Page 75 of Blades and Bone

“So am I.” He had expected it to be a marriage of convenience, more politics than pleasure; instead, he found himself looking forward to spending time with Hamish and getting to know him better. He was a Reid by blood, but an Ashby by heart.

Epilogue

Moonlight bounced off the waves, and Hamish was little more than a dark shadow gliding over the water, bobbing and weaving as he rode the waves and danced amongst the moonbeams.

Brodie watched from the beach, hoping Hamish didn’t get eaten by a shark, even though none had been spotted in the area for months.

He leaned back on his elbows, glad that the beach was empty and that they were alone. With the arrival of the new Reid vampires and the departure of Ann and her remaining vampires, there had been more upheaval and more meetings. Carving out this small amount of time felt like a much-needed blessing. Staying stuck in the house for another night wasn’t what either of them wanted or needed.

He’d sent Hamish into town with Vivian today so he could buy a wetsuit and surfboard, and Vivian could buy more baby stuff. She was planning on having the baby and then going to Luca’s cattle station up north and remaining there for the first six months. Out of the way, hidden and safe.

Felicity had re-sworn to her, to prove her loyalty. Once again, he was struck by how a few words in some ink were supposed to prove that. Perhaps in the past, in a simpler time, it had been enough. Now it seemed like just another thing that could be manipulated. He had no doubts that Mirabella and her ilk would lie about everything if it meant they got their way.

Hamish jogged over. He set the board down and undid the ankle strap.

“Worth it?”

“Yes.” He dropped onto the picnic blanket. “Nothing else matters out there. It was always my favorite way to relax during exams or when I didn’t want to think about anything. My mother hated it.” Hamish grinned, water dripping from the ends of his hair.

“Maybe I need to take up surfing.”

“I can’t believe you don’t know how, when you live here.”

“Because it’s always been one of those things you do during the day.”

Hamish laughed, and his wet curls bounced. Water beaded on his skin like jewels. “Nighttime is better. Just don’t go at dawn or dusk as the sharks get nibbly.”

Between the sharks and jellyfish, Brodie had always felt that he didn’t belong in the water. “And that’s why I don’t go in the ocean when there are perfectly good pools.”

“It was nice having someone on the beach looking out for me.”

“I enjoyed the looking.” Even though his mind had been tumbling with all the plans that were still in motion and the things he needed to do, there was a peace to sitting and listening to the pulse of the ocean. Maybe it was breathing in the salt air or the silence. “And I prefer it when there aren’t any tourists on the beach.”

Hamish leaned back, mimicking Brodie’s pose. “It is nicer having it to ourselves.”

“You’re okay now the Reids have left?” He was careful not to call them family.

“Yeah. It feels like less pressure. My stuff will arrive in the next couple of weeks, and then I can settle in properly and start looking at job listings.” He glanced at Brodie.

“You don’t need to work.”

“I will get bored, and then I’ll make a mess…”

“Again, you don’t need to work.” Brodie leaned in and kissed him. “Really, you can do anything you want.”

“I want to work, even if it’s part-time. Trust me, it will be better for both of us if I have my own life.”

“Vivian—”

“Already dropped hints about needing a nanny, and that’s nine months away, and I don’t know that I’m interested even though apparently being a nurse and a vampire makes me very qualified.”

Brodie’s lips curved. “Her hints are much like being hit in the throat with a dildo.”

“Very subtle,” Hamish agreed. “I like that. Your family doesn’t insinuate and have silent expectations. They give a nudge, and if you don’t pick up on it, they tell you. I’d much rather know when I’m in trouble instead of guessing what’s going on.”

“Ah, so you did the unboxing of new toys without me and left the packing paper on the floor for a reason.” He’d seen the mess when gathering up the blanket and snacks before meeting Hamish at the beach.

“Too subtle?”