Chapter Thirty-six
Lorne finished eating and thought that he would go for pie. He looked at Elizabeth's plate, Cordy's plate, and then Crystal's plate. She was still playing with her fork in her food and not eating it. "Crys?" he asked her gently.
"Hmm?" Crystal replied without taking any real notice of Lorne. Her gaze remained focused on her plate even as she murmured, "I'm fine." Elvira's whimper from behind her told them otherwise.
"Sweetie, you going to eat some of that? Any of it? Please?" He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Eat some of it for me?"
Lorne's lips on her cheek surprised Crystal so much that she sat up bolt straight, and it was only then that Cordelia and Elizabeth, who had also been watching her in concern, saw the sadness that haunted her face. "Lorne," Crys told him, failing to recall the others' presence, "you know that's not safe."
"Not safe?" Elizabeth repeated in confusion. "The food's not only safe; it's delicious! Look. We've both eaten everything on our plates. No one's trying to poison you."
Lorne looked at Elizabeth. "It's not the food. Why don't you two ladies get some pie? Bring me back an interesting piece, please."
Elizabeth started to protest in her desire to help, but Cordelia's gentle yet firm hand on her own stopped her. "We will," Cordy told Lorne even as she got to her feet. "Elizabeth?" The blonde started to protest again, but before she get one sound out, Cordelia pulled her away from the table. As they walked away, Cordy leaned closer to Elizabeth and whispered to her. "Think about it. We barely know Crystal. Do you honestly think she'll tell him anything with us there?"
"I just want to help," Elizabeth whispered.
Cordelia's sad eyes matched her friend's. "I know," she agreed. "So do I, but we would only be a hindrance right now. Look at it this way. You're the daughter of a Governor, right?" The blonde nodded. "If Will had broken up with you there and one of the servants had tried to ask you what was wrong, would they have gotten anywhere?"
"I'm not a -- "
"No, you're not a servant, but we're no closer to her than they were to you."
Elizabeth quieted as she realized Cordelia's point. She glanced back at Lorne and Crystal over her shoulder, "I wonder what's wrong with her."
Cordelia did not answer.
Lorne lifted Crys' chin so that she had to look into his eyes. "Beyond all the obvious, Crys, tell me what's wrong. Don't you trust Angel and me? Don't you want my green to touch you, or is that what is so repulsive that you don't even want to look at me?"
She could see the truth of his concern in his eyes, and it pained her to know that her actions had made him think that that might be the case. She reached a hand up and cupped it gently around his hand. "Lorne, it's not that. It doesn't matter to me that you're green. I've never looked at skin color, and besides, I . . . I think it looks good on you." She blushed.
"Then what is it, baby? I know about the bad stuff. We're protecting you as best we can. I won't let him touch you."
Crys shook her head. "You don't understand," she told him. "None of you do. He isn't a being who can be stopped."
"He hasn't met Angel and me yet. Is Port Royal bothering you? It's not your fault. It's his fault. It's not your fault for living, breathing, and deserving a chance at life. Their sins caught them, and their sentence was carried out swiftly by an asshole Demon." He was whispering so that only she could hear him. "You're not to blame, so stop blaming yourself. We'll get him, but he won't get you."
"You won't get him. If I can't find a way to get away from you, he'll get you."
"Crys, do you know what being this close to you, touching you, does to me? It makes me have evil thoughts. It makes me want to throw you down on the table and have my evil way with you," he said, growling playfully next to her ear. "And we haven't even done the act a single time yet. I have never felt this way about any one before! You want me to just throw it all away without fighting for the chance of becoming a part of you?" He pulled back so that he could see her eyes.
Though his growl, touch, and words sent delicious thrills shooting through her, she knew the danger he was in and forced herself to answer, "Yes."
"I'm not going to. I want you too much. I need you, and, most of all, I love you!"
"Do you?" she had to force herself to counter him. "We were under Aphrodite's spell, Lorne. How do you know it's not the spell?"
"The spell made me want to take you then and there, regardless of our surroundings, but it did not make me love you. I fell in love with you before you ever opened your mouth. I saw you laying in my bed like a perfect Angel and me, the bad Demon that I am, wanted to take you. I still want you. I don't think that, if we made love one time or a hundred times, I'd want you any less, and this coming from a guy who usually likes to hang around guys!"
Surprise flickered in her eyes at his admission. "You'd be safer if you were gay."
