"Um...Jason told me." There was no way he could know what Jason had access to.

"I was the only one who had access to your file." Silas studied me, like he was trying to tell if I was being deceitful.

"Answer my question Silas," I said, determined to get some sort of answer. "Why couldn't you let me go?"

His eyes held mine.

"You're mine Avery."

His voice soft and velvet. His words created a flutter of hope.

"I'm not a possession Silas. I can't be owned," I shot back. I was spoiling for a fight. Maybe I wanted to push him so he would admit that I meant something to him and that he wanted me back. I wasn't just here for our sons.

He moved closer and I held my breath. He was devastatingly handsome and to be so close to him and not feel the affect of him was impossible.

Slowly, he lifted his fingers to brush across my chest. "I never thought I would touch you again."

He was revealing what he had felt. An emotion. Tied to me. He gave me hope just when I was starting to believe it was hopeless.

Then he was nearer. I lifted my eyes to hold his. His lips a whisper from mine. As much as I was angry with him, and betrayed. I wanted him to kiss me. When the rest of the world fell away when we were together.

"Go find your future wife Silas." It took everything not to lift my lips to touch his. But even with my senses overrun by him I couldn't forget he was going to marry someone else.

He drew back. "You're jealous."

I hated how he could read me so easily. I shrugged. "It doesn't matter how I feel Silas."

"It's tradition for me to have a vampire wife."

Was he really trying to explain why he was doing this?

"I don't need an explanation Silas. I know exactly where I stand with you."

I was determined to be strong. I wouldn't show him how much it hurt. Vampires had been cruel to me, I refused to allow him to see how much his careless actions destroyed me.

"You died Avery. At the time I didn't know you were still alive and being kept against your will."

He was so exasperatingly logical.

"So you're telling me that if Talon hadn't taken me, you wouldn't have gone looking for a wife?"

He nodded. "I had no intention of taking a vampire wife if you hadn't died."

I didn't how his revelation made me feel. I was confused and annoyed that I felt hopeful again.

He still hadn't said he loved or cared for me. It was all so confusing. Couldn't he just tell me that I meant something to him? Couldn't it just be that simple?

"Why?" I crossed my arms.

"Why do you keep asking me questions?" he said, sounding annoyed that I was pushing to reveal something. What I wasn't sure?

"Because I deserve answers. After everything I've been through I need them."

He studied me. "I can't give you what you want. There is no place for that here."

I was more than intrigued. I softened my stance and allowed my arms to fall to my sides.

"No place for what?" I dared to ask. He was on the verge of admitting something. All he needed was a slight push.

"You weren't supposed to die. I did everything I could to ensure your survival." He swallowed and I studied him closely.

I was seeing a side to him I don't think I had ever seen before. Everything was about him was logical, tradition, rules. This was the first time I was seeing him unguarded by them.

"I left you for a moment to check the twins. When I got back to the room they were trying to bring you back." I saw the moment in his eyes. "The doctors did everything they could. Twenty five minutes later they declared you dead. I watched you die and there was nothing I could do." His voice was scratchy, showing a hint of emotion.

There was silence.

For the first time I saw the pain in his eyes. I meant something. Something more than just some sire to bear his children.

"I couldn't believe it but I had the responsibility of our children. Their well being became my top priority."

Had he actually mourned my passing?

"What do they do with the dead bodies of the Sires?" I asked the question, not sure I was ready for the answer. I remembered an vampire movie where the bodies disintegrated into dust after they took their last breath.

"They are buried."

"Where did you bury me?" I asked.

"In the gardens on the edge of the property. I wanted a place the boys could visit you. I didn't know the coffin was empty."

I nodded. "I woke up disorientated and in a pain I had never experienced. I didn't know if the twins had survived. It was horrible Silas." I let out a shuddering breath.

The torturous memories could still remind of the pain and the fear that I wouldn't survive. And the times that I had wanted death more than anything.

"Talon will be punished for this Avery."

I held no confidence in their system. "Will she be punished like Thane? He was free to terrorize me a second time Silas. A second time I had to fight him so he wouldn't force himself on me."

I didn't believe for a second I would be that lucky if there was ever a third time.

He should never have been freed. He should have died for attacking me the first time. It felt like he would keep doing this until he succeeded. But then I remembered I couldn't give him what he wanted. That would be enough to stop him, surely? Why would he want a Sire who couldn't bear him children? That was the sole purpose he wanted me for.

"They will both be face the most severe punishment for this." His eyes were fierce. I wanted to believe it but it felt like an ingrain issue where vampires were allowed to do whatever they wanted and the Sires were punished for their actions.

"I want to believe you Silas but the vampire council won't punish them harshly. We both know that." I sighed. "In fact I'll be the one who will be killed if Talon goes to the vampire council."

"I won't allow them to harm you Avery," he vowed.

I still wanted to know about what he had said before. It niggled at me.

"What has no place here Silas?"

His eyes met mine. "It doesn't matter. Like I said, it has no place in our world. You are my Sire and you will fulfill your role. You will remain here and mother our children."

"And what about you Silas?"

In that moment I remembered our nights together, my pulse quickened. I still wanted him as much as I had then.

"We are sexually compatible." His gaze went to my mouth.

And what exactly did that mean? I waited for him to elaborated.

"So I'm here to look after the boys and what? Sleep with you. What's the point if I can't have anymore children?" Hadn't that been the whole point of it?

"I own you Avery and you will do as I say."

It pushed my back up when he said things like that. Even if it was true.

"What if I won't sleep with you?" I threw it at him.

Even if I wanted him, I wasn't going to roll over and allow him to treat me like some possession he could have whenever he wanted.

He frowned. "Is there something you aren't telling me Avery?" He moved closer. "Were you involved with Jason? Is that why you're angry that I found you?"

"And what if I was?" I wanted to rile him up and inflict some of the pain I was feeling.

He grabbed my wrist. "You are mine Avery. If anything happened between the two of you, he will be punished."

I swallowed, feeling the anger radiate off him.

"Did you sleep with him?" His hold on my wrist tightened painfully.

For just a fraction of a second I contemplated pushing him and lying but I stopped myself. I shook my head. I couldn't allow Jason to get into trouble because I wanted to hurt Silas.

His hold slackened. "You are mine Avery. I'm the only one who you will give yourself to. Do you understand that?"

"But I have to share you with a wife?" I shot back.