by Selena Blake
She checked. He followed suit and they awaited the flop. The dealer feathered three cards out atop the felt. Two threes and a seven. That gave her two pair. Not bad.
She checked again. And again, Shade followed her lead.
The dealer flipped the turn card. A king. Izzy bit back a sigh. Would he forgive her for what she was about to do? She didn’t bother to calculate the odds that he had a better hand than she did. Whoever said you had to know when to hold and know when to fold was right. She was ready, as Coco said, to jump into something new with both feet.
Izzy reached for her goblet, took a long sip, and then pushed her stack of chips forward. “All in,” she said and a murmur swept through the crowd.
“Izzy…”
“Are you calling my bluff, Mister Sotenburg?” She purred the words.
Shade nodded to the dealer, indicating he’d match her bet.
“And I fold,” she said quickly, staring at him over the top of her goblet.
His head jerked her way. “What?”
She smiled behind the cover of the glass.
“Miss?” The dealer sputtered.
“You heard me,” she replied.
The crowd clearly didn’t know what to make of this. She rolled her chair toward Shade and put the goblet on his side table.
“Izzy… you understand that if you—” Charles Latham began, appearing at her side.
She grinned up at him. “I’m fully aware of what I did, Mr. Latham. Second place is fine by me.”
Izzy smiled at Shade’s mystified expression.
Shaking his head, he glanced up at Latham. “Please see that my winnings are donated to charity.” Then he looked back at her with warm gray eyes. “Do you have a preference?”
It was her turn to be confused. He was giving away his money?
“Something related to violence against women, perhaps?” he said and looked back up at Latham.
Latham smiled and nodded. “As you wish.” Then he was gone.
“Izzy…” Shade pulled her forward until their knees bumped. “What are you doing?”
“Putting my cards on the table.”
He smiled and grunted. Shaking his head again he reached past her and flipped over her cards. “You are one crazy woman.”
“Crazy about you, Mr. Sotenburg.”
Groaning, he pulled her in for a kiss. “The feeling is entirely mutual, mausi…”
Chapter Seventeen
“Izzy! Girl, you are a force to be reckoned with,” Avery said, sauntering up to their table. “Do you think there’s any chance that some of that luck will brush off on me, Shade?”
Izzy sighed and leaned back in her chair. Avery smiled like she had no idea she was interrupting the most important moment of Izzy’s life. The raven-haired beauty turned away and motioned someone forward. “I want you guys to meet somebody. While you guys were playing, he explained how poker —”
Izzy’s brain tuned Avery out as a familiar face stepped into view. She was used to being cold, but she’d never actually felt an icy sensation running through her veins. Until now.
“Yuri?” Why she’d said his name, she didn’t know. But the ice was dissolving quickly as fury replaced it. “You bastard!” She launched out of the chair, fangs down, fingernails flexed to scratch his eyes out. Someone caught her around the waist and pulled her backward.
“You left me to die!” She squirmed against the arms of her captor. Avery took a step back, jaw dropped, confusion and alarm pinching her brows. Yuri’s boyish good looks had the nerve to look apologetic. But the expression didn’t last. He quickly looked around the room. Izzy was creating a scene. Yuri didn’t like scenes.
“Let me go!” she screamed, turning and shoving at the same time. Shade’s eyes were wide, his brows high.
“Izzy, mausi, calm down.”
Something in her stilled. The raging fury, perhaps. Or maybe it was the hope that she’d finally found her happily ever after. Her insides burned like acid and her head throbbed like the worst headache in history had decided to take up permanent residence in her skull.
Latham appeared out of nowhere, positioning himself in between Izzy and Yuri. Coco and Grayson weren’t far behind and a flurry of questions and concerns filled the air like smoke.
“What the hell is going on now?” Latham thundered. Izzy had never seen him mad before. Somehow she knew he was keeping himself in check. Despite the flushed skin tone beneath his tan and the menacing set of his lips, she knew that there were still more notches of pissed and more pissed to Charles Latham’s temper.
“Please, Shade, just let me go,” she begged. She could feel the tears coming and just wanted to get away. He couldn’t see her like this. She had to be strong, show no weakness.
Shade didn’t let her go. Instead, he smoothed his hands over her bare skin, warming her. “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded, glaring past Latham to Yuri.
Avery strode over to Coco, Grayson, and now Valencia. Izzy heard her ask the two women who he was. What was going on?
“Yuri,” Izzy said with a dry laugh, “is my ex. You know. The one who left me to die at the hands of a mad werewolf.” The words dripped from her lips like poison. It was true. Every word. And she felt a sense of supreme satisfaction when every pair of eyes in the room turned on him.
He swallowed and took a step back.
“Is that true?” Latham asked, rounding on Yuri.
“Of course it is. Look how nervous he is. You thought I was dead, did you not? You thought no one would find out what a coward you really are. Why are you here? How are you here?”
Latham looked over at Valencia, then back at Shade before dropping his gaze to Izzy. His anger was gone and in its place compassion. He took a step back and waved a hand at her ex-boyfriend.
