Page 99 of Evidence of a Folktale

“God, Isobel.” He swore as he slammed his palm on the island’s counter. If Bel were anyone else, she would’ve flinched at the force, and she did slightly, but not in fear. The sound surprised her, but not his aggression. Most wouldn’t understand his true meaning, but she did. He loved her, and he was fighting for his humanity to remain in control.

“Just let me be selfish,” he continued, seizing her facein his hands. “You want me to stay in Bajka with you and never leave? Then listen when I tell you to get out of the way. You can fight me about anything you like, but do not fight me on this because when it comes to your survival, I don’t care who else dies in this world.”

“Eamon…”

“No. I don’t care who dies as long as it isn’t you,” he cut her off. “I’ll kill them myself if it saves you. Even the innocent. Let that sink in. You fight for innocence, but I would murder them in a heartbeat to keep you alive. To stay in your good graces, I would rather not, though. So please, if the deal is the one killing these crew members, and he threatens you with dark magic, step aside and let him have his final payment. Let the guilty pay because a TV show isn’t worthsomuch as a single drop of your blood.”

“Are you done?” Bel smiled as she slid her hands up his chest. She shouldn’t smile. The man was terrifying as he hovered over her, and she didn’t doubt his oath. He would kill even the innocent if it bought her survival, but she couldn’t stop the girlish grin from curving her lips.

“Yes…” He squinted down at her. “What’s so funny?”

“You.”

“I’m being serious, Isobel.” He looked like he might blow steam out of his ears.

“I know. You’re just so intense.” She slid her fingers up his neck to brush over his clenched jaw. “Youreallylove me, don’t you?”

“Of course, I love you.” He gawked at her as if she was dense. “You’re all I love… well, the dogtoo, but he’sbasically part of you. I like your family and friends, but you and Cerberus are my entire world.” He lowered his forehead to hers, unconsciously inhaling her scent as their skin collided.

“I do want you to stay,” she whispered, their mouths so close, her words feathered his lips like a kiss. “So, I promise. If the deal comes for his final victim, I’ll step out of the way. I’ll do everythingin my powerto stop him first, though.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” Eamon leaned closer until his mouth pressed against hers. Bel surged forward, kissing him deeply as she hugged his neck, and he pulled her off her chair to deposit her on the counter.

“I shouldn’t like it when you get aggressive about my safety.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, the alcohol and fearandhis intense devotion winding through her like a haze of drugs. “But I’m learning your tells, and when you’re cranky, it’s your way of saying I love you.”

“I’m not cranky,” Eamon growled against her mouth as he yanked her further against his chest.

“You are,” Bel teased, her fear from her earlier encounter evaporating as he held her against his thundering heart. Let that suited man come for her now. He’d learn what it meant to pay the price.

“Quiet.” Eamon gripped her hair and pulled her head back, stealing her moans like a man possessed.

“Cranky,” she whispered, sliding her hands below his shirt, but as her fingertips traced the contours of his muscles, she jerked backward. “What’s burning?”

Eamon cursed, leaping away from her to shove the pot off the stove, and Bel burst into laughter.

“How did I smell that before you?”

“You were distracting me.” He ran his hand through his hair, his features still dazed by their kiss. “I was trying to have a serious conversation, but then you laughed at me and pressed your perfect body all over mine, and all rational thought went…” He made a throwing gesture at the kitchen window.

“I wasn’t laughing at you.” Bel hopped off the counter to help him salvage their meal. “I was terrified earlier. That man restrained both my wrists. I couldn’t shoot. I couldn’t call you. Then I get here, and you’re not known for keepingyour cool when it involves me. It would scare other people, but your intensity betrays how much you love me. I don’t know what it says about me, but I find it unreasonably attractive.”

“What a pair we are.” Eamon wrapped his arm around her neck and fake pinned her against his chest like they were wrestling teenagers, and she played along, shoving him until he finally let go. “But before all my whiskey goes to your head, swear to me you’ll stay safe. If I can’t get to you, step out of the way because your death won’t stop the deal. He’ll still need to sacrifice his last victim. Don’t die in vain.”

“I won’t,” Bel promised. “I’ll be stubborn about it, but I won’t.”

“Yeah, well, we’ve already proven you enjoy keeping me in a constant state of cardiac arrest.” Eamon kissed her scars before grabbing a new pan to start dinner over. “But I like a girl who can hold her own against me. I sometimes worry my strength will hurt those around me, but you? Not so much.”

“Cause you’re afraid of me?” She winked.

“Yup,” he said so fast that she couldn’t help but laugh at the seriousness in his tone.

“Good, Mr. Stone. You should be afraid of me.” She pinched his waist hard, wondering if she would ever make him flinch, but he caught her wrist and yanked her into his arms. Her laughter doubled at the playfulness, and while the teasing seemed wrong after what occurred on her front lawn, it was exactly what she needed. Eamon was her best friend. He was the man who made her laugh. The man who kept her safe, who made her strong, who loved her so violently that he’d willingly become a monster to keep her breathing. This was where she belonged. Botheringthe Beast of Bajka until he smiled.

“The deal isn’t here,so you should be fine,” Eamon said after sweeping the set. He couldn’t afford to abandon his work any more than he already had, but he agreed to stop by and examine the sets every morning before filming. Aesop’s Files was shooting at the Bajka Library for the next few days, so the locked building would be easy for the deputies to defend from the straggler fans without him. Bel wasn’t worried, though. Death reared its gluttonous head only at night, so her presence was more performance than practical.

“Thank you.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers. “But no one’s going to attack Mr. Draven in front of dozens of crew members and cops.” She gestured to the swarming library.

“Call me if you need me for anything.” Eamon scanned the crowd, and finding no one watching, he stole a kiss.

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