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Then Jack left, sword and all.
“Isaac, we’ll have to finish another time. I have a sudden compulsion to check on Morgana. I’m out of here,” Damon said, and then he too flashed away.
Fiona walked up to her daughter. “Kate, honey. After the vision and then seeing you in a trance, I had to call in help.”
Kate’s shoulders dropped like a pin had popped her anger balloon. “It’s okay, Mom. I get it.” She gave her mom a kiss on the cheek before Fiona flashed away.
It was only him and Kate left now. Even though he cared about Kate, he wasn’t naïve enough to think she’d forgive him as easily.
She turned to him, and he saw the defeat in her eyes. That cut him deeper than her anger. Kate’s passion and determination were just two of the many traits he admired in her. To think that he was responsible for distinguishing her light was a hard pill to swallow.
“Why, Isaac? Why won’t you let me decide if I’m willing to take the risk? It should be my choice,” she said softly, reinforcing the fact that he’d destroyed the fight in her.
“It’s not your choice, Kate. It’s my magic that gets pushed into the design, which makes it my responsibility.”
“Because you don’t trust me,” she said quietly and flashed away.
Isaac fell forward, putting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Kate’s comment had ripped the breath from his lungs, making it difficult to breathe. She wasn’t the first person to say those words to him. Austin had said the same thing.
Isaac had given in and inked his brother against his better judgment, and it had cost him everything. He wouldn’t do it again. Kate might hate him, but at least she’d be alive to bitch about it.
5
“Thank you,” Kate said to the server as the woman placed her meal on the table.
“This looks good,” she said to Isabella. “And thanks again for coming out with me. A little retail therapy and a meal out was just what I needed today.”
“Thanks for asking me… It’s been a tough week.”
“I’ll say.” Kate kept her voice low. They’d taken a table at the back of the restaurant, and the place wasn’t packed since it was early for the dinner crowd, yet they were still careful. When they’d been shopping, they had kept their talk to clothes in case they were overheard. The last thing they needed was someone recording them talking about magic.
“You’ve had quite the week. Jack gave everyone the bare details about what happened with the sword… I haven’t had a chance to say anything before now, but… I’m sorry about your brother.” She wasn’t quite sure what to say. Isabella’s brother had been responsible for Kate being attacked and he had hurt many of her friends, yet he’d still been Isabella’s brother. Being close to her own brother, Kate couldn’t imagine him ever turning on her. Even when Damon drove her crazy with his persuasive gift and overprotective ways, she loved him. She had no idea what Isabella must be feeling.
Isabella gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”
They dug into their meals, and for a few minutes neither of them spoke, until Kate felt compelled to break the silence. “I… I’m not sure what to say…”
Isabella met Kate’s gaze.
“I don’t know what you’re going through… but I’m here if you want to talk.” Kate leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Since it’s only been just over a week since everything happened, I’m guessing you haven’t even processed it all yet.” She made her words a statement instead of a question, so Isabella could choose how she answered.
“I think you’re right, but Reece has been a big help.” Another small smile curled Isabella’s lips, but this time, a sense of love radiated from her instead of sadness.
Even though Kate thought of Reece as a brother, she felt a stirring of jealousy for what Isabella had. Not that Kate wanted it for herself because she’d learned her lesson. But maybe she was envious. She’d once thought she could have what Isabella had. Now she knew better and couldn’t go back to her naïve way of thinking. Even though Kate wouldn’t take her old boyfriend back for anything, what she’d been through had opened her eyes. Sure, maybe Reece was different, as were the men her friends had hooked up with, but most men weren’t. Especially with women like Kate—women who lived in a man’s world and who threatened their masculinity.
A few minutes later, Kate felt Isabella’s eyes on her and looked up. “Your meal okay?”
“It’s good. Thanks for inviting me today… it’s been a good break.”
“I’m glad.”
“Now, spill it. I know why I needed a break, but what prompted this shopping trip for you?” Isabella asked, surprising Kate.
She took a sip of water to give herself time to compose her thoughts. Their friendship was new, but she liked Isabella and they were both strong, independent women. Maybe getting another woman’s opinion would be a good thing.
Kate laid down her fork. “I thought I’d be working with the sword, or probably even finished creating the lock by now. Instead, I’m frustrated and angry because it’s been eight days since Jack took the sword away. He said he was going to figure out how to make it safe for me to work with it. But in the meantime, I’ve been stuck with a shadow at my workshop.”
“A shadow?”
