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My words chipped the ice from his features and his shoulders visibly relaxed.

Frowning, he scratched his eyebrow. “Are you sure, Love?”

I nodded jerkily.

His hand cupped the back off my neck and he forced me to look up at him. His attention dropped to my throat where my pulse went haywire.

“You are ours, he will be protected,” he breathed in my ear. I wanted him protected and shielded from all vampires, even them.

They shouldn’t have, but the words comforted me. I closed my eyes tight as he released me. “I will try, but, Cat, I cannot read his mind.”

My limbs became stone.

“What are you doing?” Peter’s fear riddled voice jolted me out of my daze. I whirled to find Tobias knelt before him.

“Look at me, child.”

“Child?” Peter scoffed. A hint of temper glinted in his gaze.

“Would you prefer fetus? I’m centuries older than you.” That shut Peter right up. Tobias’ attempt at humor didn’t hit the mark based on Peter’s dropped mouth. “Forget everything up to the point of arriving here.” His voice dropped a few octaves.

A few beats of silence passed with me holding my breath.

“What? No fucking way,” Peter spat out.

I closed my eyes tight, trying to stifle the tears that sprang to life. Like me, he couldn’t be compelled. Why was this happening to us?

Knowing about vampires was a death sentence. I’d lived because they kept me . . . I had a feeling the same wouldn’t be applied to Peter.

The knot in my throat only grew, but I swallowed down my emotions.

I approached and pulled Peter’s arm until he stood. He’d only grown taller in the years we’d been separated. Time flew by too fast and I hadn't had the chance to watch him grow up. He towered over me now. How had he turned into a man so quickly?

“Come with me.”

He didn’t argue with me as I pulled him toward the kitchen. His steps dragged.

“What is happening, Cat?” he murmured so low, it was almost a whisper. That told me he understood he had to be cautious. And it made me feel even worse. Had I been trying to protect him too much when he could have handled the truth?

I pressed my palm to the frantic pump inside my chest.

Keeping Peter away from vampires was my only goal in life. I’d stayed away from him. I’d separated us, just so he could livelife without getting wrapped up in my running. So he could have a life.

Now he stood in a vampire’s living room, talking to a vampire.

Why had this happened? I whirled, halfway to the kitchen.

“Why did you come?”

“Your lawyer called me.” Peter’s shoulders dropped. “I thought you were dead.”

I deflated like a needle to a balloon.

His lips flattened into a line. The shadows underneath his eyes didn’t look good and hollows dipped his cheeks. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it in both of mine. When had his hands gotten bigger than mine?

“I’m sorry, Peter.” I licked my lips. “I should have protected you better.”

“Vampires exist?” he whispered, clutching my sleeve. I didn’t have the heart to let him know they could hear him.