Free Reclaimed by Diane Alberts

produced an ear-shattering bang, echoing through the night ten times louder than the boom of thunder on a dark, stormy night. She covered her ears in pain and watched the pair in a mixture of horror and astonishment.
    Elijah ended up on top of the woman, but that didn’t stop her from snapping her sharp teeth at him before flinging him through the air. He connected with the same resounding boom, and Sabrina, horrified, watched the tree crash to the ground, Elijah under it. He leapt to his feet. He met her eyes, almost apologetically, and she wondered what he planned to do next.
    She didn’t wonder long, though. For in a split second, he picked up the tree he had knocked down and threw it at the stranger, who was sprinting toward Sabrina at the same speed Elijah possessed.
    Sabrina stumbled backward, both at the gesture and from the advancing woman who glowered at her as hatred curled her lip and filled her eyes. She didn’t get far, because she was scooped into Elijah’s arms as he sped away from the crazy woman. Elijah slid to a halt when a figure appeared before them. Sabrina screamed in terror and clung even tighter to his strong arms.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    “Sabrina. Sabrina! Wake up, please wake up now! ” Isaac shook Sabrina in panic, terrified he wouldn’t be able to pull her out of her dream. Damn Elijah and his sick hold on her. He’d taken Sabrina from her own body, and now he very well might kill her. Removing humans from their bodies was never a good idea. Sometimes, unable to return, they were forever stuck in a dream-like state.
    Otherwise known as a coma.
    A rarity, but still a risk he could not allow.
    Couldn’t he see the harm he caused her? The danger he put her in? Elijah could never be with Sabrina. Surely even he could see it?
    Sabrina jerked in his arms, and he watched in horror as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
    Shit .
    He shook her and hoarsely called her name. “Sabrina, please. Wake up! I need you to wake up. Please .” The last word came out as no more than whisper. He froze when he saw her stare transfixed on him. She gulped for air, her eyes wide and her face ghostly pale, as she struggled to breathe. He sat her up in his arms and pounded her back in an attempt to help.
    When her arms flew out to the side in shock, he realized he had maybe pounded a little too hard. But…she was breathing. He could hear her gasping breath, see her shoulders heaving at the effort. Pulling her back into his arms, he hugged her to his chest.
    Dude, don’t suffocate her now that she’s breathing.
    Dumbass .
    He forced himself to loosen his grip and whispered soft words into her hair. He had no idea what he even said, but they seemed to help. In no time at all, she lay limp in his arms, curled into his body.
    Where she damn well belonged, thank you .
    “Isaac?” she asked.
    Anger swelled over him when he realized she asked if he was Elijah or Isaac. God, he hated his brother. He should make it clear to her, right here and now, that her soul mate held her in his arms. Life by Elijah’s side would never be possible.
    But if he came on too strong, too fast, he might scare her away. By now she had to know something unearthly surrounded her. But she didn’t know what . And he suspected she couldn’t handle the truth tonight. She’d been through too much already.
    Hoping she would confide in him, he forced himself to take a calm breath before pasting a smile on his face. He schooled his features into an easygoing appearance, determined to look as non-threatening as possible.
    Act clueless .
    “Yes, who else?” He raised an eyebrow in question. With bated breath, he awaited her answer. Maybe, just maybe she would trust him. If she showed just a small sign of being ready, he would tell her all about his life. And all about Elijah—and why he posed such danger to her. He was a vampire, for the love of God. They tore pretty little girls like her apart—literally.
    Those hopes were dashed