“What the fuck? What is The Book of Blood, Sparkles?” Jake looked over at Marcus as the man struggled to remain silent.
The witch didn’t answer Jake; she dipped her head and repeated her words. “Tell us why you called for the book.”
Marcus’s face blanched white and Ella teetered on the point of putting an end to the game she started, but his deep voice broke.
“Damn it—I called—I called for the book—to gain control over Ella—to stop her leaving for Wales with Nate.”
Elizabeth gasped. Marcus glared daggers at Ella and his face rippled with strain, his face red and the veins in his neck engorged.
Stop this, Ella. Stop it now.
Why? It seems you’ve been playing a game with me for months. Now it’s payback.
Isabella glanced over at her and she nodded to continue, knowing that the witch had control over Marcus, making him speak the truth even if he didn’t wish to. She needed to know it all.
“Why was Ella leaving for Wales?” Isabella asked as Jake studied the witch and then Ella.
“What the hell kind of game are you two playing? I’ve seen this before, Sparkles, and I didn’t like it.”
Isabella didn’t flinch or look at Jake, and Ella didn’t respond, glued to Marcus. She waited for him to answer the question, confused as to why she would leave him and head for Wales with their son. She sipped her wine and swallowed. Marcus glanced and spoke, his voice this time quiet and resigned.
“The professor told Ella she has a brother. One who is able to detect soul-shifters. A brother who is helping the Padre. She wanted to go chasing after a ghost. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let that bastard destroy my family. After everything he put us through—kidnapping Ella, inducing her labor, dumping her in the woods with a dead baby we believed ours—fuck fate. We barely survived that. I needed her where I could see her. I didn’t want her to take off with our son, who damn well deserved more after everything that happened.”
“What did you do?” Isabella asked, focused on Marcus.
“I willed her to forget about her brother and to look after Nate.”
When he finished, he spun away. The room grew silent. Only the crackle and spit from the wood as it splintered in the fireplace sounded. Marcus shook his head and strode to the liquor cabinet, pouring a large measure of whisky. He flung back around and Ella stood up on shaky legs, dazed at his admission.
She didn’t quite know what to make of it. To run off to Wales with Nate didn’t seem a rational plan, but Marcus had deceived her. He had forced her to bend to his will. Had she backed away from Orion to look after Nate because he had made her? Something he promised he would never do. She marched over, and pressed her lips tight. Standing inches away from him, she studied the stern, glacial features of her husband, from his dark-coffee eyes to his straight nose and square jaw, standing a head taller than her. He dipped his head down.
I was trying to protect you and …
Smack. The crisp slap of her hand contacted his cheek, and the sound echoed around. She saw him flinch with the sting of her attack, and she pummeled his chest until she was empty.
“Shit! Are you crazy, Ella? I would have done the same if you were mine and about to embark on some harebrained scheme. The professor is full of shit,” Jake shouted, standing.
“Jake—don’t. This is between me and Ella,” Marcus added.
“The hell it is. Ella brought us here for this charade. She wanted us to see you spill your guts. And you, Isabella—you. I’ve seen you perform this crazy mumbo jumbo, and it nearly killed that man. You are just as bad. You push every fucking button, Ella. He’s only a man fool enough to worship the ground you walk on.”
“Jake, for Christ’s sake—shut the fuck up.”
Tears fell down Ella’s cheeks. “Marcus betrayed me. I begged him not to manipulate control between the two of us, but he didn’t listen. He always thinks he knows what’s best for me. I’m not a possession, Jake, one to be manipulated. Marcus doesn’t own me. I needed a partner, one who would treat me as an equal, not someone who would deceive me.”
She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Marcus reached his hand out to offer comfort, but she smacked it away.
“Don’t. We are immortal soul-shifters, Marcus. I learned what that entails, and it’s not what you think. We can die. I also learned that by shifting the balance of power as mates like you have, you have weakened our bond. I cannot think straight anymore. You need to leave—right now. You didn’t trust me enough to resolve the issues by talking. You asserted your will, stole my memory. How could you?” She choked out her words. “I—cannot forgive you for that.”
Her voice elevated and Henry rose out of his chair. “I think we should leave you two alone. It sounds like you have a lot to talk about.”
“No. We don’t. Not now.” She walked over to the closet, pulled out a large black duffel bag she had filled with his clothes, and stepped back into the room. Ella shoved it at him. “Leave!”
Marcus gripped the bag, staring long and hard at her.
Is this really what you want?
You betrayed me. The one person who is meant to have my back, no matter what.
Ella covered her mouth with her hand and stood there, shaking at the significance of this moment and what it meant. She was throwing him out. The only man she loved. Her mate. An empty hole opened inside her gut and she shivered, but she turned her back