“Yuri is the third son of Avgust Rasskazov.”
“One of the oldest lines of vampires in Russia,” Valencia added, hand on her hip.
Everyone glanced at Izzy. How had she not known? Never suspected? They were all wondering the same thing, she was sure. Yuri picked that moment to tuck tail and run but Grayson was there. He grabbed the slighter built vamp and twisted his left arm behind his back, shoving him back to the center of the circle.
“I think you owe the lady an apology,” Grayson said.
“He owes her more than that,” Shade ground out. He let her go then, tucking her behind him.
Izzy sank down on her chair and blinked back the tears.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Shade demanded.
Yuri’s silence was damning. Latham sighed. “Do you want to tell her, or should I?” the god asked.
“It was payback.” Yuri finally broke his silence. His words rocked Izzy back in her seat like a blow to the chest.
Shade stepped forward but she grabbed his arm, stopping him. Tension traveled from him to her. She squeezed his forearm and whispered, “He is not worth it.”
“The wolf —” Yuri paused and looked up from the floor. Once upon a time Izzy had thought him so handsome, had lost herself in those brown eyes. But all she saw now was a cowardly shell with cold eyes.
“I killed his mate during the war. He waited for a long time to return the favor.” He spoke the words like it was a business transaction.
“But I’m not your mate!” Izzy’s voice raised an octave. “You didn’t even love me!”
“He didn’t know that.”
Izzy couldn’t decide which shocked her more: the fact that he admitted he hadn’t loved her or the fact that — “So you knew? You knew who he was and why he was there? You knew what he was going to do to me, didn’t you?”
This time she moved so quickly she was toe-to-toe with him before anyone was the wiser. She’d flashed. His chin jerked up and he leaned back.
She stabbed him in the chest with the nail of her index finger, but not enough to draw blood, just enough to let him know she could dissect him at a moment’s notice. “You sick bastard!” She didn’t care that sh
e was screaming and making a scene. She also didn’t care if she got kicked off the island. “You knew. Admit it.”
He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut again and stared over the top of her head.
“Say it!” The fury was back along with a red haze that pushed at the edges of her vision. Hotter, more dangerous than ever before. She didn’t control it. No, it was the other way around. Like an out-of-body experience, she grabbed his balls and squeezed. The vamp doubled over. Groans of sympathy filled her ears, as did a few feminine gasps. There were even a few “you go girl” sentiments that bolstered her confidence.
“I want to hear you say it. You knew he was going to rape me, didn’t you? Because that’s what you did to his mate.” Repulsion rolled through her in a nasty wave. It made her sick to think she’d actually liked him, kissed him… slept with him. She’d actually been hurt to lose him. The sick bastard. “Say it or say goodbye to your future generations.”
“Izzy…” Shade’s voice was calm, concerned, pulling her back from the red haze.
“Yes. I knew, all right?” Yuri ground out. He sounded like he was about to pass out.
“So I was a lamb to sacrifice?”
“You’re no fucking lamb.”
She tightened her grip and his head fell against her shoulder as tremors shook his body.
“Get her away from him,” Valencia said. She sounded far away, like she was walking in the opposite direction.
The red haze was back, coloring everything. Her sight, the depth of her soul. “And you’re worse than the werewolf.” She snaked her free hand over his shoulder and threaded her fingers through his hair. Her fangs itched to drain him dry. To tear him to shreds the way the werewolf had done to her. He deserved no less. “At least he was getting retribution for the woman he loved. But you —” She jerked his head back and he cried out. “But you served me up. Did you stand by and watch? Did you see me lying on the pavement, bleeding to death?”
“She will kill him,” Valencia warned.
“Izzy…”
She looked over her shoulder at Coco. Gasps rang out and her friend’s jaw dropped. “She’s a —”
“She’s part demon, yes,” Valencia cut in.
“Izzy, let him go. You said it yourself, sweetheart. He’s not worth it,” Shade said. She could feel him getting closer. How did she know that? Why could she sense him?
“He’s right,” Izzy whispered, fighting the rage. “But just between us… the only reason you’re going to be able to reproduce is that I don’t want to get blood on my dress.”
She shoved him away and the spell broke. Her tears fell as she sank to her knees. Bodies swooped in, circling her, blocking out the commotion.
Shade lifted Izzy into his arms as Latham and Grayson escorted her ex out of the casino. Better them than him. If he got his hands on the bastard…
“You’re okay, engel. I’ve got you,” he murmured to the trembling woman in his arms and headed for the door. Coco, Avery and the brunette cleared a path through the onlookers and stepped onto the elevator next to him.
He couldn’t imagine coming face-to-face with his past like that. There were memories, sure. But to be confronted with someone who’d caused so much pain? His heart ached for her.
“Care to explain?” he said, staring at the tall, lithe brunette. She seemed to be in the know.
“Valencia, this is Shade. Shade, Valencia Fabelle,” Coco said.
Valencia studied the woman in his arms as if deciding how much to tell him. He started to tell her that she needed to level with him because he wasn’t going anywhere but Izzy snuggled closer.
