Chapter 11
733words
"Dramatic entrance. Classic," I muttered.
He smiled, aristocratic features unchanged after centuries. "My dear Isabella. And Alexander Grey. How wonderful."
"What do you want?" Alexander growled, moving closer to me.
"Order. Control. Evolution." Victor"s smile never reached his eyes.
The screens shifted, showing code structures intertwined with ancient symbols.
"Beautiful, isn"t it? Ancient magic encoded in modern algorithms." His eyes gleamed. "I"ve adapted, Isabella. Just like you taught me."
My blood ran cold. I"d shown him basic coding decades ago. Never imagined this.
"You"re using my predictive market algorithm," I said. "How?"
"I"ve had eyes on you for years. Did you think I"d let my finest creation simply… disappear?"
Alexander tensed. His anger pulsed through our connection.
"I"m not your creation," I snapped.
"No? I made you immortal. And now I"ve used your code to create something equally eternal."
"By crashing the global economy?"
"By controlling it." Victor leaned forward. "Did you know, Alexander, that I was there the night your mate died?"
Alexander went rigid. "What?"
"I didn"t kill her directly. But the wolves who staged that coup? They had… encouragement."
The rage that exploded through our blood connection nearly knocked me over.
"You"re lying," Alexander snarled.
"Sarah was… inconvenient. Too traditional. She would have opposed the prophecy."
"What prophecy?" I demanded, steadying Alexander with my touch.
"Blood and moon entwined. The Book speaks of a union that will shift power forever." Victor"s voice dropped. "The marked vampires dying? A necessary purge. I need the right vampire. You."
"Never," Alexander growled.
"I"m offering a choice," Victor continued. "Join me, Isabella. In return, I spare Grey Investments and his pack."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I trigger the algorithm in forty-three minutes. Global markets collapse. Grey Investments implodes."
My mind raced. If I could get close enough to his systems…
"You"re asking me to choose between my freedom and his life."
"I"m offering you evolution. You"ve spent centuries running from connection. From your true potential."
"Don"t listen to him," Alexander urged.
"Think about it, Isabella. Three hundred years of loneliness. I"m offering you a place to belong."
The worst part? A tiny piece of me responded to that.
"You know where to find me. Come alone within the hour, or watch everything your wolf has built burn to ashes."
The screens went dark.
Alexander turned to me, eyes blazing. "You"re not going."
"I have to."
"It"s suicide."
"I created that algorithm. I know its weaknesses."
"He"ll never let you near his systems."
"He will if he thinks I"m joining him."
Alexander"s eyes widened. "No. Absolutely not."
"It"s the only way."
"I won"t let you sacrifice yourself!"
"It"s not your decision!" I snapped, then softened. "Alexander, trust me to make this choice."
He paced, radiating tension. "There has to be another way."
"There isn"t. Not in the time we have."
He stopped, facing me. "Then I"m coming with you."
"You can"t. He"ll know."
"So I"m supposed to just wait while you walk into his trap?"
I placed my hand on his chest. "Yes. I go in. I find the vulnerability. I signal you."
His hand covered mine. "And if something goes wrong?"
"Then you come in with fangs and claws blazing." I attempted a smile. "Very heroic."
He didn"t smile back. Instead, he pulled me against him with desperate strength.
"I just found you," he whispered into my hair. "I can"t lose you too."
Something shattered inside me. For centuries, I"d convinced myself I didn"t need anyone. That connection meant weakness.
I"d been wrong.
I looked into his eyes. "You won"t lose me. I promise."
His hand cupped my face. "How can you be sure?"
"Because for the first time in three hundred years, I have something worth coming back for."
His eyes darkened. Then he kissed me—not desperate and confused like our first kiss, but with purpose. With promise. With everything we hadn"t said aloud.
When we broke apart, I pressed my forehead to his. "I need to go."
"Isabella." His voice was rough. "Whatever happens… find me."
I nodded, memorizing his face, his scent, the feel of him against me.
"Always," I whispered.
As I walked away, our blood connection stretched between us like a lifeline. For the first time, I didn"t fear it. I embraced it.
Because sometimes the bravest thing isn"t standing alone.
It"s letting someone stand with you.
