Chapter Sixteen – Isobel

Her nails cracked as she clawed the rocks. Tears tracked streaks through the dust on her face and it felt too difficult to breathe. Sobs choked her. A few of the glowing fungi were scattered here and there on the side, but that only served to heighten her distress.

Josef had said light drew things in . . . Was the same true of this light? Or was it different because the cave itself produced it?

She had barely been able to escape being crushed by the falling rocks as Edan and the demon fought. As soon as the thunderous avalanche has stopped, though, there was no noise from the other side. Had the whole cavern collapsed? Was Edan trapped, injured . . . or dead?

"Azalea, check on him. Please." She glanced up to see the ghost just staring at her. "Please!"

"There is no need, child." Her grandmother's soothing tones made her whirl around. "Your prince is safe."

Isobel dropped to her knees, sobbing. The relief was so strong that she didn't know what else to feel. She quickly stood again, though her legs shook. "Take me to him."

Gran smiled and held out a hand. She led Isobel back down the corridor, then turned to other passages she hadn't even known were there.

"Isobel . . . " Azalea's words were soft. "Why did I become bound to you at death?"

"I don't know. Gran?" The elderly woman only smiled. After a moment, Isobel sighed. "Maybe it was a desire to change the past. Undo to leaving me. Maybe . . . maybe have a second chance. I don't know."

The faint glow behind them disappeared but the two ghosts accompanying her gave off their own light. It wasn't much but enough for her to overstep the pitfalls in her path. The whispers that she feared would come for her stayed at bay and all she heard was her own breathing. It was almost . . . peaceful. Like this was how the caves were meant to be. Why was it different this time? Because she had Gran with her?

"I hear something," Azalea whispered suddenly. "It's . . . it's my mother. But how . . . "

Gran stopped. Isobel turned to her mother, really studying her for the first time. They shared so many features. The same eyes, same lips, even the way their hair fell. Her lips began to tremble. Somehow she knew it was time. She was going to be left behind again.

"Don't be sad, darling," Gran whispered. "This is the natural progression of life. She is being untethered by the realization that what she did was best for you."

Azalea turned back to them. She touched Isobel's cheek. "I'm so sorry, my darling. I wish I could change time. But I can't. And I can't change who I am. I was never meant to be a mother. I should have given you to your grandmother but not run away. One day I hope you can forgive me."

Tears blurred her eyes. "I hope I can, too. I'm tired of being so angry . . . I guess I should forgive dad too . . . "

Gran squeezed her shoulder. "Just remember that forgiveness doesn't mean that you should just let him back in your life as though he never hurt you. To forgive and forget doesn't mean that you have to wipe the slate clean and let him hurt you again and again. I should have raised him better. I have hope he may be willing to change."

Isobel wasn't sure she could ever believe it if he did but now wasn't the time for that. Both ghosts were fading and she threw her arms around Gran.

"I love you!"

"I love you, too. Be strong, now. You know all you need to make your way through this world. Continue this path. You'll find your dragon soon."

They faded away, leaving her with empty arms. Isobel closes her eyes against the tears. When she opened then, she saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel and heard Edan calling to her. She ran to him, a heart so full she couldn't speak.

***

Two Days Later

Isobel slipped into Edan's bedroom, shutting the door softly behind her. A soft smile crossed her face when she saw him at the window, lounging on the sofa with a book in hand. It had taken them a day to find their way from the cave, but at every crossroad a ghost had appeared and told them which way to go. Isobel had quickly gotten the hang of who was lying and who was telling the truth.

"How are you doing?" she asked. Fighting the demon had taken a lot out of him.

"Better. A bit lazy but I'll soon be a hundred percent again." He set the book aside and gestured for her to join him. She stretched out on the wide sofa next to him and sighed as he started to play with her hair. He hummed. "You saw Clint, Zoelle and Brant?"

She nodded. They had all woken up the same instant the demon had died, with no apparent permanent damage from their seizures. The same could not be said of their minds. Everything that had happened had taken a toll on them. Clint, having been touched by the demon for the shortest time, was doing better than the other two. Not that it was saying a lot. Zoelle was torn up by guilt and Brant . . . 

"Clint had an audience with Brant. He cried and begged for Clint's forgiveness. I'm not sure he really believes there was a demon."

Edan shivered and she wrapped her arms tighter around him. "Why?"

"I told you that it wasn't controlling him, just pushing him to do things he already thought of. Amplifying his hatred. He knows that."

"And what did Clint say?"

"He believes the demon was there." Isobel stroked his cheek. "Brant is being removed from succession and his wealth is going to be distributed to various charities. He'll be allowed to stay in the palace to live but he will no longer be a prince."

"That is too harsh," Edan whispered.  Even if he had been thinking such things, he wouldn't have acted on them."

