Forever Blood by Lisa Manifold

Author:Lisa Manifold [Manifold, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Isabeau

I looked up to see Collum come in. He stopped for a brief moment, his eyes closed and his face turned up— to what?

It was weird. Then he looked down and smiled at me. “You’ve had a bath. How do you feel?”

Even though his words were calm and smooth as any he’d ever spoken at me, there was something different about him. He was coiled and tense, although very good at hiding it.

“I did. The tub is like a pool. I enjoyed it, thank you.” I tried not to gush. This was the guy who had just ghosted me after laying the best kiss of my life on me. I felt a pang for Jonathan. He might not have kissed me with the same intensity Collum did, but at least Jonathan called back. I shot a glare at Collum. Not like you, I thought.

His eyebrows went up as though he’d read my thoughts. “Are you all right?”

“Now that the moment of panic has passed, I’d like to talk to you.”

The wariness around Collum increased. “Of course. May I sit down?”

I nodded, and he sat in a low chair across the small loveseat I was curled up on.

“What would you like to speak about?”

“Why didn’t you call me?” I got straight to the point.

He hadn’t expected that. “There are reasons—” He stopped. Then said, “It’s not simple, Isabeau—” and stopped again.

I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms, making sure he saw it. “Look, Collum, if you didn’t want to see me again, just tell me. I’m a big girl. There’s no need for beating around the bush.”

“That’s not it at all,” he said, one hand running through his hair in frustration. He got up, walking to the window.

“Then what is it?” I resisted the urge to follow him and wind my arms around his waist. That’s what my traitorous body wanted to do, but my head was in charge here, so I didn’t move.

“It’s not something I can explain,” he said, talking to the window.

“What? I’m not smart enough? I don’t need to worry my pretty head? And why is your creepy friend bothering me looking for you?” I stood up, unable to sit still. “Or do I not need to worry about that, either? I can’t stay here forever, Collum! I have other places to be, and I have a life that doesn’t revolve around whatever you’ve got going on!” I waved a hand in his direction.

He turned to face me then, his expression tortured. “It’s not even that simple, Isabeau.”

The way he said my name, it was almost a caress, and my anger faltered for a moment. But only for a moment. “Then explain it to me, because I need to leave two days from now.”

“Why?”

“Because I have a schedule, and places to go, things to see.” I crossed my arms.

“You are free to leave whenever you need to, but I’d really prefer it if you stayed until—”

“Until what? That’s how kidnappings happen!”

“Until we find MacDonald.”

“What is that about?”

He shrugged.

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