Isabel and the Werewolf Beast (Vampire Tales #1)

37. Isabel

Chapter thirty-seven

Isabel

M y life had changed so much since Dante came into it. So many revelations fell from my former professors that my head still spun. Vampires and werewolves used to be one species. Who would have thought such a thing was possible? And the fact Silas was a descendant of the warlock who had split us in two. I was relieved his obsession with me turning him into a vampire wasn’t all my fault.

I returned to the infirmary, leaving Lucian to see the professors out of the castle when they left that was. They could discuss whatever they wanted, but the vote was clear that vampires would no longer kill werewolves. Not that I would have now I loved Dante.

Dante strode through the doors, his intense gaze settled on my face as he reached me, lifted me from the chair, and hugged me to his chest. I wrapped my arms around him and hung on.

“How did it go?” I asked.

“Good. Barth offered to help look for a way to help Asher.” His voice rumbled through his chest beside my face. “How is he?”

“No change I’m afraid.”

The defeat pouring through his body sagged every muscle in my embrace.

“Come, sit with him,” I said, releasing him from my arms.

Dante shifted back to his human shape. I found him a spare set of clothes in the infirmary cupboards that I kept there for the times human blood donors needed them. We sat in chairs by the bedside watching Asher for any change.

The door opened and Maximus walked in with my old professor Ludwig.

“Ugh, here comes Vampire One,” Dante said.

I chuckled. “Vampire One?”

“He never told me his name.”

“I’ll introduce you,” I said stepping forward in front of Professor Ludwig. “Professor Ludwig, this is Dante and his brother Asher. Dante this is Professor Ludwig Von Tulson.”

Dante stuck out his hand. Professor Ludwig glared at it for a moment and then shook it.

“I arrived to assess your patient,” he said, his chin tilting higher as though werewolves were beneath him and he was wasting his time.

“Go ahead,” I said. “Professor Ludwig was our healer teacher at the academy. He taught us how to help vampires when they were injured so they could heal quickly, and he also taught us how to heal humans if we’d accidentally injured them. When I was working in the war as a nurse, I only understood the most basic care.”

Professor Ludwig moved toward Asher, but Dante stepped in front of him and folded his arms over his chest.

“It’s all right. Professor Ludwig is a doctor and veterinarian. He taught me how to set up the intravenous blood transfusion I gave you that saved your life.”

Dante didn’t move though.

“He’s also my grandsire.”

“I’m many things. Surprised is one right now. You were my best student, Isabel. I never would have thought you’d allow a werewolf into your life,” Professor Ludwig said. “Especially after what we taught you at the academy.”

“Things change, especially when you’re cursed by an evil warlock. But honestly, it forced me to reevaluate my life and everything in it.” I smiled at Dante letting him see how much he meant to me.

“Yes, I’m sorry to hear that happened and your decapitation. I suppose I have Dante to thank for returning your head.” He inched forward. “My thanks for restoring my lineage.”

Dante’s arms dropped by his side.

“I was there in the beginning… all the professors were. It was so long ago we were friends and family with werewolves, perhaps you’re right Isabel that the feud was unwarranted. We will look into the matter thoroughly.”

Dante grunted a deep rumbling, warning growl.

“If you may?” He lifted his eyebrows over his astute eyes. “Isabel said the warlock’s magic hit your brother. ”

“He did,” Dante said, barely keeping the growl out of his words.

“Magical wounds are different to physical wounds. May I see your brother? I don’t intend him any harm.”

Dante stepped aside for my grandsire but kept his eyes on the professor not trusting him with his brother. It was Dante’s protectiveness over his brother that had first intrigued me. Now I was his mate, his family, I had that same protectiveness from him. The professor lifted the sheet and examined the magic burn mark on his arm and shoulder. He touched the skin softly and frowned.

“He won’t wake from this,” he said.

“What?” I gasped.

“See here?” He pointed at a strange swirl deep in the center of the burn almost as though a tattoo was inked into him. “The mark has a curse embedded in it. He must have cursed him at the same time as he threw the magic.”

