"Yes," Max answers, exasperated. "It was wrong. Yes! He's said so, to my face, and meant it when he said he was sorry for what he did to me. He's never going to do it again and, if he ever tries, you and everyone else are welcome to rip him apart. Again. Just like they already did when he came to the Serena Eterna."

Max heaves an almost painful sigh and reaches for Edgar's hand. With effort, his voice softens. "I know it wasn't a good situation. It wasn't fair that I had to give up everything I ever hoped for in my life just to stay alive. But I did it for a reason. I stayed, and I'm glad I did because putting my family in danger wasn't something I could live with."

Another steadying breath. "Things are different now. The vampires that want to kill me can't get me here. No one will ever own me again. Not him. Not anyone. That isn't what Erik wants with me, anyway. He asked me for a second chance to know me as an equal. I thought really hard about it before I decided, and I decided I want to try being his friend. You don't have to agree, but I'm not going to change my mind. I'm doing this for me."