Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

W aking up with a stone statue in his bed, Byron got up. He no longer considered Angela a statue, but as the figure containing his perfect woman. She may have had a job to protect him, but he was sure that having gotten to know each other over the past few days, they developed a deep connection.

It was then that he realized something. He wanted to take care of her. He’d want her beside him, even if he only had her at night.

He made several stops on his way home from work, arriving just before sunset. Entering the house, he set up the couple of things he was going to need for the fairies that he had purchased and made dinner for himself and Angela. Heading into the shower, he dressed in loose-fitting jeans and t-shirt, before placing the figurine by the dining table already set for dinner and waited, only getting up to check on the meal he was cooking.

Returning from the kitchen, Angela stood by the table. He smiled, “Good evening. I have dinner for us. Let me get it. Sit and relax. I’ll be right back.”

“Does it include Oreos?”

“It can,” he chuckled. He dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a couple of plates of food, and returned to the dining room, setting one plate in front of her and the other in front of himself. “Do you actually rest when you’re in your other state?”

“Kind of. It’s not like sleep, as you know it. I’m aware of what is going on around me. I am still a guardian even during the day; I just can’t transform. Most evil during the day is of a human variety, human actions against another person. We, as in gargoyles, don’t handle human atrocities. We deal with other-worldly issues.”

“Like fairies.”

“Yes. Like fairies.”

“I hope you like dinner.”

“Cod. It reminds me of home. How thoughtful. Thank you.” Taking a bite, she chewed thoughtfully. “It’s delicious. However, we shouldn’t waste too much time tonight. We still have the mead and the horseshoes to fulfill. Have you been able to do any more acts of kindness in the name of the fairies?”

“I stopped at a liquor store today. I purchased some mead from Bunratty Castle, imported from Ireland. I bought five bottles just to be on the safe side. I also bought some flowers and delivered them to a rehabilitation center to cheer up those who were ill and visited a few of the older patients who didn’t have a family to visit them. That should take care of my service in their names. So, I only have the horseshoes left and of course, to deliver everything to them in hopes that I’ve completed what they’ve asked of me.”

“You’ve been busy. I’m glad. Who knew you could get Irish mead in America?”

“Technological advancements have made anything you could possibly want just a computer click away.”

When we finish our meal, we can take the mead to them, then hunt for the horseshoes. Time is running out.”

“I remember.” He chewed thoughtfully.

“My husband, Connor, loved to fish. We’d sell the extra and store the rest in our own cupboards. Fresh was always the best. As good as this is. ”

“This is frozen, but I’m glad you enjoy it.” He swallowed another bite.

Having finished their meal, Byron cleared the plates. “I'm almost set. Let me get the mead, and we can head to the fairy ring.”

Angela’s wings immediately materialized. She helped him carry the bottles. Wrapping her wings around him, they soon were at the fairy ring in Ireland.

Byron brought the mead to the ring and set them on the stone wall. “For the Emerald Isle Fairies. Please accept these as part of my penance”

The stillness around him was almost unnerving as the items dematerialized. Nodding, he headed back to Angela. “Where should we go to find horseshoes?”

“I have a couple of ideas.” Holding her wings open, they beckoned to him.

Entering the circle of her wings, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re hard to resist. Just so you know,” he murmured against her neck, licking behind her ear. His soft expression made her quiver.

“Stop, or you’ll not finish in time.”

Moaning, he let her go, and she opened her wings. They were near a stable.

“I figured a couple of stables should enable us to find what you seek. When you find them, pick them up by the bottom of the ‘u’ and hold them so the two prongs are upright, then spit on them and throw them over your head.”

“Got it,” he entered the stables.

It took thirteen stables to find the three horseshoes needed. Angela’s time was almost up when they returned home with the final items requested by the fairies, who were unable to deliver them. Tomorrow, they would transport the items when time would once again be on their side.