Page 12 of Crimson Bond

She wasn’t attracted to him—she felt sorry for him. I stepped back and leaned against the wall again.

Shane twisted around, following my movement. “You wanna mind your own business buddy? I realize you hate humans, but this has nothing to do with you. Just do your job.”

I was off the wall and chest to chest with him in a heartbeat. “Myjob—is keeping the princess safe. I won’t let anything get in the way of that—certainly not herpityfor a weak human.”

“Princess?” Shane recoiled from me and looked at Abbi.

“My mom’s not only the ruler here, she’s sort of... a queen,” she said, sounding embarrassed.

“Oh. Wow. Well, I guess that explains your reaction when I kissed you the first time.”

Kissed?This pipsqueak hadkissedher? Outrage rolled through me like thunder before an approaching storm.

Abbi placed a soft hand on my bicep, which was quivering with suppressed energy. “Please. Could you give me a minute to say goodbye? Then we can go.”

I stared him down another good five seconds then went to wait at the door for the sickening farewell scene to end.

Shane lowered his voice to a near whisper, but of course I could still hear every word. “You’re traveling withhim? I don’t like it.”

“Join the club,” Abbi said. “He’s leading the mission, and I’m going along to assist. Believe me, you don’t want to go on this trip, and youdon’twant to turn. You shouldn’t get any more involved with this world than you already are. I promised to let you return to your life, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep that promise.”

I smirked at my own reflection in the metal door. Good. She was planning to send him packing when we got back.

Apparently old Shane had other plans. In the reflection, I saw him reach out and hold her face. “You’repartof my life now. A big part. I don’t want to lose you.”

I whipped around just in time to see him kiss her. If the door handle hadn’t been made of heavy-duty stainless steel, it would have turned to powder in my hand.

Abbi didn’t slap him, and she didn’t resist. “Why did you do that?”

“You really have to ask?”

“You said you were content with being just friends.”

“‘Content’ is a strong word for it,” he said. “‘Resigned’ is more like it. Go do what you have to do. And when you come back, Abigail, I think we should give it a shot.”

I’d heard enough. “Time’s up. We need to go.”

Abbi twisted to look at me then back to Shane. “Goodbye—for now. Iwillcome back and free you.”

“I’d rather you came back and kept me.” He gave her a dopey smile. “Be safe. I’ll be waiting.”

I congratulated myself for not hurling all over the pristine stone floor, and Abbi and I left the medical clinic together.

7

Toughen Up

Reece

Abbi didn’t mention the kiss, and I didn’t intend to, but after several minutes of complete silence I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“So youareinterested in him.”

Clearly she was, which had to be why she was so quiet. Probably reliving thedreamymoments of tenderness with herwonderfulhuman boyfriend. Gag.

“What does it matter to you?” she snapped. “You knew when you joined the Bloodbound, I’d find someone else eventually. Or did you think I’d stay alone forever, pining away for you?”

Ouch. Of course that wasn’t what I’d expected of her. Well... notforeveranyway. A few decades might have been nice.

---