“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.
“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.”
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.