“Dead. Are you okay?” he demanded.
“Yes.”
He brushed the hair back from her face, his eyes intent as he studied her worriedly. She flung herself forward, wrapping her good arm around his neck as she clung to him, tears of relief and joy flowing down her face. “I’m sorry!” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Shh,” he whispered gently as he enveloped her tightly in his strong embrace. “Don’t cryIssy. It’s okay.”
“No it’s not.”
He held her tightly in his arms, savoring in her sweet scent and comforting warmth. She lifted her head from his shoulder, her eyes bright with tears as she glanced behind him. “Is everyone ok?” she asked.
“We’re all fine,” her mom said as Brian burst through the door.
“They’re dead already?” he asked, sounding highly disappointed.
“Yes,” Stefan replied. He stood slowly, pulling Isabelle up with him. Brian’s eyes landed on her, a soft smile curving his mouth. Stefan stiffened as he drew her tighter against his side, his eyes narrowing dangerously on Brian. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
Brian shrugged negligently as he turned to survey the destruction of the room. Isabelle pulled away from Stefan, scowling at Brian as she ran over to hug her family. Stefan watched her for a moment, his tension, fear and anger still simmering just beneath the surface. She had been placed in too much danger for his liking, way too much. He couldn’t seem to shake the beast in him as his emotions swung wildly out of control. He shot Brian a glaring look as he strode past him,andgrabbedIsabelle as she turned away from hugging Vicky and Abby.
He tucked her back against his side, ignoring the confused glance she shot him as he allowed himself to be comforted by her presence. He closed his eyes, letting her heat envelope him, and soothing the raging tension that lingered within. “Sera!”
Liamburst into the room, his eyes wild and frenzied as he raced past Stefan to his family. The others came slowly forward, picking through the rubble, and bodies, that littered the room. “I’ll take care of this,” Brian said. “You guys should get out of here. I’m sure someone’s called the police by now.”
Stefan nodded briskly. “I’ll get Kyle and Julian,” Doug said.
“They’re in the room next to mine!” Sera called out.
“Damn kids sleep like the dead,” Mike muttered as he turned to follow Doug.
“You sure you can handle this?” Stefan asked Brian.
Brian snorted as he raised aneyebrow. “Are you kidding me?”
“Remember what I said.”
“I know you’ll kill me if I come back. Trust me I’ve had enough of Oregon. Now, get out of here.”
Stefan nodded as he led Isabelle forward. She was still cradling her arm, but he didn’t have the time to look at it now. They needed to get out of here as soon aspossible;he could already hear the distant wail of sirens. “Take care of him,”Brian said softly.
Isabelle stopped before Brain, her head tilted slightly as she studied him. He smelled off, but it wasn’t like the others, not like she had first thought anyway. There was a lingering odor of death around him, but it was different, it wasn’t as bad. Therewas also a lingering lonelinessand despair in him that reminded her of what had existed in Stefan when she had first met him. For some reason, she didn’t think thatBrianwas a truly bad guy.Although,she wouldn’t mind punching him in the face for all of thetroublehe had caused.
“You’re not as far gone as youthink,or you like to pretend you are. You can come back,” she told him.
His mouth quirkedin wry amusement as he studied her. “And how would you know?”
Stefan’s arms tightened around her, but she ignored the subtle hint as she met Brian’s gaze. “I just know,” she answered.
Brian studied her for a moment more, the smile slipping from his mouth as he turned toward Stefan. “Never thought I’d see you like this,guessthat damn soul mate thing is true after all,” he said softly. “Take care of her.”
“I intend too,” Stefan replied. “Take care of yourself.”
The amusement was instantly back in Brian’s eyes as he nodded sharply. “Of course.”
Stefan tried to lead her away, but she remained where she was for a moment more. She wanted to help Brian, to assure him that he wasn’t the bad guy that he obviously thought himself to be. “Remember what I said,” she whispered softly.
Brian glanced back at her, his face hard, and his eyes cold again. Isabelle sighed softly and turned away from him. There was nothing more that she could say, or do. He would make his owndecisions;she could only hope that they would be the right ones. Mike suddenly appeared in the doorway, Kyle slumped over his shoulder.
“There’s a crowd gathering, Doug’s taking care ofthe ones that have come outsidebut we have to go.”
