"I won't ask you to break your word." Vampires take that very seriously and now so does Max. Even if it stings like sweat in a fresh cut.

"I... I went with Valdis and Siffleur to confront him. I told him I'm happy and safe here and I don't need him to protect me anymore. And I told him I needed some time to think before I want to talk to him again." His belly still flutters nervously even admitting that. He still doesn't know how he managed to be so brave.

"He didn't like it but... he agreed."