CHAPTER TWENTY
Dalton knew the instant Isabelle let go of the stranglehold she’d held on her demon side. He felt the surge of energy inside her exploding outward, and inched closer to give her the strength she needed to fight this battle.
But something else came with it—something he’d feared might happen but had hoped wouldn’t surface: the Sons of Darkness. As soon as Isabelle’s dark side was free, the demon world sucked him into a vortex that he couldn’t battle, dragging him down into hellish remembrances alongside Isabelle, bringing him face-to-face with memories he’d vowed to forget, but never could.
“We’ve missed you in our world, Dalton. So glad to see you again. We knew someday you would come back to us.”
The sound of Tase’s voice evoked his hundred years in hell, a place he never wanted to revisit. Tase’s laughter was a slap of reality, a change in the game. Cold realization washed over him. This was a trap, a means to trick Isabelle into dragging him into this, too. The Sons of Darkness wanted it all. Which meant he had to think fast, before he lost Isabelle—and himself—forever.
“Come closer,” Tase said. “Let’s discuss how this will play out.”
Tase approached, and the remembered heat, the melting flesh, the years of terror, all came rushing back. Dalton pushed aside the horror to focus on a strategy. The most important thing was getting Isabelle away from Tase, making sure they didn’t reclaim her. She might be tied to them, but with the exchange of blood she was also tied to him now. And he had to hold tight to that bond with her, hope it would be enough—along with Georgie’s magic—to pull her away.
“What’s going on here? Why has everything stopped?”
Dalton could hear Michael’s voice, but could do nothing to reach back into reality to answer. He could feel Isabelle but couldn’t see her. Tase and the Sons of Darkness he could see all too clearly. It was like being suspended in a black void. They only let him see and feel what they wanted him to.
And he really hated them having the upper hand.
“You cannot interfere,” Georgie said. “The Realm cannot help Dalton now.”
“Dalton?” Michael asked. “You mean Isabelle.”
“This is Dalton’s ordeal,” Georgie explained. “He must stand this test alone.”
Georgie knew. Had she always known that this was his trial by fire? Would have been nice if she’d let him in on it. He would like to have been a little more prepared.
“You knew about this?” Michael asked.
“It’s not my place to interfere in what will be,” Georgie said. “I can only see it through, just as you will. I can protect you all from the dark forces. Dalton walked through fire before, and came through it. Perhaps he will again. I will offer my strength to him to aid him in what will come. He can draw from that if he needs it.”
Dalton would need it. Because he already knew what he’d have to do. He couldn’t live with himself if he chose his life over the woman he loved. He’d give up everything to save Isabelle. The Sons of Darkness could win. They’d capture his soul once again and heaven would be out of his reach. As long as Isabelle was saved, he could live with that outcome.
“Dalton?” Isabelle squeezed his hand. “Why can’t I see you?”
“Oh, the lovers wish to reunite?” Tase’s voice teased. “Yes, you two need to see each other, to see what’s about to happen.”
In an instant, Dalton could see Isabelle as well as touch her. He could see everyone. He and Isabelle still stood in the circle of dirt, but now there was a ring of flame around them, and everyone else stood outside. Anger and concern etched their faces. Weapons were drawn, but he knew it would do no good. He couldn’t worry about them right now, anyway. There was too much at stake.
Isabelle flew into his arms and he held her tight, burying his face in her neck. He closed his eyes and breathed her in. “We don’t have much time.”
She refused to let him go. “The demon side of me is out. I’m fighting it.”
“Don’t,” he said, prying his body away from her tight hold on him. “You need to let me have that part of you.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
He tried a smile, needing to make certain he could reassure her. “I know you don’t. But you will. I’ll take care of it.”
“Ever the angelic one, aren’t you, Dalton? Making the supreme sacrifice for the one you love. You know it won’t help you. It won’t save Isabelle, either. We will have you both.”
Tase walked a circle around them. It was like being in the center of a bonfire. Dalton shored up his defenses, sending out cooling light to protect Isabelle and him. He would use whatever strength he had for however long he had it. Tase would have his fun soon enough. But not before Dalton freed Isabelle.
“What is he talking about?” Isabelle asked.
