Reclaimed

But instead, she’d returned his kisses. Rage had taken over him until he could bear no more. He’d leapt out of the darkness, somehow changing into a vampire in mid-leap. He’d never done anything like it before. It had always taken a great amount of concentration on his part to make the switch. He usually needed to focus and concentrate to change, and to keep the change. If he ever lost his concentration, he would change back into a human.

But this time, he’d jumped at Elijah, and in a split second, the transformation had been complete. After his instant change, he’d proceeded to attempt to kill his own brother.

Bloody hell.

He’d never felt such anger in his life. Hell, not even when he had come upon Amelia and Elijah. This betrayal caused more pain. It hurt worse. If Elijah hadn’t been quick enough, Isaac would have killed him before even realizing he’d begun to do so.

When Sabrina had been thrown across the forest, his concentration had been enough for his transformation to slip—and gave Elijah ample opportunity to knock him over the head using a rock. He winced and probed the aching wound. It still hurt like hell, damn it.

The next thing he had become aware of was Sabrina in his brother’s arms again. Isaac wished he’d killed Elijah before they noticed he had awoken. He cursed his damnable honor and kicked a rock as he continued to stalk toward Sabrina’s house. Time to get away from here.

Away from her.

He’d become plagued by questions that would not cease.

Had she chosen Elijah over him again? Would she even have cared if Elijah had killed him? Or would she be relieved by no longer having to choose between the two men? It would have nicely cleared the way to Sabrina for Elijah, removing obstacles from his path.

Maybe Isaac overestimated his pull on Sabrina, though. Maybe he wouldn’t an obstacle at all.

They arrived at her door in complete silence, and she bit her lip when he wouldn’t look her in the eye

.

“Isaac, please. Let me talk to you,” she cried, putting her hands out in a pleading gesture. She struggled to put her thoughts into words and must have hesitated too long, for he drew away from her both physically and mentally. A cold mask covered his features. Ice-man returned in full swing.

“Sabrina, it’s late. It’s been a long night, and I’m going home,” he mumbled.

Isaac turned on his heel to go. It became clear to her he would leave without allowing her to explain. He didn’t even want to wait until she’d gotten safely inside behind the locked door.

This was bad. Really bad.

Sabrina ran after him, but her weak legs refused to cooperate, causing her to fall clumsily to the ground, on all fours. She ignored the pain and rage building inside her at alarming speeds. She didn’t have the time to be angry. Not now.

She swallowed her pride, and cried out, “Isaac. I love you, and only you. Please come back. Just let me explain.”

His back stiffened, and he paused. Hope washed over her. Maybe now he would return and pull her into his arms where she belonged. He spun around, his face flushed bright red. His widened eyes blazed so brightly, she recoiled. “You dare say those words to me now, in the face of your treachery? You dare?” he shouted.

“No, it’s true. I have been meaning to tell you, I just—”

“Good night, Sabrina,” he interrupted curtly. This time he didn’t walk. He ran.

She gasped and let herself fall to the ground as she watched him run away from her house. And from her.

***

Jesus, her voice wouldn’t leave Isaac’s head.

I love you, and only you.

Talk about a punch in the gut.

He wanted to trust her. Longed to believe her more than anything in the world. But not minutes earlier, she had been in his brother’s arms. It made her declaration a bit harder to swallow.

Maybe he had behaved like an asshole, bolting right after she declared her feelings, but to hear her say the words he’d been longing to hear for so long had been too raw. If she had told him she hated him, it would have hurt less. How could she cling to Elijah and turn and vow her love to him, and only him?

He didn’t know what to think. All he really knew was tonight had turned out to be one of the worst nights of his life. And it had been a long life. He needed to get some sleep.

Marie would be going home tomorrow. He’d use that as an excuse to go see Sabrina. And maybe he would talk to her.