Isabel and the Werewolf Beast (Vampire Tales #1)

19. Isabel

Chapter nineteen

Isabel

T he anguish in Dante’s voice pounded in my head. Not that I didn’t want him. It was I shouldn’t want him. He was my enemy. I wanted that to be true, but the more time we spent together, the more we were friends. Friends who had lustful thoughts about each other. I rose on my elbows and swept my lips to his.

His head lifted away, and he stared down at me in shock.

“How could you kiss me when I look like this?”

“I see nothing wrong with the way you look.”

He snorted. “I’m a hairy man with claws and fangs. How is that attractive?”

I laid my head on the ground. “You are what attracts me. Looks are unimportant. I’ve met handsome men in my long life who have been so unattractive because of who they are.”

“Do you mean Silas?” He sat up, covering his erection with his hands.

As if even his large hands would hide the length of his cock in his half-form. Did werewolves have sex in this in-between shift? Did they have it as wolves? Or only when they were in human form? I wanted to head back to our little tree nest and read the books about werewolves to find out then I’d learn more about Dante and his aversion to his shape.

“Yes, Silas was one.” I wriggled away from him and stood. “He thought his looks were enough to charm me, but I saw how evil he was from the first time I met him.”

“How?”

I picked up a stick and drew in the dirt. “Silas came across me feeding.”

“And?”

“The next day I found the woman dead. I’d left her alive. Vampires rarely kill when they feed. Sure, it happens when we’re overcome with blood lust, but I wasn’t that day.”

“You think Silas killed her?”

“I know he did. I had a spot I used to enjoy feeding from. This little fruit stand made people’s blood sweet. Silas turned up the next night and told me if I didn’t change him he’d tell everyone I killed the woman.”

“He blackmailed you?”

“Silas tried to. My sire, Lucian, overheard him and disposed of the woman so no one would find the body. Lucian said the woman was drained of blood.”

“With no body, his claim wouldn’t hold up.”

“Yes. Silas became something else after that. He was charming and everywhere I went. ”

Dante scowled. “He stalked you.”

“He told everyone he met he was in love with me.” I cringed at the way Silas had been so determined to make everyone think we were a couple. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer. Then at the ball, he made his demand again for me to turn him and love him forever. I said no in front of a ballroom full of vampires and humans. They were the first to witness my no. Every other time he’d cornered me alone. Silas cursed me then and there.”

Dante stared at me. His eyes were so intense I had to look away.

“What an asshole,” he said.

My lips twitched, but I didn’t smile.

“He tried to blackmail you, stalked you, then cursed you.” He stood and paced over to a tree and punched the trunk. A solid crack echoed through the forest as his fist disappeared into the wood. He tugged it out, sending splinters everywhere.

“Your dick is swinging.”

Dante glanced down and laughed. “At least my erection has gone down.”

I laughed with him.

“When Asher gets him to lift the curse, I’m going to kill him so he can’t hurt you again.”

I stood and cupped his bloody hand in mine then licked the blood from his knuckles.

“You’re sweet, and your blood tastes even sweeter.”

He threaded a hand into my hair and cupped the back of my head. “Your tongue feels amazing, and I’d love to experience your fangs in me again, but I don’t think I’d control myself if you ever did that again.”

“Duly noted,” I said with a wink. “Let’s go get your pants and then I want to read the books you carried outside about werewolves so I can help you shift into your human form.”

“You don’t need to help me.”

“I want to.”

And I did. Everything about the werewolf I wanted. Except I couldn’t have him as mine. We walked through the dark forest, Dante held his hands in front of him and stayed walking step by step with me. The dried pine needles crunched under our feet, the only sound between us apart from the steady thump of our hearts and the shallow breaths of Dante. He collected his pants hanging from a branch and I turned my back giving him some privacy since he seemed so appalled at his nudity. I didn’t see it as a big deal, but this werewolf had a squishy heart.

Why was I thinking of his heart?

Damn, now I wanted to drink his blood.

I lengthened my stride and burst out of the forest. The moonlight bathed us in a welcoming caress. Dante’s breath deepened as though he too sensed the touch of the moonbeams. Our strides carried us closer to the pond.

“Wait,” Dante said, halting. “I should look in the pond again. See if Asher has found Silas.”

“But Screamer?”

“Who’s Screamer?”

“Oh, right, I didn’t tell you his name. He’s my pet octopus.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re telling me that creature who dragged me into the water is your pet?”

“He was. He’s like Nemisis now and not himself.”

“Great. Another pet out to kill you. Silas’s curse keeps on coming, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.” I frowned.

Why was the curse ever-evolving? And to what purpose? Apart from trying to kill me, but now that I thought about it, the attempts on my life wouldn’t kill me, all they’d do was place me in a stasis while I healed. What could Silas get out of that with me stuck in here? Perhaps it was for the best for Dante to see if Asher had found Silas. At least then we might have a clue what to expect next.

“By my calculations, you have to the count of two-hundred and twenty-six before Screamer launches an attack.”

Dante scowled. “How many times have you tried this to determine that?”

“Enough obviously.”

“I don’t like the thought of you being hurt.”

And there went my heart. Falling for a werewolf. Never in my long vampire immortal life would I have ever thought I’d develop feelings for our enemy.

“Dante,” I said, grabbing his hand on my shoulder. “After the pond, we need to go back to my bedroom.”

“Why? Your dress is fine.”

“It’s not that. I need you to grab a wooden box from my dressing table.”

“Is it really that important?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” He turned his hand over and squeezed my finger. “Count for me so I can concentrate on the image in the pond. And stand back.”

“So I can rescue you again?” I smirked.

He shook his head but smiled the whole time. Our fingers twined together and our gazes locked on our hands. So much intimacy in such a small touch. Did he feel the same way about me?

Dante cleared his throat. I dropped the connection regretting the loss of his warm hand immediately. He strode to the dock and kneeled on the edge. I started counting. Dante’s hand touched the water. My stomach churned as I counted the numbers aloud so Dante would comprehend how much longer he had left. At two-hundred and fifteen he launched himself from his haunches into the air and across the dock, landing in a crouch at my feet. Screamer’s tentacles launched out of the water as though knowing his prey had eluded him, they slapped on the dock so hard that it cracked in two.

“He’s angry,” I said.

Dante rose, his face hardened into a mask.

“What did you see?”

“He’s good-looking.”

“Who? Silas?”

“Yes.”

“You saw him? With your brother?”

“Yes, and yes. Asher was in a house with him.”

“A house? So, they’re far from here then?”

“I don’t know. They were standing around a cauldron talking.”

“About?”

Dante shook his head. “Nothing that made sense.”

“Such as?”

Dante strode off.

“Dante!” I chased after him.

“Why didn’t you tell me how handsome he is?”

My head whirled back. Was Dante jealous?

“His looks mean nothing when he has an evil heart.”

Dante grunted. “I’m going in the castle alone.”

“But you need me to distract Nemisis.”

“No. If you keep going in there, you’ll fade away to nothing.”

“That’s highly unlikely,” I spluttered because his thoughts matched mine.

We stopped on the bloody rug outside the door. The place where I’d almost bled dry but Dante had saved me. Was he saving me again by not letting me go in the castle?

“I said no Isabel. You stay here and I’ll fetch your box back and it better be damn important. ”

His dominance over my safety made my thighs quiver. I couldn’t deny this thing between us, and I’d prove it as soon as he returned with the box.