“I didn’t lose control,” Theo countered. “Not all the way.”
Adriel hissed. “You wanted to feed from that man, didn’t you?”
This time, Theo had no sharp reply. His lips tightened but he didn’t break his glare.
“You did,” Adriel said, stating it like a fact. “You wanted to kill him and drain the blood from his body.”
“Adriel,” Pierce began, trying to diffuse the situation, but his other two brothers had already reached the limits of their tempers.
“Yes, I did want to, okay?” Theo snapped. “But I didn’t do it! He’s still alive!”
His words echoed throughout the dining hall, which had gone deadly silent except for the deep rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock.
“Tell me something,” Adriel said coldly. “Would you have been able to control your urge if Maxwell hadn’t been there?”
“Huh?” I said.
The older brothers glanced to me now and I couldn’t discern their expressions. I fidgeted under their gazes. I hated being the center of attention.
“Answer me, Theodore,” Adriel prompted.
Theo’s reply was small, almost a whisper. “I don’t know.”
“Speak clearly.”
“I don’t know, okay?” Theo cried. “Maybe, I…”
I stood there in shock. My mind flashed back to the sight of Theo with elongated fangs and sharp claws.
What if Theohadn’tbeen able to reel back his urges? What if he had killed that man? My stomach grew unsettled. If that happened, could I look at Theo the same way?
But he’s a vampire,I argued with myself.He needs blood to survive. It’s a matter of life and death for him.
But the other part of my brain told me that this situation was different. Theo hadn’t been hunting simply to feed himself. His transformation came from anger. From vengeance. He wanted to hurt that man because the man had tried to hurtme.
I looked at Theo sadly. Guilt radiated from him. He knew he’d done something bad.
Pierce turned to me. “Maxwell, I think we need to have a private talk with Theo. Do you mind waiting outside? In fact, your old room is just the way you left it.” He smiled. “We don’t mind if you spend the night. You’re always welcome here.”
Though I appreciated the gesture, my mind was more focused on Theo, and what was going to happen to him. But it seemed like I didn’t have a choice. I nodded to Pierce, then cast one last look at Theo, who miserably met my eyes, before leaving the dining hall.
