what, had been—never. He lay content in Finn’s arms, letting his fingers caress over his smooth skin, exploring every dip, valley and dimple.
Finn’s eyes closed. His restless body stilled. Diego was so certain he had fallen asleep, the sudden, deep laugh made him jerk back.
“What,querido? What’s so funny?”
“Oh, m’boy, we are a right pair of fools.” Finn still laughed as he rolled onto his back.
“Are we?”
“Sweet mother of us all, yes, we are. Plain as the lightning in your head.”
Diego sighed. “If you don’t tell me soon, I’m getting up and leaving you here all alone.” He gasped when Finn seized his wrist.
“Please don’t leave me. I promise to reveal my thoughts. Please don’t…”
Diego slid an arm over him and held him tight. “Hey, hey, I wasn’t serious. And I wouldn’t have gone any farther than the kitchen anyway. What’s gotten into you?”
“Forgive me, my love.” Finn shuddered. “A small temporal dislocation. Forgive me.”
