Chapter 3: Can Vampires Have Heart Attacks?

**Jax**

Everything in me wanted to go to her, to wrap her in my arms and comfort her, but it wasn't my place to do so. But so help me God, if Isach didn't step up and be the man she needed. . . I flexed my fingers against my arms.

A moment later, Isach's arms were around her. "I am so sorry, Abby," he whispered and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I didn't want to leave you." He released his hold on her, took her face into his hands, and wiped her tears with his thumbs.

Part of me wanted to look away because I felt like I was intruding on a private moment, but I was too afraid of what would happen if I did. Not that I thought Isach would ever physically hurt Abby, but she might very well go nuclear on him, and while that would be fun to watch, I couldn't let her do anything she'd regret.

"Every single thing I've done, every choice I've made that led us to this moment has been for you," Isach said.

Abby turned away from him, and his hands fell to his sides. "Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me that you left me for my own good?" She crossed her arms.

Okay, time to get some real answers. "You've got some explaining to do, Zoya," I said.

Abby gave me a sad but grateful smile, and I moved to stand beside her. Isach's gaze darted from me to Abby, and he narrowed his eyes. Let him have something to say about me being here with Abby. I was already itching for a fight, and one more wrong word from him was all I needed.

"I know I do." Isach dragged his hand through his hair.

"Then explain," Abby said.

"We should take this inside," said the girl.

"Who is she, Isach?" Abby pinned him with an accusatory glare. "Are you and her. . .?"

"No." He gave a hard shake of his head. "She's just a friend. They all are."

Abby tilted her head in confusion, then, slowly, she turned around, and I did the same. The one girl from earlier was still standing near the front door, but now three other girls stood on either side of her. All of them were eerily similar in appearance - not quite identical, but close with the same pale, freckled complexions, green snake-like eyes, and bright red hair. My gaze lingered on Sophie, and she very subtly inclined her head in my direction. I narrowed my eyes, my attention sliding to the girl standing next to her.

Her gaze lifted to meet mine, and the corner of her mouth lifted in the faintest of smiles. Her cheeks turned pink, making her freckles stand out even more against her otherwise pale skin. I froze for the span of a single heartbeat, and then everything inside of me shifted and clicked back into place as if I'd been living my entire existence in a state of broken disrepair, and now I was fixed, made whole again.

My chest constricted, and my limbs tingled. Could vampires have heart attacks? Because I swore that's what was happening, and it took every ounce of control I had not to clutch my chest like some dramatic, cartoon caricature of a drama queen. I held my breath, knowing I wouldn't be able to breathe right now no matter how hard I tried, and I was not going to attempt it and end up choking right here in front of everyone. Slowly, I inhaled a small amount of air through my nose, and the scent of earth, rainwater, and magnolia wafted toward me.

Her scent.

I knew that as certain as I knew my name, and now the smell of her was branded on me. What the ever-loving h*ll is happening right now? She averted her gaze, and my breath rushed out in a woosh, like she'd released me from some sort of magical hold. Was that what happened? Had she used a spell to hold me captive? I ground my teeth.

"Abby, Jax. . ." Isach stepped around us so he was now in between us and the girls. "You've already met Sophie. These are her sisters. Sabella, Piper, and Peyton. They're witches."

"So, you've been staying here with them this whole time?" Abby asked, an edge to her tone. Her aura pulsed with jealousy.

Uh-oh.

"Yes, but it's not what you think." Isach gave her a pleading look.

"It's time for you to start talking," I said, because he might not have died when we all thought he did, but if he didn't explain, he'd certainly be dead when Abby was finished with him.

"C'mon inside and I'll tell you everything." Isach sounded weary.

Abby refused to move.

"Come. It's not safe out here for much longer." Sophie spun on her heel and disappeared inside. Her sisters followed her lead.

I turned to Abby. "Your choice, Abby. Are we going in there or are we going home?" Please say we're going home. I wasn't sure I could handle being near these witches a second longer, especially when one of them was playing tricks on me.

She shifted on her feet, seeming to weigh her options. "We're going inside."

Of course we were. No way was she going to walk away now when she finally found Isach. Still, I needed to be positive. "Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded, then settled her gaze on Isach. "You're going to tell me everything, and you're going to answer every single question I have, because if you don't, I will leave, and I won't come back."

"Okay," Isach said.

That settled it. I headed inside, fully expecting Abby to follow, but when I glanced behind me, she wasn't there. I hesitated, debating going back out there with her, but I figured she needed a few moments alone with Isach. With a heavy breath, I continued into the house.