Chapter 120 Heartbeat Returns

Chapter 120 Heartbeat Returns
A guy suddenly burst onto the scene, his face red with pure rage. "It completely ruined my freshly washed car!"

I froze where I stood, while Azi just stared back at the man.

The waiter rushed over to try to calm the furious guy down, but he wouldn't budge. "I don't care! Why would anyone bring a fucking horse into a parking lot?!" the man continued shouting.

"My mistake." I winced as Azi finally spoke up. The man's attention, along with that of the other disturbed diners, immediately shifted to him. "I should have brought Sigrid inside instead."

"Is it you?" the guy confronted Azi. "You own that fucking horse?"

I grabbed Azi’s arm to keep him calm. "Let's just leave, Azi. Just ignore him. Don't waste your time on him," I pleaded, wanting to prevent things from escalating. It was getting embarrassing for the other guests.

"Okay," Azi replied. "I'm not going to waste my time on this human anyway..."

I breathed a sigh of relief when Azi agreed so easily. We were about to walk past the man when he suddenly grabbed my arm. I jumped in shock.

"Pay for that," he demanded, glaring at Azi.

I tried to shake his hand off as gently as I could, but he wouldn't budge. In fact, he tightened his grip, and it was actually starting to hurt.

"I said pay—"

"Are you going to let go of me or not?" Using my free hand, I grabbed him firmly by the throat. He instantly released my arm in shock, so I let him go right after.

"Good boy..."

I heard Azi chuckle. "I thought you said you didn't want any trouble?" he muttered softly.

I yanked Azi toward the exit of the restaurant, my footsteps heavy with frustration. Why would someone make such a massive scene over something so minor? He could have just had his car cleaned again!

It was so embarrassing, yet there Azi was, casually laughing it off.

"'Are you going to let go of me or not?'" Azi mimicked my voice. "You looked like you were about to pull his heart right out of his chest. You really have quite a temper when you're mad."

"It's your horse's fault," I rolled my eyes.

We walked over to where Sigrid was tied up. I winced when I saw her droppings right in front of the guy's car. Oh. Well, no wonder he was so furious.

"Gross..." I murmured.

We climbed back onto the horse and rode out of the parking lot. We ended up on the highway again, but this time I didn't feel as embarrassed. What happened inside the restaurant was far worse.

I breathed a deep sigh of relief when we finally entered the cover of the woods. Azi kept Sigrid at a slow, steady pace. I suddenly let out a yawn.

"Getting sleepy?" I heard Azi ask.

"Nope." I straightened up in my seat, realizing I was leaning a bit too close against his back. "Anyway... can I ask what the mission is about? Is it bloody? Do I need to fight, too?"

"Expansionism," he responded. "To expand our wealth, alliances, territory, and power. Sometimes it involves invasion, too. Invasions only happen when both parties fail to agree on terms. That's where the bloody part comes in. Of course, the outcome is always in our favor."

Okay. That sounded pretty terrifying.

"But this mission is just expansionism, right?" I asked, tense.

"I can't say for sure," he replied, making my stomach drop even further. "But the Vlanchard Clan is just a small clan. If they're fully aware of what we can do, they won't hesitate to nod their heads and agree."

"And what if they aren't?"

"Are you scared?"

"Of course I am," I answered. "Even if they're a small clan, they're still way stronger than me. I don't want to be a burden to you on this mission. Wait, I have an idea!"

"What is it now?" he asked lazily.

"Leave me somewhere safe, and then just come back for me when you're done," I suggested. "I won't leave the spot, and it'll only take you a short while anyway, right?"

He slowed Sigrid down even more, until we were practically just walking.

"Listen, Shekina..." His voice turned deadly serious. "You won't leave my side no matter what. And when I say side..." He pulled my arm, causing me to fall right into an embrace against him. "...I mean this close."

A strange flutter sensation crawled through my chest. Wait, was that my heartbeat? I thought my heart wasn't supposed to beat anymore... so why was I feeling this right now?

"I promise not to kill anyone on this mission," he whispered. "If that's what's worrying you, then I won't. I'll make sure no blood is spilled while you're beside me."

Fuck. My heartbeat. Was I turning human again?