“Don’t you dare,” Sabine said. “Let her go. The sooner this charade ends, the better. She will have no place in this family. I will not have my son indebted to this human!”
That was it. I spun around, steps from the front entrance. “I don’t want your family or your money or even your son.”
“Good.” She lifted her head, triumph written across her striking face. “I pray Julian comes to his senses as well.”
Tears smarted my eyes as I turned toward the door, but Jacqueline was standing in front of it.
“Move,” I demanded.
“No, I won’t let you leave thinking he’s afraid to be tethered to you.”
“Of course he is!” Sabine added as she moved closer. “Let her go and put an end to this.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Jacqueline snapped. “There is no end to this.”
“I wish you had told me,” I said softly, not caring if either heard me. “If I had known he didn’t want me either, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Either?” Sabine repeated. “You can’t expect us to believe you would let him go! Not when you’re so close to claiming your prize.”
“He wasn’t a prize to me.” I choked on a sob.
“Please, Thea,” Jacqueline pleaded. “If you just talk to him...”
I shook my head. I didn’t know what I’d do when I came here tonight. “I can’t trust him.”
“It’s not what you think,” Jacqueline said. “He never even worried about being tethered to you himself.”
“Lies!” Sabine called. “No vampire wants to be bound to a woman with no means of escape.”
I knew she was right. Even my own father had left my mother while she was pregnant. I’d seen it happen.
True love. Destiny. Soul mates. Those things only happened in books.
“Julian didn’t care,” Jacqueline continued loudly, “because he’s already bound to her.”
“Impossible. She’s still a virgin!”
Jacqueline looked to the floor and took a deep breath. When she lifted her face, she glanced between us nervously. “That doesn’t matter.” She cast another worried look at me before facing Sabine. “Thea is Julian’s mate.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
JULIAN
I swallowed the last of my drink and, reaching to refill it, discovered the third bottle of Scotch already empty. My brothers seemed at a loss to offer me any input on my situation. Instead, we drank in silence–until we heard the front door slam.
“Uh-oh,” Sebastian said with a grin. “I think the little woman is home.”
“I dare you to say that again and see what happens,” I warned him.
He rolled his eyes. “I hope she has a better sense of humor.”
“She’s scarier than I am.”
Before Benedict could add anything to the conversation, Thea swept into the room with Jacqueline by her side. Neither looked pleased to discover me in the company of my brothers and empty bottles. I lurched to my feet and started toward Thea.
She crossed her arms as I approached. Fury radiated from her, and I slowed my approach. She was much taller than usual in her heels, but I doubted that’s what made her appear so formidable.
“Pet,” I murmured as I stepped closer.
She raised an eyebrow, looking around the room. “Having fun?”
“Just having a drink with my brothers,” I said with a shrug.
“A drink or an entire bar?” she wrinkled her nose. “You smell like a distillery.”
“We were catching up. Benedict is in town.” I gestured over my shoulder to where he was slumped on the couch. He’d lost his suit coat along with his tie. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, and he was still nursing his last drink.
“Hello.” Benedict waved. An hour ago, I wouldn’t have expected him to be so friendly. The bottle of whiskey he’d polished off between now and then must have helped.
I checked my watch. “You’re home early.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said in a calm voice.
“No, I’m glad you’re back.” I reached for her, but she shrank away.
“Uh-oh,” Sebastian called from the sofa.
“Are you all drunk?” Jacqueline asked with a sigh. “Tell me that you saved me some.”
