Mag-log inISABELLE'S POV:My thoughts kept drifting back to Damon and our history together. I remembered the very first day we met when we were just kids playing in the wide backyard. I remembered the sweet promise he made back then, telling me with total confidence that we would stay together forever when we grew up. Then I remembered the painful day years later when I pushed him away, the day I let misunderstandings stand between us, and the day I watched him walk down the driveway without looking back.I thought about all those long years we spent completely separated from each other. The quiet evenings, the regrets, and the constant feeling that a huge piece of my life was missing. I had spent so much time wondering how things might have turned out if I had just been brave enough to tell him the truth right from the start.I thought about the sweet moments we shared at his house over the past few weeks. The way he held my hand, the way he smiled whenever I walked into the room, and the w
ISABELLE'S POV:The hospital waiting room was plain and I sat in a hard blue plastic chair near the wall, my hands resting in my lap, my eyes fixed completely on the large set of doors that led into the surgical room. I had been sitting in that exact spot for several hours. I had not slept a wink. I had not touched a bite of food. I had barely shifted my position at all. I just sat there, staring at those double doors, waiting for a doctor to step out and give me an update.Damon was in surgery. He had lost a lot of blood back at the cabin, and the medical team had rushed him inside the moment we arrived.My mind kept circling back to everything that happened at the cabin. I thought about the moment Viktor appeared from the hallway. I thought about the way he pointed the gun right at my face. I thought about how Damon threw himself forward without a second of hesitation, putting his own safety on the line just to keep me out of harm's way. I remembered the exact moment I saw the
ISABELLE'S POV:The backup security team and the local police officers arrived a few moments later.They came through the front door in a single group, flashlight beams cutting through the dim room while shouting clear instructions to secure the area. They took in the entire situation in just a couple of seconds, their eyes moving quickly from me to Damon, and then over to Viktor, who was lying flat on the ground, breathing heavily and nursing his own bumps and scrapes from his fight with Damon."Room is clear!" one of the guards called out loudly to the people outside. "We have an injured man in here! Bring the medical team inside right now!"The next five minutes felt like a fast, overwhelming rush of activity. The security guards spread out to check every single corner of the cabin, making sure the perimeter was completely safe and that no one else was hiding outside in the trees. The police officers stepped inside right behind them, talking steadily into their shoulder radios
DAMON'S POV:I was bleeding.The pain hit me all at once, a sharp, burning sensation in my side that spread quickly through my whole body. I looked down and saw the stain growing on my shirt, spreading down to the ground. It was moving much faster than I expected, turning into a small puddle with every second that ticked by.Viktor had managed to poke me with a hidden blade. I had not even noticed he was holding anything. He must have kept it tucked deep inside his sleeve or his boot, waiting patiently for the exact right moment to take a final swipe. He found his chance when I was looking over at Isabelle, making sure she was out of the way. I was so focused on keeping her safe that I let my guard drop for a split second, totally overlooking the small weapon in his hand.I really should have known better. I should have checked his pockets more thoroughly and made sure he was completely pinned before I turned my head. But my mind was so set on protecting Isabelle from any harm tha
ISABELLE'S POV:The gun went off with a sudden, deafening pop.The sharp sound cracked straight through the cabin and bouncing off the thin walls. I screamed loudly before I could even catch my breath. The loud sound ripped right out of my chest, full of pure surprise and absolute fear.For one quick second, the whole room seemed to lock in place. Time felt like it completely stopped moving. The air in the house grew still, and my brain simply froze up. I could not get any oxygen into my lungs, my legs felt heavy, and I could barely process what was happening right in front of me. All I could do was stare at the floor as Damon launched himself straight into Viktor.Damon moved ridiculously fast, throwing his whole weight against the taller man before Viktor could even steady his aim. The force of the jump sent both of them crashing down hard onto the ground. The sudden impact knocked the silver pistol right out of Viktor's grip, sending it skidding quickly across the room and sli
DAMON'S POV:I reached out and took both of her cool hands in mine."Thank you," I said, meeting her eyes. A genuine smile spread across her face, softening her whole expression and I leaned down and gave her a quick, gentle kiss, holding her hands tight."Let us wrap this up," I murmured.She nodded firmly. "Let us finish it."*ISABELLE'S POV:*The cabin interior was simple, cool, and carried the dry scent of pine wood.I stayed by the glass window, watching the shadowy trees while my heart thumped steadily against my ribs. I was definitely worried, but I was also completely determined. I was not going to stand by and let Viktor Volkov ruin the peaceful life Damon and I were building together. I was not going to let a total stranger take away our future.Damon moved around the main room behind me, double-checking his tools and reviewing our step-by-step plan one last time. He appeared completely focused and steady. He was the exact strong, dependable partner I had always
KIER'S POV:I pour myself a drink and I sit in the dark and I wait for her to come back.She always comes back.But she does not come back.A week passes. Then another. The penthouse stays empty. My calls go straight to voicemail. My texts go unanswered. I send messages through her email, through s
She watched from the window as her father walked out to greet him.August Valancourt shook Lysander's hand with both of his, the way he did with people he truly respected, and he said something that made Lysander nod solemnly. Then her mother appeared, and Isabelle kissed Lysander on both cheeks, t
Celestine started cooking at three in the afternoon, flour on her hands, music playing low from her phone and the smell of tomatoes and garlic filling the whole penthouse.She made the sauce from scratch, the way her grandmother taught her when she was maybe ten years old. She rolled out the pasta
The first time Kier met Sable Morwenna was at a charity gala about six months after his father died.He was standing by the bar, looking miserable, drinking too much and wishing he could leave. And then this woman just appeared next to him, like she had materialized out of thin air."You look like