“It’s a game for him. He likes to mind-fuck. Don’t pay attention.” He held Isabelle’s face in the palm of his hands. “Focus only on me. On what I say, on what I ask you to do. Trust me.”
“Dalton, they’re using you.”
“I know.”
“You know they want you.”
“Yes.”
“We have to fight this.”
He shook his head, took her hands. “We can’t. There are limited choices here and I’ve already made mine.”
“Well, I haven’t made mine. I don’t want this. I refuse to let you give up your soul to save me. I won’t be used by them that way.”
He had nothing to say to her that hadn’t already been said, refused to let her argue with him about a decision he’d already made. It had been a long damn time since he’d summoned up his power, but he concentrated, pulling it forth to grab hold of the part of Isabelle that was dark. The evil hovered over her like a protective cloak, daring anyone to come near and snatch it away.
He dared back, coming toward it with light. The darkness reared back, fearing, cowering, but angered at the audacity of anyone challenging it. Isabelle blanched.
“Dalton, what are you doing?”
He didn’t answer, his concentration pouring into the task at hand. He threw a net of light against the darkness, then held on while it tried to break free. Sweat dripped down his body from the heat and the evil battling him.
“Dalton, please, don’t do this.”
He hated that she cried for him, but it wouldn’t deter him from doing what he had to do.
She moved into him, spread her arms around him, her lips hovering at his ear. “Let me go, Dalton. This is my chance to do something right. To save you. Please, do this for me.”
The demon inside her hated the words she spoke, fought in a mad struggle against the thought of perishing with her. It was all Dalton could do to keep the net of light surrounding it. He lifted one hand to stroke the softness of her cheek. “I love you enough to die for you.”
His strength began to ebb, but he was winning. He would win. He’d pull the darkness from her and take it with him to hell.
He felt it creeping closer to him now, embracing him, thinking it was going to overpower him. It probably would. And when it did, Tase would win and take him down. The Sons of Darkness would lose Isabelle, but they’d gain an angel, a much bigger prize.
“Oh, this is so touching,” Tase said. “The two of you so willing to sacrifice for the other. It rather makes me kind of ill.”
The heat from Tase overwhelmed Dalton. He struggled against it, forcing every ounce of light he possessed around Isabelle and himself.
“But Dalton, don’t you know I can have you both?” Tase moved now. Dalton felt Tase’s presence behind him. “I’ll take you first; then, when you’re gone, Isabelle won’t have the strength left to fight, and she’ll be ours.”
Dalton’s gaze shot to Isabelle.
“I’m not going to let that happen,” he said to her.
She nodded.
“Do you trust me, Isabelle?”
“Always.”
He pulled the sword from his side and lifted it behind Isabelle.
Tase’s burning fingers pressed against Dalton’s shoulders, his fiery breath burning his neck as he leaned in and whispered in Dalton’s ear. “Kill her and you’re damned forever, Dalton.”
Tase leaned in so close now that Dalton’s clothes began to burn.
Perfect. That’s exactly where he wanted the bastard.
Dalton pressed his lips to Isabelle. “I love you.”
He lifted the sword, then sliced it into Isabelle’s back, impaling her, himself and Tase.
The pain burned more than Tase’s heat, riddling his spine with white hot fire. Isabelle jerked, then stilled, no sound coming from her open mouth, her face frozen with wide-eyed shock. The only sound came from Tase, whose unholy scream shattered the air around them, and then the demon went silent.
Then nothingness. Death, Dalton supposed. And yet his consciousness remained. Dalton felt as if he were floating, weightless … somewhere. But where?
A burst of blinding brightness hit him. Dalton shielded his hands over his eyes. And then her felt her—Isabelle—right next to him.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“What’s the bright light?” She lifted her hand to shield her eyes.
“Not sure.”
He knew one thing, though. The heat was gone. The evil had disappeared, too. He didn’t sense Tase around them.
He felt embraced in healing power and a sense of goodness. He recognized immediately the presence of the heavens.
“Well, Dalton. That was an interesting solution to a no-win situation.”
Dalton’s lips lifted. The Archangel.
“Oh, my,” Isabelle said. “He’s beautiful.”
“Shh, don’t tell him that. He already has a huge ego.”
The Archangel laughed and Isabelle shivered.
Yeah, he had that kind of effect. Supreme angels always did.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time,” Dalton said.
