From the Ashes (Witches of The Demon Isle Book 8) (29 page)

There was only one question Charlie cared about the answer to at this moment.

“Do you still…” he stopped himself. He wasn’t ready to hear the answer. And he already knew it.

She reached out to touch him but stopped when he pulled away. Not harshly, but away from her reach. Lizzy held back a whimper and sank into the car.

Crying? Seriously? Not her style. So much emotion, being in a living body again. Apparently she’d reached the limit where breakdown was inevitable.

Her head twisted, her eyes taking in the unconscious fiancé in the back seat. What had happened to him? This wasn’t the Grayson she remembered… and yet it was so him. The smugness. The ownership he claimed over her. The jealously… but not the loathing behind it. And not the drinking and killing of humans…

The sight of them in the same car, just a few feet from each other put murderous ideas into Charlie’s mind. The wolf wanted to burst out of skin and sink its teeth into the vampire, ending him, rather than see Lizzy within his grasp. Even if it killed him to do it.

Thinking of her picking the vampire over him sickened him.

Imagining that vile creature’s hands roaming over her body brought up a dry heave.

The only thing he could cling to was Lizzy. That he believed in her, and trusted her, in essence, it was the same as asking him to believe in Grayson Moone.

But damn that vampire if it tried to touch her…

Mine…

Mine…

Mine…

The possessiveness and depth to which he believed this scared him. Because no matter how many times he said it, his heart already accepted it as gospel, and his overthinking brain warned him it was not to be.

All in, or all out.

This middle ground could go pound sand.

CHAPTER 22

Lucas waited to bombard Lizzy until they’d gotten Grayson locked into William’s cell, bound by a chain laced with werewolf blood to keep him weak. Lizzy said nothing the entire time. Just stared. Her face stoic. He guessed, in shock.

They had to pull her out of the room to lock the door.

She stumbled her way up the stairs, a hollow echo of her usual well-spoken self. Lucas followed behind her, meeting up in the kitchen with Courtney, Melinda, and Michael.

Mack had left them to sort out the details, having paperwork to fill out for the dead body of the young woman Grayson had killed hours before. She’d been sure to remind everyone of that, more than once.

“What the hell is going on Lizzy?” Lucas finally asked the question burning at everyone’s tongues.

“I need a shot of tequila first.”

Michael gladly handed her the bottle, but only after taking one himself.

She downed one mouthful. Followed by a second. The sting swallowing some of the shock. She balanced her hands on the kitchen counter releasing a slow, even breath. How tables had turned… she’d already begun to think of this kitchen as her own. She lifted her head to explain.

“In my old life, before I was ghasted, Grayson Moone, the vampire currently locked in the basement, was my fiancé.”

They’d pretty much put this part of the story together.

“When I met him, he was a little wild. Fun. A bit of a jealous streak in him, but loyal to me. A protector, when I had only myself after my father died. We had a good time. Things got more serious. He was not so unlike William when I knew him. He did drink from humans before I met him. Never killed them. But I helped him stop this practice completely. He diet was human blood free when I died.”

“Looks like he’s back at it,” Michael shredded out the accusation.

“Obviously. But I need to understand why.” A bit of the stubborn Lizzy they were used to surfaced. “Grayson said something about a curse. His actions may not be his fault. We all know how curses work…”

Like they needed a reminder of Riley and his rampage.

“Curse or not, Grayson has killed a lot of people, just here on the Isle,” Lucas argued. “Imagine how many others there are we don’t know about. You were ghasted a long time, Lizzy.”

“I am aware of that,” her voice clicked, emotional upheaval balancing on a steep edge. “But look at it this way, if it was Riley down there, which was the case not too long ago, and he’d actually killed William because of the curse he was under… what would you all have done? Condemn him? Kill him? Put him in jail?”

“That would have been one death,” Michael argued, as kindly as possible.
A terrible one being it was William.
“And we know Riley was cursed…”

“So, no. You would not have condemned him,” Lizzy finished. “I’m just asking you to be open minded to the possibility this situation is out of Grayson’s control. As for what comes after, I have no idea any more than you. I will do my best to also remain open minded. He may be guilty, and if that’s the case I will… deal with that.”

