Chapter 81

**MIHAI POV**

Mae disappears into the bedroom, a far away look on her face, she’s shifting again and her mood is darkening. I wish there was something i could do to help her, but there isn’t. This is something that she must overcome on her own. I will be there, supporting her every step of the way, but there is nothing i can say to ease her pain.
Yes, she killed her brother, and that is what is affecting her the most, but the idiot deserved it. He shouldn’t have attacked her.
And he did it on her birthday, what kind of fucking brother was he?
My own brother would never do such a thing, even when we barely speak for years, we still have each other’s back, through the good and the bad times.
I walk outside to where Luthor is waiting, knowing that it is going to be a while before Mae is ready to leave. I am already dressed, but she isn’t.
“You shouldn’t have come here with a temper on your shoulders.” I growl, stepping forward, “I was making progress with her, and you could have just ruined it all.”
Luthor scoffs, shaking his head in anger, “Fucking her bloody is not the solution here, Mihai, and you know it.”
“Then what would you suggest?” i ask, barely keeping my temper in check.
i cannot lose it, not here, not now. Mae needs me calm, and i have done my best to be here centre, but if Luthor carries on, i am going to bury him out here in the woods where no one will find his body.
The only issue is, if i do that, i will lose a lot of the support i have managed to gain for going up against the hunter council.
It would leave Mae and i without the necessary numbers to take the council on head on like we plan to.
We need him, for now, and that means that i have to play nice. Whether i want to or not, and whether i lose control or not.
I take a deep breath as he watches me, “You need to think about what you are going to say next.” i say, “And i mean really think about it, Mae trusts me, she doesn’t trust you. Not yet. That means that you need me just as much as i need you.”
Luthor smiles coldly, “I don’t need you, not as much as you think.” he says, “If i feel you are no longer safe for my daughter then i will remove her from your life, whether she likes it or not.”
“You really think that Mae will leave with you if you ask?” i laugh a little, unable to hide the fury in my voice. “No one is taking her from me, and if you try, i will start a war. Do not make the mistake of thinking that i am afraid of you, because i am not. Nor will i ever be.” my voice growls colder as i speak. “Mae is mine.”
“She doesn’t belong to you.” He snarls back, “She is MY daughter, and as such i have rights over her that you don’t.”
“She would never agree to leave with you.” i state.
Luthor turns away, pulling out his phone. “We shall see, the next time you fuck up, I'll make her choose.”
I hear Mae moving towards the door inside and head back in, mulling over what Luthor said. He can threaten me all he damn well pleases, it isn’t going to change the fact that Mae belongs to me.
As long as she still breathes, she is mine.
She walks out of the bedroom, her eyes glossy from tears that she refuses to shed, she’s strong. Stronger than most Nati her age. But everything comes with a price, and Mae has a big open heart.
She's going to get hurt a lot in this life, and a lot of it i cannot protect her from. But i will do my best to keep her safe.
I have failed thus far, the hunter council have gotten too close, too many times. We need to be more careful going forward.
We talk for a moment before we meet Luthor outside, and I assure her that Dren will adore her as much as I do, maybe more. She is perfect. In more ways than one.
We walk for a while in tense silence and I can tell that it is getting to Mae, even if she doesn’t say it out loud.
“This is why I don’t deal with people before I’ve had coffee.” She grumbled, taking my hand.
Luthor sighs, clearly getting the hint. “Forgive me for my intrusion Mae, but I was worried about you, anything could have happened out here.”
“Nothing would have happened to me whilst I was with Mihai.” She says, confidently. “He wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.”
My lips curl upward as I glance at Luthor, his eyes full of anger when he sees my smile.
He’s playing a more dangerous game than I am, he has to earn her trust from nothing, whilst I have all of it. Every single scrap.
“Let’s start again.” He says slowly, grabbing Mae’s hand and making her stop, “you have to understand that I am your father, I just want what is best for you.”
She stares at him, seeming to consider his words, “I get that.” She finally says, “but you also have to give me space, I’m not a child.”
Luthor looks down, pretending to be hurt, “your right, I missed more years than I can ever make up for.”
Mae smiles, “everything takes time, just because we aren’t close now doesn’t mean that it’ll never happen.”
Luthor pulls her in for a hug, his eyes still on me, “what if I asked you to come away for a while? To meet your other family. The one who missed your life.”
Mae goes silent, glancing at me, as though searching for permission. I give her none. I give her no indication of what she should do.
It is here choice, I will be here for her regardless.
“Maybe in a few months.” She says, her voice quiet as she pulls back, “I need time to process the fact I have a family I never knew.”
“You are right.” Luthor agrees, “we should take things slow, just as you wanted.”
Mae walks back towards me, “can you carry me?” she asks, “my legs are sore.”
I nod, smiling as I lift her into my arms, “you need more blood.” I tell her.
She laughs a little, “that’s your answer to everything.”
Luthor matches my every step as we walk, “He is right Mae, you won’t get stronger unless you drink fresh blood.” He says, shocking me.
Since when did he openly agree with me?
Strange. Maybe he actually listened to what I said.
It’s a start.
Maybe this family things might actually work out, for all of us.