Fourth

ISABELLA's [POV]

Present

He's beautiful. Every animalistic inch of him has been sculpted by the gods to perfection. The literal definition of chiseled muscles, a sharp jaw, and the soulful golden eyes of a powerful beast.

My mate is tall. At the very least, he's two feet taller than me, and that's in human form.

But his animal...

Goddess, he's perfection.

And for those few glorious moments, I allowed myself the gift of meeting his stare. I'd been mesmerized—owned by a secretly woven spell that robbed me of breath and function. My skin prickled with awareness and my nipples tightened to near-painful tips; he caused a heated throb between my thighs I've never experienced before.

Just like I knew he'd find me. Felt the moment he entered the woods and the tremors of his thundering steps the closer to me he came. Because every being walking this earth has a vibration they emit, a low pulse that thrums, and while I ignore most, his is undeniable. It slithers across my flesh, striking with pleasure, and mine returned the favor.

The magic that's an extension of me couldn't be held back. It feeds off my desires—hunger.

I want him. My mate.

Patience, Isabella. He's been lied to.

This I know, too. Politics and manipulation have led us here from all sides, and I've come to accept that our path together has many twists and turns that will span a century.

Exhaling, I count to fifty while closing my eyes. His essence is all around me, and the scent of his spend and the cedar with a hint of mint coming from his skin embeds itself deep, merging with my soul. It brings with it a sense of home and belonging that can only be provided by your other half.

Because a soul mate is sacred. Above everything.

There is only one soul bond during our lifetime, and it's meant to be cherished. No one can love, understand, and make you stronger while also humbling you as they can. It's overwhelming, this sudden urge to be near him, yet the moment our eyes met, life truly began and my past is nothing but a distant memory.

He makes me whole. Lessens the weight of my burden while simultaneously breaking me.

However, I don't begrudge him the tumultuous emotions wrecking his heart: hate, need, and revenge are all he's known for a long time.

The time will come to help him. The stars will show me the way.

Because I've dreamt of this meeting for two summers now. Kept my visions and warnings to myself while preparing my heart for the inevitable.

A seer is just as prone to heartache as anyone else. Seeing it beforehand doesn't change the outcome, and the universe has a way of righting itself; a path can never deviate. The end will always be the same.

Just like I couldn't save my parents, no matter how much I wish I could.

Another deep inhale and a shiver rushes up my spine, forcing my attention away from painful thoughts and back to the man who possesses my soul. The tug in my chest is also harder. Sharper and alert.

He's still here. Watching me.

My blue eyes snap open and my head tilts, catching the sharp glow of gold a second before they darken. Swirls of darkness mix with the aurum, the colors swirling while a low rumble greets my ears.

No words. Just a soothing purr that settles the pain he's caused.

As if he has no choice but to comfort me.

The water lapping at my flesh feels like a caress the longer he stares. As if the drops of come that fell from his thick shaft, painting the grass below his clawed feet, are marking my flesh.

It's time to go.

"Goodbye." The lone word slips past my lips in a whisper. It's so low he almost doesn't hear, but then I'm met with the angry growl of a wolf, and that settles my heart.

The man might not be ready for me, but his animal is. His displeasure is palpable, yet neither makes a move to stop me.

And without looking back, I turn and wade toward the shore. My siblings are not far from here, sleeping and resting after a long day and the bad news received, unaware of my sneaking out. We've traveled far to escape those who killed our family and the vampire king, but the time of our return draws near.

You can't outrun fate.

The sanctified lands my family owns a few miles away are on neutral ground, yet the protection spells keep us unseen. Undetectable to our kind or other species unless we invite you inside.

We're far enough that those hunting the Moore heirs haven't reached the soil we rest upon.

Close enough to those who see us as enemies for reasons that are untrue and unjust. Father never spoke of the reasons why—never an ill word toward those who hate us—but instead, promised me it would all work out before I understood how deep the lies ran.

It wasn't until my first dream that I realized how steep my hill would be. Hurts my soul.

Moreover, if my siblings were to wake up and find me gone, they'd freak out.

But tonight, I had no choice.

The stars don't lie. Neither does the moon.

Before we returned to the Moore home, we had to meet. The seedling of doubt in his heart had to be created.

Until we meet again, my heart.

I'm lying down inside our private quarters after a few days of traveling by boat, while my siblings have dinner in another locomotive cart. We're on our way to Naples after traveling for days from England to Italy, something I am finding bittersweet.

I left my heart back in that forest.

Returning is inevitable for me, but so is the future full of hurt that awaits. Even if in the end I walk away, my mate needs to see the truth for himself. I'm going to take away his burden—that choking pain crushing his soul—and then he will choose.

