"If that's your condition for marrying me, know that I'm a man of honor, and I keep my word, and I give you my word today, that I won't let your grandfather take any of the children we have."
"Can I trust that? You gave Dad your word that you would allow our son to be taken by him."
"I didn't give my word. He asked me as a favor and I said I'd think about it. He must have concluded that I accepted, since I didn't give up on marrying you."
Brianna looked at him suspiciously.
"E... What are you? Dad says you're an animal, but to me, you look a lot like a human."
He smiled.
"Do you really want to know? I can show you what I am."
"Just tell me." Brianna said fearlessly.
"I'm a werewolf. Half man, half wolf."
"And why are you like that?"
He shook his shoulders.
"I don't know, Brianna. Do you know why you're a Bruma?"
Brianna wondered. She just was. There was no explanation. Or at least, she couldn't explain it.
"Will our children be like you?"
"I don't know..."
"I feel something different around you... I feel that our destinies are intertwined, and I also feel that you're fighting for something, a position perhaps..."
He smiled.
"Amazing, how you feel things that aren't random. You must be absorbing my worries. I apologize for being here like this."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all. You're a Bruma and naturally you can feel strong impressions. You said that you feel something different around me, and that's because I'm not human. You've always lived only with humans and wizards, and the impression near another species would be strange for someone like you. You've also said that you feel our destinies are intertwined, and this could be the result of the inevitable. We will both be responsible for creating a new species, Bruma. That's incredible and I'm excited about it. We will be remembered forever. Besides, we are living in times when strong enemies are coming out of the shadows to challenge us. A species with our gifts will exterminate this threat. And finally, you said that you feel I'm fighting a battle. Yes. I'm fighting the strongest werewolves for the leadership of all the packs, and also for possession of the Alpha's treasure. It's exhausting. But there are only a few fights left."
Brianna didn't want to dwell on everything she'd heard. It was too much information, and she was starting to get confused and lose focus.
"All right. Those were important points for me. But there's one more thing."
"Tell me."
"I want to wait the remaining months until the blue moon. That time will be important for us to get to know each other better." Brianna said, thinking that she needed to give the blue-eyed man a chance before forming a family with Dester and committing herself for life.
"That's not to my liking, but I'll respect it and give in for the sake of tradition and your customs."
"So, I think we're clear. From now on, we're engaged."
"When do you want to leave?"
"As soon as possible. Even today, I think it would be best for both of us."
"Do you know that I've taken up residence in the United States? And that's where I intend to take you?"
"Yes. Dad talked about it."
"I don't think you're supposed to understand their language, but don't worry. Living there, you learn quickly. My sister-in-law, my brother's wife, speaks Irish very well. She can help you. But I don't want you to get close to her."
"I know the language. I may have trouble with some words, but I have American friends. They taught me their language, and I taught them ours. But why shouldn't I be friends with your sister-in-law?"
He stared at Brianna mysteriously.
"I suspect she's something... I hope you'll find out what she's hiding."
"Maybe I will, but that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you her secrets. I don't like betraying people's trust."
"You're perfect, Brianna." Dester said, looking at her tenderly.
Brianna didn't know what to say. Perfection was something far removed from her, and she was afraid of people who thought that. They create expectations, and she wasn't interested in being anyone's ideal. She just wanted to be herself.
They agreed that he would come back later to pick her up. He had a private jet, and they would travel in it. So they didn't have to worry about paperwork.
Brianna was happy with his willingness to do her bidding and considered that he had just won points with her and undone the contempt in her heart that she had felt before.
Without warning, he kissed her, perhaps on impulse, or perhaps misreading her expression.
It was a soft kiss. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It wasn't how she thought a kiss should be, full of promise, emotion and ardor, as her friends described. It was just an exchange of tongues, without meaning. Empty.
He pulled away and walked her home again. She liked the silence that followed. She liked the fact that he didn't ask her whether or not she had enjoyed the more intimate contact. She entered the house and ran to her bedroom. The door was still locked, as she had left it after hiding the money, and that was a sign that her grandfather hadn't tried to open any of the doors. He couldn't find out that he had been robbed by his own granddaughter until she was far away. In fact, she felt good about it. It was her mother's inheritance. And now it was in her hands. It was her grandfather who had tried to steal it from her. As soon as she had entered and locked the room, and was sure of her privacy, she took the suitcases out from under the bed, where she had hidden them. She was going to take a third suitcase with a few items of clothing and her personal belongings. She believed that if she left with her fiancé, she wouldn't be questioned about the amount of luggage. And now she believed that she could be happy with him, yes. She came from a line of people with the gift of sight, and she was confusing dreams with reality. She must have seen her grandfather save money in that place when she was little, and now she remembered it because of a crazy dream.