Surprise flitted through him because he realized he didn’t mind feeling possessive, not over Christine. He wanted her too badly. Needed more time with her, much more. He was prepared to put up a fight for her—and he never lost a fight.

She seethed in outrage. “A foul-mouthed parasite, that’s all you are. See, in two minutes of talking you’ve already proven how unfit you are for my precious daughter. She’s too good for the likes of you.”

Something she said hit a little too close to home. “Well, she’s too good for you too. At least I won’t force her into being with someone for my own gain.” This time her mother laughed the sound high and giddy. Her eyes shined bright with satisfaction. “And aren’t you doing that same thing with her? Don’t think I haven’t heard that you’ve been trying to get her to leave with you after this mess is all cleaned up. Is that not for your own gain, vampire?” She smiled triumphantly.

Dmetri felt like he’d just walked into a trap, because he did. He could try to turn the words around and twist them to fit his purposes, but she spoke the truth. He was trying to force his own needs on Christine. But dammit, it was for the best for both of them. A cold chill raced down his spine. Wasn’t that how her mother felt, too? That she was only looking out for Christine’s best interest?

“I see I’ve finally made you come to your senses, vampire. Hand Christine over to me now and be done with this. She’ll marry an Alpha and be happy.”

“No,” he said, his voice rising. The thought of her mating with an Alpha made his skin crawl as if a thousand ants were racing over him.

A thin eyebrow lifted. “Oh? But you won’t mate with her. How good of you to at least spare me that. What do you plan to do then? Keep her on as your mistress for as long as it suits you? Like she’s some kind of whore?”

Dmetri’s blood pumped fast as anger grew inside of him. He wanted to lash out at her, slam the door in her grinning face, but...her words struck a chord he couldn’t ignore.

“She’ll be home in the morning,” he said, and slammed the door in her face.

Dmetri leaned back against the door, feeling as though his whole world had just been knocked upside down. Christine poked her head out of the bedroom door then walked up to him.

The heat that had filled her eyes was now gone and replaced by apprehension. He hated seeing that look in her eyes. He wanted to wipe it clean and get her back to how she had been.

“Maybe I should just go—” she said.

Dmetri stiffened. “You heard everything?”

She nodded and the lead ball in his stomach dropped through the floor. His temples decided now was the best time to start hurting; it felt like a hammer banging on wood.

“I’m sorry about my mother.”

Dmetri didn’t say anything for a long minute. Instead, he studied her eyes trying like hell to read a response from her. What did she think of what she heard? Did she too just realize that he had the same motives as her mother, with only a slight difference?

“Let’s go back into the bedroom,” he said.

She shook her head slowly. “No, first I need to tell you something.” Dmetri tensed, waiting.

She took a deep breath and a blush bloomed on her cheeks. She was so pretty, he couldn’t resist touching her, so he cupped her cheek. The heat from the blush warmed his cool hand.

“I...I need to tell you something.”

“Yes, you’ve said that.” Whatever she had to say must be important, because instead of saying it she looked down and twiddled with her hands. Dmetri’s gut tightened with unease. He had two hunches. “Out with it.” He tried to say it gently, but he was on edge and it came out more as a growl.

She shook her head firmly, and then cleared her throat. “Yes, well, this is awkward and all, but I just wanted to tell you that I have...feelings for you.” Panic flared instantly. He kept his expression cool to hide the warning signs going off inside him.

“Okay...”

The blush grew brighter and he took his hand away. “I, um, I think that I love...you.” She now stared hard at the floor, jaw set, flips flat, and the blush spreading down past her neck.

It was the cutest thing he’d ever seen, and the scariest news he’d ever heard. When he didn’t say anything, her shoulders sagged, and she looked up at him with wide doe-eyes that made his gut clench even tighter. Slowly, she started nodding, and then she turned and walked away.

I can’t let her get away!

The thought ran frantically through his mind, but he stilled his body from going after her.

He took a step towards her, but stopped himself. This was for the best. A clean break before he convinced her to come home with him. Definitely for the best, he told himself.

She came shuffling back in a few minutes later, her clothes back on. Her eyes didn’t meet his. Dmetri’s fist tightened to keep from reaching for her. Damn it, he wanted to wrap her back up in his arms and kiss her until all talk of love was gone. He wanted her to look at him, smile again with that smile that made even his miserable ass happy. He hated himself in that moment, had never felt more like an ass. He’d done that. He’d made her feel like this. And nothing he could do would fix it.

She paused before him. Dmetri held his breath, wishing she’d say something that would put them back on terms where they’d been. But she said something else that rocked him on his feet.

“I won’t see you anymore, Dmetri. It’s been fun.” She laughed but the sound was sad. “I, uh, hope that maybe you turn around one day before I completely put you out of my life.” Then she opened the door and left. And he let her go.

Christine never let herself cry. Not even during sappy movies that she liked to watch on occasion. But tonight, there was no holding back.

She opened the door to her house and was met with complete silence. Her home was empty and cold, so fitting to how she felt right now.

She climbed into bed fully clothed, then stared up at the ceiling. Burning wet liquid pushed at her eyelids, but she strained, staring at the ceiling, refusing to let a single tear fall. If she did, then she’d be done for. There would be no stopping it.

She knew what his response would be after she told him. “God, I can’t believe I’m actually surprised,” she said with a shaky laugh. Still, she’d hoped.

She was stupid; it was as simple as that. It didn’t matter. She was going to tell him tonight anyway, she’d just wanted some time to be with him again before she did.

The burning liquid behind her eyes wouldn’t be contained anymore. The first tear slipped down past her temple and into her hair. More followed like little chicks following their mother.

A harsh sob broke from her, the sound nasty and bitter. Christine rolled onto her side, pulling a pillow tight against her stomach. Squeezing her eyes shut, she forced the crying to stop.

She didn’t know how long she lay there, listlessly. The dark night painted her room in shadows that moved with the swaying of the trees outside, creating dancing figures along her wall. She had to make a decision for herself, she realized. She was always letting someone else run her life.

First, her mother and her decisions; and now Dmetri did the same thing.

Her mind raced for answers on how she could change his mind. But long after the tears dried on her skin she realized that it didn’t matter that there was no getting him back. She’d said the “L-word” and now he was running from her.

She screamed until her throat hurt and her voice went hoarse. She pummeled her fists into the mattress until exhaustion took over.

Her heart was broken, but she could do something. Maybe it would fix it, maybe it wouldn’t. But if she finally took her life into her own hands, she could be happy. She didn’t want to marry some Alpha. A man’s status meant nothing to her. She wanted Dmetri, but how could she get him to agree? She’d seen his blank expression after she told him she loved him. The man had completely shut down.