|Theodore|
The horror of her suggestion rooted me to the ground for a heartbeat—but only one. Then I stepped forward, planting myself between her and Carmella without hesitation. The emotion drained from my face as I stared the old woman down.
“If you even think of touching them,” I said quietly, “you’ll regret it.”
My tone matched hers—deadly calm, and stripped of every layer of diplomacy I’d ever worn. The air between us crackled with tension. I didn’t care how powerful she was, or how old her magic ran. If she threatened Carmella—or our child—I would face her wrath without flinching.
Gracia raised a brow, amused by my sudden boldness. But I didn’t care.
This wasn’t about pride.
It was about them.
And I would die before I let anything happen to either of them.
“Don’t you dare lay
