Mates in Another Time

Chapter 6

On queue words flew out of her mouth. “Then you have to invite all to her ceremony. It is only right since appointed seconds are to be known by all territories so to better acquaint them with those they might need to work with.”

Isabel could sense Lucian’s small flicker of enjoyment as he had been planning just this to happen. “But of course. Do you think I am that incompetent of a Master of my area not to know this? I have been alive longer than you are aware young child. Now, everyone will be invited to a place in the city within my territory. I'll ensure to get with Hailey to get that worked on. It shall be a few days from now.” Isabel could sense the bait Lucian was stringing before her and Isabel wondered if Vivian would even notice. From what Isabel could tell, she highly doubted it.

"Would it be a possibility to stay in your territory longer until the ceremony then? That way we don’t have to travel again in just a few short days?" There it was again. She could sense Lucian’s little spark of joy through their connection. Vivian had indeed taken the bait. What was he up to? Curiosity was bubbling inside of her as she could tell he was up to more than he showed.

"Let us discuss this further in my office then as I wish to speak with your father Viktor over the matter more. It should be him and his second that come, not his daughter and her two little guards." Lucian took her hand in his and closed in on her to gently kiss her on the head. "I will talk with you after."

Seeing the smile on his face she knew he had kissed her to blatantly bother Quinn. Turning to Vivian, he motioned for her to go before him not trusting her at his back one bit. When Quinn and Joshua went to follow Lucian shook his head. "Only one comes. It will be fair. Darius is in my office now and Isabel is a bit worn out and should go rest instead of dealing with this. One of you can wait down here." She knew who it would be before Joshua headed toward them. Vivian’s irritation reached even out to her. Still, everyone left besides Quinn and herself. Still the scent of Vivian consumed the room again causing her to want to escape the confines of it.

Spinning she went to do just that before she felt his fingers wrap around her wrist stopping her in her tracks. This was beginning to become there thing it seemed. Not wanting to glance back she just stood there, her eyes looking out of the room at her getaway. "I'm worn out as Lucian had mentioned. It's best if I get more rest."

"Just give me a couple of minutes with you Isabel. I deserve that after everything." Those words forced her to shift around to gaze at him and she could see the anger, sadness, and something more in those eyes but again she refused to investigate that emotion further.

"There is nothing to say Quinn. I left. I didn’t want to be part of that world anymore."

"Why? Why did you leave? Was it my fault?" It brought her back to that night. The night Vivian had given them magic to make it feel like they were part vampire. To give them a taste of it. Quinn hadn't felt it but she had. She had felt the hate Vivian had for her, the anger and the need to want to get rid of her. She could sense the lust and cravings that she had for Quinn. He had never noticed anything, but she had sensed it all. She knew in her gut then what Cassandra had said was true. For her to follow her fate she had to escape. Something inside her had screamed at her to run. To stay human longer. She knew eventually she would have to turn, that this part of her life would make its way back to her. It just couldn’t be Vivian or her father that did it.

"It doesn’t matter Quinn. I left that place. Now I'm here and we are to continue our separate ways." She had to deviate her eyes away from him as those words left her mouth. There was a part of her that just wasn’t strong enough to keep eye contact with him while she intentionally hurt him.

"Damnit Isabel. Could you please just tell me something. I was lost without you." Isabel couldn’t believe that completely. She doubted he had waited long before Vivian sank her claws into him after she left. This just made the smell of Vivian come crashing back to her. The need to flee was becoming tremendous now, but Quinn was determined to keep his hold on her.

"It wasn’t because of you so could you please let go of me. I need fresh air. All I can smell is Vivian all over you and it's making me sick." The words came out a bit harsher than she anticipated but it was true. She needed space from him. Vivian’s scent was just making her ill by the second.

"You shouldn't care whose scent I have on me." The sharpened tone in Quinn’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by her as he finally released his grip. About time, now she could move out of the room.

"I don’t have a right and I know that. I was being honest. She did it on purpose. She wanted to make sure I knew you were hers. That's fine. Just don’t act like you didn’t notice or know.” With no response back she peeked over her shoulder at him and could see emotions flicker in his eyes. Concentrating back in front of her, she proceeded up the stairs heading back to the room she had woken up in knowing Quinn wasn’t going to follow her any further.

He wanted to punch a wall. Felt like he needed to. Vivian was furious that he had sent Joshua up there instead of him, but Joshua knew that he needed to talk with Isabel.

