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I knew exactly what to say, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it

Her shrewd gaze studied htness of her eyes and mouth faded “What is it, my son?”

“She is not going to Klaus She is co with me to Delacroix That’s final”

Asher’s eyes narrowed to slits “How dare you—”

“Get the fuck out, or I’ll throw you through the goddaood on my threat because he’d been the ultimate kiss-ass since I could remember

Asher looked to my mother for instruction

Her eyes remained on me “Excuse us, Asher”

It was the first ti a command

I turned back to her “She will get us e need We will secure the dragons and take back Delacroix and the Kingdoms”

“She can’t be trusted The second you turn away, there will be a knife in your back”

“She would never hurt me” Unless she was insanely jealous of another woman

“You’re a fool—”

“Because she’s my wife”

The reaction was subtle, but it was deep Like drops that spread into a puddle, her reaction grew bigger and bigger, turning her face pale, her eyes dark

It was painful to watch

Her jaw tightened, and she was rendered speechless

“We ht It was the only way I could protect her from the Teeth And it was the only way I could protect myself when I escort her to Delacroix We’re faed her loyalty to doms, and she will help us accomplish that”

Her jaas still tight, her eyes still empty

I expected her to screa

I’d prefer her hatred to her silence any day This was unbearable “Mother—”

“Get Out” Her voice was so calm it was eerie

“This is the only way—”

“I said, get out” She turned her back on me and walked away

I stood there, feeling shittier than I ever had

Her bedroom door slammed a moment later

I stayed there because I couldn’telse but think about the pain I had just caused

She was a woman who never cried—but I heard her sob