Page 82 of The Curse Trilogy

He roars out his laughter, and Brazen covers his mouth as if he’s hiding a grin.

“Actually, I think you’re fine as hell. If Brazen wasn’t holding your hand I’d probably be working my magic.”

Brazen rolls his eyes, but I’m still stumped by his odd reaction.

“I’m confused,” I mumble.

“Why? You think every full blood hates hybrids?” he scoffs.

“She hasn’t had a whole lot experience with anyone worth meeting. Most of the full bloods she knows are military bred or old world,” Brazen explains.

“If you’re not disgusted with my breed, then why do you live in a place where we’re not welcome?” I retort to the jackass laughing at me.

“Because the blood here is fucking awesome. You can’t get blood as close to the vein as possible anywhere else. Everyone else goes overboard with dilution,” he continues.

“That shit is dangerous though. A bad batch could leave you locked up for months with someone keeping you sedated,” Brazen scolds.

“I don’t give a fuck. I’ll lose a month or two to keep from drinking the cold shit outside these walls. What are you doing here, and how did you get a hybrid in?”

“I’m me,” Brazen adds with a pretentious attitude.

“You smug bastard. You haven’t changed a bit,” Corbin chuckles out.

Apparently I really don’t know him if this is how he usually is.

“You’re gifted, so I can only assume you’re part of the United. Is that how the two of you met?” he asks.

“Sort of,” Brazen vaguely answers, and he kisses the back of my hand just as three hissing full bloods walk by.

“Don’t mind them,” Corbin interjects. “As long as you’re with Brazen, the only full bloods you have to worry about are Greta and Miles,” he snickers out.

I let out a snort of derision, and Corbin bursts out laughing as Brazen narrows his eyes.

“You seriously introduced her to your uptight parents?” he rolls out in hysterical disbelief.

“I did,” Brazen huffs out.

“How did that go over?” Corbin eagerly questions, and I roll my eyes.

“Greta instantly loved me like the daughter she never had, and Miles thought his son was the luckiest man in the world,” I retort with sarcasm oozing out.

“That bad?” he muses.

“Oh, it was so, so bad,” I grouse.

“We have work to do,” Brazen growls, and Corbin smirks before giving me a wink.

“If you ever get tired of this wild ass, call me,” he seduces, and I have to stifle a grin when Brazen scowls at him.

“Later,” Brazen grumbles, and then he starts pulling me away from the ogling fool standing on the sidewalk.

“Wild ass?” I laugh out. “I suppose there is more to the story I won’t learn?”

“Not today, but I have a feeling you’ll get your chance,” he smolders, and his eyes burn into mine.

“I’m carrying a weapon and five clips today. Just a heads up,” I tease, and he gives me a sexy wink before pulling me into a bar.

“I’m not scared of you, Araya,” he whispers, and then his breath cools my heated neck with that incredible steam threatening to invade the air between us.