Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5)

want to do this, just tell me.”
If he backed out, the deal was off, because Ivy couldn’t do this without him. And, truth be told, I didn’t want to do this without him, either. I trusted him to make sure everything went smoothly.
“If I don’t, you and Trent don’t get to—”
“I know,” I cut him off, not wanting to hear the reality of the situation should he choose not to go through with this. “But no matter how you feel about your coven, they are your family. Trust me. I know what it’s like to have people you love lie to you and do terrible things and then try to justify it.” I frowned, thinking about what my father had done to protect me. “You can love them and hate them at the same time.”
“I hate them more than anything, but I have this twisted sense of loyalty to them,” he said, his words thick with anger. “I just want out. I want to live my life without someone dictating my every move or questioning everything I do.”
“I know,” I whispered. “And what about Abby? Don’t forget you’re doing this for her, too.”
He rubbed his hands over his face, paced away, then returned. “I’m not sure I can face my coven in a fight, like literally face to face. I can’t do that.”
“Then you won’t have to.” I crossed my arms to ward off the chill working through my body. “You can take a stand some other way. Give Ivy and her coven a magical boost or something. Do a spell that will protect whoever does face your coven. There has to be a way.”
“I’m a Zoya, too, Chloe. The second you break that curse, I’ll be weakened like the rest of them,” he said.
My shoulders slumped, and I dropped my hands to my sides. I hadn’t even considered that, but he was right. His magic would be weakened as well. Would he even be able to help us?
“Then Ivy can give you a magical boost,” I said. “If she really wants your loyalty, then she can do this for you. It’s only fair.”
Laughing, Isach shook his head. “You really are determined, aren’t you? No wonder Trent can’t say no to you.”
I smiled sadly. “He said no to me about all of this, and he still hasn’t said yes. For all I know, none of this matters. Maybe we’re in there making plans and stressing ourselves out over nothing.”
“Trent would not be in there right now trying to figure this out if he wasn’t planning to say yes,” Isach said.
I hoped Isach was right, but until I heard the words from Trent, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. I’d done that once already, and it had nearly crushed me.
“Regardless of what Trent decides, it’s really up to you. Ivy can’t do the spell without you,” I said.
Isach hesitated and paced the length of his car, agitation pouring from him with every step he took. “I don’t want Abby in the middle of this. Any of it. But how can I keep her safe when she doesn’t know the truth? I’m doing this so I can get away from my coven, but the bigger reason is so I can be with her. Forever.”
I bit back the urge to say, “for eternity” like I always did when Trent talked about forever. “You still haven’t told her about the slow aging thing?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, and it’s not like I can use a spell on her to slow her aging. My only choice is you.”
Everything suddenly clicked into place and crashed down on me. Why hadn’t I figured this out sooner? “But she doesn’t know about vampires or what I’m planning to do,” I said.
“Exactly.” He laced his hands on top of his head and blew out a breath. “I feel like I need to come clean to her about everything, before I make this deal, because if she doesn’t feel the same way about me, if she doesn’t want forever…”
“Then we tell her the truth,” I said. “Together. Today.”
My heart hammered in my chest. Trent was not going to be happy about this, but what other choice did we have? Isach was bargaining for forever with Abby. Surely, Trent could understand Isach’s desperation.
“Okay,” he said.
He was so worried about Abby knowing the truth so that she could become a vampire and they could have forever, but he still didn’t know what that would mean for Abby once she changed.
“Isach, there’s something you need to know.” I licked my lips and nervously twisted my hands in front of me. “If Abby chooses to change, she’s going to have heightened emotions. All vampires do. And while you might age super slow, you will still die someday. Abby won’t. Your death with destroy her.”
“Then change me, too,” he said like it was no big deal.
My jaw dropped. Isach wanted to become a vampire? Could he when he was already such a powerful witch?
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said in a scolding tone. “You of all people know what this feels like, to want something—someone—so much, you’d do anything to get it, to ensure you’ll never have to a spend a second without them.”
Yeah, I definitely knew what that was like, and it wasn’t a good feeling, to constantly worry that you were going to lose the person you loved the most. Trent knew the feeling, too, and I was counting on him remembering that and being sympathetic.
“You think they’ll go for it?” He nodded toward the house.
“Only one way to find out.” I headed back inside, and Isach followed. “So, there are some new terms.”
“We know. We heard everything,” Trent said as he pulled me down onto his lap. “Are you absolutely sure you want to tell Abby?” His question was directed at me even though it had been Isach who wanted to tell her.
“Yes,” I said.
“And you’re positive she won’t tell anyone about us?” Sean asked.
“Yes,” I said again.