I nodded. He stepped in and I closed the door behind him. He spun around to face me. "Every single human in this building—me included—perhaps my daughter being the only exception—wants you dead."

At that, I couldn't help but chuckle wryly. "So I've gathered."

"The great Derek Novak. One of the best hunters the order has ever known…now prince of the vampires."

King actually…I looked up at him…but then you don't really need to know that.

"This thing you have with my daughter stops now. You can't keep using her for whatever reason you have for wanting her."

"I'm in love with her," I said through gritted teeth. "I fully intend to marry her."

"Marry her? She's mortal! If you loved her, you wouldn't deprive her of the future she deserves. You wouldn't deprive her of an education, a family, children of her own…"

At that, I couldn't find a proper response. I'd been plagued by that thought ever since Sofia returned to The Shade. I knew I was being selfish with her.

"Be straight with me