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My jaw tensed. “Don’t call me that.”
“You were always so dramatic.” He reached forward, grazing a finger against my cheek. “You were doing so well, working on that. Being here with Sebastian it’s changing you. You used to be so gentle.”
I curled my fingers into fists to stop myself from launching at him. “You have no right coming up here and—”
“You’re better than this.” Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he shook his head. “You deserve more than Sebastian Vangard.”
“Since when do you care what I deserve after everything you put me through?” I inhaled sharply. “I’m surprised my mom hasn’t cut off your head yet,” I snapped, changing the subject. “She knows everything. Or Draven. Has he seen you?”
His mouth twisted. “I’m aware,” he said, his intensity matching my own. “She came at me yesterday. Luckily, Kalon intervened. I have his protection, and Draven would be smart not to come at me, too. He’s only a mortal.”
“Of course, you’re working with Kalon,” I seethed.
“He trusts Gwen, and she trusts me,” he said with a shrug. “Look, I came to make things right.”
Our relationship felt like a lifetime ago, although it had only been months. At the time, I hadn’t known the real reason for his distance. I stared at the man I once loved, who faked his own suicide so he could become immortal and had cost every man and woman at the guild their life—including my mom. She was now a vampire because of him. “I will never forgive you for what you’ve done.”
“Seriously? I kept your secret. I didn’t hand you over, and I could have.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I shouted. “Just get out.”
“You never used to be like this!” he shouted, raising his voice above my own. “You’ve changed.”
My nostrils flared, and my chest tightened. “You changed more. I can’t believe I ever loved you.”
“I was always this person, Liv.”
“Call me Liv again and see what happens,” I dared. “You lost the right to that when you betrayed us.”
“Then what do I call you? Olivia? Or maybe you’d prefer Seraphina?” he asked.
I tilted my head, regarding him carefully. He was right. I had changed, and as the cold circled the room through the cracks around the old, arched windows, I couldn’t help but give in to the sinister smile creeping over my lips. “To you? I’m Your Royal Highness.”
Slowly, he pulled his hands from his pockets, standing straight. “I suppose you think you’re all-powerful now?” He took a step back, scoffing under his breath. “I came here to help you, but now I’ve seen what you’ve turned into, I wonder why I bothered.”
I rubbed my temples, closing my eyes briefly. “You are so delusional, I can’t….” I shoved a hand in the air. “Just leave.”
“You’re going to regret marrying him, you know. Your father may be king, but that won’t last forever. Even immortals eventually die.”
Flexing my fingers, I stomped over to him, closing the distance between us. “That’s treason!” My eyes burned with fury as I glared into his stare. “So go ahead, say that again. I dare you. I have no qualms telling my father what you said.”
His breath hitched, and he stepped back. “I’m not afraid of you, Liv.”
“You should be,” I warned. “In three days, I’ll be a vampire. Except, unlike you, I will have power, a crown, and armies that can hunt you to the end of the kingdoms.”
Disappointment etched into his crumpled features as he slowly looked me up and down, his posture changing. “I miss the old you.”
“I’m sure you do. She was easier to manipulate.”
“I never manipulated you.”
A rich laugh tinkled from my mouth. “Erianna once told me something that changed my life. She said you’re often treated how you allow others to treat you.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means I was afraid of pushing boundaries against you, my mom, and anyone else who walked into my life. For so long, I believed I would lose all of your love if I did.”
He rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t like that.”
