Isabel and the Werewolf Beast (Vampire Tales #1)

28. Isabel

Chapter twenty-eight

Isabel

I t’d been hours. We’d bled the human dry. Maximus disposed of his body. From what Lucian said, he’d brought me a murderer to the party as a gift. The man’s loss of life wouldn’t be missed. Lucian and I had read many books on warlocks but there wasn’t anything definitive in the pages about how we’d negate his powers or stop Silas from cursing us again.

“Dante was right. These books are decoys.”

Lucian thumbed through the leather-bound book in his lap. “The Nightshade Academy archives hold volumes of text.”

“I’m not leaving Dante.”

“If the human blood was going to work, don’t you think it would have by now?” He closed the book and stared at me. “We have more pressing concerns than a mere werewolf.”

I ignored him, crossed the room to Dante’s side, and placed a palm on his forehead.

“He has a fever.”

“No doubt rejecting the blood.”

“Would my blood be powerful enough to cure him yet?”

“No. After what your body endured, it will take a couple of days until you’re up to full strength as will all of us.”

The door slammed open, and another werewolf charged into the room, surprising us with how fast he’d snuck into the castle.

“Get away from my brother,” he roared.

Violence gathered in the air. Lucian readied himself to attack, but I stepped between them. I may not be at full strength, but this werewolf didn’t comprehend that. He looked familiar. The same dark hair as Dante. The same curve to his lips as he bared his teeth.

“Asher?” I asked.

His gaze settled on my face, his entire demeanor changed in that one word of his name as though acknowledging I knew who he was made me less deadly to him. “You know my name?”

“Dante told me about you. He was always talking about you. How he’d do anything for you. For his little brother.”

His gaze swept my body. “Shit, last time I saw you, you had no head.”

“Yes, Silas cut it off.”

He snapped his gaze toward Dante. “Is that what Dante told you? ”

“I haven’t spoken to Dante yet since he returned my head to my body.”

Asher rubbed his forehead. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He gave his blood to save my life.”

Asher sighed as his eyes glistened with moisture. “Will he live?”

“He’s strong and has survived so far. Do you understand how I can help him?”

Asher motioned toward his brother and I nodded for him to go to him. He stepped around me and I let him step to Dante’s side.

“I comprehend as little as Dante about being a werewolf.”

Lucian took a step closer. “How is that possible? Werewolves take their bitten into their packs.”

“The woman who bit me disappeared.” His head dropped forward as he placed a hand on top of Dante’s. “Would my blood help him?”

“I don’t know, but we can try a pint and see what happens.”

“Take everything if it’ll bring him back. I did this to him and he doesn’t deserve it.”

I laughed. “You two brothers are as magnanimous as each other. Who would have thought you grew up fending for yourselves?”

“Dante told you about our life?”

“Yes. We had quite a lot of time together.”

“I thought you would have killed him for sure when I had to leave him here. I’m still surprised you didn’t, and you like each other. He was so upset about your head.” Asher swallowed hard, his throat working to force the words down.

Lucian fetched me the transfusion implements, and I set Asher up to transfuse some of his blood to his brother. I wouldn’t take all of his blood. I understood how much Dante loved his brother. Had always protected him. If Asher gave his life to save Dante, then Dante would never forgive himself. So a small amount of blood would be all I’d risk. If this didn’t work, then I wasn’t sure what to try next except to wait for my blood to regain its full powers so I could heal him myself.

“Now we’re accommodating two werewolves?” Lucian asked with a raise of his arrogant chin.

“For now.”

“The professors will have words to say about this, Isabel. Don’t think you’ll be able to keep this up forever.”

“The professors are at the academy. They haven’t helped me with Silas even though I told them how he wanted me to turn him.” I watched the blood flow through the clear tubing, wishing it would work. That Dante would come back to life.

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“You were dealing with your newest child.” I shrugged. As much as Lucian was my vampire father, he had other vampire children to see to. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Ah, yes, he was quite a handful. So much bloodlust and so many bodies to clean up.”

Asher eyed us warily during the exchange as though we’d kill him. Considering vampire and werewolf history, we should kill him, but the curse had changed things for me. Dante had changed things for me.

“Isabel,” Dante croaked.

I rushed to his side. “I’m here.”

His eyelids flew open, and the depths of his gaze stared at me. He blinked slowly. Wet his lips with his tongue.

“Water,” Asher said. “Get him water.”

“Asher?” Dante asked.

“Yeah, brother, I’m here. Don’t move. You’ve got my blood going into you.”

“Keep your blood.” Dante fumbled for the tubes and ripped them from his arm. “All I need is my mate. ”

“What did you say?” Lucian asked.

Dante closed his eyes and returned to sleep.

“He’s delirious,” I said, placing the tube back in his arm. “A little more blood from Asher should clear that up.”

Asher and Lucian stared at each other. Would they attack the moment I turned my back or left the room? Then Maximus walked back into the infirmary.

“Another werewolf?” Maximus asked, rolling his eyes at the same time. “Isabel, I don’t know what you’re up to but mayhem is about to fall upon us.”

“Why? Is Silas coming?”

“Forget Silas. I saw a pack of werewolves surrounding the castle.”

“My fault,” Asher said, looking sheepish. “I told them you were holding one of us hostage and they arrived to help me get him out.”

I tugged the tubes from Asher’s arm harshly, so he winced as blood flowed from the wound until his werewolf nature sealed it shut.

“Best you go out there and tell them everything is fine in here otherwise we’ll be out to kill them,” I said.

Asher grimaced. “I don’t even know them. They were a pack I found in the forest.”

I tugged Asher’s shirt and hauled him closer. “I suggest you get out there and get to know them because Lucian and Maximus will only put up with Dante and maybe you. Anyone else will die.”

“She’s right,” Lucian said. “This is wearing my patience.”

Maximus crossed his arms. “Deal with it, or we’ll deal with it.”

“Okay.” Asher held up his arms. “I don’t want a fight. I wanted my brother, that’s all.”