Chapter 10
443words
"Drink?" he offered.
"Blood, if you have it."
He opened a hidden refrigerator. "O negative. Room temperature."
I raised an eyebrow. "You keep blood for vampire guests?"
"Just one." His eyes met mine.
I pulled out my tablet, showing him the patterns I"d found. "These code sequences match symbols from the Book of Ancient Blood. He"s using the global financial system to activate the book"s power."
"For what purpose?"
"Control. The book contains a prophecy about wolf and vampire union changing the power balance. A marking unlike any before. Equal, reciprocal."
Alexander went still. "Blood and moon entwined."
"You know it?"
"Pack lore. We call it the Alpha"s Surrender. A marking where the Alpha gives as much power as they take."
"That"s what Victor fears." I set down my tablet. "Now for the harder topic."
"Us."
"What is this?" I gestured between us. "This connection. That kiss."
"You tell me. Three centuries of independence. Why risk it now?"
"Because I can"t stop thinking about you," I admitted. "Because this blood connection shows me parts of you no one else sees."
"Isabella…" His voice was barely a whisper.
His hand reached for mine, hesitant. I laced my fingers with his. Electric current shot up my arm.
"We"re both terrified," I whispered. "Perfect match."
Before he could respond, his security system blared. "Grey Investments is under attack."
At his office, I worked frantically to trace the attack. "There," I said finally. "I"ve isolated the attack signature. It"s coming from—" I froze. "It"s coming from Sentinel. My company."
We raced to my office. The screens flickered to life. Victor"s face appeared.
"Isabella, my dear. And the wolf king himself. How convenient."
"What do you want, Victor?"
"Join me willingly, or watch as I destroy everything your wolf has built. Global markets open in one hour. When they do, my algorithm—your algorithm—will trigger a cascade failure across all financial systems."
"Unless you come to me. Alone. You know where."
Alexander turned to me, eyes fierce. "You"re not going."
"I have to. But not for the reason he thinks."
"It"s too dangerous."
"I created that algorithm. I know its weaknesses." I met his gaze. "Trust me."
I reached up, touching Alexander"s face gently. "I"m going to give Victor exactly what he wants. And then I"m going to do something no vampire has ever done before."
His eyes widened as he realized what I meant. "Isabella, you can"t—"
"I can. And I will." I pulled his face down to mine, our foreheads touching. "Because some things are worth the risk."
Would he still want me after I did the unthinkable?
