Ashes (Page 48)

Devon’s hands tightened upon her, pulling her as close as he could to him. The worst thing that he could have done was show Isla how much Cassie meant to him, but it was already too late for that. All he could hope for now was to keep Cassie safe, and to convey his fierce love for her with his touch. Cassie’s hurt, and the danger she was in, was his fault and he would deal with it later. For now, he had to get her out of here alive.

He could not go on without her.

“What’s the matter Julian can’t fight your own battles?” Devon hissed, glancing briefly at him. Julian had moved slightly away from the lockers. His face was twisted in pain, and his skin was far paler than normal. He would not die from his injuries, but it would take him a little while to completely recover.

Julian’s lip twisted in a sneer. “Oh, but why would I deny Isla the pleasure of this?” he inquired softly.

“Coward.”

Julian’s eyes flashed red, but he made no move to come at them. He knew that he would not survive it. “I think he might like this girl even more than the last one,” Isla taunted. Cassie’s nails dug painfully into his skin. “What was her name again?”

“Annabelle, beautiful, tempting, Annabelle,” Julian answered amusement apparent in his voice.

Devon stiffened at the name, silently cursing himself as he felt the fresh wave of pain slam through Cassie. He had wanted to keep her sheltered from his past, wanted to keep it buried. He had simply wanted to focus on the here and now, and her. He had wanted to forget about the mistakes, and atrocities, that he had committed. He realized that he had been so very wrong to try and bury it. If he had simply told her the truth, she may have been upset and wounded by it, but she would not be experiencing the distress she was now. He wanted desperately to reassure her, but there was nothing he could now. Not here anyway, but later, later he would ease her doubts as he tried to take away her pain.

“Ah yes, Annabelle, she was a pretty little thing.” Isla shifted slightly, tapping a nail against her lip as she pretended to think.

Devon braced himself, knowing that Isla was already well aware of what she wanted to say, but one thing she had always loved was drama, and torturing her victims. Unfortunately, her victim this time was Cassie. He was going to rip Isla’s throat out for this, when he got his hands on her, he was going to make sure that she could never speak to Cassie again.

“You gave up human blood for your love of Annabelle, and now you’ve crawled into bed with the enemy. You will do anything to get into the pants of a pretty little thing won’t you Devon?”

Cassie gasped softly, she went rigid against him. “You bitch!” Devon spat.

Isla grinned at him as Cassie’s hands slipped off his back. Devon fought back his panic. He needed to get them out of here before Isla succeeded in tearing Cassie away from him for good. “Did you not tell her about Annabelle?” Isla taunted. “Oh honey, believe me, you aren’t the only girl he’s lost his head over. Is she Devon?”

“First there was Elizabeth, then there was me…”

“There was never you,” Devon growled. Isla’s eyes flashed, narrowing slightly. “I never loved you.”

A soft, cold laugh escaped her, but there was no amusement in her tone. “And you love this one?”

Devon’s nostrils flared, loathing poured through him. He had allowed his anger to get the best of him; he had walked right into Isla’s trap by doing so. She would do anything in her power to destroy their love, to destroy him. “This is not the place Isla. There are too many humans here.”

“I don’t see any humans; all I see are three little treats. You know you want to try one too. I bet its killing you not to taste that one.” She flipped a hand idly at Cassie, her grin widening. “I can smell her power from here, and I know that you were never one to deny yourself anything. You always took what you wanted, when you wanted it. That’s why you were always so exciting to be with. You were a vampire of worth, one who matched my appetite in every way.” Her gaze fixed pointedly on Cassie as she licked her lips hungrily once more. “Every way,” she emphasized again.

Devon cradled Cassie’s head gently, wanting desperately to block Isla’s words from her as she trembled again, a soft gasp escaping her. She was too innocent, too good for this. She deserved far more than what his life had to offer her. The best thing he could have done for her was left her alone, the best thing he could have done for her was to never have inserted himself into her life.

If he had thought that it would help, he would leave tomorrow, he would set her free to live the life she deserved. A life that was filled with light instead of darkness. However, he knew that it was too late now. He may be able to separate himself from her, if it was in her best interest, but he knew what she was to him now, and he knew that he would not survive the loss of her life. He also knew that Julian and Isla would not leave, not until the Hunter’s in this town were destroyed. They were far too tempting for that to happen. And he could not leave Cassie unprotected to face them alone.

Forgive me, he prayed silently to her. Please forgive me.

“There are three Hunters here, and me. Do you think you can win this battle?”

Isla grinned, sashaying her hips as she took a step closer. “Oh honey, I did win the battle.” Her gaze darted briefly toward Cassie. A grim smirk of satisfaction spread across her mouth. “And I will win the war.”

Abhorrence rose up in him, a small snarl escaped. “I’ll kill you for this,” he vowed.

She lifted a delicate eyebrow, laughing softly as she shook her head. “I doubt it; it is my bed you always return to after all.”

Pain did not wash off of Cassie anymore; instead numbness seemed to have descended over her as she remained limp in his arms. “Not in a very long time, and never again Isla, never again.”

She seemed nonplussed by his response. “When she is dead…”

“If you finish that sentence I swear I will make your death pure torture!” he snapped. “I will make you beg for mercy Isla; I will make you wish that you had never survived this long. You want the old me back and you will have it if you touch her. If you come near her, I’ll destroy you!”

Isla shifted, fury radiated from her as her eyes flashed the color of rubies. It seemed as if his words were finally sinking in. Worry filled him, his hands tightened around Cassie. Isla’s gaze found its way to Cassie once more, hatred pulsated from her.