Page 25 of The Firebrand
Goose. Gander. Gotcha.
“Past, present, or future?” her brother asked, giving her that pinched-face look he got when he lost patience.
Or his briefs were too tight.
“Future. Although she hid in a thick mist, it was her. I did not mistake that short-haired, freckle-nosed Rein-donor.”
“Interesting.” Alarik pivoted his chair toward the window, eyes focused far away, his attention somewhere beyond Indigo. “I think you should go to the river again tomorrow. Try to find what role the female may play here.”
She nodded in silent agreement. Braelyn was the boost her nephew needed or a cog in his wheels. Maybe a little of both.Whatever. Indigo guessed the human was about to shake Rein’s world. Of course, so could an earthquake.
****
Braelynsmacked into Rein when he came to an abrupt stop.
“We’ll walk from the ministry since it’s close to my condo. A houseguest isn’t what I had planned, but I’ll make it work.”
Before he could spin and stride forward again, she latched onto his elbow, her nostrils flaring. “You know, this isn’t what I scheduled either. And, at the risk of pissing you off more than I usually do, it’s your fault I’m here in the first place. I wish you could dump me with your boss or your dad or your aunt. Or Ram. He seemed interesting. I don’t think I annoy him.”
“He’s slick, but don’t let him fool you. All humans annoy him. Besides, I decide what’s what.” Crushing her fingers, Rein yanked her along, chuffing.
“You’re a controlling bastard.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good to know you can walk. It’s a great way to travel. I try to get in ten thousand steps a day in Seattle. Speaking of cities, do you travel to Earth often?” Braelyn stumbled. “Slow down.”
“Do you have to talk so much?”
Surprise. He’s pissed again. Or is it still?
“You’re hurting me.” With one hand in Rein’s grasp, she clamped onto his wrist with the other, tugging backward, grinding in her heels to slow him down.
He didn’t stop, though he did relax the pace.
Not having to heel-toe, heel-toe, run-run-run, Braelyn said, “Isn’t compromise better?”
The vampire mix growled.
From the first corridor, they turned into another. Then another, the lights so dim that Braelyn willingly kept palm-to-palm with Rein. “Can you see okay?”
“Just fine. Get a move on.”
“I’m walking as fast as I can. Is seeing in the dark a superpower?”
“Yes.”
It was a good bet Rein was sneering. “Are one-hundred-percent vampires only able to go out at night?”
“No.”
“So, they don’t turn to ash in sunlight.”
“Correct.”
“How about garlic?” Braelyn had watched quite a few movies about bloodsuckers who stayed away from houses decorated with the stuff.
“Love it.”
