He ground his teeth as he tossed another board into the truck. He just wanted to get this wood loaded as quickly as possible and get back to the house. He would see Isabelle before he returned to help with the new house, which he wanted to be finished as soon as possible. It would be much more enjoyable to stay there with Isabelle. Of course, Ethan would be there too, but at least it wasn't a house load of people.
Tossing another board onto the load, he quickly wiped the sweat from his brow. He glanced over at Ethan as he bent to pick up another board. He had apologized to him about the other night, and Ethan seemed to accept it, but he could still sense wariness in him.
Stefan didn't blame him in the least; he was a little wary of himself. Something wasn't right with him still, but he didn't know what it was. He was beginning to feel like the same as when he left, unstable and angry. Isabelle helped to ease it when he saw her, but now he wasn't near her, it was starting to come back with a vengeance.
He grew more aggravated when he thought this might be the way he felt every time he left her. It wasn't a possibility he wanted to consider. He'd always been free to come and go as he pleased, and although he came back for her, he never considered he might not be able to leave her again. He didn’t want to leave her; it was the last thing he wanted, but the idea it might not be possible was overwhelming.
He also couldn't rid himself of the feeling something wasn't right, wasn't complete. Something was lacking, and he didn't know what it could be. He thought if he could figure it out things would be better, but he couldn't think straight.
He inhaled a weary breath as David handed him another board. A bolt of panic hit him, freezing him instantly. The board slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a clattering thud. David turned toward him. Stefan's heart seemed to stop beating as Isabelle's fear rolled over him, through him, and nearly swamped him with its intensity.
"Stefan are you okay?" David asked worriedly.
"Get back to the house," he told them.
"What?"
Stefan didn't bother to answer him as he turned and disappeared.
"Shit!" Jack blurted.
Chapter Nineteen
Stefan froze as he looked in the hole, a riot of emotions crashing through him all at once. Terror surged forward as his eyes landed on Isabelle. Blood covered her face, chest, and throat. It took him a second to realize it wasn't her blood but Kyle's. When he realized the danger she’d placed herself in, anger swelled through him.
"Stefan," Isabelle whispered.
All his anger vanished as she looked at him with pleading, tear-filled eyes. The hopelessness in her gaze tore at his heart. His eyes focused on Isabelle's wrist pressed to Kyle's mouth. Suddenly, he knew what was missing, what would get rid of the clawing sensation he'd been grappling with since he'd left her side.
"He won't stop bleeding." Tears streaked Isabelle’s blood, and dirt caked face.
Stefan dropped to his knees and stretched his arms into the hole. Isabelle lifted Kyle from Cassidy's lap and stood. Pain flashed across her face, and she shifted her weight. Anger rocketed through him as he realized she was injured.
Isabelle lifted Kyle to him; her arms shook as a sob tore from her. Stefan clenched his teeth against the distress she radiated, both physical and emotional, as he wrapped his hands around Kyle's arms and easily pulled him up. He laid him on the ground and quickly scanned the severe wounds in his chest and stomach before turning back around. He stretched into the hole as Isabelle handed Cassidy to him. She was sobbing so heavily her tiny body shook from the force of it. Relief filled him the minute Isabelle's hands slid into his, and he pulled her free.
She released him instantly as she fell to her brother's side, a bloody shirt clutched in her hands as she pressed it to his wounds again. Lifting his head to her lap, she pressed her wrist to his mouth. Covered in dirt, and blood, her white bra was more red than white now.
The others would be coming soon, and the idea of them seeing her like this sent a bolt of fury and jealousy through him that he was unable to stop. Quickly yanking his shirt off, he walked over to crouch by her side.
She lifted her head to look at him; the suffering in her eyes was almost more than he could bear.
"Put this on." He handed her the shirt as he picked Kyle up. Blood soaked his skin and matted against his stomach as it oozed through Kyle's shirt. Isabelle stood beside him, trembling as she twisted his shirt nervously in her hands.
"Put it on!" he ordered, more sharply than he intended.
She started as she glanced at the knotted shirt she held. Her hands trembled as she slipped it over her head. His anxiety lessened instantly as the shirt fell over her and dropped down to mid-thigh. She looked childish and vulnerable in the oversized shirt, and he found himself liking the fact she wore it.
He tore his attention away from her and back to Kyle. Stefan shifted his hold as he bit deep into his wrist. He held it to Kyle's mouth, and relief filled him as the boy began
