Page 44 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

Maximus blew out a long whistle. “A vampire and a werewolf?”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Lucian said. “We need to hear Isabel’s side of the story first.”

“Bit hard when her head is no longer attached to her body,” Maximus said.

“Let me find it.” I drank the rest of the water. I’d need the water and more to get her head back.

“We’ll have to keep him a secret,” Maximus said. “The other vampires won’t agree to a werewolf helping.”

“No, they won’t.” Lucian jerked me to my feet. “If I let you out of here and you don’t return with her head, thenIwill huntyoudown. She’s like a daughter to me. I want her whole again.”

“How do I find Silas?”

“If I knew that, then I wouldn’t need you, would I?” Lucian glared.

I touched an unsteady hand to my forehead. “Sorry. I’m lightheaded with the lack of food.”

Lucian clicked his fingers. “Maximus, take him to the forest and find him a meal. We need him back to full strength to battle Silas.”

“Battle?”

They shot each other a look but ignored me.

“I’ll stay with Isabel until you return, werewolf. Don’t make me leave her side to hunt you down.”

An icy shiver ran through my body at his chilling tone. Isabel said most vampires fed but didn’t kill. Lucian radiated killing vibes. I didn’t want to let him downbecause I suspected the death he’d give me would be slow and torturous. His lips spread into a smirk as though he read my thoughts.

“Let’s go.” Maximus tugged my arm toward the stairs and shoved me up the steps before him.

We followed the hallways through the interior of the castle. The dark passageways wove a long way, and I feared Maximus was taking me somewhere to kill me instead of letting me go. At the end of one particularly long hallway sat a solid-looking door with heavy metal hinges. Maximus turned the key that was sitting in the lock and opened the door. Beyond sat a forest.

A different forest from where I’d entered the castle.

“Where are we?”

Chapter twenty-three

Dante

Maximus glided into the forest so elegantly, I saw the way Isabel said vampires are refined and werewolves aren’t. I’d agree with her on my part but as I’d met no other werewolves apart from Asher, and he was as wild as me, then I wasn’t one hundred percent certain of the truth. Those books had held part truths aplenty. Deciding which was fact from fiction would be a matter of trial and error.

I glanced to my left and right searching for Asher. If he was out here, then he was staying hidden because of the vampire. I hoped he didn’t decapitate thisone too.

Maximus stopped and turned back to face me. “What are you waiting for?”

I shrugged and said, “I can catch my food.” Since I couldn’t very well tell him I was searching for my brother.

Maximus scoffed. “In the state you’re in, you wouldn’t catch anything.”

“I’m stronger than I look.”

He glared at me down the length of his nose. “I doubt that, but we’ll see once we find Silas.”

“We?”

“You didn’t think Lucian would let you go by yourself, did you?”

“I suppose not.” I sighed.

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