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We both approached slowly, trying to stay out of view.

“I knew this would happen!” her father spat, although the words slurred together. “You spoiled little bitch!”

I took half a step forward, but Adeline put a hand out to stop me. “Let her handle this herself,” she whispered.

She was right. I knew she was.

But watching that bastard speak to my wife that way made me want to kill anyone in sight.

“You can’t do this, you can’t demand I stay somewhere. Take me back! Take me home!” he yelled.

“Thisishome, now,” Jade whispered. Something in her voice made my chest ache. “It’s for your own safety. You know this, father.”

“How is living withthemsafe? How is this better? They ruined everything, Jade. They ruined itall.”

Jade stared at her father with wide eyes, oblivious to the room of people staring at her. “Just calm down, please. I’ll explain it all to you once you calm down.”

Her father stumbled forward, nearly knocking Jade over. He didn’t lower his voice, though. “Calm down?” he repeated. “You want me to calm down? You drag me here, with thesemonsters, and you tellmeto calm down? That everything will be fine? That we’re safe? Tell me, daughter. Do youfeelsafe?”

“We are safe here,” Jade repeated. I noted her clenched fists and her tight jaw. If it weren’t for Adeline standing right next to me, I would have stepped in. “These fae will protect us.”

“Like your husband? Is that what he was doing when he attacked me in my own home?”

Jade stiffened.

“You don’t know anything,” her father pushed. “You are a young, stupid girl. You think you can save us? You think you can protect us? You’re wrong. And you’re ignorant.” Jade began speaking but her father continued. “You are nothing special, Jade,” he said. She flinched away from the spit that flew off his tongue. “You are no different than all of the other idiots who think they are so high and mighty. You’re certainly notlikedhere. You think these faelikeyou? You think they will protect you? You arenothing. You arenobody. Nobody cares about you. Saints. Your own sister can’t even look you in the eye.”

“That’s not true,” Jade interrupted. She was yelling now, her face flushed red.

“It is true,” her father pushed. “Did you know she had nightmares for weeks?Weeks.She couldn't even sleep for three hours without waking up screaming! Dreaming abouthim. Dreaming about you and him together.” He paused to shake his head in disgust. “It’s pathetic. Running around with these fae as if you actually mean something to them.”

“Can I rip his head off now?” I whispered to Adeline.

“No,” she ushered. “Jade will stop him. If you step in, she’ll look weak in front of everyone.”

Saints, I hated that she was right.

“Are you forgetting that this is all your fault?” Jade retorted. “I’m in this mess because of you, father. You’re the one with the problem. You’re the one who’s pathetic. You think I wanted to be here? You think I wanted to rely on the fae for my safety? I. had. No. Choice. Did you think Ienjoyedscaring Tessa like that? I did everything for her.Everything!You’re the one ruining everything. You’ll ruin this, too. Like you always do.”

“They’ll kill you,” her father mumbled, no longer looking at Jade. “They’ll kill us all.”

“That’s not true.”

He spun around, spit flying into Jade’s face as he yelled, “We will all die!”

My heart raced, every inch of my power wanted me to send this man to his knees. But I waited.

Jade could defend herself.

“I am the peacemaker,” Jade yelled right back in his face. “I am the key to everything! You’re right, father. They might kill you. Because you’re a useless drunk who’s good for nothing but taking up space. But me? They’ll protect me with their lives. BecauseIam the key to everything.”

Her father froze, as if her words triggered some sort of memory.

“The peacemaker?” he asked, barely audible.

Jade didn’t answer.

“We’re dead,” her father spat. “We’re all dead. You, me, Tessa. We’ll all die. All of us.”