I’ve never been good at small talk, so my hand was quickly slicing his head off his body with a single, clean swipe. Screw it! His blood was odd, and although I didn’t mind getting some on me, I did get some on my shirt. It had the same dark color as coal. I had never seen anything like that before. Blood splattered over the floor as his skull rolled to someplace in the bushes and his body collapsed to its knees, limp. Now, the scoundrel was practically dead. I quickly turned around to find my partner lying on the ground, trembling with pain. I hurried to her side and cupped her tiny head in my hands, unable to contain my excitement. I detected the venomous odor emanating from her. She managed to utter, “Save me!” through her pallid white lips. I don’t know what happened to me, but something inside of me snapped at those words, and I felt compelled to defend and hide her from the awful sights of the outside world. She was not awakening. I touched her forehead and felt as though I had
I moved to her side and used a towel to remove the perspiration off her forehead. “No! No! No, please! Twisting and writhing on the bed, she muttered to herself. She was really hurting. I gripped her hands, imagining myself in her suffering. I relieved her of her agony. Her breathing became more steady and quiet, and I could see that she was no longer as in pain. Isabella, what a mystery you are. I watched her sleep soundly, wishing I could see what was going through her thoughts. I removed the bracelet I had discovered in the forest by her side. I saw it on her wrist when we met at Coffee Bay, and I knew it belonged to her. “Never fear. I said in a whisper, “I’m here now, and I’ll protect you. Unknown POV Merely humming the lullaby Mockingbird, a slow but terrible laughter oozed out of my lips, reverberating all over my dark, alone rooms. “When the skies cry blood, the earth is fertilized with something dark, something evil-, something wicked!” For the last eleven days, I have not
Mistress!” Yennefer exclaimed, coming running to my side as soon as I left my room. My favorite witch in the Red Circle coven, Yennefer was a natural murderer who had absolutely no pity or weakness. She was a prodigy all by herself. It was understandable why she became my second in charge. She was a small-time, pitiful thief before I met her. Her parents had abandoned her when she was only eight years old, believing her to be the devil’s embodiment after she had thrown her sister from the roof.Even when her stupid parents sent the priest to perform an exorcism, the unfortunate child still lacked control over her special powers. I refer to that as actual power. Red tape and restrictions are not the proper means of directing and controlling power. Real power is intended to be completely unrestricted and to be manipulated to your own desire. She returned to show her family what a true monster she was after I took her under my wing. You may argue that I recognized myself in this little w
"Where are Primá Diego and Aunt Maggie?” I worried about my young cousin Diego and hoped he was okay because I couldn’t possible leave them all behind. “No! I will not abandon you and all of you. Allow me to fight from behind. I’ve been honing my magic and spells the way you taught me. Remember how you said I was going to be the best witch the world had ever seen? It was strange and even more frightening to see my own mother in this manner. She was a strong woman and a powerful witch who always hid her fears and emotions. “Trust me mom, I’m good now, believe me,” I muttered as I felt my mother trembling and a single teardrop fell from her eyes. She touched my cheek with her icy, blood-stained hands—her own blood—and I knew at that moment that she was bleeding from her right arm. Indeed. That’s my little firecracker, possessing bravery greater than that of a powerful lion and a warrior’s heart. But you can’t remain, Bella, my lovely. You must run, and you must run forever, for it is no
A woman’s voice could be heard humming a lullaby that I recognized instantly—it sounded like Mockingbird. Aunt Delilah. Bella, you must leave right away! “Sweetheart, don’t turn around.” My mother pushed me aside. “Keep in mind that the man with the butterfly tattoo is theonly person you should trust.” Isabella, the moon goddess, herself, has chosen him for you. In the end, he will sacrifice his life to assist and safeguard you. I was unable to comprehend a word she said. “When your paths do eventually cross, you must recognize him because he will protect you with his life and without him you won’t be able to fulfill your destiny.” Whoever he was back then, why wasn’t he here to defend me now that I needed him? A guy with a butterfly tattoo would protect me? My mother spoke in bizarre, cryptic riddles that were always difficult to grasp; after all, she was endowed with the ability to see into the future. She carefully placed me beneath the fireplace, and all I could do was gaze at he
“I will never let you have her, over my dead body.” Aunt Delilah laughed, but Mom sounded really angry now. This never happened. You truly sound like you could stop me, but both you and I are aware of how powerless you are in comparison to me. She grinned evilly and kept laughing like a crazy witch. “Just to be warned, your husband and our little sister Magareth tried to stop me from getting here and all they got was their tiny heart beating out of their chest.” I just heard from aunt Delilah that dad and dear aunt Maggie both passed away while attempting to protect mewas in so much pain, but I couldn’t cry. I only prayed Diego was okay, or that she killed him too, the way she killed his mother, aunt Maggie. No! How could she do this? How could she kill them? She was a monster. “You horrible creature! You are a monster, Mom and Dad were right back then, even if I never wanted to believe it!” Mom let out a cry and sent a burst of magical energy blast towards Aunt Delilah, but with a s
