The Forsaken(43)

Izzy looked at him.

“If I wanted to harm you, I would have long ago. We are wasting time. I will only ask one more time. Give me your hand.”

Izzy harrumphed in annoyance and attempted to turn sideways. She longed to be home, but no way was she about to give this demon her back. Without warning, he grasped her hand, hauling her far too close for comfort to his large frame. He forced her to her knees. Pain exploded through her body, and if she hadn’t been on bent knees, she’d have fallen to the cold, unforgiving ground. Searing pain flashed through her mind as the Hellish nightmare he was conveying to her penetrated all her senses.

“Tell the Almighty that the prodigal son plans to return. It has begun.”

With that parting remark, Ash released her hand, swept his wings back in one massive lunge, and took to the sky. Izzy feared to look at her hand, convinced burn marks had been wielded into her palm. Shaking with overloaded images of what Ash had allowed her to see, she knew she was double-damned. She’d agreed to convey the message, but to do that, she first had to get the Mistress to listen to her. Izzy knew that wasn’t about to happen anytime soon.





Chapter Thirteen


Nathanael did not like being played the fool. And played well he had been. He ran through the streets, honing in on the lush scent of Isabella’s blood essence. It flowed through his body, the scent of dewy flowers and innocence streaming through him, urging him right or left. I know now how the hounds of Hell must feel.

He’d gone to Isabella’s bedroom, expecting her to stay inside, to stop fighting demons. The only thing he’d found was a pile of pillows in her bed. He’d thrown all the pillows to the ground and marched straight into Meredith’s bedroom. He realized again he should have knocked. He hadn’t and she did not take lightly to his invasion. However, Nat’s Seraphim etiquette had been trampled on and he wanted Isabella to pay for mocking him with her disobedience. Seeing Gareth on Meredith’s bed surprised him. Wisely, he said nothing, only giving a curt nod to the human male Mike had previously introduced him to. Meredith claimed at first not to know where Isabella went. Nat hadn’t bought it. Pressing the matter, he warned her of Shea’s outcome. When Meredith speculated that Isabella had gone to see for herself where Shea had been taken, Nat knew he’d gone to his own version of Hell.

He turned into a side alley, catching a dewy hint of Isabella’s life essence. He ignored the filth of the alley, the streets, and the sidewalks. How humans managed to live like this he didn’t understand. Did they not know the gift the Almighty had bequeathed them? Shaking his head, Nat knew he had to focus. Unsheathing the sharp, small sword from his back, he readied himself. Turning into a second darkened alley, he plowed straight into a form. Catching himself, he took great satisfaction in seeing Isabella land on that pretty ass of hers.

“What are you doing here?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that, my b’i??”

Isabella shakily stood. Nat did not offer her help. He wasn’t in the mood to play nice anymore. He tried to recall all she’d been through but it didn’t help. She mocked him. Tonight, she shall not.

“We have to go,” said Isabella, wiping her hands on her leather pants as she made a move to go around him.

Nat caught her arm and noticed the cuts on her arms. Deliberately she’d sought demons to fight. One could never call his Isabella a coward. The realization she’d rather fight demons than obey him—or for that matter, be with him—left him feeling cold.

“So, did any demons come for you to fight?”

She looked at him, her eyes widened. “Yes. We’ve got to go.”

“Did the demons leave?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I took care of them,” she said, trying to yank her arm free of his hold.

Nat grinned, pulling her tighter to his frame. He used his weight to maneuver her toward the back of a brick building, and only when her back cut into the uneven brick did she truly look at him.

“Look, seriously, you can’t be mad with me about setting you up?”

“I can’t, can I? I believe my instructions had been clear. Stay inside and let me take care of this matter.” Nat knew his voice sounded rough but worrying about her was going to kill him.

“Look, let’s talk about this at the house.”

Nat shook his head, leaning his chest into hers. Everything about her matched him perfectly.

“Nathanael.”

“Nat, call me Nat.”

Her blue eyes flashed at him. “Fine, whatever. Nat, this is not the time or place for this.”

“Really, Izzy, seems to me you left me no choice.” He followed his words with a wandering hand to stroke her satiny-smooth skin, which reminded him of the heavenly warm grass that grew in their realm. He pulled her long hair out of her hoodie, enjoying watching the sheet of strands fall across her shoulders.

“You can’t honestly expect me to wait inside and do nothing? You might have bound me to you, but I will fight you, always. You should not have done it,” she stated, her eyes damning him.

“Is it too much that I’m concerned about your safety? And what about the worry you’re putting your sisters through.”

“Go to Hell, Nathanael,” said Isabella, immediately wincing when the Rashi script burned into her flesh.

“You keep that up and you’re entire body will be tattooed.”