“Yeah. She’s very long-winded,” he jokes.
“Why didn’t you tell me she’s a hybrid?”
“It never came up,” he says innocently, his shoulders rising in a shrug while his mouth turns up with a playful smirk.
“That explains a lot. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a full blood who cared for their hybrid child.”
“Now you have. I didn’t bleed her mother’s vein because I wanted the taste. Delightful as it was, I did it to save her life. Angela, Angel’s mother, was dying of cancer like many of the humans due to the overexposure of radiation. She had the gene, and I got the permission due to my rank. She’s still suffering through the worst parts of the change in the underground transformation facility, but in a few years she’ll be able to meet her daughter.”
“Do you think she’ll still want to meet her?” I ask hesitantly, and his eyes sting from my rude question. “I’m sorry. That was crossing the line.”
“Your life has led you to believe the worst in us. I understand your question, and I hope I’m right when I say she’ll want to be in Angelica’s life. I started calling her Angel for short because that’s what she is. She isn’t tainted by the cruel realities this world can dish out to so many like her. I hope Angela still loves me when she walks out, and I believe she and I can be the parents Angel will need during her change in a few more years.”
“Love? You two were in love?” I gasp.
“I know. I’m just all kinds of crazy. I’m a full blood who fell in love with a human. I changed her, and then I kept our hybrid daughter. I know it’s irrational, but I want us to be a family. I want it to set a new precedent for my kind and the hybrid children we produce with our willing human transformers.”
“That’s actually pretty incredible,” I murmur in awed disbelief, and then the sound of a motorcycle revving its engine draws my attention.
My stomach flip flops once again, only this time is excitement mixed with fear. Hale loves motorcycles, and if it’s him, I don’t know what I’ll do.
The jet black ride is laced with chrome touches, and the leather jacket is trimmed with blood red touches. The sleek, onyx helmet covers the face I’m terrified to see. The bike has red flames tattooing the sides, and it sounds like a gallantly purring dragon as it awaits permission to enter.
The mystery man looks up, and he gives a cocky wave in my direction which almost causes my knees to give out until I see Nicholas waving back. I sigh in relief and disappointment as the bike passes through the gate.
“Who’s that?” I ask curiously, while playing as if it’s of no real interest to me - even though I’m dying to know.
“Oh, it’s a new field captain who just transferred. He’s a full blood, but he was once engaged to a hybrid. I think that’ll help him fit in rather well since we have several species minglers here. His name is-”
“Brazen Mordel?” I say with a smirk, my eyes moving back down to the full blood piece of wonder.
“Yeah. You know him?” he asks curiously.
“You could say that,” I vaguely reply.
I see Brazen below taking off his helmet before disappearing into the building we’re standing atop.
“I’m glad you know him. It’s hard to come into a new compound where you don’t know anyone. He’s a great addition. The rumor is he can shoot a nail out of someone’s hand from seven-hundred feet away. I’m not sure why he specifically requested this place as his new base, but it’s great for us. Now we have a sharp shooter and the best interrogator in the network,” he gloats, and I smirk as I see Brazen strutting across the rooftop.
He salutes Nicholas very casually while continuing his mission to me, and I grin foolishly the closer he gets.
“Captain Mordel. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I think you already know Ms.-”
Nicholas stops short when Brazen grips me at the waist and jerks me to his body before delivering the most passionate kiss. I smile against his lips while returning the kiss, and I feel his lips turning up in a smile as well while backing away.
“Never mind,” Nicholas chuckles out. “I see the two are very well acquainted.”
“You could say that,” Brazen playfully responds, and it makes me smile to hear how alike our answers were.
“Well then. I suppose you’ll have a date now for the party tonight. I’ll leave you two alone to get reacquainted, and I’ll see you later,” Nicholas murmurs through his grinning lips, and then he heads down.
“How did you find me?” I muse.
“Clay,” he says casually while propping up on the side of the wall. “He approved my transfer, but I had to do a three week detail on some mongrels who caused a scene just down the road. I thought it was going to take forever to get here, but I’m finally holding you again.”
He pulls me to him, and his lips find mine again. I almost allow the kiss to continue, and then I pull back.
“I’m not doing this to you, Brazen. I left you once already for Hale, and it’s not fair to you. I’m not over him, and until I have closure, I don’t know if I ever will be. I need to know why he left me. That’s where I went wrong last time - our story paused instead of ending.”
