Page 54 of The Firebrand
“Who gives a rat’s ass? I don’t. Then, as if that’s not enough of a smack-down, my pesky little brain tumor keeps popping up. When I need a break to ‘get my shit together’ as you so graciously put it, you want to dump me.” Her chest heaved as she took a deep breath, swiping at a tear leaking down her cheek.
Not understanding why, Rein pulled Braelyn close, stroking a palm across her hair, her head clasped to his chest. “I don’t want to dump you. Traffic-stopping hottie, huh?”
“That’s what you got from all I said?”
“No. I listened to the whole feel-sorry-for-me tirade. But complications bother me. And you, Brae, human female, are the biggest complication I’ve ever met.”
“I am?” She peeked up at him, the corners of her mouth curling into a grin. “Hmm. I guess we all have to live with a few complications.”
He pushed her back. “Jump up, legs around my waist, so I can… What did you say? ‘Whisk’ us off.”
She held up a hand. “No whisking. I’m on foot. You may come or not. Frankly, I don’t give a damn.” With long strides, her arms swinging at her sides, Braelyn stomped ahead.
Great ass in that skirt. Nice roll to it when she’s mad.I’m gonna enjoy fucking her.
He caught up. “We’ll walk if that’s what will calm you down. Here.” He clasped her cool fingers.
“I give myself kudos for how well I’m handling the new reality of different realms and mythic monsters. The extra load—my father’s prior knowledge of all this and the mage in my family tree—is too much. The proverbial straw, and I’m the camel with a snapped spine. I need a little time to regroup.”
“I understand.”
When they exited the building, he headed for the stronghold. After a few blocks, Rein poker-faced a question. “What about your tumor?”
“It’s brain cancer. Had it a long time. Surgery took care of part of it. A chemo-radiation combo treated the rest. It’s back. End of story.”
Braelyn halted, fixing on Rein.
“What?” he asked.
“Pity. I’m looking for it.”
“Do you see any?” Rein wide-eyed her, controlling the swirling anger in his irises, returning the color to glacial blue.
“No. Though once people find out about the disease, they look at me differently.”
“Sorry. Fresh out of pity. Haven’t had any for a long time. Human life is short by my standards anyway.”
“Do you think less of us because of that?”
“Not really.” He shrugged. “Take the butterfly.”
She arched her brows.
“It’s born, lives a season, dies. In the meantime, it flies free, beautiful, graceful, a celebration of the brevity of existence. Perhaps that’s what counts. How you live. Not how long.”
Braelyn pressed a hand to her heart, her breath hitching. “Vampire, you’re almost poetic. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I have moments.” But Rein had lied. To her. To himself. Without the smart-ass female to brighten up the world, it would be a grayer place. For some reason, he wished the human butterfly a long, happy life. Even though he wouldn’t be part of it.
Damn.
“This colorful winged insect is curious. How long do Aeternals live?” She caught his hand again, continuing their stroll along the street.
“A thousand years, maybe more, maybe less.”
She stutter-stepped, mouth open. “You’re nearly fucking immortal! How old are you?”
“I was born in 1763.”
