Marcus stood and gripped his arm. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes. Isabella needs to make a choice, but I’m not a good man deep down, Drayton. Don’t mistake me for one. I know she has feelings for the mortal, and I tried to walk away, but fate’s twisted. I couldn’t let her die. Now, I must leave.”
With that said, he vanished, leaving the leader of Orion alone. It was time for Isabella to fight for her humanity because in truth, he wouldn’t always be there to watch over her. He hoped his plan didn’t backfire, because her reaction would have far reaching implications.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Isabella pressed her lips tight, staring between Jake and Ella waiting—needing—reassurance that they didn’t think she was a monster, even if those words had flown out of Jake’s mouth.
“Wow, just wow. I’ve never seen you in a dress—ever,” Ella said as she smeared tears away from her cheeks, diving at her with her arms wide open. As they hugged, they both laughed, and she embraced her friend, needing the connection. But she sniffed her hair and frowned, trying to decipher whether the scent affected her in the way Jake’s had. No, was the answer. Ella smelled of freshly cut grass and rich earth. Not the mouthwatering bouquet of Jake. He stood with his hands hidden in his back pockets. When Ella stood back and braced her arms on her shoulders, she dipped her head to study her friend.
“Are you okay? I mean, I don’t know what this past week must have been like for you or what the transformation entailed, but you look...” Ella said but Jake interrupted.
“Can’t you guess, princess? The fucking vampire had his hand over her breast—in full view of us all.”
Isabella gasped. There was a disconnect where Roman was concerned. Anything he did to her seemed natural, effortless and she embraced it. Needed it, like she used to need air. She hadn’t examined what that meant, and stared at the closed door, knowing he had left her alone. He had given her time. To see Jake. What did that mean? She tilted her head and knew in that moment everything she had tried to convince herself of was no longer important. Roman’s kiss was like a key unlocking the door, only she no longer wanted to run from him, but to him. Nothing else mattered. That realization calmed her, and she pressed her hands over her face, feeling the soft skin, and let them drop to her sides.
“Roman saved me. The fact is I don’t think he wanted me to be a vampire, Jake. It was why he broke off our engagement.” She frowned, thinking how hard this past week must have been on the vampire who had pursued her ruthlessly. The truth was he could so easily have fucked her by now, and she wouldn’t have resisted. She knew at times in the blood lust, she had lost herself in him and the desire for him ruled her mind. Observing Jake as he frowned and kept his distance, she felt nothing resembling the sizzling heat for Roman. She cried out, more a low growl than a cry, and tugged her hair.
“What the…” Jake darted over to her and cradled his arm around her, smoothing her hair away from her face. “Don’t, Sparkles, shh, shh. It’s okay. We will figure this out. We will fix this.”
His words faded as his scent invaded. She shoved him away, harder than she intended. The aroma so tempting and delicious. Her canines elongated instantly, and she opened her mouth, licking her lips.
“No, Jake, we can’t fix this. I’m a vampire.” She shook her head and charged away to gain some distance. She stood by the window, gazing at the ocean of white snow that covered everything in sight.
“She led me there. The Morrigan tricked me. I saw her as a woman, and I followed her, thinking I could kill her in the human form and be done with it. But as I lay there, the woman standing over me was me. It wasn’t her, but another demon cloaked and spelled to mirror my own actions in human form. My strike was fatal. It should have killed the demon, but she had cast a spell to reverse the effect. It’s why the demon did nothing to retaliate.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Isabella,” Ella said.
Isabella swiveled around and laughed a throaty, hysterical laugh. “I killed myself. Roman’s right—I seek out danger. I love the battle and the storms when most people like sunshine and days at the beach.” She dipped her head and sagged against the window frame. “I brought this upon myself, and even if I went back in time, I know I would have made the same decision if I thought I had a chance to defeat that bitch. Now isn’t any different. One thing is certain—I am going to find a way to bring the Morrigan down. I’m not going to cry over what is lost to me. I’m still here, and I’m going to defeat her.”
Ella wrapped her arm around her back and squeezed her. “We both will—together, Isabella. You’re not alone.”
Isabella hugged her friend and closed her eyes. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry and her thirst returned with a vengeance as her nostrils flared, aware of Jake standing close by. He walked over to hug her and she pushed him violently away. Seeing him crash heavily to the floor, she flew at him to check he was okay. But as she crouched low over him, the wave of thirst pushed her to grip him
