Chapter 245

"This isn't like my father," I said. "You have to look me in the eye if you want to kill me. Hasn't there been enough death?"

Rafael and Levi tensed, ready to spring into action.

Isaac didn't shoot me and when I met his eyes, he broke the stare first. He sagged. "You're right."

Then he shot me in the leg.

"Son of a bitch!" Pain, true unadulterated pain railed through my body. For months, I'd had my Jezebel magic to ease my discomfort in daily life with my repaired leg. Now, sore and aching already, I pressed my hands to my ruined thigh, seething, knowing there would be no power to help me heal this. Rods and canes and a lifetime of rehab and pain spun out before me.

This was the cost of mercy.

Levi dropped down beside me, calling 911, while hastily pressing his sweater onto the wound. "Why didn't you use your armor?"

My bottom lip trembled. "I couldn't."

Rafael, slapping regular cuffs on Isaac, whipped his head toward me. "Whyever not?"