Page 74 of Despite Mortal Sins

Melancholy bloomed in her soul as realization dawned. When she spoke, Rukia’s voice was full of unshed tears. “He sent me away because he thought he might hurt me, didn’t he, Jaeda?”

Rukia didn’t have to hear the answer from her lips to confirm what Jaeda’s eyes were already telling her. “Some scars are superficial, forgotten in the blink of any eye, while others remain, enduring through time as a visual reminder of our past. But some scars run deeper than the flesh; they scar the soul.”

Rukia’s mind was made up. “Where is he?”

Instead of replying, Jaeda simply looked to their right. Across the room, Rukia saw the Raeth her heart sung for, the man who’d intentionally severed their ties to ensure her safety. Isaiah loitered near the entrance; his dark brown eyes linked with the water Elemental he was speaking with.

Nix.

Jealousy burned hot and bright in her blood, the dark emotion clouding her mind. Lip curling, Rukia glowered at the pair. By all accounts, the Elemental legend was as brilliant as she was beautiful, and this evening she wore a shimmering black dress that flowed gracefully over her svelte form like the water she commanded.

Even without her conscious volition, Rukia started stalking toward the pair, her shoulders set back as the click of her heels resounded over the wooden floor. Her eyes narrowed at their closeness, the sensual familiarity that seemed to flow thickly in the air between Isaiah and Nix.

Even before she was within earshot, Isaiah’s eyes tracked to her face. Instead of recognition, or even a flare of distaste, the only thing that met her gaze in return was his blank stare. After murmuring something to Nix, the man literally vanished into thin air.

Damn teleporter.

Nails biting into her palms, Rukia continued on her war path until she drew up next to the older Elemental. Daggers in her gaze and a barely concealed growl in her throat, Rukia straightened to her full height.

“My, you’ve certainly managed to scare him off.”

Rukia couldn’t halt the scathing words that lingered on her tongue. “And you certainly seem familiar with each other. How do you know him?”

“Our paths crossed centuries ago while I explored the waters of the Atlantic shoreline.” Piercing intelligence tempered Nix’s gaze as she studied Rukia. “You are in the mating dance with him, are you not?”

She ignored the probing comment that made her gut churn. “And what else did you explore with Isaiah?”

“Rather bold of you to ask.” The slight admonishment on the other woman’s tongue wasn’t spoken with vehemence, but patience. “We shared a summer together in our younger days, when neither of us wore the skin we do now. Isaiah reminds me of a time when youth was forever, and passion was our plaything.”

A reminiscent smile curled on the other woman’s lips before she turned back to Rukia. “I’ve long ceased my juvenile exploits, Rukia. You have no competition in me.”

Somehow, the comment served to loosen the black jealousy that gripped Rukia’s mind. Taking a breath to cool her head, her next words were calm.

“Forgive me, Nix. It seems Isaiah has a way of making me see red.” She offered the other Elemental an apologetic smile. “Did he say where he was going?”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Isaiahwasacowardto tuck tail and run; he could acknowledge it. He’d blown out of there like an adolescent who’d been caught stealing red-handed. But the instant he saw Rukia and Jaeda speaking, the raw emotion mirrored on their faces, he’d known precisely what Jaeda had revealed.

He wasn’t prepared to defend himself and his choices to the three-hundred-year-old Elemental who’d come barreling toward him with the staunch determination of a charging rhinoceros.

Seeing her had eaten away at him, his soul yearning for hers with such unrelenting need that he’d been all but crippled at her proximity.

Nix had been a distraction. The ancient water Elemental had been his lover many moons ago, but they’d ended amicably and split ways. Speaking with her had been a pleasure, but any passion he’d ever felt for her had long-since died.

Isaiah had a feeling that he’d never feel passion again for anyone except the only woman he couldn’t have. His future was bleak.

Derikles and Jaeda would have sensed his sudden departure, of course, but neither of them had returned to clan territory yet. It was just as well; he didn’t need either of them sniffing around when his mind was teetering on the edge of the precipice.

The terrace where he stood was swathed in darkness, his eyes focused intently on the township below. He’d fielded innumerable questions from his people over the last forty-eight hours, not the least of which came from the fifty of Jacob’s former clan.

Yesterday and into this morning, he’d gone to Carath and spoken with each of them in their homes, acknowledging the change in leadership and any concerns they harbored. None of his new clansmen blamed him for Jacob’s death. However, more than one had expressed uncertainty regarding their status in Isaiah’s clan.

He’d put their fears to bed. Regardless of how they’d joined his ranks, Carath’s members were now his to defend and protect. Nothing would stop him from assimilating every single one of them into the Sylth.

Without exception, their clan marks had altered once they’d spoken with Isaiah, a testament to the reassurance from their new sovereign.

The only ones he hadn’t yet deigned to speak with were Sia and Caiaphas.

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