Ethan’s eyes widened and then narrowed fiercely in anger. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but that ismysister!”
“I’m telling you right now to get away from her!” he nearly roared.
Mike jumped forward, grabbing hold of Ethan’s arm and ripping him back. “Get your hands off of me!” Ethan snappedat him.
“Go get your parents, now!” Mike ordered.
“But...”
“Now!”
“I’m not going anywhere!” Ethan yelled. “Until I know what happened, and he gets his hands off ofmy sister!”
Stefan’s eyes burned red with fury as he glowered at Ethan. Ethan’s eyes flashed red as he took a step forward. Stefan hissed and lunged forward. Seizing hold of Ethan’s throat, he lifted him easily off of the ground. Ethan struggled in his grasp, his hands clutching wildly at Stefan as he dug intoEthan’s throat. “ShitStefan, no!” David yelled moving swiftly forward to stand in front of him, but making no move to stop him. “Isabelle willhateyou if you hurt him!”
Stefan was struggling wildly against losing complete control as bloodlust, and fury, raged through him. David’s words slowly managed to penetrate the wild frenzy growing within him. Isabellewouldhate him if he hurt Ethan. It was that thought alone that enabled him to shove the killing frenzy aside and release his hold on Ethan’s neck. He hit the ground, stumbling back, his eyes flashing with rage as his hand flew to his bruised throat. David grabbed hold of Ethan’s arm, shoving him forcefully to the side as Mike grabbed hold of the other one.
“Get your parents,” David hissed.
“Neither of usisgoing anywhere.” Ian said forcefully.
“You need to get your parents, now!” Mike shouted, shoving them both toward the door.
“Mike...”
“Go!” David bellowed.
Stefan moved swiftly to the couch, shooting a warning look at Doug as he moved past him. Doug took a quick step back, his gaze focused worriedly on Isabelle as Stefan laid her gently on the couch. Jack came rushing back into the room, a bag of blood clutched tightly in his hand. He skidded to a halt next to Doug, his gaze flickering quickly to Isabelle, and then apprehensively back to Stefan. Anger shot through him at the thought of Jack feeding her, but Jack made no move toward her as he held the bag out toStefan.
Stefan stared at him for a moment before snatching the bag out of his hand and ripping it open with his teeth. They both took a step back as David and Mike came slowly forward. Stefan lifted her head cautiously, opening her lips gently to place the bag against them. She moaned softly, her eyelids twitching as she opened her mouth to receive it.
Relief flooded through him as he gently stroked her hair and continued to slowly feed her. “Is she going to be okay?” Mike asked softly.
“Yes,” he growled.
He was a little wary that they would attack him for what he had done to Ethan, but he knew that he could destroy them if they even attempted it. He was not going to leave Isabelle alone with them. It did not matter to him that they were like her brothers, or that he had attacked first, he was not going to allow any of them near her until he knew that she was completely safe.
However, as they made no move to come near him, no move to take her away fromhim, his wariness quickly turned to confusion. Why weren’t they attacking him? Surely they would, if they thought that he would harm Isabelle, or them. Instead, they stood silently, accepting the fact that he had assumed control over her, and that he had attacked one of them.
From everything that he had seen over the past week, any of them would willingly die for one of the others. He didn’t understand their silent acceptance of the fact that he had come damn close to killing Ethan. It made absolutely no sense to him. What was the matter with them? Why were they taking this so well? And what the hell did they know that he didn’t? His jaw clenched as a million questions raced through his head, but then Isabelle moaned softly and all thought fled as he focused his attention solely on her.
“What the hell happened?” David demanded.
Stefan lifted his head, his eyes flashing dangerously, as his jaw clenched. Their eyes widened slightly as they stared at him, but none of them said anything, and the looks on their faces were onesof awe. “I’ll tell you later,” Jack said quickly.
Stefan searched their faces, but he didn’t much care what they thought. His attention returned to Isabelle as the last of the blood slid slowly down her throat. He tossed the bag aside, lifted her head gently, and slid onto the couch. He laid her head in his lap, gently stroking her soft, pale face. She rolled over, her delicate hand curling tightly into his thigh.
A surge of protectiveness flowed through him as his hand curled into her hair, wanting to get as close to her as possible, needing to keep her safe from the world. From himself. He was even more dangerous than the men that had attacked her, even more deadly.He was especiallydangerousnow, when his emotions were in a rioting turmoil that felt as if they were going to explode.
The screen door banged open as Sera andLiamcame rushing inside. “What happened!?” Sera cried, running forward, terror etched onto her delicate face.
She cast David and Doug a scathing look as they moved to intercept her. She easily darted around them. She fell on her knees before Isabelle, her hand flying out to touch her brow. Tears spilled freely down her face as she stroked her hair back. “Is she okay?” she sobbed.
“She will be,” Stefan grated.
Liamappeared behind her, reaching out to grasp hold of Isabelle’s hand.Stefan instinctively stiffened;a snarl curvedhis mouth, as hepulledIsabelle tighter against him.Liam’s eyes flashed with fire, a growl escapedhim as he ripped Sera backward. “What the hell are you doing?” she demanded angrily, as he shoved her behind him.
“Whoa!” Doug jumped in between them both, his hands held out. “Calm down! Both of you!”