"I thought I was until I met you, or at least bisexual. I have never had any one before you. I've been attracted to many, male and female, but when you opened your eyes and looked at me, it blew me away! I will never want any one the way I want you. You are the other part of me. What happens to you will happen to me." He kissed each of her fingers as his eyes kept hers locked. "You can drive me away, but I won't go far. You are what makes me breathe. You are my very breath." His voice trailed off. Not only was he fighting his emotions which were to take her here and now, but he was trying to keep a clear brain so that he could fight what she was feeling. "I'll die if you leave me, Crys."
"You'll die if I don't. I couldn't bare to see that, Lorne. I don't want you -- any of you -- dead because of me, and I know that that'll happen. You . . . You don't know what I've been through, what I've seen him do! You don't know what he's capable of! I do, and I know that if I stay, I'll get you, Angel . . . all of you killed. You won't even stand a chance!"
"I don't stand a chance of living if you leave me, Crys. You know about Angel. He feels the same way, only differently. Thank Gods he feels differently! I thought I was going to have to kill him!"
Crystal's stunned reaction was clear on her face as she stared at Lorne in shock. Kill Angel? Over her? Before she had a chance to ask him, she heard Cordelia speak. "Kill who over what?"
Lorne looked up at her. "Kill a backstabbing bloke trying to steal my woman. I'd kill any one who tried to harm her or take her away from me." He was still holding on to Crys' hand.
Cordelia and Elizabeth exchanged a surprised look before looking back at Lorne. Cordy knew she had heard Angel's name mentioned as they had approached the table, trying to slow their footsteps to give Lorne and Crystal a chance to finish their conversation but not succeeding in doing so. "We thought that to."
Lorne looked at them in confusion. "What made you think that I was talking about Angel?"
"We heard you mention his name," Cordelia replied as she and Elizabeth took their seats, "and we saw them together earlier."
"We didn't know Crystal was his sister," Elizabeth explained. "That's why I . . . " Instead of finishing her thought, she looked down at the table with a blush.
"That's why you what?" Crystal asked, growing more puzzled with each passing second.
"That's why I slapped him," Elizabeth blurted.
"Gods, you women explode over everything!" Lorne exclaimed.
"She was only protecting me!" Cordelia protested.
"Angel's got two women on his mind," Lorne explained. "One is you, Cordelia. He's so mad about you he can hardly control himself! The other one is you, Crys. He wants to help, and he doesn't know what to do. We all want to help."
Crystal looked away. How could she answer him with Elizabeth and Cordelia so close within hearing distance?
Cordelia glanced between Lorne and Crystal before looking back to Lorne. "That part we understood, but we didn't when we first caught him with her. There's something else we haven't been able to figure out, too . . . "
Elizabeth looked at her in surprise and started to question her, but Cordelia's sudden setting of her foot upon Elizabeth's instantly quieted the blonde.
"What's that?" Lorne asked.
"That howling thing that chased us earlier. You know, the one in the sky that turned Port Royal to ice and everything? What the heck was that?"
"That," Lorne said, "is a Demon, and we're all trying to get away from him."
"He's more than a Demon," Crystal whispered.
"He is?" Cordy asked, looking at her in apparent surprise.
Elvira whimpered, but Crys placed a gentle hand on the wolf's head. "Yes, I do, Elvira. I have to tell them all . . . somehow." She turned toward Cordelia and Elizabeth. "He's my uncle."
"Oh my Gods!" Cordelia cried. "I thought my Father was bad enough! At least he wasn't a Demon!"
Elizabeth, too, stared at Crystal in shock but finally managed to speak, "So that's what the problem is. That's what you're hiding."
Crystal did not respond.
Cordelia glanced at Crystal, Elizabeth, and Lorne, her mind working quickly as she tried to come up with a way to get through to Angel's sister. Finally, she lowered her voice to a quiet whisper that she believed no one else would be able to overhear. "I know it's horrible knowing every one's in danger, but you're not the only one putting them in danger."
"What?" Lorne asked, his voice raised in concern.
Crystal's eyes finally met Cordelia's. Her surprise was clear therein. Even Elizabeth turned to Cordy, her mouth open in surprise but no sound coming out.
Cordelia drew in a deep breath even as she nodded. "My Father is a King."
"So . . . ?" Lorne asked.
