Quinn wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill. Her fingertips brushed over the stitched repairs on the arm of her favorite lab coat and she smiled. The brief moment of happiness quickly faded, however, and her heartache returned the second she thought of Wyck.

She lowered her head and continued through the cemetery, distracted. She missed him terribly.

He’d disappeared shortly after the light had taken them up to the heavenly realms, along with the Nephilim she’d stabbed. She didn’t remember much of her time there, only that he’d tried to stay with her, but a group of other men and angels wouldn’t let him. They’d been separated. She’d begged the petite woman with the spiky white hair and iridescent eyes to let her see him again, to at least tell her if Wyck was alright, but no one had spoken a word. They’d healed her and put her to sleep. When she’d awakened, she’d been back in her tiny shoebox of an apartment in Atlanta.

Alone.

Quinn shivered at the memories. Wyck had been constantly on her mind since then. She wanted to see him again, needed to know he was alright even if they couldn’t be together, even if he had to return to Heaven and she stayed here on Earth.

Even if it broke her heart.

God, she’d never felt so weak and hopeless. She wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all herself. Six months had passed.

Wyck was gone.

Her heart was broken.

She sighed and frowned at the wet grass. Cold wind stung her face. Winter was on the way and soon she’d have to decide where to go from here. Project Replenish was over. Tolbert International had stolen all her research and left town in the dead of night. The lab was closed. She still had bills to pay, her savings dwindled further by the day, and her life was a mess.

Her former colleagues wanted nothing to do with her. They all thought she was nuts, with her stories about supernatural creatures and biblical half-breeds and a serum that could turn humanity into a race of zombies. Even Sam had closed Paradise Lost and fled.

Quinn looked at the tombstones scattered across the bleak landscape. The Atlanta skyline rose in the distance. Before Wyck had come into her life, this had been her favorite view. Now, all she could think of was how magical it had all looked as they’d flown over the city, him holding her in his arms.

She cursed and turned away. He wasn’t returning and feeling sorry for herself wasn’t getting her anywhere. She was too strong for self-pity. If what Wyck had told her about the Seal was true, she needed to pick herself up, pull herself together, and get back to work. Time to prove her time with him hadn’t been wasted and she was stronger and more resilient for having known him.

Time to make him proud.

She squared her shoulders, steeling her resolve. She would figure out what had gone wrong with the Replenish serum and correct her mistakes. She’d move forward with her research, sans Nephilim, and maybe one day she’d meet Wyck again.

She’d carry on, unafraid of what the future held. Her love for Wyck, for what they’d had together during their brief time, would always live in her heart, giving her the strength to continue. Making her fearless.

Two strong arms wrapped around her and Quinn struggled, managing to reach the hilt of her knife. She wrenched free and spun to face her attacker, blade raised. Reality slowly dawned, along with her scowl.

“Where the hell have you been?” She cuffed Wyck across the side of the head and he rubbed his right temple.

“Hello to you too.” His deep voice made her quiver. “No kiss?”

He smiled, that devastating grin that made her want to melt into a puddle of goo. All she wanted to do was jump into his arms and kiss him silly. Considering she’d already made a fool of herself just now, why not?

Quinn was on him before he could react, throwing her arms around his neck. He caught her, holding her tight around her waist. She kissed him hard and deep and fierce until they were both breathless. Their connection felt strong and vibrant as ever. She eased away slightly, loving the gentle slid of his tongue against hers, the soft brush of his lips. Her spirits lightened, the warmth of her emotions chasing away the day’s chill.

Quinn broke away at last, pressing her cheek to his. “You didn’t come back.”

He sighed and held her tighter, as if he’d never let her go. “I’m here now. Sorry it took so long. The investigation took forever.”

“Investigation?” She frowned. “Investigation into what?”

He released her, setting her back down on her feet. She looked him over—same black leather jacket, same hipster glasses, same black boots and faded jeans. But there was something different about him. Her eyes widened.

“You got in trouble because of me, didn’t you?” Her heart sank at the thought of him being punished because of the serum. Her chest squeezed, she couldn’t breathe. That’s why no one would tell her a word about what had happened.

