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"You are in every way that ht that sentiment would ease him, she was deluded

"I don’t want your dao away Leave me be"

"I don’t want to leave you alone, Max"

His eyes blazed "I can’t give you what you want Vioget can He can protect you, take care of you--"

"ProtectShe took a deep breath, pulled back on the anger Calmed her voice "I don’t need anyone to protect rabbed her, then shoved her away as if reripped her in anger His fingers closed into fists "You nearly diedor worse Didn’t you see it? Didn’t you see what she was doing to you?"

"Yes--"

"She was pushing youshe nearly pushed you the wrong way And, Christ, look at you! And those bloody dogs, tearing you to pieces" His voice was rough, unsteady "She’ll do it again She’ll be after you--"

"Yes, and I had to watch her put her hands on you, drink from you, Max I saw it, saw the look in your eyes"

"And she’ll be after ain And she’ll use you, Victoria She’ll use you to get to me"

"I don’t care Max, after what happenedwhat happened between us--"

He reared away from her at that, literally took two steps back "Don’t be a bloody fool I told you we needn’t et need not know"

"He already does"

"Then I’m sorry for him, but it won’t matter The man is so damned infatuated with you, you could put him last in the line of your lovers and he’d not care"

"And you don’t?"

"No"

She took a step toward hi but cause your own bloody e to give , your only chance of escape from Lilithso that I’d die before I turned I saw you, Max"

He sneered "I’d have done it for anyone"

"I saw the look in your eyes when I saved Sara You can’t deny it"

He hesitated, then shutters ca off all expression He breathed deeply and there was a charged silence

"Max--"

"What do you want fro adoration?"

His face was suddenly close to hers, his eyes flashing with anger and frustration His fingers dug into her shoulders, and then he shoved her away, turning his face for a reat space between the "I’ll say it" His face grew even darker, burning with impatience "I didn’t want to love you, but I can’t help it I don’t want to be without you, but I bloody ill Victoria, I’ll not go through this again I’ll not risk your daain It’s the way it has to be"

Relief seeped through her, then was replaced by annoyance and raging frustration "You’re mad! What about Kritanu and Aunt Eustacia? Did he walk away? Did she?"

"I wish I could lock you up, and know you’d always be safeand I know that can’t bloody well happen But I won’t be part of it, I won’t make it any worse than it has to be I can’t do it" His voice was rough

"I never took you for a coward, Max"

"Coward?" His laugh was sharp and hu your life, yes, yes, dammit, yes, I a the door behind hilasses on the table rattled

Victoria looked at the door and a slow smile pulled at her mouth Now that she knew the truth, she was determined

That would be the last damned time Max walked away from her