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But Isaacs had nothing to mitigate his psychotic ideas and criminal violence. He was unconstrained chaos and villainy, wrapped up in a mocking smile. The fucking lunatic would burn down a room he was standing in, if he thought it would piss off his enemies.
And he was only getting worse.
As an Air House soldier, Isaacs had at least had some kind of parameters for his life and behavior. Since he’d lost his eyesight, he did whatever the hell he wanted with an almost suicidal glee. Kahn’s cousin Mara had always favored the man, but even she was worried about his descent into anarchy.
Isaacs had no House that would claim him. No family. No Match. No… anything. Someone with nothing to lose was almost always on the edge of Gone Wild. The phrase came from the Light House, but the phenomenon it described was universal to Phases. Maybe to humans, too. Someone with no ties to civilization, throwing off rules and relationships in favor of savagery. Disgrace, despair, destruction, death. It was as predictable as the dawn. Isaacs was on the “destruction” stage. He would no doubt annihilate himself and anyone in close proximity very soon.
Kahn didn’t want the crazy son of a bitch anywhere near Randa. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much say in the matter. …So maybe he could use Isaacs instead.
Isaacs made a speculative noise, as if reading his mind. “You’re planning to claim her.” He deduced. “Interesting.”
“I want you to answer some questions.”
“She likes hydrangeas and dark chocolates. Her favorite movie is Now, Voyager. She bakes a hell of an apple pie. And I don’t think you have a chance in hell of getting her to fuck you.”
“That’s not what this is about.”
Isaacs’ head tilted. “You want to do more than just claim her.” It wasn’t a question. “A Binding maybe?”
“She’s mine.” Kahn said flatly.
“Randa can’t give you children to help sustain the Light House. She already had a Match.”
“She never Phazed with Hekktor. How did she know he was her Match?”
Isaacs made a considering face. “I imagine if you find your Match, you know it even before you Phaze. That’s what people say, anyhow. Your energy reaches for the person. Your feelings begin to get all tangled up. Your instincts scream that she’s the one, even though it makes you insane to consider it.” His eyes were such a light shade of blue that they were nearly colorless. Like a serpent’s. They gleamed with sudden reptilian understanding. “Hey… Any of that happening to you, Kahn?”
Kahn wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of answering. “Why do you come around here?” He demanded instead. “What do you want from Randa?”
“I want pot roast and apple pie. Why are you here? And don’t bullshit me about her helping you find a human Match. You’re not looking at any other woman, and we both know it.”
“Someone’s threatening her. She hired the Light Phases to keep her safe.”
Isaacs frowned, straightening. “Threatened her how?”
“Sending her flowers, with notes that say he’s always watching her. It could be a human named Ben Foster.”
“So kill him. Is a single human really too much for you to handle?”
“I’ll handle him just fine, once he comes out of hiding.”
“The Light House is supposed to be the best hunters in the realm.” Isaacs declared, like he was reading Kahn’s frustration. “How can some random boy hide from you?”
“He couldn’t. Not on his own.”
Isaacs considered that answer. “So who’s helping him?
“Exactly. You ever know any Air Phases to team up with humans?”
“Good God, no! Even we have standards. Why?”
“Randa thinks Saxon is the stalker. He called her today, trying to intimidate her. He could be working with Ben.”
“Saxon? Plotting with the humes and sending flowers?” Isaacs scoffed. “No. Since you’re apparently incapable of tracking down anyone, I’ll find Sax and kill him myself, just to be sure. But it’s not his style. He might drag her off by her hair, but a prelude of psychological torment is completely beyond his capabilities.”
“I will deal with Saxon. You will stay out of it.”
Isaacs arched a brow. “You’re so commanding. Women must love that.”
