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“No,” I whispered, and shot to my feet.

I licked my lips and curled my nails into my palms.

“What do you mean, no?” Ren tilted his head. He was comically shocked. He didn’t hear ‘no’ enough.

“Humans need time to process the inevitable, Ren. Bulldozing her will not help you,” Asher said, condescending to me again.

“You mean you’ll keep me until you think I betray you or . . . or, you feel I wronged you guys in some way.”

“That will not happen.” Asher tried to pacify me again.

“You’ll turn your back on me—again.” I shook my head, backing up.

My throat clogged up.

“Catalina,” Asher chided.

“You guys didn’t even believe me when I said I didn’t try to run off with Imogen’s ashes.” They still didn’t.

“I—”

“You didn’t,” I interrupted Asher. “I’m here for the foreseeable future, but don’t act like you all suddenly care for me.” I glared at Jax as I backed away. “Especially you.”

For once, he didn’t have some rude response. His jawline fluttered and his hardened gaze stared me down.

“Didn’t you say you wanted protection?” Ren drawled, his shoulder pressing into the wall.

I swung my head to look at him. “By vampire law, if anyone tries to harm you we will be powerless if you state you do not belong to us. It will not go well for you. We literally won’t have any claim over you.”

I deflated. Oh.

I was tired of being so weak . . . so human. They were strong. They could protect.

All five vampires seemed so relaxed and without worry. If . . . I was like them, I wouldn’t be at their whim.

Could I be a vampire?

Should I?

If I became a vampire, no one could hurt me again, and I could stay with them, as equals. Questions bubbled behind my lips, but I held them in.

“I need to think.” Whirling to the door, I padded over the soft carpet and stormed upstairs. The dull thud rang out with each slap of my slippers against the metal.

Childish, but it made me feel good.

I clocked the propped metal door. Yeah, sure, I got my own room, but it wasn’t lost on me that they could also lock me up down there.

Maddy watched from the busy counter, slicing the knife through potatoes with rhythmic movements.

“You’re just on time for some lunch.”

I smiled at her, close-mouthed and plopped on the chair, lacing my fingers on the counter I’d been fucked on yesterday. Fortunately, a heavy smell of cleaner hung in the air.

Saying it was lunch was weird, but my days were backward now, so I guess it would be considered ‘lunch time’ even though it was one in the morning.

Maddy’s slicing slowed and she peeked at the door. She set the knife down and pushed her palms into the counter as she leaned forward on the island.

Her boobs pushed over the collar of her shirt. It really outlined her figure.