Isabella’s POV I woke up and wriggled my body from side to side, letting out a painful and strained moan. My head bubbled up in a horrible confusing blur, and I could feel a wave of electrified pain flow from all over my body, along with nightmares that were too vague and painful to remember. Drops of sweat were running down my brow and my pulse was pounding hard inside my chest. I abruptly woke up from whereI was lying and looked around, but I couldn’t tell where I was. That’s when it hit me that I wasn’t in the middle of the woods, where I thought I was last seen, or even in my own bedroom back at my apartment. I found this place to be somewhat strange and unfamiliar. I was lying in the middle of a huge, plush king-sized bed in an incredibly spacious room. The enormous double door window was covered in thick, black curtains that prevented any light from entering the space and instead filled it with a gloomy, creepy embrace. The lamps and candles that were burning fiercely were the
My hand landed on my wrist. It was then that I realized my enchanted bracelet was missing. Fuck! I had to find out where it was. It was all that kept me, at least, out of the Red Circle’s and my aunt Delilah’s sights. My magic was totally compromised now, and my location could only be determined by my aunt using it as a beacon. I am now vulnerable to anyone who wishes for my death. In a matter of seconds, the red circle and creatures were scurrying toward me. Anyone nearby could be in risk, including myself. That sounded like a problem forlater, but I had to leave immediately then. Hurry up! “Insinious” I whispered, hoping that the magic would help me get the door’s latch unlocked and open, but it didn’t work. All I received in exchange was a sharp agony shooting through my stomach. I couldn’t use my magic, so I suppose I wasn’t completely healed from the shape-shifter’s attack and poison. However, I had more tricks up my sleeve. I removed my hair clip and inserted it into the keyhole
I mumbled, “Because you are my… Guest,” and she gave a small laugh. She chuckled and said, “Ahh… but I recall the other night you calling me your prisoner and not your valued guest.” I grinned a little since I did remember that as well. I questioned her back, pretending to be innocent, “Doesn’t sound like something I would say now, does it?” She slapped me across the shoulder. She wasn’t a prisoner here, and my only reason for keeping her around was selfish, so I had to tell her that she was free to leave or stay herself. “But you need to know that you are my Guest in this mansion. You aren’t a prisoner and although I rather you not, you are free to go whenever you would like,” I sighed. I was astonished when she asked, “You want me to stay?” The only thing that was true was that I wanted her to stay because I needed her around and my heart burned for her. “Yes, I think the people around have gotten used to your company,” I said. Her eyes searched mine, hoping for more. It was comfort
With her hands held just above her head and her hat strewn all over the bed, it looked incredibly incriminating. Our chests were rising from all of our struggling, and I could feel the intense sexual tension between us. Her eyes met mine, her body stilled as she lay beneath me, hovering over me, her perfume enticing me as her heated breath fanned against my skin. Luca loved this. He yearned to be so near to her that he could breathe in her scent. And dammit, I had to admit that I was also loving the view of my mate from this vantage point.I knew deep down that I had to let her go because, in the end, I guess it was already too late for that because my desires were stronger than my will and all I wanted at that moment was her. This was the brightest that had made me happy in days. There we were. I could feel my other member begin to grow larger and bigger like it suddenly developed a mind of its own. I eased my grip on her as my hands wandered across her face, tracing her curves until
Dimitri’s POV I was in my office, almost ready to send Lance and Gabe off to my meeting, when Gemini burst in, panting violently, looking panicked, even scared, and I knew without a doubt that something was wrong. In an attempt to soothe her, Gabe drew nearer to her and laid a hand on her back.Gabe said, “Calm down, Gemini, slow breaths. What’s wrong?” which made her breathing settle a little before she continued. “Alpha,” she uttered, nearly in a whisper. I drew nearer to her, my head spinning more violently than it had in the previous few days due to the almost total grip of fear. “Gemini speak! What took place?” As her Alpha, I gave her an order. I stepped in front of her. “It is Rubi. My heart tightened at Gemini’s words, “She has gone crazy and she is attacking Luna.”Gemini finally added, horrified. Rubi! had to be the one inciting more drama, surely? Isabella was merely human, but I was worried for her safety if Rubi was going crazy. I knew how insane Rubi was—she tortured op
