Page 81 of The Firebrand
“What will I say when someone asks my heritage? ‘Irish with a dash of witch?’”
“Funny but ridiculous. You’re 99.9 percent human, as you like to say. You were raised human. You’re going home to your human world. You’ll settle down with a human male, get married, have a few human kids.” Rein choked out these words with a mocking sneer on his face.
“Even if it’s less than one percent, my father should have told me a mage made love to an ancestor who popped out a kid.”
“You want to know about your ancestor? A warlock cast a charm spell before he fucked the unwitting female. Then he left. Surprise! A hybrid. Only Gahya knows why he didn’t kill his sperm before it took root. And I’m guessing Mommy was unable to manage a teenager who started fires or broke bones with a flick of his wrists. So she deserted the kid.”
Her eyes narrowed at Rein’s snarled response. “You have such a jaded view. They might have loved each other.”
“Brae. Where did you get an absurd idea like that? Aeternals don’t love humans. We can hardly stand ourselves.”
Her breath caught in her throat.Aeternals don’t love humans.Even if she were forever young and cancer-free, Rein would never want her, never regret she was leaving. Tears beaded in her eyes.
Face the fact. Suck it up. Move on.
With one long stride, he captured her arm, pulling her to him. “I’m an ass. I didn’t mean what I said.”
“Yes, you meant it. You warned me.”
“True. I did.”
She pulled away from Rein’s arms to carry her empty plate to the counter. Slamming it down, she put her hands on her hips, her frustration with him, with a slow-growing cancer, and with unfulfilled desires spewing like lava from Mount St. Helens. “You are an arrogant, insufferable vampire. Are you sorry about anything?”
“No. Being sorry is a waste of energy. You’re mad at me again, but I’ve been up front with you.”
“Yay for honesty. But damn you and damn your indifference to … to everything and everyone.”
The muscles in Rein’s neck corded, his fists clenched at his sides. “I’m not indifferent to you, Brae. That’s what makes you a complication. I’ve fought over a century to maintain balance, to control the bludfrenzy growing inside me. Yet when I’m around you, I lose my shit.”
She took a deep breath. “I can’t say I’m sorry about that, Rein. At least it shows you have some feelings for me.” She tugged on the hem of her snug red top. “Look, I don’t want to part this way. You’ve been… I’ve… Damn. Since you’re so big on truth, here it is. I’ll remember you.”
Always.
They remained quiet for some time, each staring at the floor. Breaking the silence, Braelyn said, “My world turned upside down when I saw you in that alley, but I would not trade this experience for anything. I want you to know that before I leave. Also, I’m not sorry about last night.”
Rein nodded, his throat bobbling as he swallowed. He fell into his default insouciant counter-lean with his arms crossed over his chest. “What are your plans when you get home?”
Aware the vampire would not comment on last night, she said, “I’ll have a lot more respect for my father’s crazy tabloid. That’s for sure. I’ve been thinking of training with the Alliance. As a reporter forStrange but True, since I know the skinny,I could liaise with them. Of course, I have a lot of trips to the doctors in front of me. Nothing new there. I might still finish school, but the Alliance matters more to me now.”
“The Alliance? Not sure what I think about that.” Rein’s spine stiffened as he pushed off from the counter.
Braelyn cocked her head to the side, her brows quirking.
Rein checked his D-chip. “Right. None of my biz. I already called Alarik. Your father will meet us at his office in a little while.”
She refused to ask about Rein’s plans, not wanting to dwell on the dangers of his job or his indiscriminate screwing around while slurping blood from a succubus in a tight pink sweater. “It’ll be nice for you to get back to normal. No one messing up your house. No one asking too many questions.”
“It hasn’t been too bad.” He took his cup and plate to the sink, running hot water, dousing a sponge with dish soap. After tossing a towel at Braelyn, he washed the dishes. “You dry. Try putting everything where it belongs.”
“I will if you try to work on not being such a tight ass. By the way, the clothes Sabine brought me are in Elisabeta’s room, scattered on the floor. Give them to somebody so they don’t go to waste.”
“Fuck the clothes.” Rein splashed water onto the counter when he slammed a skillet in to be washed.
With nothing left to say, they passed the time washing and drying. When finished, Rein snatched the towel from Braelyn, folded it, and signaled her toward the door. Pressing her lips together until they hurt, she paused at the hallway table, purse on her shoulder and the plastic bag with her tennies gripped in her fist. She touched the blades Rein had given her at the gym, caressing the smooth leather of the sheaths for several moments, running loving fingers over the hilt of a throwing knife.
“Take them with you.”
“You mean that?”
