Page 73 of Impenitent Claim

“Too late. You sang your song, rusalka, and now I’m here, enchanted and forever your loyal subject.”

I couldn’t look at him. It was too much. It was all too damn much. Twisting around, I lifted my blurring gaze to the vaulted ceiling where the pale light was barely strong enough to penetrate the colored glass.

“I haven’t thought of anyone besides you, Izzy.” Ilya reached out, the tips of his fingers twisting a lock of my hair before he let it fall piece by piece. “You vanished. And we had unfinished business. I tried to let it go, tried to move on. But you were imprinted on me. I scoured the city, and then the country, accessing every dark channel I could to find you. And yet, my little siren, you disappeared into nonexistence, taking my heart and soul as your prize.”

“It wasn’t by choice,” I whispered.

But Ilya didn’t seem to hear me. “Then, in a sheer stroke of luck, I found your engagement announcement in the paper. Do you know how many times I ordered myself to turn around? To leave you to your happily ever after?”

“No,” I choked.

“I did it fifteen minutes ago—I’ve done it every hour of every day since I saw that picture.”

Weeks. He’d been tormented for weeks.

“What’s stopping you?” I asked bitterly.

“While the rest of the world sees the image you so carefully present, I seeyou.I see the terror in your eyes. The way you protect those you care about, even at the cost of your own soul. You should have contacted me, should have told me you were a prisoner.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I will protect you, Isabella, from every chess move, from every player who seeks to use you until you can walk safely, with your head held high like the saints damned queen that you are. You’ll never have to wear another mask, Izzy.”

Why did it feel too good to be true? He was one man, and I was trapped in a labyrinth of demonic sonsofbitches who wanted to use me or end me.

A ping on my phone signaled the approach of the allergy medication. The sound stung sharply as reality fell back into place. I moved away, watching the dust float through the shafts of grey light high above. The world out there was cloudy and bleak. Hopeless. Here was a ray of something, shimmering and dark, reaching out and offering itself to me.

His voice caressed my back in an insistent touch that made a shiver rattle down my spine. “The way I feel about you is an all-consuming desire; my every breath and purpose revolves aroundyou. I will never touch another woman now that I’ve had you. And I will save you from this world, but Isabella?”

“Yes?”

“There will be no saving you from me. Do you understand that?”

It sounded so nice. I blinked at the domed roof high above, refusing to look at the spectre lurking in the dark behind me, his presence tempting me to flee into the dark with the promise of safety. An escape, wasn’t that what I prayed for? For a blissful moment, I wanted to indulge in the idea of surrendering to this monster’s claim.

But it wasn’t possible. There were more souls than mine to consider.

“You don’t believe me.” A rough laugh barked from his chest. “Be patient, Izzy. I’ll prove it to you.”

I rounded, ready to tell him— To tell him—

The shadows were empty, and I sneezed violently as the door to the sanctuary shoved open.

“What are you doing?” a creeping voice sneered.

Holding a tissue to my nose, I glared at Cosimo. “Waiting for Door Dash to bring my Zyrtec since you bathed in AXE or some other cheap body spray.”

The delivery driver chose that moment to push through the doors, one of Cecilia’s guards on his heels. The large goon no doubt scared the living shit out of the driver. That evil look in his eye made me wonder how he would tread on hallowed ground.

I hurried to the delivery man. We exchanged nods, and I took the paper bag, tearing the seal open, without many words exchanged. As I pulled the pills free, the driver fled.

The underboss’s son narrowed his eyes at me. “Your absence is making a scene. Return to church…immediately.”

The pill stuck in my throat as I tried to swallow it dry. Moving toward the drinking fountain, I ignored Cosimo. Or tried to.

The rotten bastard hounded me, suffocating me with his presence.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I bit out, annoyance superseding my better judgment.

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