I comforted her, telling her it wasn’t that deep. “It is okay, Gem.” I kept telling myself to try taking the high road—it was a good day after all—but she was pushing my patience too far, and regrettably for her, she overreached herself. It got to me, but I didn’t plan on going as low as she did. I didn’t even care if Dimitri was wealthy; I wasn’t interested in his money and I certainly wouldn’t fuck anyone for it. My mother raised me better. Rubi called me a gold digger, saying, “You are nothing but a gold digging whore! I know you plan on seducing Dimitri so you can get hiswealth.” Enraged, I gave Rubi a savage glare for what she had said. There were so many ways this could have gone wrong, and they would have all ended in violence, but I had not intended to resort to violence. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and left the room, knowing that it would be best for her if I simply left. If I stay, I can’t be sure I will be able to control myself. “Hey, worthless person! I heard h
Isabelle’s POV My day was made this morning, which began at the crack of dawn and continued until the very end without any nightmares. It was truly wonderful and lovely. There was a full moon tonight, and I could feel it. I also felt my bracelet dangling on my wrist, which was probably my bracelet trying to tell me that it was at work keeping the bad dreams at bay and my magic sealed. I smiled a little, seeing how Gemini tailed behind me. She said she had something to do later on today and she wouldn’t be around for the rest of the day. She mentioned something about having to patrol, but when I asked her what it meant, she started stuttering nervously. We went past Dimitri’s room; the door was slightly ajar, but I couldn’t quite see anything or catch a glimpse of him. Maybe he had already left? The thought of that shook my heart a little bit. He didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye before heading out on his trip. A little birdie told me he had a meeting and won’t be around. It
“Are you done?” I continued to believe that I must have misheard and blinked twice. I gave him a tender hug and said, “Baby,” but he stopped me. I felt his hands tighten on my wrists and yank me away from him. His words, which were growing more acerbic by the second, were, “I warned you, Ruby, but still you had the effrontery to come into my room with this stunt.” He was enraged. I mentally resolved myself, “But I… Dimitri, I need you and I’m not going to let you go.” He collected his files from his desk and walked calmly away from me. “For your sake I’ll pretend none of these happened today. Now get out!” he commanded. What? My fury was boiling, and I could hear Rose’s solo song, “I told you so,” playing nonstop in my head. I refused to accept this rejection. I responded, not caring what tone I used because I was only angry, “Dimitri, what’s wrong with you? You know you miss me, I don’t understand what’s wrong.” His hands were on me before I realized it, but not in the way I would ha
“Someone coughed up something that made my eyes snap back open. Dimitri and I turned around fast to see who it was— Gabe. His eyes were wide with disbelief and he had his hands covering his mouth, still dressed in his pajamas. Gabe nervously grinned as Dimitri’s enraged eyes fixed on him. “So sorry for interrupting. I’ll leave. Just act like you never saw me. Please completely ignore my existence and don’t stop.” This, I believe, was my signal to go. I jumped down from the kitchen counter and muttered, “I’ll go back to bed first.” My face was already hot with shame. Gabe and Dimitri were left in the kitchen. I raced upstairs to my room, slamming the door behind me as I entered. “Why in the world did I try to kiss him? I’m a huge nerd! I withdraw from myself and my deeds.I was not thinking at all, and if I had been thinking, I would have realized that was incredibly foolish and careless. Isabella, you were doing foolishly! “She finally admits it,” I rolled my eyes at the obnoxious voi
He smiled, exposing his big, sharp fangs as his eyes turned completely bloodshot. “Nice. Nothing still beats drinking straight from the source.” He struck the girl’s neck, right into the throbbing vein. She gave a little whimper as he continued to draw blood from her veins, until she turned as white as a corpse and collapsed to the ground. With his head still turned to look at the ground, Konstantine turned to face his servant. He would not have the courage to gaze at his lord in Primordial form. His servant simply nodded in comprehension as Konstantine gave him instructions to “alert the others. Tell everyone I want the girl alive.”His wicked sneer revealed his bloodshot red lips as he said, “Now let the vicious fun begin.”Isabelle’s POV As soon as we arrived at the estate, I walked straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I was still gasping for air from sprinting so hard. Leaning comfortably against the wall, Dimitri trailed in after me. He was quite difficult to read, so
I was unable to reveal to her that they were vampires, so I continued to lie, saying, “I don’t know.” “But he sure looked like he knew you.” She responds. Once more, she was intent on discovering the truth, so I had to shift the topic. “Go quickly! We must leave this place. I grasped my mate’s hand and we began sprinting towards the pack home together. “More could be approaching,” I stated persuasively, and she nodded in agreement.Isabelle’s POV As we ran hand in hand back to the castle, a lot of questions raced through my mind: did those vampires know him? One of them even addressed him as Alpha, and the ease with which he dispatched them suggests that this wasn’t his first encounter with the recently turned vampires. What the hell was he? Many thoughts raced through my mind at once: the young vampires ran away, not from me but from Dimitri. What was it about Dimitri that scared vampires? There was a secret hidden about this whole place, and I realized now that it wasn’t just that