Melinda pleaded silently with her brother to let it go, for tonight. Not press. But he was not so ready to relent. His concerns, not just on the murderer locked in the basement, or the fact that this was another out-of-the-blue Deane problem… but Charlie. How the hell was this going to go down for his brother? He hadn’t said anything, due to a million excuses he’d take years to list, but he liked how Charlie was around Lizzy. They were a good match for each other and admit it or not, he wanted to see his brother happy after all the crap they’d gone through these last few years. And the years before that after Charlie was bitten. Defensive was all he could be right now.

“You claimed your fiancé died. Jumped off the same cliff you had supposedly jumped off.”

“When I didn’t really die either,” reminded Lizzy. “He did die. As far as I knew. I watched Grayson’s body blister and burn in the morning sunrise. Until he was nothing but hardened ash. His last act was to jump over the side, ending the rest of him. At least so I believed all these years.”

Her private guess to all this: Charlotte Howard had somehow cursed Grayson after he refused to turn her into a vampire, and he had suffered like she had while in her ghastly form. Unable to ask for help until the right circumstances finally aligned.

“So how is it Grayson has picked now to show up?” Michael’s attack continued. “Just a short while after you came back to life? And your
brothers
showed up?”

“You think this is all planned?” Lucas said, surprised.

“Timing seems too perfect.”

“Back at this again,” Lizzy groaned.

Michael had never fully accepted the Deanes being here. After the battle with the Feyk he’d seem to come around. But now, losing Emily, William’s departure to parts unknown, Riley and Melinda… and his brother potentially losing a girlfriend over this sudden appearance of Lizzy’s old fiancé… it was all too much. Something snapped. Someone needed to take the blame. Deanes were the easy candidate.

His gaze penetrated Lizzy’s, his empathy tendrils attempting to reach in and sense her feelings. What he got was sincere forlorn surrender. “I don’t know what to think anymore,” surrendering himself.

“Michael, you’re exhausted. Why don’t you go get some sleep.” Melinda put her hand on his shoulder softly.

Sleep… bed… alone without Emily. That wasn’t going to happen tonight.

“I understand you’re looking out for your family,” said Lizzy. “Your brother. I cannot blame you for that. But I promise you, I did not mean for this to happen. I certainly did not plan it.”

“I know. I…” Michael got up, his entire body wound tight. “Let’s not discuss this further tonight. We’re all tired.” That was saying it mildly. “The vamp is secure, he can’t get free.” He left and took off upstairs and a door slammed hard a minute later.

“Guest room,” whispered Melinda. He had not gone to his own bedroom.

Lucas eyed Lizzy. “You want a ride home?”

“No. There’s something I have to do first.”

“You want me to help you find him?” Lucas spoke of Charlie, assuming it’s what she meant.

She shook her head. “Just go home. I’ll be along.”

“Okay. See you in a bit then.” Melinda walked out with him. “You’ll be okay here on your own?” There was a lumbering effort in his tone.

She nodded. “Best I can be. And Michael’s right, Grayson can’t escape the cell. William made it himself so I trust it will keep him secure for the night. God, just realized I’m actually going to be on my own tonight. How did I end up the sane one?”

Lucas chuckled. “I could stick around, if you need company. Give your brothers a break.”

“No. Really. All good. I’ll probably fall asleep on the sofa in the study at some point, or just crawl into bed once dawn arrives. And Michael is upstairs, although I imagine about to pass out if not from exhaustion some bottle of booze.”

“If anything happens, I’m just a call away.”

“Thanks, Lucas. I appreciate that. And thanks for staying with me tonight.”

“I didn’t mind.”

She lifted her mouth in a,
Yeah right
, pose. “Needy girl cryathon didn’t scare you off?”

He grinned, only sincerity in his reply. “You had every right to each tear that fell.”

She cast him an exhausted smile.

“Goodnight, Melinda.”

“Night, Lucas.”

She sauntered back inside to find Lizzy gaping down the basement stairs. A bewildered gloss covering her eyes.

Melinda recognized that look.

“What are you going to do?”

Lizzy pivoted lethargically, letting out a breath the same speed.

“I have no idea. I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

“You mean one where you’re in love with two men at the same time? Both of which come with some sort of consequence?” Melinda came back in morose acknowledgment. “My brother, who fears he will turn you into a werewolf, and a vampire who just went on a killing rampage, but you have a history with.”

