Page 182 of Immortal Bastard

When she pulled back, she had tears in her eyes. Dashing them away, she said, “Please don’t think I’m some sort of a gold digger. I’m not. It’s just that no one has ever offered to help me the way you just did. I feel like all the weight I’ve been carrying on my own for the past few years, all the pressure and stress, just disappeared.”

“I enjoy helping you.”

She laughed. “I believe you. I just don’t think you understand how much this actually means to me. It’s like the boulder that’s been living in my stomach for years just vanished. Thank you for that, Christian.”

He dashed away a fallen tear. “Money is never something you’ll have to cry over, pintura. That I can promise.”

CHAPTER 27

Delilah never assumed traveling by foot could be so much fun, but as she leapt from trees and clung to the branches with unfathomable dexterity, her opinion changed. “Who knew I was outdoorsy?”

Christian dropped out of the sky as if from nowhere and landed stealthily beside her.

“Show off.”

Unlike mortals, the older an immortal became, the more power and strength they developed.

She hip-checked him playfully. “I’ll race you.” Before he could answer, she bolted into the woods.

Seconds later he whisked past her.

She cupped her mouth and yelled, “You took the fun right out of it!”

He doubled back, adopting a leisurely pace at her side and grinned at her. “You were trying to lose me?”

“Like that could ever happen.”

He shot her a pointed look. “True.”

“Do you guys ever play Manhunt on the farm?”

“Manhunt?”

“It’s like Hide and Seek on steroids.”

His gaze turned smoldering. “We play with our mates when we are not working.”

She caught his drift, but kept walking, not wanting to get sidetracked. They were making good time. It was almost dawn and they had been walking for hours. Christian knew a route that kept them out of view and removed from traffic and civilization. He said they would be there by noon if they kept a decent speed.

“You know, if I were still human, I’d be limping by now. I have so many newfound abilities.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t realize walking was a skill you struggled to master.”

“This isn’t walking, Christian. Immortals are, like, ambulatory savants. Did you see how high I was jumping back there?” She laughed. “We would crush it in the Olympics.”

“You’ll discover there are many gifts we enjoy.”

“I want to learn all of them.” She glanced over her shoulder. A constant menagerie of small-pawed creatures scurried behind her like a train of blimps in the Macy’s parade. “So, what do you think this Snow White power thing I have is all about?”

He lifted a low hung branch for her to duck under. “Perhaps they sense you’re no threat because you won’t eat them.”

She smiled as several rabbits, a few chipmunks, and a bevy of deer trailed her. It was like Walt Disney’s wet dream. “I think feeding helps. Your blood’s like the best enhancement drug in the world. It’s literally modifying my genetics. I feel so much more than I used to feel.”

“You’re handling the feedings much better now.”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind it. I sort of … like it, I guess.”

He gave her a knowing look. “You guess?”

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