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“You too have chosen to hear me as you see fit, if you understood this as being optional. ”
“You’re asking me to give up my life. ”
“Certainly you haven’t gotten terribly attached to it in less than twenty-four hours. Let’s be realistic here. ”
“It’s my life. ”
“No. It is a romantic view of an idealized outcome. You think by being human you will be able to have a normal life. You don’t have the luxury of a normal life. Not now, not ever. You sacrificed that right when you wed a werewolf king and sat on a vampire throne. ”
“The Tribunal spot wasn’t my idea. It wasn’t what I wanted. ”
“If our lives were only about what we wanted, everyone would have perfect love, millions of dollars and no complaints. You cannot be so foolish to believe you can have things the way you like them all the time. You have responsibilities. ”
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
“I think you let passion lead you when it suits, and pragmatism takes charge only when absolutely necessary. ”
I slapped him.
It hurt. Way more than an open-palm slap should. But I’d put real force into it, and slapping a vampire when you’re a mere mortal is a terrible idea under any circumstances. “Don’t you dare pretend like you know what I’ve had to think about today. You can’t possibly know. ”
My slap did nothing to impact Sig’s mood. He remained serious, but there was no rage in him. “I am not trying to be cruel to you. I know this isn’t what you hoped for, but your life is not yours alone. If you do not do what I am suggesting, then your death will come at the hands of someone else, and there will be no coming back from that death. I’m doing this to save your life, not to punish you for having it. ”
With my hands shaking and the threat of tears brewing, I stepped aside to create a clear path between Sig and the door. “Get out. ”
“Secret—”
“Out. ”
Holden got to his feet and stood next to Sig. He had a familiar look on his face, one that made me certain I was about to get a lecture about protecting my life and blah, blah, blah. “We can make this quick. Painless. You know the bite can even be pleasurable—”
My cheeks flamed red, and I pointed to the door with my pulse throbbing in my ears. “You too. Get out. ”
Holden frowned and reached out to touch my arm.
I jerked away and raised the sword. “I’m not playing around. I may be human, but I have no damn problem remembering how to use this. ”
“Don’t be absurd,” Sig said.
“Don’t push me. ”
The two vampires stared at me. Holden added, “We need you to do this. ”
“You need to give me more than two and a half seconds to accept that. ”
“We don’t have time for insight and soul-searching,” Sig said. “The longer you remain human, the greater the risk. We have avoided the secret getting out, but the longer you are away from the council, the more questionable your absence becomes. ”
“I know. ”
“And your mother is back, I understand? Do you think she won’t take advantage of this?”
“She will. ”
“So you see why this must happen. ”
“I see a door. What I don’t see is you two going through it. ”
“Now is not the time for your stubbornness. ”