God was she radiant too, more so even now then back nine years ago. When she had walked in wearing that black dress in heels everything else melted away but them. All he could do was remember them being together and how those had been the best years of his life. Though, when she had drank from Lucian he had felt a need to rip them apart but constrained himself to remain in his spot knowing full well he couldn’t stop them.  However, when their eyes had met, he couldn’t help but want her teeth buried in his neck drinking from him instead. The way he could see the pleasure in her eyes ignited him. It was impossible to stop himself from getting hard with his eyes locked on her. It was that moment he knew he would ensure she took his blood one way or another.

Now, after that confrontation, he doubted that would even be a possibility.

Isabel felt so far away he doubted he could get close to her like he wished to. Instead, he was left in the entrance watching her stroll away from him. Her words had rooted him to his spot.

Of course, she could smell Vivian all over him. How could he forget Vivian's need to have him after he had taken a shower? It hadn't been enough that she made sure of their relationship last night, but she had to do it again before coming here. Before he had to see Isabel again. Damn he should have put that all together, but when he was with Vivian nothing had mattered except her. Well until his eyes had met Isabel's today. Even Vivian melted away where even her voice through their link was impossible to hear. He had blocked her out which he’d never done since she had made him a vampire and became his sire.

 Vivian had been there when Isabel had left. She was there to hold him and make him feel loved. Didn’t she? The way Isabel talked he wondered if she had loved him before Isabel had left. She really hadn't waited long to crawl into his bed one night and make the pain of Isabel not seem so difficult. Had Isabel sensed something? Why hadn't she spoken to him instead of running away with no word? They had been best friends, all three of them until Isabel just disappeared.

With Vivian still tied up in Lucian’s office he decided to follow Isabel's delicious cinnamon and apple scent to find her. He wasn’t done just yet like he thought. As he moved up the stairs, he advanced left to find her leaned up against a wall further down. Without thought he rushed to her. "Isabel what's the matter?"

He moved in front of her to lift his hand to her face. Her eyes were closed until he gently brushed her soft face and the brightest sapphire eyes opened to lock with his own eyes. Instantly he felt his body respond to her gaze and could feel himself growing hard again as if anticipating more from her. Before anything could occur, he felt another vampire come beside him to give assistance to her. It had been the one that had wrapped his arms around her the previous day. The one that had held her like a lover. It also appeared that he still wore the bad boy type well and it made Quinn frustrated that he was pulling Isabel from his hold and wrapped her up into his arms once again.

“It’s okay Isabel, I've got you.” Then the man had the decency to pick her up like a man would his bride and shot Quinn an annoyed glare.

“So, you’re his Second?” Unfortunately, until now, he hadn't actually been to many other territories. There had especially been no need to go into Lucian’s as Vivian and her father hated him. The only reason they had was because they had been ordered by Viktor to check on a lost witch for another territory. They had been told they were authorized to be here when that seems to have been incorrect. Plus, he was Vivian’s right hand guard, not important like Isabel would be. She would be Second and someone all the Masters and those in that field needed to know.

“That I am. Vivian is down that hall in Lucian’s office. If you’d stop blocking her out, I'm sure you'll hear her.” The man appeared very irritated to have to deal with him. Isabel was in his arms with her eyes squeezed closed and her hands clenched. “I'll take care of her.”

He must have seen the apprehension on his face to make mention of such. “What's causing this?” He wanted to make sure Isabel was truly okay before he would allow Vivian to force him away.

“She’ll be fine. The hunger is stronger for her than Lucian thought. I will take her to our kitchen to provide her the blood we have there. That should be plenty for her. Now I'd imagine you best leave now before that dreadful woman comes looking. I've had enough of her. Lucian wasn't quite done but should be now.” Darius didn’t bother waiting as he walked around Quinn and headed down the hall further before turning a corner so he could no longer see them.

Frustration engulfed him again as he brushed his hand through his hair and let his mental block down so that he could listen to Vivian. Quinn, where are you?! We’re leaving. The words were flustered, and he could tell Vivian was beyond pissed at him. Sighing he headed back down the hall where he could sense Vivian was. As soon as he reached to the door, it burst open to an irate Vivian who glared daggers at him. Joshua walked behind her, and Lucian stood smiling with a gleam in his eyes. The way Lucian was looking at him gave Quinn a feeling that he was up to more than he was showing.