"He wants me," Cordelia explained, forcing the words to come out as she made the revelation to them in hopes that it might help Crystal to be more forthcoming. "Captain Sparrow, Angel, and -- I believe, Dr. Richards rescued me today. They defeated the group my Father had sent after me, but when he finds out where I am . . . " She paled slightly as she breathed, "He might well send his entire army!"
"Looks like there's going to be plenty of fighting," Lorne said, nodding. "Let's put that behind us for tonight, and do our best to enjoy the festivities." He could hear a couple of instruments tuning up. "I will have to go soon. I am one of the singers." He smiled. "Crys, please hurry and eat your food. I'd like for you to hear me, and you can't leave the galley until you're finished eating and you can't give it to Elvira."
Crys gazed at Lorne in surprise. She might actually get to hear him sing? With that thought in mind, she turned back to her food and finally started eating. One bite was enough to cause her to begin nearly devouring her plate in her starvation.
Lorne looked at her and smiled. She must care about him as she wanted to hear him sing and was almost swallowing her food whole in her haste! "Usually after we have a feast, we all sit around and share our music with each other, so if you ladies have anything that you'd like to contribute, feel free to do so."
Elvira whimpered softly to her mistress, and Crys paused just long enough to shake her head at the wolf. Elvira pouted up at her in disappointment even as Crys continued eating.
Cordelia, who had been grinning triumphantly, heard the wolf. Her eyes turned to a piece of chicken that she had saved on her napkin. She'd planned to give it to Blue but changed her mind. Scooping to one side, she held the chicken out to Elvira. "Elvira?" she called.
The wolf padded over and gently took the chicken from Cordy's trembling fingers, but even as she ate the delicious meat with a grin of gratitude, her disappointment did not ease. She'd already eaten her food; that was not what had disappointed her.
Lorne wondered why Elvira was trying to push Crys into doing whatever Crys was good at. It was a phrase that Elvira kept repeating; he wondered if his beloved could sing or if it was something else.
Cole shimmered to one of his favorite places aboard ship. It was a quiet, secluded area that had a small table and chairs and was located next to the forecastle deck. It was sometimes used for counting of the booty. He sat the plates down and then turned to gaze into Piper's eyes. "Your table awaits, milady." He knew she was exhausted. It had been a forever-long day. He pulled her chair out and seated her.
"Oops! I forgot the drinks!" he said. "I'll be right back." He shimmered before she could say anything. Once in the galley, he saw that every one was going for pie. He got two pieces of coconut pie, placed them on a tray, and then got four cups of drink and returned to Piper. He placed those on the table, as well. He sat down across from her and smiled at her.
Cole had so swiftly whirled Piper away that her mind was still twirling from the shimmering when he had shimmered out again. She had found herself tired, however, and nearly fallen asleep before he'd returned. She smiled up at him, her eyes revealing how dazzled she was by him. "You're full of surprises."
"Why, thank you, Miss Halliwell. I delight in surprising you. You surprise me, as well. I've never tasted anything as good as your cooking!"
"Do you . . . really like it that much?" She knew the Pirates had all gone for her fare but realized that, given what they were used to, that really might not say that much at all.
"Oh, yes! I've eaten at fancy restaurants and at little holes in the wall, but even though a lot of them had excellent food, none could compare to yours. Take a bite." He could tell she was about to fall flat on her face. He stabbed at a piece of chicken on her plate and lifted it to her lips. "I'll feed you if I need to."
She could not help but to smile. "That's very tempting," she admitted even as a slight blush tinged her cheeks. How dare she be so forward!
"It would be a great pleasure to do so," he said as he slid his chair closer to hers. "A woman like you should be pampered and not have to work so hard." He brought the bite closer to her lips, wishing that his own lips were touching hers and not just his fork.
Her eyes continued to gaze into his even as her lips slowly drew the piece of meat into her mouth. Even she had to admit that it was delicious, but she wondered how much of that was the actual food and the thought that such an incredible man as Cole was feeding her. "Thank you."
He continued to feed her one bite and himself the next. He was about to lift another bite for himself when Piper beat him to the piece he had selected and raised it to his lips, her own lips pressed together.
He ate it slowly from the fork and then moved the fork out of the way, bringing his own lips to hers and kissing her gently. Piper's lips parted under his, welcoming his touch, even as she returned his kiss.
"You, Miss Piper, need to get some rest, and we both need to fight what we're feeling for if we give in to it, you might regret it in the morning. I would never regret it. I would treasure it always, but I don't want it to happen when you're exhausted." He pushed his chair back from hers and then bent to her feet, unlacing her boots and pulling them off. He gently began to massage her feet.
