Page 39 of Glow

Quinn’s heart leaped, happy that he had actually been able to make a connection. “That’s great. I never tried to talk to anyone like that who could talk back. Mostly warning animals about hunters or listening to the vibe of the forest for ghosts or other dangers.”

“That’s pretty cool,” Dan said. “I like the way our abilities complement each other.”

“I agree, it’s pretty special. Maybe fate knows what it’s doing,” Quinn said, which didn’t begin to really capture how surprised he was that his odd talent, one he often worried had little use, turned out to be an essential way to communicate with the man who was the love of his life. “I heard you purring,” Quinn went on. “Can you make other noises?”

Dan shrugged. “Probably. I never really tried. Since I was hoping not to be noticed, I didn’t want to call attention to myself. When I go out into the forest, I do my best to blend in under the trees.” He paused. “The purring happened by itself. It surprised me too.”

“I felt honored.” Quinn smiled. “Glad I could make you happy.”

“You make me very happy.” Dan rested his head on Quinn’s shoulder.

“We could look at buying some woodland, just for you,” Quinn mulled aloud. “If it’s posted ‘no hunting/no trespassing’ like a lot of the properties around here, you’d have privacy and not need to worry about running afoul of the landowner. We’re also right next to the park lands, but they’re still open to the public.”

“You’d consider that?” Dan looked skeptical. Quinn wasn’t sure whether it was from the assumption they had a long-term future together or just the commitment of purchasing the land for his benefit.

“To keep you safe? Yes,” Quinn told him, surprised at how sure he felt of an option he had only just considered.

Dan reached across the table and took Quinn’s hand in both of his. “I’ve never shown anyone my other side. Thank you for accepting me, all of me.”

Quinn gave his hands a squeeze. “We still have a lot to discover about each other, but that’s part of the fun. Although I don’t think I’ve got anything quite as dramatic.”

After they ate, they went into the living room and settled on the couch. They scrolled through the movie options and picked an adventure flick neither of them had seen before. Dan snuggled close to Quinn, who put an arm around his shoulder.

By unspoken agreement, neither of them tried to take things further, content with the contact and touches that were affectionate but not sexual.

“It doesn’t change how I see you,” Quinn assured him quietly. “I still think you’re sexy. I still want you as a partner.”

“I’m glad,” Dan replied. “I want you even more now, because you can accept all of me.”

Quinn angled their faces to kiss. “Always.”

They stayed tangled together through the whole movie, glad the story did not involve hunting or killing monsters. Despite a good dinner, they demolished a box of crackers and a container of cheese spread, as well as finishing off a bottle of wine.

“When you go into the forest again, please watch out for the wurm,” Quinn said after a while. “I caught a sense of it today, and given the people who have gone missing, I don’t think it’s harmless. I don’t know whether it would see your daemon as food or a threat, but please steer clear.”

“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Dan joked. “It was pretty freaky when I saw it; I’d rather not have a second look. I can usually pick up on other animals and people being nearby, but it felt completely unfamiliar and disturbing. If I feel that again, I’ll head in the other direction.”

“Thank you,” Quinn murmured, and realized that some of the daemon’s scent echoed in the undertones of Dan’s. “I’m hoping we can figure this wurm stuff out soon before anyone else gets hurt.”

“That includes you,” Dan pointed out. “You’re not expendable. Don’t be a hero. There’s always more than one way to fix a problem.”

Quinn sincerely hoped Dan was right. Reading about dragons in stories and lore was a far cry from actually trying to banish one from the backyard.

“I need to talk to Jeffries,” Quinn said. “I have some ideas that might help. And I promise to be careful. You’ve given me something wonderful to come home to.” He kissed Dan on the cheek.

They spent the night cuddled close, and Quinn felt a new sense of peace with Dan’s nearness. He hadn’t been aware of missing something before they met, but now he couldn’t imagine ever being without Dan’s company. Having him near helped Quinn get to sleep, but his dreams were restless, and his thoughts spun. He figured he was mentally preparing for his meeting with Jeffries and tried not to fret.

We’re together. Somehow, we’ll figure out how to stop the wurm, account for the missing hikers, arrest the bounty hunter, and keep Dan safe. Then we’ll be free to make a real home for ourselves. I’ve always wanted that, and I wasn’t sure it could happen. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep him safe.

He fell back to sleep listening to the even sound of Dan’s breathing and said a prayer for wisdom and protection to any gods that were listening.

CHAPTER 7

DAN

Dan didn’t fall asleep right away after they went to bed, sorting through thoughts and feelings from the evening.

Are you okay, Wally? he asked his other side, which had done everything Dan had asked of him, but been noticeably quiet since then.