\u201cThere is absolutely nothing you can tell me,\u201d she continued, \u201cthat would make me think you leaving us is a good idea.\u00a0 You could tell me that you were going to spark some disaster of Biblical proportions and I\u2019d still<\/i> tell you that you have to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
His breath caught.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we need<\/i> you.\u00a0 Biblical disaster or not, you\u2019re one of the things that holds us all together.\u00a0 The axle to all of our spokes on the wheel.\u00a0 You\u2019re more important to us than you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d Phelan said, his expression turning stubborn, his jaw setting and brows knitting.\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t keep thinking I am.\u00a0 I\u2019m just a footnote, a side character in this drama that\u2019s playing out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you?\u201d\u00a0 Jacqueline shook her head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t believe that.\u00a0 Why would so many people be so interested in making you dead if you were just a guest star and a footnote?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019m the pain in the butt type of sidekick that makes things more difficult for everyone else involved.\u201d\u00a0 Phelan sighed, his head dropping back against his pillows and his eyes sliding shut.\u00a0 \u201cWhy are you all being so stubborn and not listening to reason?\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we don\u2019t need that kind of protection,\u201d Jacqueline said softly.\u00a0 She went to the edge of his bed and sat down slowly, reaching for his hand.\u00a0 His fingers were cool, roughened by years of wear and tear.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe we don\u2019t want it.\u00a0 Maybe we just want our family together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily,\u201d Phelan echoed softly.\u00a0 He opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling.\u00a0 \u201cEvery family I build falls apart.\u00a0 The only reason that my sister and Neve and Teague are all still alive is because we\u2019ve mostly stayed away from each other for thousands of years.\u00a0 It\u2019s been safer that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeve\u2019s here now,\u201d Jacqueline said.\u00a0 \u201cNothing that<\/i> bad\u2019s happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOther than the troll and the assaults, no, of course not.\u201d\u00a0 His lips thinned and his gaze met hers.\u00a0 There was something heartrendingly sad in his eyes, a pain deeper than any she\u2019d seen before.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you understand, Jacqueline?\u00a0 I\u2019m the Wanderer for a reason.\u00a0 I can\u2019t stay in one place.\u00a0 Trouble finds me and makes the people I care about suffer.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I keep moving.\u201d\u00a0 His eyes slid closed again.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe I\u2019ve stayed too long already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want you to stay,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the only thing that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it?\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u00a0\u201cIt is.\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened his eyes again and stared at her.\u00a0 He started to say something, but she didn\u2019t hear it.<\/p>\n
She kissed him and whatever he was about to say was lost on both of them.<\/p>\n
Whatever it was didn\u2019t matter anymore anyway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThere is absolutely nothing you can tell me,\u201d she continued, \u201cthat would make me think you leaving us is a good idea.\u00a0 You could tell me that you were going to spark some disaster of Biblical proportions and I\u2019d still … Continue reading