“Okay,” I found myself saying. “I guess Bee can stay.” His lips twitched, and he closed the distance until our legs were touching, upper bodies close enough that I could smell every note of cherry. “As to your other point,” Lucien continued, leaning in so I was all but engulfed by his huge frame, “about not owning you… While you’re here in Valdor, you do belong to me. Mine. Mine to protect and control.”
