Page 70 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“Then Lucian kneeled by my side. His hands covered the stab wounds too, but by then, the woman’s lungs filled with blood, her screams had turned to gurgles and I knew, I knew she was going to die no matter what I did.”

“Sweetheart.” He cupped the back of my head and held me in the comfort of his embrace.

“The second she stopped breathing, I finally stared at Lucian to offer him my thanks for trying to help, but the sharp points of his fangs hung out of his lips and I sat back on my haunches at the sight of my new nightmare. He said nothing for a long time. We just stared at each other until I finally asked if he was going to kill me.”

Dante chuckled. “Of course. You are that brave.”

“He said he didn’t want to kill me. I laughed and told him I had nothing to live for. Every one of my family was dead, and I was hopeless at stopping people dying in this stupid war.”

“None of that was your fault.”

“It sure felt like it. I told Lucian if he would not kill me he might as well fuck me and I kissed him.”

Dante’s hold tightened.

“Don’t worry, we only kissed that one ridiculous time.”

“Please don’t tell me about any of your previous lovers. I’ll kill them all.”

I laughed, deep and husky. “Okay.”

“What happened next?”

“We heard another woman scream. I ran. Lucian was faster because he was a vampire. By the time I got there, the man was lying unconscious on the ground and Lucian was mesmerizing the woman into forgetting what happened. I asked him how he did what he did and he told me he was a vampire and then he said he’d remove my memories of him. I told him I wanted revenge on the man and I guess Lucian saw a spark in me he wanted to sire as a vampire because he asked me if I wanted revenge so much that I’d give my life for it.”

“You said yes.”

“Of course. My parents were dead. The war was horrible. I didn’t think my life was worth living. I didn’t realize I was giving up my human life to live an eternal life as a vampire, but here we are.”

“Lucian turned you and you killed the man?”

“When I woke from my human death as a vampire I was so hungry and Lucian had conveniently left the man with me.” I shrugged. “He was the first human I drained dry of blood and I’m not sorry about it either.”

“You don’t need to be sorry for killing scum.”

“I’m not innocent, Dante, I tried my best to only kill our adversaries, but I killed other humans far less deserving of death than him. I was overcome with rage and bloodlust as a new vampire. One particularly bloody night, Lucian caught up with me and gave me the moonstone necklace. It helped me control my heightened emotions and once I went to the Nightshade Academy, I learned to not kill. To be better at feeding from humans.”

“Thank you for telling me your horrific story. I want to wrap you up in a blanket and protect you from all of it.”

I smiled and cupped his face in my hands. “You can’t protect me from my past.”

“No, but I can be here for you day and night to chase any nightmare away.”

I placed my lips against his and kissed him. We both had our nightmares from our pasts, but together we’d banish those demons and build a future.

Chapter thirty-five

Dante

Asher lay in the infirmary bed as pale as the white sheet covering his body. He hadn’t moved or made a noise. Isabel had set up a blood transfusion between me and Asher, but it hadn’t made a difference. All it did was make me tired. And a little lost. Maximus gave me cooked meat, and I mumbled my thanks but I barely tasted the food. Isabel hovered by my side as though a butterfly trying to decide if the flower was good enough to land on. I yanked her onto my lap and her body molded into mine. Her sweet scent filled my lungs. I buried my nose in her hair and breathed deeply.

So soothing to have a mate.

The animal inside me had never felt this calm. Happy. If it wasn’t for Asher lying unconscious, then I would have been thrilled.

Lucian paced the castle coming into the infirmary to check on us occasionally, but then he’d disappear as though he was waiting for something or someone.

A knock echoed from the front door. Isabel jumped to her feet. Was she waiting for someone too?