CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Bound by fire and betrayal

"Stay with me, damned it!"

Lucian spoke with a raw, something I wasn't ready to label. Although his hands were rubbing the incision, the bleeding would not stop.

Rowan froze, his sword still redly slicked.

My blood.

Calla—" His words stopped, terror widening his eyes.

Though everything felt weighty, I tried to talk. My limbs, my breath—like I was sinking into something frigid and unbounded.

Lucian's hold on me got tighter. "Do not you dare close your eyes."

I tried to concentrate on him—on the rage in his voice, the panic in his touch.

Rowan said, his voice hardly audible: "It... wasn't supposed to be her."

The sneer of Lucian was sheer wrath. "You bastard."

Taking his wrist, I made him turn to face me. 'Stop... fighting.'" My voice nothing more than a breath.

His chest surged and dropped suddenly, his whole body stiff with anger.

"Calla, don't talk like that."

Like what?" I grinned weakly at you. " Like I might actually die?"

"You aren't dying." His voice was sharp, his hands gentle and shaking against my flesh. "I won't let you.."

Rowan advanced, regret blazing in his eyes. "I wouldn't—"

In seconds Lucian was on him.

He staggered back when his fist crashed with Rowan's jaw.

"You don't get to talk," Lucian gritted. "You done this. you—"

"I did not want to!" Rowan cried out. "You consider me to have choices?"

Lucian attacked once more, but this time Rowan did not resist. He simply stood there soaking it.

Pain scorching me, I battled to sit up. Lucian: "Stop."

"He nearly killed you, Calla!"

'I know.'" Now my voice was less strong. "But I doubt he intended to."

Rowan's face was split, remorse and suffering shown on every line.

"I would never hurt you on purpose," he said. You really have to believe me.

I choked hard. Then explain the truth to me.

His throat moved. At his sides, his hands closed into fists.

She is in charge of me. His speech broke. Isolde. Though I attempted to fight her, Calla, she is in my brain. She is driving me to do things I do not want to."

Lucian's mouth turned disgusted. "So you simply gave in? Just let her to use you?"

Rowan's eyes shot up, fire flashing in them. "You consider me to want this?"

The air had a dense, stifling strain.

I let out a slow breath. "then prove it."

Rowan tightened his jaw. "How??"

"by supporting our stopping of her."

"You want me to desert her?" Rowan had a cautious voice.

You already have, I pointed out. "You had the chance and you did not kill me."

Like he didn't trust Rowan to stay there without cutting my throat once more, Lucian's hand remained on his dagger.

And what if I could not fight it? Rowan asked in a hushed voice.

"Then we'll make you."

Rowan's lips contracted. You make it sound so simple.

Lucian squatted. Not.

Rowan ran a hand through his hair and breathed sharply. "I have no idea where to start either."

"We discover Isolde," I remarked. "We end this".

Rowan paused.

His voice slackened. "You don't grasp what she is, Calla."

"then explain."

He was hesitant.

"She's more forceful than you could possibly imagine." Now his voice seemed to be just a whisper. She does not only influence individuals. She snatches them—twists them till they hardly know who they are anymore."

Lucian spoke with a dark tone. Then we stop her before she does that to you totally.

Rowan studied me, something dark in his eye. "What if it's already Too Late?"

"It is not."

"And if it is?" as well.

I fixed his stare. "then I'll be the one to cut it off."

The chamber echoed a slow clap.

I stood still.

Lucian froze.

Rowan stopped his breath.

Then—"How touching."

The voice dripped with humor and was sugary sweet.

My gut turned to ice.

For I understood that voice.

I turned, then she was here.

Isolde stood in the shadows, smiling. Her lips curled.

She said, "Well, well, well," then stepped forward. "This just started to get interesting."

And the globe darkened with one flick of her wrist.