“That about sums it up,” she muttered unamused. “Any advice?”

This story was too close to home and still fresh in Melinda’s thoughts.

“No. I wish I did. My heart still wants them both. I love them each, differently. And they each love me, differently. But each somehow gives me exactly what I need. And want. I cannot choose. And I don’t even really have a choice.” She shook her head and shrugged. “I hope it goes easier for you.”

Lizzy let out a frustrated sigh. “I believed my life had finally gotten back on course. A new course, but I was happy with it. Freakishly happy with it. Until tonight, I was a one-minded woman with a cause… get your brother to give me lots of magical little babies.” She tossed Melinda a tight,
I know, too much information
grin. “I still want that…”

“But you want Grayson too,” Melinda finished.

How many times she’d gone this round.

William. Riley.

William. Riley.

“I need to find your brother.” Lizzy straightened herself, preparing to face him.

“That shouldn’t be too hard. There’s only once place Charlie goes when he needs to clear his head.”

“His boat,” assumed Lizzy. Melinda’s eyed perched open.

“He took me there.”

“Wow. Charlie doesn’t take anyone on his boat. Michael and I don’t even try. That’s his version of a fortress of solitude. He really is crazy in love with…” Melinda clipped herself off. “Sorry. Not helpful.”

“It’s okay.”

“Lizzy?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t have any good advice, but if you’re planning on ripping out my brother’s heart, can you do it fast? He’s so much more fragile than he lets on.”

Lizzy didn’t say anything, just dazedly rushed to reach Charlie.

#

She stopped abruptly on the shore, a few feet in front of the dock where his boat was tied up. Confidence shot. Nerves frayed. Fearing he’d taken off… but there he was. Sitting on his boat outside underneath the moonless night. Fog drifted across the bay, he didn’t seem to notice or care.

Waiting. For her.

He’d known she’d come at some point.

He would have heard her approaching already.

Lizzy advanced apprehensively, no idea what was about to happen, or get said, between them. Other than, it would not be pleasant. And it would hurt.

It already hurt.

“Hi,” she whispered gently from the dock at the edge of the boat.

He met her thin smile. “Hi.”

“Permission to come aboard?” She attempted lightheartedness. Her smile stretching ever so slightly.

He returned it, rising to help her on board.

“I wasn’t sure you’d allow me back on your boat again.”

“If I had my way, we’d never leave it.”

A God awful awkward silence fell between them.

Charlie realized he still had his hands around her waist and pulled them off her like he was breaking some new rule. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“Don’t I? You’re technically engaged. Not to me.” He gave a short laugh, shaking his head in some twisted hidden meaning.

“Care to share?”

“This afternoon, I had this crazy idea pop into my head to go find someone to marry us right that minute because I’d be stupid to think I’d ever want anyone else. Ever.”

“Charlie…” she sighed, the ache wrenching her heart. “Apparently you are a hopeless romantic…”

“And also too late.” He forced himself to put some distance between them. The electric pull stretched thin, not quite breaking, but severely strained under the pressure.

Lizzy opened her mouth to speak…

Nothing. So much, and yet so nothing.

“I managed to render Lizzy Deane speechless, twice in one day. This time, not nearly as appealing. So what happens now?” His voice was reduced to a bruised whisper.

“I honestly have no idea. No, that’s not… I need to talk to Grayson and find out how he’s still alive. Why he’s killing when he didn’t before.”

“A vampire?” Charlie pushed out. Uncaring of the hows and whys.

“Is it really such a struggle for you, to think of a human and a vampire being in love?”

“No. I just… I don’t know this vampire. Other than what I’ve learned today, and what he’s done in recent weeks on this Isle.”

“But you know me, Charlie. I’ve changed some over the long years I was a prisoner. But at my core I’m still the same woman I was. He was a good man. And I loved him.”

“Do love him…” Charlie corrected painfully.

“Yes…” she admitted in equal misery. “It would be an unfair lie for me to deny it. When I first came back into my body I mourned his death as if it had just happened. The loss caught up with me like a fresh wound. But I moved on. I am…” she let the rest go unsaid, as words no longer formed.