He stared at the way Rhiannon was holding Elijah, and anger made him shake.

"Rhiannon," He finally spoke for the first time since she saw him.

She turned to him, glaring.

"You've never looked more pitiful than this," He said, his eyes dark and unreadable, "Not when you struggled to please me, not when you did all those things that embarrassed you in front of everyone, no. This is the very moment I've looked at you and thought... You're pitiful, Rhiannon, and I'm glad we aren't mates ...