“She’s part demon,” she finally said.
“Obviously.” Izzy’s light blue eyes had been red. Lust, anger any of the deeper emotions turned a demon’s eyes red. She’d seemed more powerful than before. Angrier. “And yet you changed her anyway.”
“She would not have survived much longer,” she defended.
“Why did you not tell me?” Izzy whispered.
“It didn’t seem important at the time.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Shade stepped off first and the others followed. He strode over to the couch and sat down, settling Izzy across his lap.
Valencia perched on the edge of a chair. “It’s what kept you alive before I could get to you,” she continued as the other two women sat on the loveseat. “You had so much to learn about our kind, so much pain to get past. The werewolf, and Yuri for that matter, obviously didn’t realize your parentage.”
“But… I’m a—”
“Hybrid.” Valencia nodded. “If you continue to drink Shade’s blood your demon side will grow stronger. You’ll eventually stop needing blood at all.”
“And the red haze?”
“Will return when you feel extreme anger,” Shade said.
“With Shade’s help, you’ll learn to control it,” Valencia told her.
Shade kissed Izzy’s forehead. He wasn’t so sure about that. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to tuck her into bed and go back downstairs and gut the bastard.
“Who would have thought… our sweet little Izzy is part demon,” Avery said quietly, then smiled.
“Are you okay now?” Valencia said.
Izzy nodded. Indeed, she seemed perfectly fine. Back to her old self, the corners of her mouth turned up.
“We’ll be in the cottage if you need us, chérie,” Coco said.
“I am sorry I cried on you,” she whispered once they were gone.
He hugged her to him, conflicted. Only his need to soothe her trumped the blackness threatening his temper. He sighed, knowing it wasn’t his fight. Izzy had gotten her hands on the bastard and as long as she felt vindicated, that’s all that mattered right now.
“I don’t mind.”
They sat there for a long time, her tucked against him, hand over his heart. Hours, he realized when he looked at his watch. The stars would be out by now and day…a thing of the past. A week ago he would have given little thought to the time of day. But now, it was second nature to make sure of the time and that the thick sun-blocking curtains were closed if need be.
“You awake?” he whispered.
She made a sound to the affirmative.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You,” she said without hesitation.
“What a coincidence. I was thinking of you.”
She laughed softly.
“How did you get to Mystic Isle, by the way?”
She sat up in his lap and turned to him. Worrying her lower lip she stared into his eyes. “Do not get mad.”
“Mad?”
“Pierre brought me. But I begged him to.”
Shade sighed.
“Do not be mad with him.”
“How could I? You wrap everyone around your little finger.”
He cupped her cheeks and leaned in for a kiss.
“Even you?” she asked quietly.
“Especially me,” he whispered against her lips. “How do you feel about living in Germany?”
Her lovely blue eyes widened. “With the Autobahn?”
“With me.”
Smiling, she pivoted and dropped her feet to the floor. Wordlessly, she pulled him up and headed for bedroom.
“Izzy…” Why didn’t she answer him? If she thought this relationship was just about sex —
She stopped and picked up her lucky deck of cards. Glancing up at him, she held up the cards and then dropped them into the trashcan next to the dresser.
“Those are your lucky cards.”
She stepped to him and slid her palms up his chest. “I don’t need them anymore. I have you and I cannot get any luckier than that.”
A Note from Shade
Want to know what happens after Izzy and I leave Mystic Isle? Visit www.selena-blake.com/GDPeverafter Stayed tuned for the next book in the Mystic Isle series, Pursued by a Werewolf. Avery’s story.
A Note From Selena Blake
; Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Izzy and Shade’s love story. After everything Izzy has been through, I knew she needed an extra special guy. Someone caring and understanding, thoughtful and able to roll with the punches. That man was Shade and I’m so glad they’ve found their happily ever after.
Since I know you don’t want to miss any upcoming book news I keep my website updated regularly and you can frequently find me chatting with readers on my blog. Sometimes I let my assistant give away books on Fridays, so stop by. Visit at http://www.selena-blake.com.
And if you’re in the market for free books, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Joining gets you instant access to my Members Only lounge and every good WolfCub knows that the Members Only Lounge is where it’s at. That exclusive key gets you into the Wolfpack. And there are currently five (yes, 5!) free reads waiting for you. Ready to sign up? http://site.selena-blake.com/members/
I truly hope you enjoyed Games Demons Play. But even if you didn’t, I’d still appreciate a review. I read each and every one and I learn from them so that each book is better than the last. If you’re not sure where to leave a review, here are a few suggestions. Why not start at the site where you purchased your copy? I’m active on Goodreads and review books there myself. Look me up. There’s also Shelfari and LibraryThing. If you have a blog, that’d be a great place too.
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As always, I love hearing from my readers. You can write to me at [email protected].
Happy Reading,
Selena
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Looking for more werewolfy goodness? Check out Selena’s bestselling Stormy Weather series, starting with Book One, The Cajun’s Captive.