Page 46 of A Raven Reformed

“Isaac!” Belle called when she finally spotted him in the last cell. He rushed to the bars to meet her.

“Belle! I’m so glad to see you!” He slipped his hand through the bars, and she grasped it with both of hers. It was ice cold. He tried to smile, but his lips were swollen and scabbed. His right cheek was marred by a nasty gash and his left eye was beginning to blacken.

“My God, Isaac.” Her heart broke at the state of him. This was a horrid place and he had done nothing to deserve being locked inside its walls.

She turned to face Ash, who stood a few feet back, his arms crossed rigidly atop his cane. “You have to let him out of here!”

The icy bite in his chuckle startled her. “Not a chance.”

She marched up and pointed a finger into his chest. “I am the lady of this estate, and I demand you release him. He’s injured and frozen half to death.”

“Belle, stop,” Isaac pleaded from behind her.

Ash glared at him over her shoulder. “This is not a battle you’re going to win, Belle.”

Frustration gripped her. “Contrary to popular belief, Isaac is not my lover.”

Ash simply shrugged. “That is none of my business. What I do know,” he said as he took a step nearer, “is that that son of a bitch shot Michael. I was there when the doctor stitched him back together. I had to hold him down while he screamed because he refused to take anything for the pain. So I will not be letting that”—he jerked his cane toward Isaac—“out of that cage, even if he dies in there. And if he somehow finds a way out, I will kill him myself.”

Belle breathed in sharply and took a step back. He hadn’t raised his voice, but somehow that made him even more frightening. She really didn’t think he would hurt her, but powerful, seething anger flowed from every inch of him and it set her nerves on edge.

“I’ll allow you five minutes with him, and I won’t be moving from this spot.” He tapped his cane against the stone floor.

“Belle,” Isaac warned from behind her. Even from inside that cage, he knew her well enough to know she was about to argue.

“I don’t need a chaperone, Ash.”

Ash pulled out his watch. “Five minutes, Belle, and then you’ll either walk or be carried out of here.”

If she had to guess, Ash did not bluff any more than Michael. With a huff she turned and hurried back to Isaac’s side. “I’m so sorry, Isaac. Why did you follow me through the woods?”

“I had to know you were safe.”

“I told you he wouldn’t hurt me. Why don’t any of you just listen to me? You should have just stayed put and I could have dealt with Michael.”

“But then I wouldn’t have been able to have a conversation with him. He came to see me a while ago.”

“Did he hurt you again?”

“No.” He shook his head and squeezed her hand. “He was perfectly civil.”

“And what about Ash?” She threw a scowl over her shoulder. “Has he hurt you?”

“No. No one has hurt me, Belle.”

“Oh really? Because your face says otherwise.”

He began to chuckle, but then grimaced in pain.

“Isaac. I’m so sorry. All of this is my fault. I never should have sent that stupid letter.” She turned to give Ash a piece of her mind, but Isaac grabbed her wrist to stop her.

“Don’t, Belle. The only person to blame for any of this is me. You did nothing wrong. And that man”—he nodded toward Ash—”is only being a loyal friend.”

“A bully, more like.” Belle shook her head in frustration. “It’s all just a huge misunderstanding. Michael thinks you're my lover, Isaac.”

“Of course he did, Bells. What other conclusion could he possibly have come to?”

“He could have asked. He could have listened to me instead of accusing me of infidelity.”

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