“No.” Wyck gave her a sad smile, brushing the backs of his fingers down her cheek. His hand felt warm and he tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Divinity gave me a choice, Quinn. After the serum weakened me, I could stay in the heavenly realms and focus on scholarly work and research until I’d fully recovered, or I could take my chances and resume my Scion duties to guard you.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “Guess which option I chose.”

Tears streaked her cheeks and she leaned into his touch. “I don’t want you hurt again because of me.”

To answer, he lifted his white T-shirt to reveal his Scion mark, a jagged scar now running through it, but intact and whole, just like him.

The beauty of his decision stole her voice, constricting her throat with the strength of her feelings. Her love for him was overwhelming, all-consuming, searing through every cell of her body, filling her with peace and happiness.

Quinn didn’t know how to thank him. There were no words. Instead, she twined her arms around his neck again and held him close. “You didn’t have to.”

“I know.” His warm breath stirred the hair near her temple and his pulse beat in time with hers. He pulled back and brushed his thumb across her jaw, the raw affection in his gaze making her cheeks heat. No one had ever looked at her with so much love. “I couldn’t bear to be away from you.”

She kissed him, unable to get enough. Her Scion. They’d been through so much together in their short time, but she’d never imagined it would turn out this way.

“I love you, Quinn.”

His smile widened and he lifted her, his hands on her backside. It didn’t matter. No one was watching and the man she was crazy about just told her he loved her.

She pressed her hands against his broad shoulders and looked into his eyes. “I love you too, Wyck.”

He kissed her again, brief and sweet.

“What happened to the Nephilim prisoner?” she asked.

He quirked an brow. She hated to be so practical when he was giving her that “come-hither” look, but they were in the middle of a cemetery and it was hardly the weather for making love outdoors. That would have to wait until she got him back to her place.

“He survived. We’ve been interrogating him in the Empyrean prisons. His confessions have been most…enlightening.”

She frowned. “This isn’t over then. Are you strong enough to fight beside me? You got two doses of the serum. I don’t—”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “I am still Scion and still immortal. I still have my powers, but it just takes a bit longer to summon them at present.”

“But you’ll make a full recovery, in time?” She’d do anything to help him regain his strength, sacrifice anything to stop his suffering and make him whole.

“Yes,” Wyck stroked her cheek, his gaze holding hers. He hesitated then looked skyward. “Until then, I’m more than capable of performing my Scion duties. All of them. If I have you in my life, I have everything, Quinn. You’re all I need.”

She sensed his slight hesitation, as if there was more to say. “But?”

He sighed, his expression pensive. “There is a way for me to regain full Scion powers, and it requires your help. Whether you agree or not, I will always love you.”

“What is it?” Quinn frowned and looked up at the sky.

“There’s some debate in Heaven about your serum. The Heavenly Court debated whether it should be destroyed or if you should be allowed to study it further—under Divinity’s guidance and oversight.”

“Wait a minute. God wants me to be His personal scientist?”

“Her. And yes. But you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, Quinn. You have total freewill and nothing to prove. Your work is important and could help so many people. You’ve done humanity a great service by risking your life to protect them.”

Quinn never really thought about herself in that way. Like some crusader for science, making discoveries and testing theories in the name of the greater good. Her work was just something she’d always felt compelled to do. She’d never sought fame or glory, and had certainly never expected Heaven to notice. She’d always seen herself as a socially-awkward nerd and expected everyone else to do the same.

“I came back because I couldn’t spend the rest of eternity without you.” Wyck squeezed her hands and met her gaze. “I came because I believe in our love, our connection. I came to make you happy again so you could continue your work... With me at your side.”

The fact he was trying so hard to convince to make her own decision meant so much and she cherished that more than she could say. “I’ll do whatever it takes, because I love you, Wyck. I know how important your Scion duty is to you, because my work is important to me too. If someone took that away, I’d be lost.”

“I do feel a bit adrift.” He looked away, his expression forlorn and vulnerable. He looked at her through his lashes and she smiled.

“We’ll find our way together, I promise.” Quinn ran her hands over his chest. His dark gaze followed her touch she brushed her fingers over his neck to cup his jaw. “No matter what happens, you’re still the man I love.”

She stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.

She loved him. Nothing would ever change that.

They’d move forward, keep working, keep fighting the Nephilim and protecting humanity. Together.

The End