The silence in Victor's study stretched like a taut wire after Isabelle's revelation about being a vampire hybrid. I stood frozen, staring at the woman I had called sister for over twenty years, watching shadows dance around her perfect features in ways that defied the afternoon light.
"You look shocked, dear sister," Isabelle said with that same musical laugh I remembered from childhood. But now I could hear the underlying coldness, the predatory edge that had always been there beneath the surface. "Did you really think you were the only one with secrets in this family?"
Damon shifted behind me, his Alpha power rising like a tide. Through our mate bond, I felt his protective instincts flaring, but also his calculation. He was assessing threats, measuring distances, preparing for violence.
"How long?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. "How long have you known what I am?"
