Isabel and the Werewolf Beast (Vampire Tales #1)

25. Dante

Chapter twenty-five

Dante

T hree days of trekking through the forest. Of never-ending tree trunks. Heavy canopy overhead. Of shade. The coolness beneath the leaves. A gentle rustle of fallen leaves beneath our feet never ceased until we did. The constant scent of earth, foliage, and Silas stayed in my nostrils. Three days of taking it in turns to sleep. I didn’t sleep well knowing there was a vampire beside me who would under any other circumstances kill me. I’d hunted too, catching a large deer, and roasting it over a fire. Maximus had watched me yet again with a mixture of confusion and fascination. His stare creeped me out. He never fed, and I itched to ask him how often vampires ate. The books I’d read never mentioned how often a vampire needed to feed to survive, but if he looked at me like I was a walking blood donor, then I guess I’d offer it to him. Wouldn’t I since we were on the same mission?

Before it came to that, we approached a cabin nestled in the woods. Smoke billowed from the chimney in a plume of unusual bluish-gray smoke showing someone was home and that someone was Silas. His scent permeated the air even through the smoke indicating this was his residence and had been for some time. I hadn’t scented Asher once which concerned me, but my focus had to be on getting Isabel’s head back. Getting her back. Saving her.

Maximus and I squatted behind a thick bush and peered through the gaps in the leaves. Watching. Waiting. I wanted to charge in and demand her head, but what if he destroyed it in the process? If that was even possible with a vampire’s head. Why hadn’t I asked Maximus more questions on our journey? We had spoken little since that first day. Was Maximus keeping a distance for a reason or did he hate werewolves as much as everyone kept telling me vampires did? Maximus was a question to think about another time.

Right now, we had to focus on Silas.

We stayed still for so long my muscles cramped from our stationary position.

“He’s not coming out soon,” I whispered.

“Doesn’t look like it.” Maximus’s mouth firmed into a tight line, but the tips of his white fangs peeked through his lips.

“We need a plan. I’d never met Silas before until the night he took Isabel’s head. I’ve never met a warlock either. What do I need to know?”

“You go in first. Grab his hands otherwise, he’ll be able to cast spells. I’ll find Isabel’s head while you keep him occupied.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s your plan. Isn’t he evil? Won’t he have booby traps?”

His lips twitched at the corners. “I guess you read books?”

“What…oh, never mind. Let’s get Isabel’s head.” I crept around the bush and sneaked up to the cottage.

Maximus followed behind me as we approached the door, he ducked to the left hiding his presence. I placed my hand on the doorknob and tried to open it, but it was locked. I shook my head at Maximus. He mimed knocking. I rolled my eyes. As if Silas would open the door out here in the middle of the forest with no one around. I crept to the window beside the door, wrenching back my fist, I slammed it forward into the glass sending a spray of shattered particles inside. A bright orange ball of magic flew through the hole in the glass. I ducked before it slammed into me.

The door burst open. Silas stood in the doorway, his hands glowing orange as he built more magic in his hands. Shit. Why didn’t Maximus tell me he could shoot magic from his hands? I ducked the next orange ball and charged Silas. My shoulder slammed into his chest knocking the air from his lungs. He grunted as our bodies fell to the floor. We wrestled in a mad scramble of limbs. His hands glowed again, but I rolled us over diverting the bolt of magic coming from Silas. My chest heaved as I fought with him. He was stronger than he looked. Finally, I got my hands around his wrists and pinned them over his head while straddling his body.

He writhed in my grasp. “Who are you?”

“None of your business.”

“What did I ever do to the werewolves?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why did you attack me?”

“Reasons.” I risked taking my eyes off him for a second, but I didn’t see Isabel’s head nor did I see Maximus.

“This is preposterous,” he sputtered.

“Is it?” I turned my attention back to him, to the man who’d made Isabel’s life a living hell. Who’d cursed the vampire I’d grown feelings for. Who’d stolen her head for nefarious purposes.

“Yes, now see here, I’m a great warlock. Whatever you desire we can bargain.”

Oh, so he was backpedaling to trick me into a deal. That wouldn’t happen even if I didn’t realize how evil he was.

