Page 35 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“When Asher gets him to lift the curse, I’m going to kill him so he can’t hurt you again.”

I stood and cupped his bloody hand in mine then licked the blood from his knuckles.

“You’re sweet, and your blood tastes even sweeter.”

He threaded a hand into my hair and cupped the back of my head. “Your tongue feels amazing, and I’d love to experience your fangs in me again, but I don’t think I’d control myself if you ever did that again.”

“Duly noted,” I said with a wink. “Let’s go get your pants and then I want to read the books you carried outside about werewolves so I can help you shift into your human form.”

“You don’t needto help me.”

“I want to.”

And I did. Everything about the werewolf I wanted. Except I couldn’t have him as mine. We walked through the dark forest, Dante held his hands in front of him and stayed walking step by step with me. The dried pine needles crunched under our feet, the only sound between us apart from the steady thump of our hearts and the shallow breaths of Dante. He collected his pants hanging from a branch and I turned my back giving him some privacy since he seemed so appalled at his nudity. I didn’t see it as a big deal, but this werewolf had a squishy heart.

Why was I thinking of his heart?

Damn, now I wanted to drink his blood.

I lengthened my stride and burst out of the forest. The moonlight bathed us in a welcoming caress. Dante’s breath deepened as though he too sensed the touch of the moonbeams. Our strides carried us closer to the pond.

“Wait,” Dante said, halting. “I should look in the pond again. See if Asher has found Silas.”

“But Screamer?”

“Who’s Screamer?”

“Oh, right, I didn’t tell you his name. He’s my pet octopus.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re telling me that creature who dragged me into the water is your pet?”

“He was. He’s like Nemisis now and not himself.”

“Great. Another pet out to kill you. Silas’s curse keeps on coming, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.” I frowned.

Why was the curse ever-evolving? And to what purpose? Apart from trying to kill me, but now that I thought about it, the attempts on my life wouldn’t kill me, all they’d do was place me in a stasis while I healed.What could Silas get out of that with me stuck in here? Perhaps it was for the best for Dante to see if Asher had found Silas. At least then we might have a clue what to expect next.

“By my calculations, you have to the count of two-hundred and twenty-six before Screamer launches an attack.”

Dante scowled. “How many times have you tried this to determine that?”

“Enough obviously.”

“I don’t like the thought of you being hurt.”

And there went my heart. Falling for a werewolf. Never in my long vampire immortal life would I have ever thought I’d develop feelings for our enemy.

“Dante,” I said, grabbing his hand on my shoulder. “After the pond, we need to go back to my bedroom.”

“Why? Your dress is fine.”

“It’s not that. I need you to grab a wooden box from my dressing table.”

“Is it really that important?”

“Yes.”

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