Free InkintheBlood by Chandra Ryan Page B

breathed a sigh of relief at the news. Still, she felt
somehow empty. “Thank you, Bastion.”
    “You’ve destroyed a monster, yet you look sad.”
    “For seven years I’ve wanted to get even with him. It’s all
I thought about…”
    “Ah, I see. It’s not everything you thought it would be?”
    “He wasn’t a monster. He was a sad, pathetic soul.”
    “That doesn’t make his death worth mourning.”
    “No, I’m not mourning him.” She didn’t know why his death
left her feeling so numb, but it did. “I just thought I would feel…”
    “Happy, fulfilled, free?”
    “All of the above.”
    “Oh Izzy. Your soul is good. It could never feed off a
death. Even if it was justified.” He smiled as he pulled the gown back over her
exposed tattoo. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’m proud of you. And
your mother would have been proud too. She was such a strong fighter. You’re a
lot like her.”
    Seeing the pain in his eyes made her heart ache. “I was so
mad at her for so long. I didn’t understand why she had to do it. I didn’t know
why she’d tried to go after my father. By the time I realized she was doing it
to protect her daughters, it was too late. Now all I can do is miss her.” Her
gaze fell to her uncle’s shoulder reflexively as she searched out the sunset
ink hidden under the heavy robes. “She sacrificed everything for Nikki and me.”
    He saw the movement of her eyes and smiled sadly. “She made
her share of mistakes, but she had a good soul. She was a good mother to you
and your sister.”
    “Something I would have never known without you.” Her voice
was soft as she thought about her stay here seven years ago. It was then that
she’d finally managed to get sober and he’d told her about her mother’s death
and her father’s role in it.
    “I’m sure I wasn’t the first to tell you.”
    “No, but you stuck with me until I was finally ready to
listen.”
    “I would have given anything to raise you and Nikki, but…”
    She didn’t like the lines of guilt that surrounded his eyes
as he spoke. Gus she couldn’t forgive. He’d turned his back on her and Nikki
time and time again. He’d even turned a blind eye to Izzy’s budding drug habit
out of fear of retaliation from her father. But Bastion she did forgive.
Bastion had been there when it truly mattered. “We would have loved that, but
we understand. You’d already taken your vows.”
    He nodded solemnly and then turned to look at Jacob. “God
does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t he?”
    She was used to her uncle talking in riddles, but even she
couldn’t follow him this time. “What do you mean?”
    His gaze seemed locked on Jacob. “If I hadn’t taken my vows,
and if you hadn’t lived through those hellish years before finding your way
back to me, you might not have met your Chosen.”
    Her gaze followed his and her heart contracted painfully.
“He’s not mine.”
    “I don’t know if he’d agree. He’s barely left your side
since he brought you in.”
    The conversation was quickly making her uncomfortable. As
much as she loved the thought of Jacob sitting next to her and waiting for her
to wake up, she doubted her uncle had guessed correctly. “He’s just being a
good guy, Bastion. I was hurt on his watch. He feels responsible, nothing
more.”
    His eyes clouded at the words. “I’ve seen the way he looks
at you.”
    “Maybe there was something but not now. Not after that
night. The things he saw. I can only imagine what he must think of me.”
    Bastion, however, didn’t appear to be convinced. “What? You
think he’s going to be upset that you saved his life? Or that you took another
shape to do so? Do you really think so little of him?” Bastion shook his head
before he continued. “I, for one, am eternally grateful for your ability. Those
bullets would’ve hit their mark if you’d been in human form. The only thing
that saved you was, several of your key organs had to move in order