No matter how much she demanded to be let go, Chris ought to have known he was not going to put her down any time soon. Even with half of the crowd watching them as he carried her off, Hayate could have all but forgotten the presence of the masses in the market place. So single-minded was his purpose — and his feelings, if they could be called that — leading him to carry her off like some primitive human from times gone past. In many ways he was still primitive, or at least he had retreated in to a different state of mind that most human beings had supposedly long surpassed. Perhaps he had an excuse they did not, though. Vampires had their own ways, of course, and he had given in to them all. What use had he of human things?

Hayate knew the reasons for her acting this way as well, but it did not mean he knew how to control himself when it came to his anger. The vampire still had a long way to go with that particular lesson. Her fists collided with his back, but he barely felt the blows from her light hands. Once they were far enough from the crowd and Chris had not given up her squirming, Hayate used his free hand to slap her once across the rear. “Stop that,” he ordered, his voice as hard as stone to get his point across to her. A period of silence from him passed before he said anything else, regardless of whatever Chris felt the need to say. Hayate was trying his best to collect himself. Who knew something as simple as her grabbing a hold of another’s hand would have upset him like this?

“Dione is blind,” Hayate bit out through gritted teeth. “She uses a cane to walk because she cannot see. She is just a friend of mine, and I was holding her hand to help her walk since we were going to the same place.” Hayate had never explained himself to anyone before. It was strange, feeling the need to explain things and wanting the other person to understand and accept it. It was new to him, as many other things with Chris were. Still, he continued to walk. They were not yet at his cottage, and they still had some time to go. Luckily, Hayate did not tire easily.