Prologue
Ten tall white chairs sat around the fingerprintless glass dining table. Isabelle sat at the end, the only sound filling the vast space was her knife cutting into the perfectly cooked steatheir chef had sat in front of her an hour ago. She tried to stop her eyes from roaming to the untouched dinner sitting to her right but was unsuccessful. She knew her eyes were merely slits as her anger got the best of her.
Isabelle remembers the marriage counselor's advice and her chest expands as she takes the first deep breath. This is the fourth dinner he's missed this week. Another breath. It's Thursday. A third breath. He's hurting as much as you are. The fist she'd been using to grip her fork loosened before she set the fork down completely. She ignored the indents on her hand as she reached for the almost empty wine glass sitting in front of her. She downed the deep red liquid and reached for the untouched glass, downing that one just as fast as the first.
Her appetite had disappeared completely, replaced by an overwhelming sadness. It had only been a week since they'd received the news from the doctor and only four days since David had returned to work. Isabelle only wished she could distract herself from her grief with work, but they'd both agreed she'd stay home after their first attempt at a pregnancy. David took up his father's business when he passed away ten years ago and to say they were wealthy would be an understatement.
It would have been perfect, she thought. Except it had been a year and there was still no baby.
Isabelle stood up from the table, tired of waiting, she collected the full plates and brought them into the spotless kitchen. Their chef, Enzo, had left thirty minutes ago, but an apple pie sat on the kitchen island, the sweet aroma causing a slight smile to creep up to Isabelle's face. Her favorite. Enzo, though he had no relation to the married couple, had been like family to them. He previously worked for David's father and there was no hesitation from Enzo when David had asked him to work for him after his father's death. Isabelle scrapped the wasted food into the trash before placing the dishes into the sink. She chose to handwash them instead of using the dishwasher and she scrubbed the dishes clean, using more force than necessary.
She was ready to replace her sadness with apple pie, but the sound of the front door opening halted her steps. She smoothed her mid-length black dress and turned toward the sound. Isabelle took her time walking from the kitchen to the foyer, she thought about not going to greet David at all, but decided she shouldn't let her emotions get the best of her.
Isabelle focused on the click-clacking of her sleek heels against the tile floor as she turned the corner. Her eyes immediately found David's. Her anger evaporated the second their eyes met. The deep brown color of his eyes were glossed over as if he had been crying. She felt guilty for being so angry with him.
"I'm sorry I'm late," David said. He straightened his back and walked to Isabelle. He grabbed her face gently before placing a long kiss on her forehead.
Isabelle sighed and closed her eyes letting herself be in the moment. The only thing she felt for David now was love. She looked up at him through her lashes, "Dinner is cleaned up, but there's an apple pie begging to be eaten."
"You didn't make it, did you?" David teased Isabelle a smile making its way on to his face. The sight of David smiling made Isabelle happy, David's smile has always been his best feature, but then again she's pretty sure all his features are the best.
She rolled her eyes at him, a small laugh escaping her lips, "Enzo made it and I think there might be vanilla ice cream too."
"Well then what are we waiting for." David took her hand a playful smile sitting on his face as he practically dragged her to the kitchen.
They didn't waste a second, David heading straight for the freezer to get the ice cream and Isabelle going in the opposite direction for spoons. They met at the kitchen island standing side by side and they only glanced at each other before they both dug into the apple pie. Isabelle sighed at the taste, her eyes closing and David let out a 'mmm.' Isabelle, leaning against the counter, spoon paused mid-air, couldn't help but watch David as he took his second bite. She was expecting to see his face showing contentment, but instead, it held anger as he looked toward the direction of the kitchen entrance.
Isabelle snapped her head in the same direction as David's so fast that she might have gotten whiplash. David, wasting no time, pushed her to stand behind him. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at the scene in front of her.
Two men, one taller than the other but both equally as terrifying, stood in front of a girl who looked to be about three years old. The men wore armor on their bodies and the hilt of a sword showed behind each of their backs. The little girl in front of them clutched the bigger man's hand and was bouncing on her feet smiling widely, half of her long black hair was tied in a neat ponytail with a light blue ribbon, and the rest of her hair was swinging widely in her excitement. She wore a cute blue dress covered with white roses that looked to be real.
The shorter of the two men cleared his throat, "the door was open," he said looking around awkwardly. The taller man glanced at him and the man that spoke straightened his spine and kept his gaze forward.
Isabelle snuck a glance at David who was glaring daggers at the two men. "How did you get past security? There are no portals in my home." Isabelle looked at David in surprise, portals?
"Your human security guards were not hard to get past, David." The taller man said, glaring back at David.
Isabelle was completely confused now. How did this man know David? And seriously what are portals? Of course, their security guards were human what else would they be?
"Leave. I want nothing more to do with that-" David's words were cut off by the little girl as she broke free from the man's grip and ran straight to Isabelle throwing her tiny arms around her.
Isabelle forgot about the men who had broken into her home and instead bent down the girl's height and matched her beaming smile. "What is your name?" She asked the little girl who looked at her in confusion before she broke out into giggles.
"Don't be silly, mommy. You know my name." Isabelle froze at her words. She had never seen this child in her life and she was calling her mommy? Isabelle stood up to face the men again.
"Who are you?" She demanded, remembering strangers were in her home. She felt the little girl's fingers wrap around her own and tug slightly, but Isabelle ignored it. She felt a little guilty once the tugging ceased but she kept her focus on the men in front of her.
"My name is Lycan and this is my son Andreas. We were sent here to put Rory into your protection. Make sure she stays hidden" The bigger man looked at Isabelle with a hard face. He stood straight with his hands behind his back, Andreas doing the same, mirroring his father.
"Hidden? Hidden from who?" Isabelle asked Lycan, but he wasn't able to answer before David spoke up.
"I want nothing to do with this." His voice was cold. Isabelle had never heard his voice anything but light and soft and she was glad she was not on the receiving end of it.
"You don't have a choice the queen has demanded it. You are to raise and love Rory as your own until the queen sends us to bring her back."
"How long will that be?" David's words sound angry, but there was a hint of something else in them too. Isabelle knew David enough to know he didn't hate this plan as much as he was letting on.
"Until I return." Lycan doesn't say another word as he turns back towards the entrance of the kitchen, taking calculated strides before turning the corner and disappearing from their sight.
Andreas looked at the couple for a moment, his mouth opened as if he was going to say something, but he decided against it choosing a soft smile instead directed towards Rory. Isabelle glances at Rory to see her smiling widely and waving at Andreas. Andreas' face drops back into a hard expression before he turns and follows his father out of the kitchen leaving the couple with the little girl.
Isabelle glanced at Rory who was still beaming at her and she couldn't help but feel that Rory would be the child both Isabelle and David had been dreaming so hard for. She might not have come in the way they thought she would, but she knew they would love her all the same.