“And whose fault is that?” The Archangel did, as usual, a fine job of looking imposing, towering above him all in white, his wings spread in impossible width behind him.
“It was my fault. My choice. Just like the choice I just made.”
“Dalton has not won.”
Dalton frowned. Tase’s voice. “He’s not destroyed.”
“No. But you did a fine job of banishing him back to his own realm. We’re … communicating.”
“Like a conference call?” Isabelle asked.
The Archangel’s lips quirked. “Yes.”
“Suicide makes him mine,” Tase said.
“You don’t get to make the decision here.” The Archangel’s voice boomed in anger, silencing Tase. “This is my call. Dalton used his sword. And that, my old friend, changes all the rules. As I’m sure Dalton was aware.”
Dalton couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s he talking about?” Isabelle asked. “You stabbed me. And yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Are we dead?”
“No.”
Isabelle wrinkled her nose. “I’m confused.”
“Dalton used the sword of a Guardian. Not a human,” the Archangel explained.
“And?”
“It merely brought you here.”
“Where is here, exactly?”
“The other plane.”
Isabelle turned to Dalton. “I’m still confused. We’re not dead, but we’re no longer standing in the middle of the circle on Georgie’s property. Where are we?”
“Right now we’re nowhere. Time is suspended.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. Until the Archangel makes a decision.” Dalton turned back to him.
The Archangel asked, “You love this human?”
“I do.”
“It’s a limited future for you, Dalton.”
“She’s worth it.”
“The blood of the evil one runs within her.”
“I was working to rectify that. And her heart is pure. She didn’t ask to be cursed.”
“You cannot wholly remove it from her.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“I, however, can completely eliminate the demon blood from your Isabelle.”
Dalton figured there’d be a catch in this. There had to be a reason the Archangel had appeared. “Okay. And at what price?”
“You agree to trade places with her. You absorb the demon blood she’s carried within her, and you become what she has been.”
“No!”
Dalton was shocked at Isabelle’s outburst. She glared at the Archangel, who merely cocked a brow in her direction.
“You cannot sacrifice yourself for me.” She turned to the Archangel. “And you people are supposed to be kind and benevolent, yet you’re asking him to become a demon in my place? This is my curse, not his. How dare you ask him to give up his soul for me. What kind of people are you?”
Dalton was speechless. His gaze shot to the Archangel, whose lips twitched.
“‘You people’? Outspoken, isn’t she?”
“You have no idea.”
“Dalton, how could you expect to me to live happily ever after, knowing I brought you damnation with the Sons of Darkness? Do you think I’d be content just because you took the demon blood away from me? I’d be miserable. I’d rather be dead or living with the demon inside me than know you suffered because of me.” She turned her gaze to the Archangel. “Please, don’t let this happen. I love him. He’s deserving of redemption. He’s already paid the price for his sins. Don’t make him do it twice.”
The Archangel grinned. “You made a very wise choice, Dalton. One hell of a hard road to earn your redemption, though.”
He vanished in another burst of brilliant white.
Dalton smiled. The Archangel always loved those dramatic exits. He turned to Isabelle, pulled her into his arms. “I will always love you. Don’t ever forget that.” He pressed his lips to hers, then felt the world spinning out of control. He could no longer feel Isabelle’s body. Or his own, for that matter.
He saw the panic in her wide eyes, saw her arms reaching out for him, but he was no longer there.
I’m sorry, Isabelle.
His world went dark. He closed his eyes and he awaited his punishment, awaited the heat, the flames.
As long as Isabelle was safe, he was content.
Panic sent Isabelle into a tailspin. Dalton had vanished right in front of her. First the Archangel, then Dalton. What did it mean? The flames no longer surrounded her; Tase was gone. Everything had gone back to normal except that Dalton wasn’t there.
Her gaze shot to Georgie. “Tell me what happened here.”
“It’s done,” Georgie said. “But nothing was as we thought.”
“What the hell does that mean? Where is Dalton?”
Even Georgie looked confused. “I don’t know. He disappeared.”
“You all saw that, didn’t you?” she asked, turning around to all the hunters. “You saw him vanish.”
Michael nodded, looking somber. “Yes.”
“Did you see the Archangel?”
Michael frowned. “Who?”
