ad with a snort when I saw the mounds of evidence stacked up against my client. "Charlize wants to

ailed off, raising an eyebrow as he waved a hand over his pant

I called you in here. I wanted you to review the file and the tape of her interview. I thi

was a battered woman who felt she had no othe

ead through the files, knowing all too well how

across from me. "There are visits to the hospital that can correlate her battered woman defense, but what she did can be considered the actions of a

on you did, whereas the women will not. I'll be damned if I ruin my success rate on this case." I respo

to stare at it until the screen went black. "Alright, I'll look." He added as he leaned over and grabbed my phone, snor

o what could happen when I arrived. I growled at Jennifer and Robert who met me at the front door, silencing them with a wave as I pushed past them and walked up the stairs to B

e jury." I finally said after watching her for a few moments, coc

g a hand above her heart as if that would have stopped

ront of her, then sat on the edge of the bed, pulling

ip as she watched me for a few moments before

You haven't stepped out of your room. Why?" I asked as I leaned closer, putting my

n too upset,"

and confusion. 'She thinks I wanted this? Even if I were to tell her that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, I can't, seeing as how she believes I bought her for my own

crossing my arms over my chest as I waited for her

," Jennifer responded, refusing to look into my

s from weeks upon weeks of missed grocery trips." I said, then sighed as I walked out of the house and used m

he breathed in the sausage's smell as it cooked. "And well, from the smell of it.

new, but I knew that he was doing something on his phone, just as he was doing the day Bast was born, and I'd had enough of giving him an inch, just for him to take a mile, so I

oking, Damien,

fore throwing the pieces at him. "Why is it that you always have a top-of-the-line phone, whereas

eds one that we can reach her on. You should be glad, though, I sa

be half decent parents, I would have put her with a family that would treat her the way she deserves to be treated." I said as I divided the spaghetti onto three pla

ot to smile as I held the plate with one hand, and wrapped my free arm around her, setting her

ide in confusion. "Are you going to eat too? This is way too much for

r and Robert were shoving down their food. 'I see it would not be hard to poison them, should I feel the desire to do so.' I thought as I made my way back to Bast's room, setti

g, watching me as I sat down, narrowing my eyes as I w

ng a hesitant bite of the spaghetti. I couldn't help but smile when I saw

ould tell her the truth about everything, but decided not t

e brought her gaze up to meet mine, the intensity in her glare reminding

ling to let her think that she had any sort of power over me, though it w

u accept me

I responded. 'B

er head defiantly. 'Nor should you. It's all a

," I said with a sigh as I leaned forward and took the glass from

ane." Bast responded after taking a small sip, still refusing to br

ntil you were eighteen to take you? What would your parents be willing to do to you for a cure? I do

e said, putting down her fork and

re born. The second your scent hit me, I decided you would be mine. From that day, I've kept an eye on you.

fe?" She gasped, her eyes widening a

r before pulling her into my arms. "It's okay, little one. You have no reason to fea

d I'll be yours when I'm of age. I don't want to be a vampire

chuckle, looking down at her curiously. 'If I had a c

't make me b

g you do anything you are

you," she said immediat

icker as I released her from my arms but still h

belong to you," she said w

e now." I responded, making her take another sip of her drink before contin

fucking thing!" She excla

anything further. "If you belonged to me as a possession, then you would be nothing more than an

e alone now," Bast whimpered s

so our faces were only inches apart, searching her eyes for a long few moments, watching as the terr

o my eyes, trying and failing to say something

care of yourself." I warned, growling softly, allowing my fangs to elong

e gasped out ne

e kissing her forehead, lea