Jaci Burton - Taken by Sin

Michael shook his head again. “So much for confidentiality.”

Dalton chose one of the two-person chaises, smiling when Isabelle sat next to him and grasped his hand.

“I guess you need to start by explaining why you’re here, Dalton,” Michael said.

At least Michael was giving him the opportunity to explain. He should be grateful for that. But something about Michael’s tone irked him.

“Why are you here, Michael?” It made no sense for a Keeper in charge of one of the European factions to be all the way over in Louisiana.

“Derek said he told you about Lou.”

Dalton gave a short nod.

“I’m sorry. I know how devastating it must have been for you to hear that. But the Realm has put me in charge of your group. I’m your-their-Keeper now.”

Dalton sucked in a breath, feeling raw inside. “This just sucks. I’ve been thinking about Lou the whole time I’ve been here, wishing I could talk to him about all this. If only I’d been there. If I’d stayed …”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Mandy said, her voice tinged with equal parts pain and anger. “You would have been forced to do what we did. It’s better you left. At least you’re spared this guilt we all feel.”

Derek smoothed his hand over Mandy’s hair. “You have nothing to feel guilty over. You did what was asked of you.”

“We could have walked away.”

“And what? Let the demon consume him? Let the Sons of Darkness take him over? Trust me, Lou wouldn’t have wanted to live like that. He’d have taken his own life before he allowed that to happen.”

“That’s true,” Derek said. “We saved him.”

Mandy snorted. “Some saving.”

Isabelle squeezed Dalton’s hand with a fierce grip and refused to let go. He appreciated her strength, the fact that she stayed by his side, more than he could tell her right now.

He couldn’t imagine what they’d all been through, but what he saw on their faces gave him a pretty good idea.

“I’m sorry I wan’t there.” He felt like he’d missed out on so much.

“You made that choice when you took Isabelle and left.”

Michael’s tone told him everything he needed to know. He wasn’t out of the woods yet. Neither was Isabelle.

“I know. But I had a reason for it.”

“You were given instructions.”

“To kill her. She knows.”

Angelique gasped and grasped Isabelle’s other hand. “You can all be so coldhearted sometimes. This is a human being we’re talking about here. My sister.”

“At the time she was neither,” Michael reminded them. “She was a full demon and about to become one of the Sons of Darkness. She almost killed you. What would you have had us do with her?”

“I don’t know. But to give that order without thinking it through …”

“In this business we don’t have the luxury of time to think. Lou and I made that decision based on the evidence given at the moment. Isabelle exhibited no humanity in the cemetery in Sicily. She had to be destroyed.” Michael look to Dalton. “Obviously Dalton thought differently.”

“I did. Because I saw humanity in her that night. And I felt she could be saved. As you can see looking at her now, there’s nothing demonic about her.”

“And since Sicily?”

Dalton shook his head. “Nothing.”

“That’s not true,” Isabelle said, interrupting him. “I’ve had dreams where Tase comes for me and takes me with him. And even during the day I’ve felt his presence, heard his voice. He manipulates me on a subconscious level.” She looked to Dalton. “I tried to kill Dalton with a laser.”

Michael stood. So did Angelique, and Ryder moved in front of both of them.

“Is this true?” Michael asked, looking at Dalton.

“Not the way she explains it.”

“It is, too.”

“You’re not helping, Isabelle,” Dalton said.

“I’m trying to be honest. You only want to see the good in me.”

“And you only want to see the bad.”

“There’s both in Isabelle.” Georgie, who’d sat behind them all, finally stood and came to the front of the room. “And that’s why Dalton came here. This is his home. There’s magic here. Magic that can help Isabelle.” She turned to Michael. “Maybe at the time you saw her you saw only the darkness within her. Dalton has the capability to see much more than that. That’s why she still lives, because he feels she can be saved.”

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, ma’am,” Michael said, “but are you some kind of expert?”

Georgie lifted her lips. “I’m an expert in no things. But I do know some things. And this child has humanity and light within her. Enough to attempt to save her. You would do well to listen to Dalton. He knows what he’s talking about.”

Isabelle smiled at Georgie. “Thank you.”

Georgie nodded and stepped back.

Michael blew out a breath and turned his attention back to Dalton. “I assume you have a plan?”

“Yes.”

“Then why don’t you fill us in?”

Dalton knew better than to assume all was forgiven. For now, maybe they had a reprieve. And that would have to be good enough. He inhaled, exhaled, knowing the time had come for him to come clean. About everything.

“Back at the graveyard in Sicily, when Isabelle and Angelique had their altercation, there was a moment when Isabelle became human again. A fraction of a second when I saw the desperate, pleading human side of her, crying out for help. I knew then that I couldn’t destroy her, no matter what my orders were.”

“Why didn’t you say something to me or to Lou?” Michael asked.

“We were all kind of busy at the time. There was a battle going on. The Sons of Darkness were there. Hardly a moment to call a meeting to discuss Isabelle’s future. I made an executive decision, but honestly even I wasn’t sure at that moment it was the right one. I wanted some time alone with her, to see if I’d made the right choice.”

“And if you hadn’t?” Angelique asked.

He knew what she wanted to know. “If she never came back human, if the demon side of her resurfaced with a vengeance, I’d have killed her.”

Isabelle didn’t even flinch. Instead, she scooted closer to him, squeezed his hand.

“It’s what I would have wanted. I don’t want to be a demon,” Isabelle said. “I’m human. I have demon blood inside me, but that … creature you saw in Italy-that wasn’t me. I don’t want it to be me. Ever.”

“We’re going to take steps to make sure it doesn’t become her again. That’s why I brought Isabelle here to Louisiana, to Georgie. She’s a voodoo priestess, and she can help transform Isabelle.”

“How?” Angelique asked, her gaze incredulous.

Dalton couldn’t blame her. The rest of the story was going to blow their minds.

Isabelle sat back and patiently watched while Dalton explained everything to the wide-eyed group. They too, had a difficult time believing that he was a fallen angel, especially since they hadn’t been around during the episodes she had witnessed. They didn’t have proof, and it wasn’t like Dalton could sprout white wings and hover near the ceiling.

Her lips lifted. She’d kind of like to see that. Dalton would look sexy with wings. With his face and body … yeah, he could be art on the wall of any chapel.

She was probably going to hell just for thinking that.

Bad Isabelle.

“Did Lou know about this?” Michael finally asked.

Dalton shook his head. “No one knew. It wasn’t necessary for anyone to know.”

Michael arched a brow. “Any one of our hunters who possesses otherworldly skills is kind of an important information tool, Dalton. You should have reported it.”