“The Archangel. The angel. Flowing raven hair, dressed all in white, wings a mile wide?”
Georgie shook her head. “We saw no angel. You did?”
“Yes. How could you not see him?”
“It doesn’t matter that we didn’t. You did. He spoke to you and Dalton?”
Frustrated, Isabelle sighed. “He took Dalton. I know he did. He gave Dalton what he wanted.”
“Redemption?” Georgie asked.
Tears burned Isabelle’s eyes, choked her as she fought for the words, hating that she had to say them out loud. “No. Damnation.”
Her legs refused to support her and she sank to the ground, shaking. Georgie was the first one there to wrap her arms around her.
“Isabelle, stand.”
“I can’t.” The splash of hot tears rolled down Isabelle’s cheeks in rivulets she didn’t even try to hide. He was gone. Vanished. Had the Archangel given Dalton what he’d asked for? The demon inside her had gone, too. She no longer struggled against it, trying to keep it from surfacing.
Instead, the worst form of emptiness she’d ever felt wrapped itself around her. Where had Dalton gone?
Angelique knelt down beside her, stroked her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Isabelle tilted her head back to stare up at Angelique. “He did this for me. I’m not worth it, Angie. How could he have sacrificed so much for me?”
“Because he loved you, baby. He really loved you that much.”
Her sister understood. She knew what had happened. Isabelle was free of her demon, but she’d lost the one thing, the only thing that was important to her. She couldn’t survive this. It hurt too much.
She bent forward, pressed her head against her knees, and sobbed. Her heart was torn in two. She never thought she could feel this much pain, never thought anything could hurt this much.
She cried until there was nothing left, until she felt sick. Then hands reached underneath her and lifted her. Through swollen lids she recognized Michael, who picked her up and started toward the main house.
“No. Wait. I want to go to the cabin.”
Michael shook his head. “You can’t be there alone.”
“Yes, I can. I’ll be fine. It’s just up the road from the main house. You can leave someone there with me if you want. I need to be where Dalton was.” She clutched his shirt. “Please.”
He relented and carried her toward the cabin, laid her down on the bed, and covered her.
Angie was there a minute later, pressing a cool, wet washcloth over her face. It felt good, washing away some of the grit and the tears.
“You want me to stay with you?” she asked.
“No. I need to be alone. I need to process all of this.”
“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
Isabelle loved her sister. It would be good to spend time with her again. Just not right now, not when she was so raw, when everything hurt so damn much. “I’ll be all right. Please, just let me be. I need to sleep. I’m so tired, Angie.”
Angie pressed a cool hand to her forehead, then swept it down her cheek. “You’re not alone, Izzy I’m here. We’re all here for you. You’re never going to be alone.”
Isabelle grasped her sister’s wrist. “I never told you how sorry I am.”
Angie tilted her head. “For what?”
“For Sicily. For what I tried to do to you.”
Her sister smiled, tenderness and love reflected in her eyes. “That wasn’t you, Izzy. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
The tears started fresh. “You’re too forgiving.”
Angie bent down and kissed her cheek, then slid a box of tissues in front of her. “And you’re not forgiving enough of yourself. Let it go.”
Isabelle nodded. “I’ll try.”
“Ryder and I are going to stay here with you. We’ll be in the other room if you need us.”
“Okay.”
Angie left and closed the door, leaving Isabelle in blissful darkness.
Exhaustion took over and she fell into a hard, dreamless sleep. When she woke, it was still dark.
Something had awakened her. A sound, maybe?
Fear jacked her heartbeat up to a hard pounding. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood.
Maybe it was Angie coming back to check on her. But if it was, she’d be in here by now. Isabelle stared at the closed bedroom door for a full minute, waiting. Nothing happened.
Probably just her imagination. She went into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face, then turned off the light. As she walked through the doorway back into the bedroom, her breath caught as she saw a dark shape stepping through the sliding glass door to the bedroom.
Hadn’t that been closed and locked when she’d come in here? She couldn’t remember. She glanced at the door leading to the living room, to Ryder and Angie, and back at the figure who stood like a sentinel now that he was fully in the room.
She could scream, or she could run. She could do both.
She had to do something, and now.
“Isabelle. Don’t scream.”
It was a whispered plea.
In Dalton’s voice.