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"Then Jack will disappear He’ll go far ahere nobody can find him"
Matthew smothered his impatience He’d known that Diana was stubborn when he first h at times it drove him to distraction "A lone vampire cannot survive Like wolves, we have to be part of a pack or we go mad Think of Benjamin, Diana, and what happened when I abandoned hi at straws in her efforts to save Jack
"That would only ation to hunt him down"
"Then you ested," Diana said "Jack will have a whole fae Benjae but er--the twins, too And it’s not just theation without Baldwin’s support" Matthe a ragged breath "If you’re at ation will demand your submission as well as mine"
"Submission?" Diana said faintly
"This is war, Diana That’s what happens to woht You heard my mother’s tale Do you think your fate would be any different at the vampires’ hands?"
She shook her head
"Youin Baldwin’s fa The twins and I will never be entirely safe under Baldwin’s rule
Neither will Jack Standing our ground is the only possible way forward Every other road just leads back into the past," Diana said "And we know from experience that the past is never more than a temporary reprieve"
"You don’t understand the forces that would gather against us if I do this Everything randchildren have done or will ever do is laid at my doorstep under vampire law The vauilty of theht cost
"They can’t blame you for what Benjamin and Jack did," Diana protested
"But they can" Matthew cradled her hands between his "I made Benjamin If I hadn’t, none of these crimes would have taken place It was randsire, to curb them if possible or to kill theed at her hands He could feel the power burning under her skin
"No, that’s va warmbloods because of three systems of belief: law, honor, and justice You saw vaht," Matthew said "It’s swift--and brutal If I stand as sire of my own scion, I’ll have to mete it out, too"
"Rather you than Baldwin," Diana retorted "If he’s in charge, I’ll alonder if this is the day he will grow tired of protecting me and the twins and order our deaths"
His wife had a point But it put Matthew in an impossible situation To save Jack, Mattheould have to disobey Baldwin If he disobeyed Baldwin, he would have no choice but to beco a pack of rebellious vampires to accept his leadership and risk their own extere in their ranks It would be a bloody, violent, and complicated process
"Please, Matthew," Diana whispered "I beg you: Do not follow Baldwin’s order"
Matthew examined his wife’s face He took into account the pain and desperation he saw in her eyes It was impossible to say no
"Very well," Matthew replied reluctantly "I’ll go to New Orleans--on one condition"
Diana’s relief was evident "Anything Name it"
"You don’t coh the h to send the blood rage surging through his veins
"Don’t you dare order
"You can’t be anywhere near me while I do this" Centuries of practice s in check, in spite of his wife’s agitation "I don’t want to go anywhere without you Christ, I can barely let you out ofyou in New Orleans while I battle er And it wouldn’t be Baldwin or the Congregation ould be putting your safety at risk It would beto this belief fro of their relationship
It was tiht that--once Then I killed her in a moment of madness and jealousy Jack’s not the only vae is set off by love and loyalty" Matthew met his wife’s eyes
"You and Eleanor were merely lovers We’re"All along you’ve said I shouldn’t trust you You swore you would kill me yourself before you let anyone else touch ertips traced the line of Diana’s cheekbone, sweeping up to catch the tear that threatened to fall from the corner of her eye
"But not the whole truth Why didn’t you tell e worse?" Diana cried
"I thought I could find a cure Until then, I thought I could s," Matthew replied
"But you have becoer knohere I end and you begin I knew that you were a powerful witch froined that you would have so much power over me?"
Diana answered hi in its intensity Matthew’s response matched it When they drew apart they were both shaken Diana touched her lips with treers Matthew rested his head atop hers, his heart--her heart--thudding with e a new scion will require my complete attention, as well as complete control," Matthew said when at last he was able to speak "If I succeed--"
"You must," Diana said firmly "You will"
"Very well, ma lionne When I succeed, there will still be times when I’ll have to handle matters on my own," Matthew explained "It isn’t that I distrust you, but I cannot trust myself"
"Like you’ve handled Jack," Diana said Matthew nodded
"Being apart fro distracted would be unspeakably dangerous
As for my controlwell, I think we know just how little I have when you are around" He brushed her lips with another kiss, this one seductive Diana’s cheeks reddened and Matthew smiled
"What will I do while you’re in New Orleans?" Diana asked "There e froe--no matter what happens with Marcus’s children" The fact that the search would keep Diana fro directly involved in the disaster should this harebrained scheme fail was an added benefit