“What I desire, I don’t need your help with.”

His gaze locked on the moonstone. “Perhaps I can help you with controlling your urges? I’ve heard werewolves struggle with their animal side.”

“I’m working it out myself.” My lip curled in warning and disgust. I should kill him and be done with it, but I needed to know Isabel was safe first.

“I see. Is that why you’re in a half shift?”

“Shut up,” I growled. I didn’t need this man’s voice in my head, trying to weaken my resolve to hold him captive.

“How do you think this will end once you let me go?”

“I said shut up.” I glanced around the room, to the cabinets lining the wall, an assortment of glass jars and tubes lined the surface, a table sat in the middle of the room, one lonely chair by its side, but there was no one else inside.

“Are you looking for a particular spell? I can help with those too.”

This man’s voice was getting in my head.

“Let go of my hands and I’ll help you. ”

My head swam. Was he trying to mesmerize me? I slammed my head into him, breaking his nose in a bloody mess and knocking him unconscious. There. That shut him up. I stood and yanked the belt from his pants and secured his hands behind his back. After meeting this warlock for a few minutes, I doubted the belt would hold him for long. I searched the cottage for Isabel’s head, but I couldn’t find it. No matter how I searched and scented the place, it wasn’t there. I found a length of rope and set to work hog-tying Silas, then returned to searching the cottage just to be sure I hadn’t missed finding her.

When I’d searched everywhere, I stepped outside and marched over to where Maximus had stood waiting for me to go inside. He wasn’t there. I followed his scent back to the cottage and inside. He’d come inside. Had he found her head? Silas groaned as he started coming to. I walked back outside and hunted for Maximus’s scent. The tang of the vampire drifted from the front door leading away from the cottage, but it mingled with the trail we’d come here on.

I narrowed my eyes. Was Maximus leaving without me? And with Isabel’s head? That double-crossing vampire. I chased after him, but he had a head start and he was fast. I’d catch him though and when I did, we’d fight because there was no way I’d let him get away with trying to take my Isabel.

My feet skidded on a bunch of leaves. My Isabel. Where did that come from? A deep growl rolled out of my lungs and my shape shifted to a wolf. I ran faster than I ever had before because the wolf understood he was chasing after his mate. I’d read about them in Isabel’s books, how wolves chose a mate. One above all others they’d protect until their last breath. Yes, that was how I felt about Isabel .

I couldn’t kill Maximus though even if my animalistic side wanted to right now since he had a part of my mate.

Up ahead, I caught sight of Maximus dashing between the trees. I added an extra spurt of speed until I grew close enough to launch myself at his back and take him to the ground. We rolled over and over with the force of my blow until a tree stopped me. I grunted at the painful impact on my head, but I shook it off and shifted form with ease into my half-shifted state. A short distance away was a hessian bag with a round object inside.

“Isabel,” I cried, crawling across the dirt to her side.

I scooped the bag up into my arms and cradled it to my chest rocking back and forth, I carefully tugged the sack open and drew her head out. She looked peaceful and not one blemish on her perfect skin from our tussle.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, brushing back the hair on her head into a less rumpled state.

“You’re crazy,” Maximus said. “Why did you tackle me? I’m on your side.”

My head snapped in his direction and my top lip curled back. Now I’d accepted what she meant to me, I wouldn’t let another man near her.

“Do we have a problem?” Maximus held up his hands. “Because I’d hate to kill you after all.”

I shook my head from side to side repeatedly and fought for control of the animal. A few heartbeats later I shifted to my human form. I tucked Isabel’s head back into the sack and stood.

“I’m sorry. My wolf side thought you were taking her away from him.”

Maximus stared at me in disbelief. Did he realize the importance of what I’d just said?

“Let’s take her head back before Silas frees himself,” I said.

“You didn’t kill him? ”

“No. You said to restrain him until you fetched her head.”

Maximus lifted his eyes to the sky. “I figured after you restrained him you’d kill him.”

“I intended to, but then when I couldn’t find Isabel’s head or you, my animal turned berserk.”

“Hmm,” Maximus hummed. “I guess you should carry her head back and let’s hope Silas doesn’t find us before we make it back to the castle.”