"The demands in your divorce agreement are utterly unreasonable." The phone pressed against my ear felt suddenly heavier, its smooth surface turning clammy against my skin. "He just sent a copy, and I've already reviewed it. Do you realize you're demanding two-thirds of the vampire kindred? Daughter, this is excessive!" Father's voice cracked on the last word, the way it only did when he was truly distressed. "'A mother's honor derives from her child'—that's not how this principle applies!" Through the phone, I could hear the rustle of parchment being crushed in his grip.
"That was drafted by Dene's lawyer." My fingers tightened around my nightgown's silk fabric, twisting it until the seams protested. "I hadn't even reviewed it!" The lie tasted bitter, but admitting I'd seen the outrageous demands would only make this worse. My mind swirled with suspicion about Dene's motives. That scheming bastard - what game was he playing now?
