Chapter 71

**MIHAI POV**

It's been hard on Mae the last few days, so, i decided to call Garne back, it isn’t what i wanted to do. But i think she needs a friend now more than ever, and he is the only friend that she has. Whether i agree with it or not.
Luthor has been on my case too, he insists she needs some sort of therapy, that he knows someone close to their family who will take care of her. But i refused, for now. She doesn’t need therapy, she needs time.
She killed her brother for fuck sake, what could a therapist possibly say about that?
I lean my head on my hands, if there was anything more i could do for her, I'd do it. I'd give my own immortality to make sure she was ok. But i can’t do that, and i can’t make her better. She has to find her own way out of this, in her own time, and people pushing her to do things she doesn’t want to do won’t help her.
Someone knocks on the office door, and i sigh, i swear if that is Luthor again i am going to kick him out of the house, for good.
“Enter!” i call, tense, and ready for an argument.
To my surprise, it is Garne who walks in, his head held high, “My lord.” He says, but he doesn’t bow, not like he used to.
I suppose banishing him really soured his loyalty to me.
It doesn’t matter, if he betrays me, he betrays Mae and i know he won’t do that. He is trustworthy, for now.
“What do you want?” i ask, “You are supposed to be guarding Mae.”
He stares at me for a moment, “She has left the bedroom, she’s outside.” he says coldly. “I thought you should know before i head out there.”
My eyes widen a fraction, “She left the room?” i ask.
Garne nods, “She did, and she made a hot drink and went to sit on the porch.”
I smile, it isn’t much, but it’s progress.
She hasn’t left that room for even a minute since she killed Sean, if she is walking around, it means that she is finally coming to terms with what happened that night.
Or so i hope.
Mae could also be trying to force herself out of there, even if she doesn’t want to, or even if she doesn’t feel ready.
“Go to her, just as you planned.” i tell him, “She’ll be pleased to see that you are back.”
He nods, again, and turns toward the door, leaving without saying another word.
The door slams shut, and i sigh, Garne used to be one of the most loyal men that i had, and now he can’t even stand being around me.
I wait as long as i can stop myself, and then i climb from the desk and walk out of my office, towards the porch, but the only person i see sat there is Garne.
“where is she?” i ask, my voice full of panic.
Garne points towards the trees, “She’s having some time to herself, it’s way better than therapy.”
I turn, and sure enough, i see Mae, running along the tree line in joggers and bare feet. I'm not sure why she isn’t wearing shoes, but i don’t question it, she is out of her room, and she is doing something that she enjoys. That is all that matters right now.
I move forward, and sit where Mae must have been sat, her dressing gown draped across the chair, it smells of her. A sweet scent that i can’t live without.
I gave her as much time as i can, but i cannot give her anymore. After this, she will learn what it is like to be a Nati. I'll train her myself if i have to. But she will learn.
She has no choice, i won’t allow her to waste her life feeling sorry for something that she couldn’t have prevented.
Mae wasn’t at fault, not in the slightest, if she didn’t kill him, she wouldn’t be here, and neither would i. Because i would have gone after the council on my own. I would have killed them all. Every last one of them.
I watch as Mae circles back, heading this way, a smile etched on her beautiful face. She’s happy, and no matter what, i want her to keep her happiness. Even through the hard times.
She didn’t smile much when she first came to me, but i changed that, i gave her things she could smile about. At least, i hope i did.
Since she arrived, my life has changed, everything i knew had been thrown into the air and swept away by the wind, and all that remained was her. Those beautiful eyes staring back at me with so much defiance that it makes my dick hard.
She climbs the steps and walks straight towards me, positioning herself on my lap, “hey, you.” she says, her voice soft.
“Hey you, enjoy your run?” i ask, wrapping my arms around her, and pulling her closer.
Garne stands, heading towards the door, Mae frowns, jumping to her feet, “where are you going?” she asks him, fear in her eyes.
“I’m going to get you a drink and some food, you need it after your run.” He says, walking back towards her and stroking her hair out of her face, “Wait here, i won’t be long.”
Mae nods, and turns back to me, sitting back on my lap, “I thought he was leaving again, and i got scared. Too many people have left me.”
She didn’t need to tell me that, but she did, and i am grateful she can still share what she is thinking with me.
“He isn’t going anywhere.” I say with a smile, “And neither am i.”
I pull her into my chest, inhaling her sweet scent, and taking a small bite of her neck.
She giggles, pushing me away, “Stop that.”
I do it again, causing her to squeal, it’s the best sound I've ever heard in all my life. “I’ll bite you as much as i want.” I tell her a little harshly, “You belong to me, never forget it.”
“How could i possibly forget?” she laughs, slapping my chest, “Noe stop biting me, otherwise I'll have to feed you.”
I smile down at her, “I know exactly what i want.”
Her eyes widen, going round at the edges, “I think i know exactly what you are referring to Mihai, and the answer is no.”
I pull her closer, wrapping my hand around her neck, squeezing gently, “You don’t get to refuse me, Mae Williams.”
“Don’t say that.” she frowns, “I’m not a Williams anymore.”
“Ok. Then you can be a Croftson.” I say, stroking her arms to calm her, i can hear the racing of her heart.
“Whose name is that?” she asks, her eyes softening once more.
“It’s my name.” I tell her, gently pulling her closer, “It’s our name.”
She smiles, and cries a little bit, laying her head on my chest, and eventually, her heartbeat slows, and her eyes close.
Just in time for Garne to get back with the food.
I gently shake her, “Mae, you need to eat.”
She sighs, and grumbles under her breath, “Fine.”
She may be stubborn, but i am a whole lot worse, and she is going to find that out soon enough.
No more hiding away, she needs to face the world again, ready or not.