“Where are we going?”
“Up north of town a bit. To a secure location. Your sister is already there.”
“Angelique?” She’d heard her sister’s voice in that alley. The demon had faked it? What would have happened to her if she’d gone with that thing? Isabelle shivered, pinpricks of goose bumps breaking out over her flesh.
She was both elated and nervous about seeing Angie. She looked over at Dalton, who had her bag in his hand. The bag holding her mother’s diary.
Angie would see it. She would find out what was in there. She would know what Isabelle was.
Recalling what she’d just seen in the alley, the knots in Isabelle’s stomach tightened.
That’s not what she was. It couldn’t be.
She turned her head away from Dalton and looked out the window, hating the tears that pooled almost as much as she hated her mother right now.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Your sister and Dalton are on their way here.”
Angelique’s heart tumbled at Michael’s statement. She looked at the group of people sitting around the kitchen table with her. Ryder, Mandy, Trace, all staring at her.
She focused on Michael instead. “Really? When will they be here?”
“Any time now.”
“Thank you.”
Her body trembled and she clasped her hands together under the table to still the shaking.
“Are you okay?” Ryder asked.
“Yes. I’m just anxious to see Isabelle, to find out what’s going on, and to see my mother’s journal.” The one she’d known nothing about.
Ryder smoothed his hand down her hair, cupping the back of her neck to massage the tension. She couldn’t help but notice the curious stares from Mandy and Trace, but she didn’t care. She enjoyed his touch.
Since their arrival several hours ago, they had explored the castle. The stone walls inside had been retained, and Angelique could still feel the ancient history there. Other than that, everything inside had been modernized, from the floors to the kitchens to every single room. She had no idea what was going on within this castle, but it certainly wasn’t historic. Computer gadgetry was everywhere, in every room, at least the ones she’d been to so far, since there were places she hadn’t yet been taken. She’d been shown to a lovely bedroom that retained a quaint, medieval quality with tapestry wall hangings and a feather mattress, but had a modern bathroom with a large shower and spacious whirlpool tub. It was the strangest mix of old and new she’d ever encountered. She liked it, actually.
They had just reconnected with everyone in the kitchen when Michael announced the imminent arrival of her sister, so she hadn’t yet had a chance to ask questions about the castle. She supposed that would have to wait, because she heard the front door and voices, instantly recognizing her sister’s voice. She stood and hurried down the hall to the entryway.
As soon as Izzy spotted her, Angelique opened her arms and Isabelle ran into them. She hugged her sister, letting the tears fall.
No matter their differences or what had happened between them, they would always be family.
They were surrounded by people watching them, but Angelique didn’t care. She pulled back, kissed both of Isabelle’s cheeks. “I missed you. I’ve been so worried about you. Where have you been?”
Izzy’s face was streaked with tears, too. “Busy, and here and there. Getting into trouble, of course.”
Angelique let out a laugh. “Of course. Come, let’s have something to drink.” She slid an arm around Isabelle’s waist, pausing only to introduce her sister to everyone before leading her into the kitchen.
“Wine?” Angelique asked.
Isabelle nodded. “I need it. I’m still shaking over what happened.”
Ryder’s gaze shot to Dalton’s. “What?”
“Demon attack in an alley in the Catania business district. Isabelle and I. . got separated and one tried to lure her. I got to her before she followed it into the alley.”
Angelique turned to her sister. Isabelle shrugged. “I didn’t know. It looked human. It had sunglasses on. It said it was sent by you, that you had been looking for me. I even heard your voice calling me.”
Angelique hugged her sister again. Too close. Too damn close. “Damn Sons of Darkness.” She turned to Michael. “How do they know where we are all the time?”
Michael poured a glass of Chianti and leaned against the kitchen counter. “My guess is that you and your sister are connected to them, allowing them to track your whereabouts.”
“I wondered about that. I touched the black diamond in the caves in Australia. I had contact with them and with that object-I remember feeling strange when I was connected to it. I figured it somehow bonded me to them.”
“Perhaps,” Michael said, his expression benign.
“But that doesn’t explain Isabelle. She’s never been exposed to demons. How would they have any knowledge of her whereabouts?”
