Page 24 of Breaking the Bloodstone Curse
“Well, well—a red-eyed monster. You don’t say.” Aunt Nibblegrim looked oddly pleased for some reason. “Yes, well that’s news, isn’t it?”
“It’s the reason I wanted to buy a bodyslave in the first place—to have a protector,” Serenai explained. “Not just for status like other Mistresses,” she added.
“Yes, well, it seems that’s working out well for you.” Her aunt nodded, as though she was satisfied about something—though Brax wasn’t sure what. “Well, that’s all fine then,” she concluded.
“But…but don’t you care that I’m being stalked by this…this thing?” Serenai asked, clearly upset because Aunt Nibblegrim didn’t look a bit worried on her behalf.
“Oh yes—yes, of course, my dear!” Suddenly her aunt was all concerned and caring. “In fact, I wonder—how many nights in a row have you seen this, er, red-eyed thing?” she asked.
“Three, no—four nights, counting last night,” Serenai said. “Last night Brax chased it away from me and then stood guard outside my door all night to keep me safe,” she added.
Brax just hoped her aunt would believe her. He was fucking certain the old lady would be shocked if she knew what he and Serenai had really been up to.
“Well then, it seems you have the matter handled—as much as you can, anyway.” Aunt Nibblegrim shrugged. “I ought to be on my way now. I have a meeting with Mistress Pigeonbottom for tea this afternoon and she gets so cross if I’m late.”
“Oh, well…all right.” Serenai looked deflated.
Brax frowned. He found it strange that her aunt seemed so disinterested in the menacing red-eyed thing that was after her. Aunt Nibblegrim wasn’t the most caring person, clearly, but at least she could be a little more concerned about her niece’s safety.
But clearly the old lady wasn’t.
“I’ll see you later, my dear!” she said and leaned over to give Serenai a quick, perfunctory kiss on the cheek before heading out the bedroom door. She completely ignored Brax as she walked right past him. It was as though she’d never accused him or threatened him with a blaster at all.
They heard the front door of the penthouse close and then they were alone again, just the two of them.
18
SERENAI
“Well that was fucking weird,” Brax muttered, shaking his head. “She didn’t seem to give a damn that you’re being stalked by that thing—whatever it is!”
“Oh, did you think that too?” Serenai was glad she wasn’t the only one. “I mean, I don’t understand—you’d think she would care a little bit more about what happens to her only niece. I mean, I’m her only living relative.”
“She certainly seemed to care when she was waving that fucking blaster around,” he growled.
“Yes, that was strange too!” Serenai exclaimed. “It’s almost like she expected you to hurt me or even…even kill me.”
The angry look on Brax’s face smoothed away to be replaced with one of tenderness and concern.
“You know I won’t hurt you, little one,” he rumbled.
“Yes, I know.” Serenai beckoned to him. “Come here, please.”
“Why?” he asked, even as he came to her.
“Because last night you told me if I ever needed a hug, I could ask you for one,” she reminded him. “And after the way my aunt just acted, well, I think I could use one.”
She still felt a little shy about asking, but she was now so much more comfortable with the big half-Kindred, she found she could overcome her uncertainty.
Brax’s next words were an immediate validation of her feelings.
“Of course you can have a hug, baby,” he rumbled.
Sitting down on the bed beside her, he wrapped his arms around Serenai and drew her close to his side.
Sighing happily, Serenai wrapped both arms around his muscular waist and pressed her face to his chest. He smelled so good—so warm and spicy and so safe. And his big, muscular arms around her made her feel protected and cared for in a way Aunt Nibblegrim’s dry peck of a kiss never could.
They sat there for a while, hugging, until Serenai’s stomach growled.
