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 safe . . . and 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 humorless. And a little crazy. “When it comes to risking your life, yes, yes, dammit, yes, I am. I’m a bloody damned coward. ”
He spun away, slamming the door behind him. The glasses 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.