Isabelle poked her head around Stefan’s side, determined to see him. He was tall and muscular, nearly as big as Stefan, and nearly as gorgeous. His hair was the lightest platinum blond that she had ever seen, so light that it was nearly white. His eyes were a piercing ice blue as they drifted down to look at her. There was a coldness in his eyes that was unnerving as his mouth curved into a small smile. She knew instantly that he was one ofthem, but there was something off about him, something not quiteright.Itreminded her of the men from the club, only it wasn’t as strong as it had been with them. Still, she knew that he was completely dangerous.
“What are you doing here?” Stefan growled, pushing Isabelle back again.
She didn’t protest his high handedmanner;she didn’t want to look at him anymore. His oddness frightened her. “I just came to see an old friend.”
“We stopped being friends awhile ago Brian.”
“Stefan, in our life span, two years is not a long time. Who’s the girl?”
Stefan stiffened, a low growl issuedfrom him. Isabelle couldn’t stop herself from looking atthe strangeragain. Brian’s gaze darted back to her, a sly smile curling his full, hard mouth. Stefan shoved her roughly back, his hand curledpainfully into her upper arm as he held her forcefully behind him. She couldn’t suppress a whimper of pain. His grip instantly lessened, but he did not relinquish her.
“What do you want?” he snapped.
Brian’s eyes came back to him, cold and brutal. They were no longer the eyes of the man that had been his friend for well over a century, but those of the man that he had become. “I need a place to stay.”
Stefan’s eyes narrowed sharply as he shook his head in firm denial.“Youarenotstaying here.”
Brian’s eyes narrowed as they snapped with fury. “I helped you out when you needed it.”
“Yes you did, but you’re not staying here.”
Brian folded his arms over his chest as he rocked back on his heels. “Can we talk privately?” he inquired coldly.
It had been awhile since they had parted ways, and Stefan truly hadn’t expected toeverseeBrianagain. He didn’t know what had brought him here now, nor did he think that it could be good.Howeverhe did owe Brian his life, and he owed it to him to listen to what he had to say, and what had brought him here.
“David, take Isabelleback to the house.”
“What?” she demanded, grabbing Stefan’s shirt. He pulled her from behind his back, holding onto her arm as he waited for David to come forward. “Stefan...”
“Go with them Isabelle.”
“But...”
“Go!”he commandedmore sharply than he had intended.
Isabelle’s eyes spit violet fury at him as she allowed David to take hold of her arm. She turned toward Brian, her eyes narrowed hatefully as David tugged her forward. “I can walk on my own!” she snapped, jerking her arm free.
‘Please be careful,’ she whispered into his head. His gaze flicked toward her, but he made no other indication that he had hear her.
She turned away from him as Ethan and Jack moved to stand behind her, their gazes locked warily on Brian. Stefan waited until they were safely in the house before he turned his attention back to his old friend. A small smile of amusement curved his mouth as he met Stefan’s glower. “Who’s the girl?”
“That’s none of your concern,”Stefangrated, fury spurting through him. Brian’seyebrows rose but he simply nodded as he rocked back on his heels again. “What do you want?”
“I told you, I need a place to say,” he replied, his arms dropping back to his sides.
“And I told you that you can’t stay here.”
Briantilted his head as he quickly scanned the field and houses. “Thereisa lot ofour kind here.”
Stefan shrugged negligently, not wanting Brian to know anymore about this place than he had to. “What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?”
Brian’s gaze slowly came back to him, his eyes dark and distant. “Do they know about you?”
Stefan stiffened as his eyes narrowed angrily. “Of course.”
“Allabout you?” he drawled.
Stefan’s eyes blazed with fury as he took an angry step forward. “You’re not staying here!” he snapped.