“The same curse as Isabel’s?” Dante asked.

“No, this is another curse. Deadlier. He must have linked himself to Asher somehow because his death would end the curse, but this one is still here. I can’t be sure until I consult my journals back at the academy.” He lowered the sheet back over Asher. “I’m afraid there is no cure without Silas. Only he can undo what he made.”

“So Asher will be asleep forever?” Dante asked, the pain and anguish in his voice twisting my insides.

“Yes.” Professor Ludwig shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at his feet. “Curses have loopholes as does all magic. You found one in Isabel’s by joining her in it. You altered the outcome of the curse to some extent I’m certain.”

“So, if I join Asher in his curse, then I can alter it?” Dante asked the edge of hope now tinging his voice.

“You would leave your mate and become stuck in a curse with no cure?” he asked, voicing my thoughts for me .

“No. Never.” Dante’s gaze met mine. The guilt hanging heavy in his gaze made me step to his side and slide my arm through his telling him I was with him now and always.

“Is Silas still alive?” I asked, barely forcing the words out of my mouth.

“His body is dead… but a part of him is connected to Asher and the curse.”

“There has to be a way to kill all of him,” I pleaded.

“A Constantine descendant might be able to lift the curse,” the professor said lifting his lowered gaze to meet my eyes. “Find the part of Silas that is still ‘alive’ for want of a better term.”

“I don’t want another warlock near me,” I said suppressing the shiver of dread threatening to run down my spine.

“The Constantine’s were a brother and sister. I was talking about the sister… her… descendants instead.”

“A witch? I thought no one had seen her since the spell?” I asked.

“I still have many secrets.” He stared back at Asher’s body. “I know where a Constantine witch lives. Bring Asher to the Nightshade Academy.”

“Why?”

“Everything you need to help you is there.”

“Thank you,” Dante said sticking his hand out again.

Professor Ludwig stared into Dante’s eyes as he shook his hand and rubbed his finger over the crest on his lapel then left the infirmary, his steps firm and solid like the vampire, constant like the tick of a clock. As though mesmerized, Dante stared after his retreating form for entirely too long. Knowing Professor Ludwig that might be possible. I snapped my fingers in front of Dante’s face. He didn’t flinch.

Damn the professor .

There was one way for a vampire to break another vampire’s hypnotization and that was by taking their blood. I rose on my tiptoes and without preamble sunk my fangs into Dante’s neck. His blood burst over my tongue and slid down the back of my throat in a sensual glide that made me moan. I’d only meant to break the professor’s thrall but the taste of Dante’s blood made me sink my fangs in deeper to get more of the exquisite taste. Dante’s powerful hands clasped my waist, and he hauled me into his growing erection. A different need rose swiftly inside me. I sealed the wounds on his neck and stared into his eyes.

“Dante, you’re mine.”

His lips spread into a grin. “Happy to hear you say that.”

“I thought he hypnotized you.” I frowned.

Dante laughed. “No. I’m yours. You’re the only vampire who can boss me around.”

I grinned. “Take me outside and show me I’m yours in every way.”

“Mate, it would be my pleasure.”

He threw me over his shoulder and marched through the castle to the back door. Toward our tree. Our special place. Nemisis flew across the night sky and let out a squawk as she sat in the tree, her black claws hanging onto the twisted branch.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever trust that bird,” Dante said.

“It wasn’t her fault.” I whistled. Nemisis flew down and landed on my shoulder, her sharp claws not digging into my flesh. I scratched her neck with my finger ruffling her silky ebony feathers. “See she’s friendly.”

Dante stepped closer and scratched Nemisis under the chin. “Her feathers are soft.”

“Like your fur.”

Dante chuckled. “I never liked my fur until I met you. ”

“I wouldn’t mind experiencing your fur on my naked body,” I said.

His eyebrows rose. “You want me half-shifted?”

“I want you any and every way.”

He eyed Nemisis. “Bit hard with your pet on your shoulder.”

“We have plenty of time for everything.”

He cupped my face with his other hand accepting me, my pet, and this new life we’d make together. “Eternity.”