“Liar!” His breath was hot against my skin, his fury vibrating through me. “You think I’ll believe that? You were locked in my basement, rotting in filth. When the hell did you have time to spread your legs for my brother?”
I flinched, but I refused to let him see my fear. “I had time,” I bit out. “Enough time to find someone who actually wanted me.”
Luther’s grip tightened. For a second, I thought he might throw me to the ground right there, humiliate me in front of everyone.
Then Vander stepped in.
His hand landed on Luther’s shoulder, his voice calm but firm. “Let her go.”
Luther snapped his head toward Vander, his lips curling in disgust. “You—” He laughed, sharp and humorless. “You expect me to believe you’d touch her? That you’d claim my mate?”
Vander didn’t even blink. “Believe what you want.” His gaze flickered at me, something unreadable behind his eyes. “But I don’t abandon what’s mine.”
The entire room held its breath.
Luther looked between us, his face contorting with something ugly, something dangerous. “You think you can just take her from me?” His voice dropped to a whisper, but it was more terrifying than his shouting. “You think I’ll let this go?”