“I can’t let you replace the seals.”            Jamie’s mother sputtered at Demetrius’ words, newly incensed by his continued refusals. “Can’t? Let? Who do you think you are? Haven’t you done enough? If it weren’t for you—”            “If it weren’t for me, Jamie would be trapped forev—”            “Idiot! If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be in danger!” She shoved him again, this time managing to get him to fall onto the bed next to Jamie. The woman stood over them both, an angry parent about to give the scolding of the century. “You’re somehow stupider than she is, getting led your tiny dick, letting her talk you into her destruction. Neither of you has any idea

Mr. Carter swore…profusely. Every other word from the man’s mouth was enough to make the devil blush. His eyes grew wide, his face pallid as he tried to make sense of the scene that played itself before him. “Someone, help him up,” Carlton said. It was a command given in vain. The man wouldn’t let anyone near him, frantically slapping at their hands whenever any reached out to pull him from the corner he’d wedged himself into. “Stay away from me!” He could barely breathe, driving himself to hysterics faster than should’ve been possible. It was an unnecessary amount of theatrics in the boy’s estimation, as Jamie’s had been. Were sharper teeth and extreme bursts of speed truly so terrifying? Surely, there were things in the world that were infinitely more frightening—and far more likely to cause him harm. Demetrius imagined the man would’ve soiled himself had his wife been a clandestyne and her transformation more dramatic. Eventually,

No sooner had his mother led the mother-daughter pair away, Demetrius saw Cassidy nodding him up the stairs. The gesture put a pit in his stomach that made him want to turn and head back through the door. The morning had barely started, but the boy wanted nothing more than to take himself away. He would’ve loved even one quiet moment to clear his head and shake off the heaviness that settled on him, but he was starting to see he wouldn’t have that luxury.Demetrius would have to wait a while longer for that moment. He took Jamie by the hand, leading her up the stairs behind his sister.Cassidy led them back to her room, being careful to close the door behind her. It earned her a raise of his brow.“What?” he asked, not in the mood for more surprises.“She’s on edge.”“Carlton?” he asked, assuming the man had gone ahead to give their mother an earful on his most recent act of wilful defiance. The

The calm his mother had managed to project throughout the morning disintegrated in a matter of seconds. The woman’s face crumpled in on itself, her eyes flooding with unrestrained tears faster than anyone could process the prince’s words. Her hands moved to cover her face, muffling her sobs but the pain embedded in them was difficult to ignore. Demetrius had seen his mother sad on a few occasions, but never had the grief been so severe.His father looked helplessly from his wife to the prince. “I…I beg your pardon, My Prince. Perhaps my wife and I have misunderstood…”“I don’t see how,” Alexiel said, his mother’s tears not moving the man in any particular direction. He remained the picture of contentment. “Rejoice! You’ll soon be the family of royalty—there’s no higher elevation. You’ll be the guests of honour at the feast. Now, we don’t have much time to wast

Demetrius grimaced as images of that night danced their way to the fore. “Scar’s only offense was politely refusing his advances. No one says no to the prince, after all.” The grimace deepened. “Dad told me I had to make sure I kept them both in my sights. The banquets had a way of getting…out of hand when the wine and blood began to flow. When Cassidy hadn’t come back from the bathroom, I left Scar to find her and when I got back…she was gone. I shouldn’t have left her alone.”Demetrius shook his head, trying to dislodge the images that etched themselves into the back of his eyes. “I…I wasn’t there.”“You can’t blame yourself for that—”“I should’ve known.”“Demetrius…you were a kid…you couldn’t have known. Your dad should’ve been the one watching her…watching all of you, just like he s