Jacob's black eyes burned, and Roxy felt herself lost in their pain.
"Don't." His voice broke.
"I'll trade," Roxy said softly against her neck, "Your life, for hers."
It sounded like something out a movie. Jacob doubted he'd get the same happy ending.
Cate was crying again, and Jacob couldn't stand it.
"Why?" He asked softly, his eyes never leaving Cate's.
"I don't have time now to explain."
"I won't have time after I'm dead."
"Sure you will."
"What," Jacob breathed, "are you talking about?"
"I'm going to bite you."
Horror washed over his deathly pale face.
The phone rang. Jacob stared at Roxy as if he couldn't process what she'd said as she moved to answer, still holding Cate close to her death.
"Hello."
"What's taking you so long, Roxannah?"
"My Lord." Roxy bowed her head, her eyes never leaving Jacob's face.
"I've made a- ah, how to put this…a decision."
"Yes?"
"Bring him to Ashcelestia instead."
"Sir?"
"I've made a choice. It requires me to," his icy voice paused, "perform
it personally."
She hesitated, "as you wish."
"Roxannah," His glacier tone was slicing, "I suggest you don't make me wait."
"Of course not."
Click.
She inched toward Jacob. If Roxy's teeth were one tiny inch closer, Cate would die within a moment, her body unable to sustain the amount of venom that Roxy could surely inflict.
"Change of plans," she said coldly.
"Anything." His eyes burned into her own, filled with pain instead of the accusation she'd expected. Guilt rushed over her again, and she turned away.
"We have to go now."
"Where?"
"France."
The plane ride was long and hard. Jacob's paralyzed mind managed to spurt out only three million ideas of how to snatch Cate. Roxy kept Cate so very close -- in a death grip that had the toddler crying the entire time. Seeing her father, however, kept her from the melt-down Roxy'd experienced on the trip to Atlanta.
When they finally arrived, they were all irritable.
"Hurry up," Roxy snarled, clenching her nails into Cate's side as a manner of brutal, effective persuasion.
"Stop!" Jacob yelled at her. "You're just making her cry harder!"
"Then..." Roxy said darkly, "I'd do as I say."
Jacob Black felt a murderous hate overlap the terrified horror he'd felt before. But that's when he realized it. He didn't feel the power of the imprint any longer.
"I hate you," Jacob growled.
"Big surprise." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not holding you anymore."
"What?" Acid filled his tone.
"You didn't imprint on me," she replied, loathing clear in her voice, "not really."
"How the..."
"It's my talent. I can manipulate love. That's the reason they send me on these tasks -- especially those involving werewolves. I can make them imprint, then realease them just as easily."
He roared. Cate stared at him, wide-eyed. He caught her astounded gaze, but the fury allowed him to ignore it.
"I can't believe..." he choked out.
"Yes," she interrupted, rolling her eyes again, "This happens a lot when they find out."
"Where are you taking me?" He demanded.
"Ashcelestia. The most beautiful city on earth." The finality in her voice told him it wasn't an opinion.
"Why?"
"I have a feeling he's going to tell you when we get there."
"WHO- I swear I'll kill you when I escape this stupid-"
The look in her eyes was so malicious he flinched. She ran a nail down Cate's arm, leaving a heavy line of blood.
"I suggest you don't even consider leaving," she purred, her tone deadly, "If you value her life. There's only one, solitary chance she's going to live Jacob. And she's just so very breakable..." Roxy sliced back up Cate's other arm, ignoring her screams.
He shut up.