She sighed at the pleasure his touch evoked even as her mind whirled over his words. Could one kiss really lead to that? She did not know but did realize that he was right. She was exhausted but did not want to sleep. The mere thought of closing her eyes scared her, and she straightened suddenly as a horrible thought came to her. What if, when she opened her eyes again, Cole and the others were no longer there? What if this were all a mirage, a hallucination that only seemed to have lasted for a day? What if she were, in truth, still drowning in the lake with her mother, grandmother, sisters, and all their friends? Her face paled.
"What's wrong, darling? Did I hurt you?" He paused in rubbing her feet and gazed at her with a concerned look.
"No," she whispered, trying to shake away the tears that threatened to come to her eyes. "I . . . I just don't want to get that rest quite yet."
"Oh. I don't want you to go, not yet. Just relax. Let me make you feel better." Even as he talked to her, he continued to run his hands gently over her legs up to the knee, massaging the backs of her legs. His hands were skilled, and yet he was gentle in his touch. He hoped she was getting pleasure from his stroke. He was getting pleasure just touching her. It was then that he heard the strains of a song and realized that the musicians were beginning to get their songs going. "May I have this dance, Miss Halliwell?" he asked.
She gazed down into his eyes and found herself smiling again, the terrible memory forgotten momentarily once more. "On one condition."
"Anything, sweetheart."
"I know society considers it rather improper, but . . . Do you think you could stop calling me by Miss Halliwell and call me by my name instead? I hate being so formal with you, Mister Turner." She wriggled her nose at him.
"Sorry, Piper. I just . . . I want things to go right for us, and I don't want you to feel like I'm crowding you or rushing things. I plan to be with you for the rest of my life, my darling Piper."
Her eyes shimmered as she smiled at him. "Cole, I never knew what I wanted to do with my life before," she admitted. "I always just revolved my world around my family, but you're part of that family now and so much more. I still don't know exactly what to expect, but I do know one thing and that's that I want to be with you," she told him, reaching down and taking his hand in hers, "regardless of what comes or what any one thinks."
He lifted her gently up into his arms and began to dance with her around the floor in time to the music, not allowing her poor, tired feet to touch the floor. Her head touched just under his chin. He knew that she was more woman than he had ever known in his entire life, and he still could not believe that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He began to sing a soft love song to Piper, a song that promised her many tomorrows full of everything that he could give her but most of all full of the love he held for her deep in his heart.
Piper had already felt as though she were flying as Cole danced with her and yet never allowed her feet to touch the deck, but now she knew her heart was soaring through the clouds at the words he sang to her. She held to him, resting her head on his chest and listening to the sounds of his deep, sexy voice and his heartbeat that seemed to drum in time to his song and their dancesteps. She would have liked to have kissed him but did not dare after his earlier words; besides, she did not wish to give him any reason to stop his wonderful singing. She'd never heard a voice like his before, and it thrilled her ears as well as her heart and very soul.
He wanted to kiss her but knew he'd have to stop dancing with her in order to do so. He could dance with her forever, holding her close to his heart. As his song came to an end, he sat her gently back on the floor, gazed into her eyes, and kissed her, his body almost melting into hers. Piper returned his kiss in full, her own body pressing into his.
The musicians had scattered around the deck, each lost to his own music but blending together and making perfect harmony. Joxer was sitting, his back against the ship and Phoebe at his side, gently stroking his lyre. Whereas he could not cook for anything and could hardly even fight a mouse, he did play wonderfully. He glanced around, looking for Lorne who had not gotten up yet to sing but was still sitting beside Crys, lost in her eyes. "Hey, Lorne!" he called. "What do you want?"
"Not now, Joxer," he called back. "I can't do that now!"
"Aw, come on, Lorne! Sure you can! I think they'll get a kick out of it!"
"Joxer, if you think they'll get a kick out of that, I've got -- "
Crystal looked at Lorne curiously. "What's he talking about?"
"It's a song and dance routine that we do sometimes. It's embarrassing."
"How can that be embarrassing?" she asked. "I love to sing and dance!"
Lorne shook his head. "That's part of the song. If you promise not to laugh, I'll do it."
She looked into his eyes as she told him sincerely, "I promise, and, Lorne, I wouldn't laugh at you."
"Okay. I'll do it," he said, slowly getting to his feet.
