Jay fell silent. His gaze dropped to Liv's swollen belly, then lifted to her increasingly thin face. "I protect them," he said quietly, "so you don't have to know how bad things really are out there."
Liv swallowed. "I'm your wife, Jay. Not something fragile you have to hide."
Jay gave a bitter smile. "To me, you're more precious than this entire territory."
Annie lowered her head, Mira bit her lip both pretending to be busy, yet hearing every word.
Outside the chamber, Lucas stood guard with two other soldiers.
"Everything secure?" one of them asked.
"For now," Lucas replied. "As long as His Grace the Duke is still standing, no one will dare cross this line."
The soldier nodded. "And if we die today?"
Lucas turned to him, his eyes cold but his voice calm. "Then make sure we die only after those inside remain alive."
