“You need to leave before I do something I may regret,” Silas said through clenched teeth.

Jude did not move. “I did the right thing and you know it Silas.”

They shared a hard unwavering stare, neither backing down.

I looked between them, anxious. Unsure of whether to step in or not.

“You undermined me.” Silas’ eyes flickered to me and his anger seemed to grow. “If I hadn’t found the card I would have continued to believe she was gone.”

I heard the emotion in his voice and swallowed. It was the first time I saw cracks in his cold and controlled presence.

Jude who was studying him thoughtfully. “She has no place in your life and you know it.”

My eyes shot to Silas. His eyes narrowed as he took a step closer to Jude.

“You should keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Jude straightened his shoulders. “It was always my intention to do the right thing by you and I stand by my decision. Faced with the same choice I would make the same choice.”

I admired Jude in that moment for standing up for what he believed even under Silas’ harsh glare.

“Get out.” Silas snarled, showing his teeth in a rare show of aggression.

I held my breath for fear his anger would move to me.

Jude Inclined his head. “As you wish.”

I shared a sympathetic look with Jude before he left.

Silas remained standing staring at the door. His posture tight.

I stood waiting for him to say something. Eventually he turned to face me. I clutched my hands together, nervously. He took in the action before lifting his eyes to meet my gaze.

“Let me be clear. I may be angry with you but you are safe here Avery. No one, including me, will harm you.”

“That’s until Thane and his sister go to the council,” I muttered. It was only a matter of time.

My life did not hold the same value as theirs. What Jude and I had feared would unfold if I had stayed was about to play out and there was no way to stop it.

His features hardened. “They will pay for what they did to you Avery.”

“I want to believe that…but we’ve been here before.” I sighed, feeling more hopeless, almost resigned to the inevitable.

He reached out to touch my cheek and I held still captivated by his closeness. My body felt so tuned to him, he could tip my world upside down with just a look. I breathed in deeply.

“You are mine to protect Avery and I will not allow anyone to harm you.”

When I should have balked at his possessiveness, I basked in it. My skin tingled with awareness where he touched my face. Our eyes held. He had so much power over me, I couldn’t seem to resist him when he was this close. My breath stalled.

I leaned closer, feeling something greater than us bringing us closer. His mouth neared mine and I focussed on it. Remembering how he had kissed me before, leaving me trembling and wanting more. I had missed this closeness, this physical attraction between us that was greater than our class divide.

“But right now I’m too angry to be around you. Maybe it’s best if you go spend some time with our sons.” He dropped my hand from my face and shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers, putting distance between us.

Taken aback I straightened, trying to hide how his curt dismissal of me affected me.

He had every right to be angry. I had done what I thought was best for him even if he didn’t agree. It didn’t make it any easier to see him avoid eye contact with me. I took a deep breath, reminding myself on the necessity of breathing.

“I need you to understand that I only did what I did because I thought it was the best thing for you and our sons.” My eyes searched his features. I needed him to understand my reasons for my betrayal.

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore Avery.” His eyes finally lifted to meet mine. They were cold. It was like he was talking to a stranger.

Taken aback I nodded and left the room hurriedly. I felt torn between knowing I had made the right choice and wrestling with the guilt of Silas’ feelings of betrayal.

A few steps down the passage I stopped and put a hand to the wall to steady myself as I took a deep breath. My emotions were all over the place. I trembled as I took another deep breath before pulling myself together. I straightened up and continued down the hallway.

I headed to find my sons. They were still playing with the nanny nearby to keep an eye on them.

I stood in the doorway and watched them from a distance. My heart filled with so much love for them it physically hurt. I couldn’t explain how I loved them enough to die for them, but I didn’t know know them.

“Mom?”

The word should have felt strange to hear but it didn’t. It made my heart inflate as Archer walked over to me and gazed up at me.

“Hi,” I murmured softly and he smiled, taking my hand in his.

“Come play,” he insisted, leading me over to where he had been sitting, playing with his brother.

The nanny stood nearby with a watchful eye, I didn’t miss the slight look of disapproval as fleeting as it was. It was a reminder of who I was, a Sire. I had no rights, no right to be here with my kids and no right to be with Silas, the vampire I loved.

I ignored it as best I could knowing that it was only a matter of time before I was brought before the council again. Silas would try protect me but at what cost? Could I allow him to keep me safe while putting himself and my sons in danger? The answer was no. I wasn’t willing to put them in harm’s way to save myself but I had no idea how to stop it.

Later, after the children were taken by the nanny to have their lunch I stood in their room, looking out the window seeing very little too lost in my thoughts to take note of what was around me.

“What are you thinking?” Silas asked, taking me by surprise.

I turned to see him standing watching in the doorway.

I shrugged. “I could say nothing but you know what I’m thinking about.”

He frowned as he approached me. “You don’t trust me to keep you safe.”

I shook my head. “I’m fear what you will have to sacrifice for me.”

His frowned deepened. “You fear the price I will have to pay will be too high.”

His eyes stormy through the golden glitter and I wanted to reach out and calm him.

I sighed, and crossed my arms instead of touching him like I wanted to. “I’m not willing to sacrifice you and my sons.”

“You have very little faith in me Avery.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that. I know what I am. I’m expendable.” Feeling unsettled I dropped my arms to my sides.

He reached to take my hand in his. “Haven’t I already made it clear that you aren’t.” His long fingers sliding against mine.

His anger from before had dissipated.

“This isn’t about what you or I want. It is not allowed Silas. In their eyes I’m nothing more than a slave.”

He brushed his fingers against the skin of my hand. “I won’t give you up Avery, not for anyone.”

“They will not back down.”

He shrugged. “Then so be it.” His toned resigned.

I didn’t like the sound of it at all.

“But this isn’t just about us. Avery and Archer need you.”

He interlinked his hand with mine, tightening his hold. “I need you.”

My heart skipped a beat as I stared deep into his eyes. It was difficult to think when he touched me. I bit my lip, afraid of what I would admit to him for fear it would encourage him to put himself in danger.

“You can’t,” I murmured. “No Vampire is going to sit back and allow this.”

Silas looked down to our linked hands.

“We’ll see.”