David’s hands clenched and unclenched. “You—you meddlingbitch.”
Her mouth fell open, and she pushed him. He barely moved, so she pushed him again, and he grabbed her wrists, pulling her close.
Isobel raised her chin, glaring in defiance. “You want to hurt me, David? Just like he did?”
He shoved her away from him. “Fuck you.”
Sean braced his temples with one hand as the stirrings of a headache began. “Just…why?”
“To protect you!” Bel said.
“I never asked for your protection, Isobel.”
She scowled, and her next words came out sharp. “I didn’t ask for you, either. I never wanted you.”
The insult barely grazed him. Their desires didn’t matter in the end. His disbelief in fate failed to stem the allure of her. Resistance proved futile as the magic in his blood shoved him right over the edge into love with her.
Obsessive.
Twisted.
The sane, logical part of him knew the love wasn’t healthy, but the irrational portion had lunged for it. Grasped tight. Wouldn’t let go.
He hadn’t asked for her, but he was stuck with her anyway, this woman who stitched his soul toDavid Berkeleywithout permission, who made life-changing decisions without consulting him, who believed she knew better than him how to exist in his own life.
It made sense now why he’d felt so connected to David, why he’d wanted David involved in every aspect of this new life, why the unfairness of David’s situation had felt like a personal attack.
With a sigh, Sean’s gaze switched to Autumn. “How could you let her do this?”
David turned to her, crossing his arms. “Is this your idea of doing things right this time?”
Her eyes squeezed shut. “I didn’t know until it was too late, and then it just seemed…pointless to tell you.”
David rolled his eyes. “I asked you how you could have faith that I’d be different than Galadaine Manae, and you lied to my face. You knew I wouldn’t have a choice.”
“No.” She reached for him. “It isn’t like that.”
“What’s it like, then, Autumn?”
She pressed her palm flat to his chest. “I see your mind. I wasn’t lying when I said you have a good heart.”
Bel snorted, and David took a deep breath, ignoring her.
Inside Sean, heat simmered, and he was no longer sure who it belonged to. How could Bel have done this? How could she betray him this way?
His hands balled into fists, aching to break things. He could barely feel the pain from the gash in his arm. “I can’t be here.” He turned to Anna, totally silent in one corner of the room. “Do you want to train some more?”
Her blue eyes widened.
In a surprising move, David yanked her to his side, throwing an arm tight about her shoulders. “You’re not using her to vent your frustration. In the state you’re in, you’ll kill her. Use Bel.”
Anna tried to remove herself from his grasp, but she didn’t get far. “I can come.”
“No, you can’t.” David kept his gaze on Sean.
Sean threw his hands up, surrendering. He left them all to their own devices.
CHAPTER 28
