Ah, shit. He knew the bad stuff was coming, but he hadn’t expected this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Something had swirled its way inside Angelique, consuming her with evil from the inside out.
She knew the demon within her had been pressing hard to break free. Desperate to get to Isabelle, she’d allowed the sensations to envelop her, hoping they would give her some insight into what was going on with her sister. But she’d hurt Ryder in the process, and that was unacceptable. That had stopped her cold, frightened her. The capacity for what she could do. .
Dear God help her.
Fighting the sweet malevolence-it was so strong, so easy to let it run wild-she tamped it down, forcing it back to the recesses, like shutting a prison cell door. It was still there-she could see it-but for now, it was contained.
Relief filled her. She could master this evil inside her. At least for now.
“I’m sorry.” She let go of his arm, hating that she could already see the dark imprint of her hand there. He was strong-muscular. It took a lot for her to mark him. “Ryder, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“It’s okay.” He cupped her cheek, his tenderness more than she deserved. He seemed more worried than angry. “You’re upset and you need to see Isabelle. I’d fight anyone who got in the way of someone I loved.”
She nodded, grateful for his forgiveness when she couldn’t forgive herself. Her stomach twisted in pain. How could she hurt him? Did Ryder see his father in her, in what she’d just done? She’d been so cold, had known what she was doing, what she’d said to him, what she’d done to him. . and yet she hadn’t stopped.
No. She had stopped. That was the difference. She had stopped it, right?
“Don’t,” Ryder warned, his gaze narrowing as if he knew her train of thought. “I love you. You’re desperate to get to your sister. And I’m a tough guy. I can take what you dish out.”
“Is everything okay?” Michael hustled up beside them.
Ryder nodded. “Fine. We’re just strategizing the approach to going through that smoke and had a disagreement about the best way to handle it. Angie wanted to barge through it and I convinced her we needed to think this out first. But it’s her sister-you know how it is.”
He wasn’t going to tell Michael about what she’d just done. She so didn’t deserve Ryder’s faith in her.
“I understand. But Ryder’s right. You needed to wait for the rest of us so we can push in together. You don’t know what’s on the other side.”
Yes, she did know what was on the other side. Isabelle, surrounded by demons. Demons that would protect her sister.
Stress. Extreme duress seemed to bring out the demon in her. She made a mental note to be stronger next time, to be aware of what was happening before she lost control. She had to get a handle on this demon thing or it would consume her.
She was never going to hurt Ryder again.
Nevertheless, she nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry, it’s just that I’ve been waiting so long to get her back and I’m worried.”
“Don’t be. We’re almost there,” Michael said.
Ryder slid his hand around her waist, pulling her against him. “We’ll be fine.”
“I know.” She loved that it was “we,” not just “she.”
“You got control now?”
“Yes.” She wasn’t going to let that demon out again. Not at the risk of hurting Ryder or the others.
“Don’t be afraid to play with the demon,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve got your back, and you may need to use that strong blood inside you.”
She tilted her head back. “Are you sure? I don’t know if I can control it yet.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”
Her eyes drifted closed for a second. “I love you, Ryder.”
Angelique took a deep breath and prayed that she’d find something left of the Isabelle she knew and loved when they stepped through the mist.
Michael led the way. It was obvious that the smoke wasn’t made by their weapon fire alone. It had to have been manufactured by the Sons of Darkness.
They were outside, definitely. Angelique inhaled the odor of wet grass, of dirt; she felt the chill of night. She was stuck in the middle of all the hunters, so she followed blindly, not knowing what she’d see on the other side.
She had always loved the dark, never minded working alone in a cave by herself or on any dig all alone. Now the dark unnerved her. Demons hid in the darkness.
The glasses she wore were very cool, though. Kind of like being able to visualize clearly in a blue light way. Though nothing showed up in color, everything she saw was very sharp.
The smoke began to clear. She still didn’t know where they were. No landmarks, just thick woods. Trees, bushes, no distinct path.
She swiveled around, struck by something so compelling it caused a sharp pain in her stomach.
There, down the path, stood Isabelle.
She looked the same and yet different. She was dressed all in black, a long gown covering her completely. It flowed around her as if it were alive. And her eyes appeared darker, more. . menacing.
Angelique shivered, hoping she was just imagining some transformation in her sister that didn’t exist. She scanned the area around Izzy. At her sister’s feet, the black diamond-glowing with a pulsing light, stronger than it ever had been before.
She had to see her, touch her. She had to know.
“Izzy.”
“Angelique, wait.”
She heard Ryder’s voice behind her, but she didn’t heed it. The pull toward her sister, toward the black diamond, was too strong.
Isabelle held her arms out and smiled, and Angelique ran, her boots digging in the hard dirt in time to the rapid pounding of her heartbeat. She had to hurry, because she knew the hunters were right on her heels.
She flew into Izzy’s arms, pulling her close. Isabelle wrapped her arms around her and held tight. Angelique hugged her sister close, burying her face in her hair.
“Are you all right?”
Isabelle didn’t answer. It was then that Angelique paused long enough to realize how cold Isabelle’s skin was. Even through her clothes, her sister felt like ice.
Like death.
Angelique pulled back, and gasped.
There was no life in Isabelle’s eyes. Red, glowing, only malice reflected in her sister’s once beautiful, lightfilled eyes.
“Oh, Izzy. What have they done to you?”
Isabelle lips curled, her teeth showing the beginnings of fangs. “They’ve done nothing to me, Angie, other than make me perfect. They’ll do the same for you if you come with me.”
Angelique heard the hunters stop behind her, knew they had weapons raised, knew they saw what she did.
Isabelle seethed with evil, as if snakes crawled over her sister’s skin. Angelique could swear she heard hissing. Her own skin crawled and she shuddered, her stomach turning.