Page 145 of Blazing Inferno

Still on my back, I raise both hands, drawing on every bit of power I can summon.

These men killed Gregor, Ashton’s father. Who knows what they did to my mate himself? Unless… Unless Ashton’s in on it.

No, I can’t believe that. I won’t. I refuse.

The ground beneath me trembles, and with a guttural shout, I release a surge of energy. It explodes outward in a wave, slamming both men into opposite walls with enough force that I swear the mansion groans in protest. They’re knocked unconscious, their bodies crumpling to the floor in twisted heaps.

I scramble to my feet, trying desperately to ignore the fact that I’m coated in blood.

So much fucking blood.

My chest heaves, and my heart thunders.

The silence that follows feels deafening.

What the hell just happened? Who are these people? Why did they attack me?

Why did they attack Gregor?

Where the fuck is Ashton?

Shakily, I begin to limp in the direction of the front door. I stupidly left my phone in the car. I need to call…someone. Anyone.

Fuck.

As soon as I step outside, bright headlights blind me.

Fuck, are there more?

I hold my hands at the ready, tension flooding my veins, when the car pulls to a stop. The driver’s door opens.

Matthew—the twins’ father—steps out, appearing flabbergasted.

“Isabella?” He blinks at me, his red hair standing upright on his head as if he forgot to brush it before rushing over here.

“M-Matthew?” My voice shakes.

“Why the fuck are you covered in blood? Is this why my damn sons were acting so strange?”

“Gregor’s dead,” I blurt, fear squeezing my windpipe until I can’t suck in a full breath. “Four men attacked me. I don’t know where Ashton is.”

Matthew’s face creases with concern. “Okay, okay. Come here. Get in the car. Fuck.”

I hurry the distance between us, desperation fueling my movements. Without it, I might fall to the ground and wither away.

“We need to find Ashton. I don’t know if he’s hurt or?—”

“Ashton’s fine.”

The concern vanishes. The softness in his voice hardens, replaced by casual indifference. His eyes, which once held the illusion of care, now glaze over, going distant. His posture relaxes, and the corners of his lips twitch in the makings of a smile. It’s almost as if…

It’s almost as if that brief flicker of concern was nothing more than a carefully timed act, a mask that has now slipped off with chilling ease.

I stagger back a step, fear roaring through me.

“Ashton did what I asked him to.” Matthew’s smile widens. “He brought me you.”

Before I can fight back, can call on my magic, can do anything, something pricks my skin.

A needle.

No…

Then everything goes black.