"Or maybe he would have in time, without a demon there so he could see what he was doing once he was free. I'm sorry. I know he's your brother and you love him."

Edan turned his face away. From the shaking of his shoulders, Isobel knew he was struggling not to cry. She certainly didn't blame him. She thought her family situation was messed up, but this was far worse. Imagining loving someone who loves you too, only for that person to betray you . . . It was far worse than the neglect she had faced.

"Since we are talking about family . . . " Edan turned back to her. "I saw you talking with your father earlier."

She winced. "Yeah. I talked. He listened. I'm not ready to hear his excuses yet. But if he shows real remorse for the past, I might be able to let him be a part of my life again . . . I don't know if I can trust him, though. Trust why he's showing interest. It might just be because he knows my powers."

Edan brushed his mouth against hers. "And because you're with the prince?"

"And that."

Isobel slung a leg over his hip. "Speaking of which . . . Are you sure we're together? We've only had sex once."

Edan chuckled as he gripped her hips. "That's zero to sixty in no time flat."

"What? Not up to the challenge?" She licked her lower lip teasingly.

His arms banded around her, and in a smooth, fluid motion, he swung up to his feet, carrying her with him. His mouth found hers, hot and hungry. Chills ran down her spine to pool in her core, turning to a hot, tight mess. She kissed him back greedily as he walked to the bed and all but threw her down. She could see the alpha rise in him as he stared down at her and began to slowly disrobe. The sub in her curled up tight, anxious to please.

"Undress," he ordered. "First the shirt."

She tugged it off over her head, eyes glowing as his gaze slipped down her body.

"Pants."

She yanked them off eagerly and threw them to one side. With a cheeky grin, she slipped on hand into her panties, then rolled her head back and moaned.

Edan's eyes brightened as his nostrils flared. "Take them off and lie on the bed."

She did so and he followed her to the edge. Grasping both of her ankles, he spread her out further and bent her up so that she could reach herself easier. A giggle burst from her, but it was quickly silenced by the heat in his eyes. It left her breathless to see lust and love combined to such a degree. She hadn't thought it was possible.

"Please yourself," Edan ordered, his voice low. "Do it for me."

And she did. She almost didn't care about her own pleasure as she worked herself, her gaze on him as he watched her. He still wore his pants but he slipped them off after a few minutes and ground himself against her. She moved her hand from herself to him, grinning as his head fell back. He still held her ankles nearly to her head and thrust gently against her as she pleasured him.

"Now yourself," he ordered, his voice rough. "I want to see your face turn red and your back bow."

His words made her moan in desire. She wanted him inside of her, but for some reason, she couldn't argue with him. She touched herself again, the heat coiling deeper. Her thighs burned from the stretch he was putting on them, but she didn't care. She wanted this and more . . . So much more . . . His eyes continued to darken as she touched herself, soon making her legs shake in his grasp. She felt the heat on her face. Her back arched and she broke eye contact.

He entered in one smooth motion that had her crying out, the tightness inside bursting at once. Her legs kicked wildly, barely contained by his strength, and she pushed herself back, away, unable to stop herself. He followed her, falling over her to cage her beneath his big body. His hips rocked against hers until she had brought herself under control again.

"Ready?" he asked.

Her chest heaved in anticipation as she nodded. Edan moved back, taking both of her hands in his. He pressed them against his chest and leaned against her, not enough that he was in danger of toppling over, but enough that she had no choice but to hold on, either.

One hand gripped her shoulder to keep her in place while he started to thrust, the other slipping between their bodies. The combination of his movement into her and his fingers working their target had her holding her breath with the effort not to scream like she did the last time.

His movement picked up the pace and her head fell back, hair whipping into her face as she writhed beneath him. Her fingers dug into his chest and she rocked in time with his thrusts. Her body moved on its own accord as he built her higher, higher . . . 

She fell off the edge so suddenly she didn't even have time to scream. Her body went rigid, arms locking as they pushed against his chest. The darkness washed over her, stealing away her breath. Her legs jerked and kicked. Her body arched to his, and through the haze of pleasure, she felt his hands on his breasts.

At some point, he must have finished, because her arms buckled over a sudden increase of weight and he fell down on her, holding her so tightly in his arms she didn't know where she ended and he began.

Edan moaned as he stirred over her. "You belong to me."

"Yes."

"Because you love me."

Isobel nodded. "I love you."

The prince brushed his fingers over her cheek. "Then marry me."

Isobel almost laughed. The seriousness in his eyes stopped her, though. She nodded. "Yes. Of course. I will marry you. I thought that was already implied, but—"

"But I wanted to hear you tell me yes," Edan whispered as he brushed his mouth over hers. "Because I love you. And I am yours. Forever."

*****

THE END