Joxer stood to join him. "You're the twit," he said, looking at Lorne, "and I'm the Captain. The rest of you crew know what to do when we hit the right spots."
Phoebe looked up at him in surprise. From around Joxer, she glanced questioningly at the blonde, wondering if she had any further clue. Crystal met the brunette's gaze and gave her head a slight shake even as she grinned. She had no ideal what the guys were about to pull but was certainly looking forward to it.
"We do?" Tom asked innocently from where he sat with his arm wrapped around Katrina's shoulders.
The rest of the crew stared balefully at Tom. "Of course you do, twit," Morph told him. "You got to be the twit last time."
"What's a twit?" The crew groaned, and he laughed as his eyes turned back to the night's stars. "Well, boys," he called, "show us what you have. Just try not to hit anybody, Cap'n."
Joxer grinned ruefully. "Not going to guarantee that," he called back, "but I'll try!"
Joxer stood boldly forth with his chest puffed out slightly, a sight that caused Phoebe to joyously clasp her hands in eager anticipation. "Avast there mates, ye're sailin' with Long John Black Beard, Peg-Leg, Patch-Eye Hook, scourge of the bounding main. Bloodthirstiest, black-heartiest Pirate captain ever sailed the seven seas, ha, ha, ha! What say ye we hoist the Jolly Roger, heel over the yonder Spanish galleon. Lay a few broadsides again' her timbers, swing over on these here lanyards with our cutlasses in our teeth, cut 'em to ribbons, and split the booty. What say ye to that, me hearties? Heh! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Lorne stood right beside Joxer. Confusion showed on his face even as his words came out, "I don't like it..."
The rest of the Pirates groaned.
"You don't like it?" Joxer questioned, turning his gaze to glower down upon Lorne.
Lorne boldly met Joxer's gaze even as he told him, "I don't like it, and I don't wanna do it. It's tacky . . . tacky . . . tacky . . . and don't look at me that way."
Joxer asked him, "Well, if you don't like it, what do you want?"
Lorne answered him, "I want to sing and dance; I want to sing and dance. I want to be a Pirate from France. Wear me silver-buckled slippers and me tight shiny pants. I want to sing and dance."
That already had several of the crew beginning to chuckle, and even Crys struggled to keep a straight face at the look Joxer gave Lorne. "You want to sing and dance, heh! You don't like plundering, aye? Well, shiver me timbers 'ow 'bout treasuring, huh? Rubies, emeralds and pearls, gold doubloons and British sovereigns. Silver chalices encrusted with diamonds and jewels, necklaces and bracelets of every shape and size, fit for the crown heads of Europe, aye? And all buried in a Pirate's chest, and I just happen to know where. How about that, me bloodthirsty buckos, heh? Ha, ha, ha!"
The crew roared their approval even as Lorne said, "I don't like it..."
Joxer looked at him as though he could eat him as he countered, "You don't like it?"
"I don't like it, and I don't want it..." Lorne insisted.
Joxer looked disbelievingly at the rest of the crew. "He don't want it!"
"And I won't do it... I'm an artiste," Lorne announced with flair.
"An artiste? Well, Mister Artiste," Joxer sneered, "what do you want?"
"I want to sing and dance; I want to sing and dance. I want to be a Pirate from France. Wear me silver-buckled slippers and me tight shiny pants. I want to sing and dance."
"Now, listen hear!" Joxer demanded. "This ain't no floating musical show made for some little flittin' tinkerbell. This here be a black-hearted Pirate ship, and I would have you keel-hauled if you weren't me own flesh and blood, you little twit! So you don't like plunderin' aye?"
"I don't like it..." Lorne persisted yet again.
"And you don't want no treasurin' ah?" Joxer asked again in clear confusion.
"I don't want it..."
"And you probably don't want no groggin' and revelin' and wrenchin' and rummin' either I suppose?"
"Well, deep down. . . . You want to know the truth? It's not me; I don't want it..."
"Well, what do you want? As if I didn't already bleein know?"
"I want to sing and dance and..."
"I know, I know . . . and wear your tight little shiny pants. Huh! Okay . . . We'll all sing and dance." The crew members grumbled faked complaints. "I said we'll all sing and dance . . . " The others continued to grumble, and Joxer shouted at them, "Or you'll walk the plank!" That instantly changed their attitudes. "One - two - three!"
