Page 31

Victor sat in his throne on the dais, his curiously mild eyes focused on Isabel and Josephine as they made the long walk across the ballroom space. Isabel did her best to keep her heart under control and appear calm, despite being a roiling sea beneath.

When she reached the dais, Isabel dropped to one knee and bowed her head, extending her arm to the master vampire. He reached out, took it, and pressed her wrist to his lips. She felt his fangs brush her skin, but Victor made no move to actually bite her.

“I see you are still human. I can only suspect this means you’re immune to our venom in this life, as well. I suppose that is to be expected after this many reincarnations.”

Though his voice was as mild as his eyes, Isabel still felt a chill run down her spine as Victor spoke. Perhaps it was conditioning, or perhaps it was his aura. “Sebastian has not yet had a chance to attempt during this life, Father,” she replied. “I was slow to regain my memories this time.”

“You say slow, child, but you had years to grow accustomed to each other in previous lives. My son has simply dug the both of you into a pit that he is unwilling to fill, and now you are reaping the consequences. While it provides an excellent case study, he has caused more than a little trouble.”

Isabel withdrew her arm and frowned, trying to figure out what Victor was actually saying.

“What do you mean, he’s unwilling to fill it?

Sebastian didn’t tell me that he knew how to get rid of the shadow already!

” She stared at Victor, waiting for him to deny the accusation, but he nodded.

Her fists clenched as white-hot fury coursed through her, making her head pound with her heartbeat.

“If he didn’t tell you he knew how to fix it, I don’t suppose he told you what caused it, either?”

Isabel shook her head, too angry to actually say a word.

Josephine lightly touched her elbow, but Isabel swatted her hand away.

Victor let out the smallest of sighs. “I suppose I’ll do what he failed to do, then.

Sebastian has been stealing portions of your soul and locking them away in his paintings.

That is what his magic does, why his paintings are so lifelike.

But paintings made with such magic are to be destroyed after their purpose has been fulfilled.

Otherwise, the subject is thrust into a never-ending cycle of reincarnation. ”

He looked pointedly at Isabel, whose jaw went slack. “So I…have been forced to live over and over again, because Sebastian refused to destroy the paintings of me? Because he’s been stealing pieces of my soul? ” The revelation was horrifying, and from the pieces, she guessed the rest of the story.

“So the shadow…that’s the bits of me, isn’t it?”

Victor nodded again. “Yes, as far as we know. His brand of magic is incredibly rare, and no one in our coven has ever come across a scenario where a vampire with art magic didn’t follow the rules to this extent.

To his credit, Sebastian didn’t know what he was doing until you arrived two days ago.

But instead of simply destroying the paintings of you, he has chosen to risk the coven in search of a different solution. ”

“What do you mean?” Isabel’s knees felt weak with all the extreme emotions, but she fought to stay on her feet. She needed to understand the whole situation before she could make a plan to fix it. Because that was her job as his wife, right? To clean up her husband’s messes?

“Sebastian has gone to attempt to get more information about his magic from the original coven.”

Her white-hot anger was extinguished by the icy grip of fear. “You mean…he’s gone to break the treaty? And you let him go?”

“I am not a dictator, and you know that. I told him the consequences should he choose that path. And I sent Remus to either convince him to change his mind, or to drag him back before he can actually put the coven in danger.” Victor’s eyes lit up with the mirth of someone who fully believed everything would always go their way.

“Don’t worry. Sebastian may be a wayward son, but Remus is a rock. ”

That did manage to lower Isabel’s anxiety level a few notches.

Until Victor continued to speak, that was.

“However, should both of my sons fail me and Sebastian succeeds in breaking the treaty, he will no longer be associated with my coven. We will make no efforts to save him from the consequences of his newest actions. And, should that happen, you also will have no association with us.”

“You can’t kick me out, Victor! I’m alone with next to no money, no way to get back to the airport, and nowhere to go until my flight home if something happens to Sebastian.” Isabel’s knees finally gave out, and Josephine lunged forward to hold her up.

“You can’t be like that, Victor! She’s my sister!

I lost her once already, and I’m not willing to lose her so soon again.

” Josephine’s eyes blazed as she gently supported Isabel.

“If you remove Aurora from the coven, you’re going to have to remove me as well.

We came to you together, and we’ll leave you together. ”

Victor’s face was unreadable as he considered Josephine’s declaration. Isabel managed to regain control of her legs and took her weight back, but she continued to tremble. What-ifs blew through her mind like a hurricane while her sister and the master vampire stared at each other.

And then…Victor smiled. “Loyalty is one of the most prized traits in my children,” he chuckled.

“Loyalty and the willingness to protect our family members.

Blood is what connects us all, so I suppose by blood you'll still be connected. Should my son lose his place among us, you will be allowed to remain through your sister. But should you choose to join Sebastian in exile instead? Then even blood will no longer bond you to us.”