And she didn’t care. She’d love him anyway.
For as long as they had.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It shouldn’t take more than half a day at most to retrieve the black diamond and get back here,” Dalton said to Isabelle.
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ve made arrangements for you to wait in the chapel,” Michael said. “You’ll be safe in there. It’s the most sacred part of the castle.”
“Whatever you think is best.”
Angelique was worried about Isabelle. She looked pale. She kneeled down next to her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m tired and a little freaked out by all this. I just want it to be over. Go get the black diamond so Michael can do his testing on me. Once we figure out whether or not I’m some freakazoid demon, I’ll feel better.”
Angelique sighed and squeezed Isabelle’s fingers. “You’re no more freak than I am.”
Isabelle snorted. “Whatever. Just go.”
“Dalton, take Isabelle to the chapel,” Michael said. “We’ll start loading up the vehicle.”
Dalton nodded. Isabelle frowned, but stood, letting go of Angelique’s fingers.
“I’ll be back soon,” she said to Izzy, but her sister had already left the room.
Angelique’s stomach tightened. She didn’t like this feeling.
Dalton walked quietly alongside Isabelle, wishing there was something he could say to make her feel better.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” he said.
“Really? I don’t see why not. You did plenty of it before.”
He stopped in the middle of the hall and grabbed her wrist, ever mindful of the zing of electricity that still existed between them. “I’m sorry. I did what I had to do.”
She pulled her hand away and rubbed the spot on her wrist where he’d touched her. “And sex was part of that.”
“I’m not going to apologize for making love to you, Isabelle. And I think we both know this attraction is mutual. But it had nothing to do with my assignment. I did it because I wanted to.”
“If I’d known who you were it wouldn’t have happened. You used me. You had sex with me to get close to me so I’d trust you. You only wanted the book.”
Her pain stabbed at him. “Yes, I wanted the book. But I didn’t have to make love to you to get the book. I wanted you.”
“But it sure made it easier, didn’t it?”
“No, it actually made it more difficult.”
Her gaze held his for long seconds. He felt her hesitation, as if there was more she wanted to say. But she turned and started walking away. “Spare me your guilt trip, Dalton. You and the Realm of Light got what you wanted. I’m here, I’m your guinea pig. Just drop me off in the chapel and go get the black diamond.”
Dalton sighed and they resumed walking.
They arrived at the chapel and Dalton pushed open the heavy wooden doors and led Isabelle inside.
He hated seeing her like this, hated knowing he’d caused her such misery.
She took a seat on one of the old wood pews and stared straight ahead at the altar, refusing to acknowledge him.
“You need anything, there’ll be one of the Realm guards posted outside. Don’t leave this chapel until we get back. It’s for your safety.”
“Uh-huh.”
He wanted to hold her, to kiss her again. She’d been so vibrant, smiling, full of life when he’d met her. A mass of contradictions wrapped up in one compelling package. He’d wanted to know more about her, to take time to learn her.
Now she was like an empty shell.
He’d get the old Isabelle back. Even if it meant her walking away from him, he’d make sure she was happy again. Hopefully this test with the black diamond would help.
He walked out of the chapel and closed the door, nodding to the guard who took position at the doorway.
As he walked down the long hallway back to the castle, he felt empty inside. Just like Isabelle, he imagined.
Dalton wished things were different. But he of all people knew some things were set in stone and couldn’t be changed.
