"Don''t test me right now."


    Isadora''s gaze flickered. Her arm and thigh, freshly treated with ointment, felt cool and soothed. She kept her head down and spoke quietly. "He saved my life tonight."


    Victor let out a single, sharpugh, his voice as cold as ice shattering on stone. "So what-now you feel you owe him your heart?"


    She understood instantly that Victor had gotten the wrong idea.


    She couldn''t help remembering Magnus shoving her aside, taking the knife meant for her, bleeding out in front of her eyes.


    No matter who he was, anyone who''d protect her like that deserved her gratitude.


    She shook her head. "No, that''s not it."


    "Isn''t it?" Victor pressed, his tone icy. "Didn''t it move you?"


    Isadora lifted her head, her clear eyes meeting Victor''s. "He saved me. The least I can do is wait until he wakes up before I go."


    Victor stared at her, the warmth in his eyes fading away, leaving nothing but chill.


    "So you''re still in love with him?"


    What on earth was he talking about?


    Isadora tried to follow his logic, but it made no sense.


    "What does love have to do with this?"


    "Why won''t you admit it?"


    "Victor!" Her patience snapped.


    From the moment Ca attacked her tonight to everything that happened on the rooftop, fear had been gnawing at her.


    What she wanted, more than anything, was to fall into his arms and draw warmth from his chest.


    But ever since Victor showed up, he''d been nothing but cold.


    There was a distance in his eyes every time he looked at her.


    "Why are you calling out to me?" Victor''s gaze was dark and intense as he stared


    at the redness at the corner of her eye, his mouth twisting in a mocking smile.


    "What are you upset about now, Isadora? Should I be praying for that guy''s speedy recovery on your behalf?"


    She turned away, unwilling to meet his eyes.


    "I don''t have the energy to argue with you tonight."


    "No energy?" Victor''s voice was cial, pressing in on her. "Isadora, admit it— you''re scared he won''t wake up, aren''t you?"


    She felt backed into a corner, her mind a tangled mess, desperate for a way out.


    "Victor, have you forgotten our three-month arrangement? In a couple of hours, we''re done. Whatever this is between us it ends."


    Victor''s eyes shed, a cruel, mocking smile twisting his lips.


    "Is that what you''ve been waiting for? Counting down the hours until you''re free of me?"


    Isadora bit her lip, but forced herself to look him in the eye. Her voice was steady. "Mr. Fitzgerald, this was your promise. Or are you nning to go back on your word?"


    Victorzily raised his wrist, ncing at the expensive watch gleaming on his arm.


    The star-studded dial glittered under the harsh hospital light, the hands pointing to ten o''clock.


    He shrugged, mask of indifference back in ce. "What''s the rush? You''ve still got two hours left."


    Isadora had had enough. She stood, intent on leaving.


    But the moment she took a step, Victor grabbed her from behind, yanking her back and tossing her onto the bed.


    He pinned her down with a fierceness she''d never seen.


    Isadora braced her hands against his chest. "Are you out of your mind? This is a hospital!"


    Victor''s eyes were ck as night, a wicked curve to his lips. "Rx. No one''sing in."


    With that, he grabbed her chin and kissed her hard-a wild, possessive kiss that threatened to consume her.


    She struggled beneath him, but his grip only tightened.


    In a desperate moment, Isadora''s hand flew up and pped him across the face.


    The sound cracked through the hospital room.


    Both of them froze, shocked.


    Victor''s eyes went wide,shes stiff, staring at her in disbelief-like a storm had erupted behind his gaze.


    "Isadora! Do I disgust you that much?"