as absolute, broken only by the fai

She didn't spare a glance for Julian or Seraphina. Her movements were deliberat

stone floor, but they lande

ective hiss. She instinctively pulled Mason behind her, shieldin

cold and focused, remained locked on th

king out, met her gaze and shrank back, a whimper escaping his lips. He ha

ye level. Her voice, when she spoke, was not loud, bu

logi

red at her, his bottom lip trembling, and

ina shrieked, her own fear turnin

rward and grabbed Chloe's arm. "That's enough, Chloe!

e broke his grip. The ease with which she shook him off was

rified child. "I said," she repeated, he

turning to Julian. "Julian, do something!

ess of confusion and anger. This was not his Chl

ocket. She reached out and took Mason's small, sticky hand in h

oy sauce from his fingers, one by one. Her pressure was a little to

d, each word a carefully placed stone, "you face the consequences. When you ruin someth

cking up to meet Seraphi

you," Chloe finished, her voice

t just about the spilled soy sauce anymore. It was a ju

ite. Her manufactured so

nd slowly stood up, her entir

deliberate distancing, a stripping of any i

before, was no longer a probe. It was an

trembled. She cou

, his simmering guilt, exploded into rage. He lunged forward, physically pull

h!" he roared, his face contorted in a mask of fury.

t relief washed over her. He was choosing her. He was defending their family against this intrude

Julian's anger, showed no fear. Sh

bellowing in defense of his mistress. And her expression was one of pure, unad