But she shrugged away from her sister and spun around, tugging at the back of her lace dress and ripping the material aside. She glanced over her shoulder. “Is it there?”
Zephra stepped closer, examining her back where she pointed. “What am I looking for?”
“An indent, in the shape of an oval. It’s Roman’s mark. Is it there?”
The witch peeled the dress back, exposing Isabella’s creamy, unblemished skin, and looked over at Marcus.
“It’s gone, isn’t it? Just tell me, Zephra. That bastard has left me again, only this time, he’s erased any claim to me. I’m a vampire but an outcast. Why?” Isabella eased herself away from her sister and wandered over to pour a drink, knocking back a shot of vodka, followed by another one. “I’ve been such a fool. I knew all along Roman could not love me.”
Marcus helped himself to a drink. “You’re a vampire, and yet you love him. Why do you think he’s any less capable of feeling the emotion in return? Whatever’s going on, he didn’t make this decision lightly. For whatever reason, he’s left you here. He knows you will be safe among your own kind. Why would he do that if he didn’t care?”
The witch lifted her head and pinned him with an unflinching stare. The figure-hugging but torn lace wedding dress vanished, to be replaced by black leather pants and a short leather jacket. The witch was still capable of wielding her magic.
“Why? Because he has no choice. No one from his family wants me if they believe we are involved in killing members of their family. It’s obvious he blames the witches for this shitstorm and in his eyes, I’m still a witch, something no doubt he’s embarrassed about. I don’t need your potion, Zephra. The fact is Roman’s gone. So what if I create tears when I’m sad? Christa’s dead, along with many others. We lost witches and vampires. We should be united against our enemy, and yet the vampires scuttled away like the scum they are. He’s tossed me away like some moldy sandwich, and what’s more, his kind won’t help us with the Morrigan, not after this. I’m certain of it.”
Marcus listened to the passionate words thrown out by Isabella, who believed herself apart from the vampires. Maybe the creatures detected this. It could, in part, account for the lack of her acceptance by them. But he remained silent. Isabella was right about one thing. Instead of remaining to analyze what had occurred, the emperor had vanished. If Ella was correct and this vampire was Gabriel, could he be involved with the Morrigan? It put a whole new spin on their situation. The look of regret on Roman’s face as he left made him suspect he was acting under orders, not of his own accord. But none of this bode well for the tentative alliance they had forged before Christmas with the vampires, making their situation even more tenuous.
“All we know is Roman had to leave,” he said.
The last several hours had been chaotic, and he had not seen his boss at all. “Where the hell is Steel? I haven’t seen him since…”
The main doors swung open again and in walked Raine, dressed in black, gliding, it seemed, across the floor as if in a trance. Once she caught sight of him, she stopped, not venturing any closer. “I tried…I did all I could, but they surrounded us and no matter…what I did, they ignored me.”
A chill invaded as he realized Steel was not with her. He shook his head as an impossible thought erupted. He dashed at Raine, gripping her shoulders and shaking her. “How bad are his injuries? Take me to him immediately. I need to speak with him…”
Marcus shook her as she continued to stare vacantly, but she broke down in tears before screaming out loud. Seeing her in such distress, the awful truth sunk in, but he needed to hear her say it out loud.
“He’s dead—Steel’s dead. Those monsters charged at him. I did what I could, calling on fire to burn them, but there were too many. They were like cockroaches crawling out of the woodwork, all charging at Steel. No one else existed.”
Raine touched his hand, but he shrugged her off, not wanting any physical contact in case he lashed out. The tight reins of control slipped second by second as he clenched his fists, wanting to hit out. He needed to see the man for himself. Nothing else would do. “Just tell me where he is.”
Zephra squeezed Raine’s hand and she wiped her tears from her cheek. “I’ll take you to see him, but you need to prepare yourself. The injuries were extensive.”
CHAPTER THREE
Several Hours Earlier
This island existed long before we made it ours. Wars were fought here, but as the tide rolled in, closing off the mainland and making it a prison, it’s easily forgotten. And when magic became feared and forbidden, my coven claimed this place as a sanctuary. Humans tend to see only what they want, so it’s easy enough to hide.
Isabella gave this introduction to Ella and her husband Marcus when they arrived at her mysterious home hours ago. Standing now on the balcony outside her friend’s bedroom, overlooking the panoramic view of the small rocky island and soaking up the midday sun, it was incredible to know this place existed a few miles farther down from their home on the tip of Maine’s southern coast.
It could have been on another planet.
Isabella had also told them there were around fifty residents on the island but that did not include the strange animals that roamed around in large numbers. Strolling across the perfectly manicured lawns and gardens was a multitude of noisy felines, creating a colorful patchwork
