And that gave her the impetus to push further.
“Must you remind me constantly?” she said. “If you had it your way, I’d be locked up in some blasted tower while the rest of the Venators fight and risk their lives. ”
“I’m no longer a Venator, Victoria. ” Bitterness. Oh, such bitterness.
“You are in every way that matters,” she said. If she thought that sentiment would ease him, she was deluded.
“I don’t want your damned pity, Victoria. Just go 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—”
“Protect me?” Now she was shrieking. She took a deep breath, pulled back on the anger. Calmed her voice. “I don’t need anyone to protect me. ”
“Victoria,” he said, moving toward her. He grabbed her, then shoved her away as if remembering what had happened the last time he’d gripped her in anger. His fingers closed into fists. “You nearly died . . . or worse. Didn’t you see it? Didn’t you see what she was doing to you?”
“Yes—”
“She was pushing you . . . she 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 me again . . . and again. And she’ll use you, Victoria. She’ll use you to get to me. ”
“I don’t care. Max, after what happened . . . what 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 mention it to anyone and we won’t. Vioget 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 him. “You’re lying. ”
“Victoria, you’ll do nothing but cause your own bloody embarrassment if you keep on this route. ”
“You were going to give me your ring, your only chance of escape from Lilith . . . so 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 came over his face, cutting off all expression. He breathed deeply and there was a charged silence.
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“Max—”
“What do you want from me, Victoria? A declaration of undying 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 moment. Then, hands on his hips, a great space between them, he looked at her.
“All right,” he said, glaring. “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 well will. Victoria, I’ll not go through this again. I’ll not risk your damned neck again. It’s the way it has to be. ”