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“Even if Cassian won’t issue a pardon, it’s possible I can ask your judge for leniency for your past transgressions, especially if you will go down to the office and make an official statement,” Noah finally says. “But I cannot condone a future crime.”

Sophia begins to beg, but Noah turns away again.

“What about Piper?” Sophia demands just before we reach the door. “You’re going to outlive her. Eventually, her body isgoing to succumb to an illness. Will you take your cold stance then, just because a vampire a century ago decided this is how it should be?”

“We’re not together,” I say, trying to free Noah of the question.

Sophia gives me a pitying smile that sits like iron in my stomach. Noah and I aren’t together, and we might never be. I might meet a nice, regular human, and we’ll live our regular lives with our regular children.

But this is Noah’s reality…whether I’m in it or not.

“Come on, Piper,” Noah says, his tone a little weary. “We’re leaving.”

We go down the elevator in silence. We don’t talk as we cross the fancy Victorian foyer, nor as we walk to Noah’s SUV.

He calls Daniel when we’re on the road, letting him know we’re fine, telling him exactly what he said he would.

When I can take the silence no longer, I say, “Sophia wasn’t what I expected.”

He looks pensive. “Me either.”

“Do you think Cassian was actually going to murder her?”

“The heads of the houses are expected to control their offspring. If Sophia willfully broke the laws Archduke Nicolau put in place, I think it’s possible Cassian felt a strong duty to…” He swallows.

“But she was hisfiancée,” I argue, aghast.

He glances at me. “And that’s probably why she’s not dead.”

“He made me think she was a monster. She’s more like a willful kitten.”

Noah grunts.

“What will you do if she bites Richard again?”

“I don’t know.”

“I understand why the law is in place, especially after my experience with Ethan. But at the same time, I…”

“It’s a polarizing subject,” Noah agrees.

“Cassian must have infected Sophia before the law was in place.”

“I’m assuming so, yes.”

We fall silent again, and I fidget with my purse’s strap. “Do you think he still loves her?”

“You’d have to ask Cassian that.”

“Is it bad that I ship them?”

“I’m sorry.” He frowns. “Youwhat?”

I laugh a little. “Ishipthem. You know, I’m rooting for them? I want them to get together?”

“Is that another K-drama thing?”

“No, it’s like a fandom thing. Books. Movies.”