Page 113 of Cry of the Firebird

"I'm serious. They will send out a search party for us soon."

"You'll protect me from any bad guys."

"What can I do to convince that drunken brain of yours to come with me easily?"

Hamish rubbed his chin dramatically. Finally, he got to his surprisingly steady feet and offered her his hand. "Dance with me."

Isabelle frowned at him, but despite her annoyance, there was mischief in her eyes. "Fine. One dance, then we are leaving."

The music in the bar hadn't changed much. It was still that sweet, nostalgic French jazz. Isabelle took his hand and placed a hand on his high shoulder. Hamish swallowed and rested his hand on the small of her back. They were both like nervous teenagers on a first date.

"This seems familiar," Isabelle commented as they moved to the music.

"Why didn't you come back all those years ago? I know you are different now. You have always been an amazing hunter, but you were human then. You aren't now. You haven't aged a day since I saw you," he said softly.

"The short story? A demon I was hunting got the better of me and bit me. I'm still mostly human. I can just do things a little differently now. It happened not long after I left you, and I was so disgusted and frightened by what was happening due to the demon stigmata, I couldn't face you like I was. It has taken me a long time to accept it. I really did think I was protecting you." They moved slowly to the music, oblivious that the next song had started.

"I was crazy about you, kiddo," Hamish said.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. My enemies were closing in, and I couldn't let anything happen to you. You deserved better than that. I didn't think they would put bombs in my apartment, and the thought that you could get hurt or killed because they wanted me dead that badly made me walk away."

They lapsed into a long silence again. Her body moving against his was driving him crazy but not enough to stop.

"Please say something," she whispered.

Hamish hadn't realized his silence was hurting her. "It's okay, Belle. I don't hate you even if I'm still hurt over it. When you want to tell me more about the demon bite, I want to hear it."

Isabelle gave him a soft smile, but he could see an old pain in her eyes. Whatever had happened must have been so much worse than what she let on.

"I don't want to be mad at you, and I don't want us fighting each other anymore," he added. "What we had was rare, and we should remember that."

"I do, but we really should go back now," Isabelle said as she stepped out of his arms. Hamish fought the urge to grab her and kiss her. "There's more alcohol at the mansion if you want to keep drinking."

"Okay, Mom. I'll behave and come quietly."

As Hamish was fixing up his massive tab, the barman whispered conspiratorially, "Now I see why you were drinking so hard." Hamish gave him a large tip.

"So whose car did you steal?" Hamish stepped out of the bar and onto the bright street.

"Whoever owns the silver Aston Martin." Isabelle flashed him a mischievous grin before opening the driver's side door.

"Trajan might try to kill you for taking it," Hamish warned as he got into the passenger seat.

"He told me to go find you, and I couldn't put you on the back of my bike. You are too big." Isabelle put her foot on the gas, and they squealed all the way down the road.

"Do you always drive like this?" Hamish asked, his stomach-churning.

"Yes. I'm an immortal now, so it really isn't enough to kill me if we crash."

"It would hurt like bloody hell though."

"I know it does. I tested it more than once," Isabelle said.

Hamish didn't reply. He had been in that headspace when he was first cursed as a shifter. She had been going through her own transformation alone, just like he had, and he wished that he could've been there for her.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, Hamish was almost sick on the shiny dashboard. He stepped out of the car on wobbly legs and would have fallen if Isabelle hadn't caught him by the arm.

"Jesus, you're a heavy bastard," she complained as she tried to get balanced on her heels. She slipped on the concrete floor, and they ended up in a heap on the ground.

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