"No!" I gripped Tristan's arm tighter, refusing to let go. "That's not what I'm doing at all!"

"Then what are you doing?" He whirled around to face me, and I stumbled back a step. His eyes were blazing, that silver so bright it almost looked white. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're taking their side. Protecting the people who violated you."

"I'm not protecting them!" I explained hastily. "I just... I don't want you to kill anyone else because of me! Is that so ...