Two paths. One answer. A swinging pendulum.

A loud snore from one of the guards traveling with us pulls me out of my thoughts. Coming from the cabin near the back end, I can make out the grunting sound that ends with the smacking of lips and then the low chuckles of his brethren.

The mixture of sounds makes me snort, and I'm glad no one is here to hear me.

But then that amusement dies when reality hits me in the chest again.

I'm alone. Heartbroken.

There's also so much I want to say and can't. Every time I close my eyes, I'm haunted by the past and future—the silent rejection that slowly tears at my heart. This time he was unable to say the words, but the next...

"Things will work out. I vow to make it so for all of us." A tear slips from the corner of my eye and I wipe it away, glad that my siblings aren't here to witness this moment of weakness. I don't want them to worry or carry more weight than what's already on their shoulders. This is my burden. He is mine. "The road to happiness is paved by tears."

A saying that accompanies me through the darkest moment.

Since the first time, I dreamt of him.

Yet it also reminds me that the alternative would be permanent. Sorrow is unavoidable; our mates are the key, but it won't be easy. I'll lose my sister, but her mate will bring her back—her vampire will face death himself for the right to love her, and he will win.

Gabriella's path will be easier than mine when it comes to her mate's acceptance, but her path is not less painful. Life gives and takes. The gods bless and then destroy you on their next breath to appease their plans.

I'm cursed with knowing every outcome and not being able to stop the bleeding before it starts. It's why our parents gave up their lives because if Gabriella intervened, there would be no rebirth for her. Leo would never ascend to the crown.

Witches all around the world would be hunted down until only I remained chained and enslaved by another power-thirsty king, and his son.

Many are threatened by her gifts.

Others fear how strong the young Moore warlock will be.

Heavy is the head, but sharp are the blades.

Nothing changes the outcome, no matter how much I wish it were different; our paths were set in stone the moment our lungs took in their first breath. Many have tried and failed, and the witches working with the enemy to block my gifts—seeing their next move—isn't enough to stop me.

Even muddled, I understand. Not with the kind of abilities that thrum through our veins, and the heavy crown laden with thorns that sits atop our heads.

A family is given a gift. A lineage burdened by suffering and betrayal.

Greed. Power. Blood.

Gabriella is the mistress of death, while I see the lies and deceit hidden behind veils of love.

I couldn't save our parents. I can't save her.

"We're back," Gabriella calls out then, entering our cabin with what looks to be a pastry in her hand and a tea for me. She eyes me, brows furrowing, but doesn't ask any questions while our little brother closes our door. He's not paying attention to me, currently heading for the bed I made for him. "We brought you back a little snack. It'll be a while before we make it to Naples...you should eat."

"Later. Too tired to eat." Lies. More like my mind can't find rest.

"Thought you'd be sleeping. Did you—" The shaking of my head cuts her question off. You okay? she mouths, and I nod. "Need help to fall asleep?"

"Please."

"One dormire special coming up."

"Dork." At that, she sticks her tongue out while I watch her grab one of the two small bags she brought with her. This one has a few dried herbs, valerian being one of them. From here I can scent the calming touch of chamomile, but with the added root, I'll more than likely fall deep.

Mom would make me tea just like this whenever my dreams or visions kept me up.

A pang of grief makes my eyes mist, but I blink them back while turning my face from hers. Instead, I focus on Leo who's already asleep, and how a few seconds later mimics the high snore of our guards.

It's loud and accompanied by a whistle that makes him wake up, look around, and then promptly fall back asleep. Gods, it's hard, but I cover my mouth with a hand while my eyes automatically meet Gabriella's. She's biting her bottom lip, shoulders shaking, and still a tiny giggle escapes her.

Then we're both cracking up.

Clutching our stomachs and trying to bite back the laughter. Wiping our cheeks as a few tears escape and still, our brother is none the wiser. The kid sleeps like the dead. The loud dead.

"Gods, I needed that," Gabby snickers, shaking her head before dropping in the now pouched dried herb to let steep. There's a low incantation from her lips, the words we've heard thousands of times before she gives me a wink. "Been a while since we've had a real reason to laugh."

"Very true." Taking the offered cup, I take a sip and hum. Just like Mom's. And while valerian isn't known to be the best smelling or sweetest taste, the small spell makes it so. Almost like a dessert, fresh and light with a hint of apples in the note. "Feels good to forget, if even for a moment."

"Talk to me, Sister. What do you see?"

"A lot, more than I'd like, but now isn't the time." Then I give her our sign: one nod for bad news and two nods for a clear passage.

Tonight, she gets two even though it's a lie. It's the least I can do.

I'll let her find rest before her world implodes.