The crew joined in the singing of the chorus, and Joxer's grin grew, almost giving away his act completely as he heard Phoebe's voice join them. "I want to sing and dance; I want to sing and dance! I want to be a Pirate from France! Wear me silver-buckled slippers and me tight shiny pants! I want to sing and dance!"
"I like it . . . . I like it!" Lorne exclaimed.
Joxer grinned as he admitted, "I kinda like it me own self."
"Thought you would," Lorne smiled. He stole a glance at Crystal as he hoped that she also liked it.
As the chorus came to conclusion, the other Pirates broke down into laughter. Crystal was still trying desperately not to laugh. Not only did she have a hand clasped over her mouth, but Blue's tail entangled with her hand, as well. It was then that she was met with Lorne's gaze, and her breath caught in her throat. Gods, he was magnificent! She sombered suddenly as the remembered belief that she would only get him killed hit her full-force. She waited until he turned his back toward her and his attention back to Joxer, then got up quietly and fled on silent, booted feet.
"Sixteen men on a dead man's chest . . . Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!" the crew shouted.
"I don't like rum..." Lorne started.
"You don't like rum?" Joxer asked in disbelief.
"Well no, actually . . . Well, I might like a little champagne," Lorne admitted.
"A little champagne?"
"With a lime in it..."
"A lime in it? He wants a lime in it..."
"Well, do you have any Escargot?"
"Escar . . What?"
"What's the soup today?"
"Soup?"
"Might have a bit of a salad too!"
"Well, how about a bleeding fingerbowl?"
"Maybe a croissant! Is that right? Those French make everything so hard! Why didn't they just call it a bun?"
Their voices trailed off, and the crew exploded into applause. Joxer was grinning from ear to ear as he clasped Lorne's shoulders. "See? I told you -- " His voice broke off in mid-sentence as he realized that Crystal was no longer sitting behind Lorne, let alone not struggling to keep from laughing. His face fell. "Uh-oh."
"What's wrong?" Lorne asked. "We did good."
"Yes, we did," Joxer replied, "but she's gone."
"Oh crap!" Lorne said. "She didn't like it at all! I've got to find her and apologize for being such an idiot!"
"No!" Phoebe told him, the word bursting from her more swiftly than anything else she could have a chance to say. She quickly joined them. "Lorne, I -- I don't know how to tell you this . . .""Well, spit it out. What is it?"
"She enjoyed the song right up until the last chorus, but then . . . Well, she got this really sad look on her face. I think I even saw some tears. And she ran."
"Which direction?" Lorne asked.
Phoebe pointed in the direction Crystal, followed by her animals, had taken off in. Lorne raced madly in that direction, leaving Phoebe to turn to Joxer. "Should we go after them?"
"Only if he calls for help," Joxer said. "It's something they've got to work out for themselves. How was I?" he asked.
"Wonderful!" Phoebe exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.
He broke off the kiss long enough to grin down at her and tell her, "I'm glad you liked it." He then turned back to kissing her.
Still inside the galley, Brendan continued to gaze into Prue's eyes. Neither had even noticed when the others had left, though they had heard Lorne's and Joxer's act. When the music stopped and did not start again, Brendan looked toward the door with a worried frown.
"What's wrong, Brendan?" Prue asked.
"Lorne usually goes right into another song. Something must be wrong."
"Maybe we should go out and check on them?" Prue suggested.
Brendan nodded but then paused himself. "Actually, milady, as great as your company has been, if you would excuse me, I believe there is something I need to do."
She looked at him sadly. "I hate our time has come to an end, but I understand. See you tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.
He smiled down at her. "Where would I go?" He saw the dismay in her eyes, and it cut him to his core. For just a brief moment, he considered taking her with him, but no, he couldn't do that. It would place her in far too much danger, and just where had Jack gotten to with the cane? Reaching out, he dared to take her hand in his and gave it a soft squeeze. "I look forward to seeing you again, Miss Halliwell."
She smiled wistfully at him. "Good night, Brendan," she managed to say, "and call me Prue. Miss Halliwell makes me sound like I'm ancient."
"As you wish . . . Prue." He liked the sound of her name on his tongue. He took a few steps backwards but still did not relinquish her hand. He knew he had to, however, and also dared not kiss it for her sweet taste would surely bring the wolf back. He bowed over her hand instead. "Sweet dreams, milady," he whispered before turning with a sad face and forcing his boots to carry him away from her.
She watched him go, one lone tear trailing down her face.
