TO KEEP THEM APART.

Chapter: 45

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ALTAIR:

The opulence of the bedroom felt stifling, its rich mahogany walls adorned with tapestries that whispered of history and luxury. Yet for Dirk, the space seemed to shrink into a suffocating box, the weight of his turmoil pressing in on him. He sat on the edge of the grand bed, his head in his hands, tears streaming down his face—a testament to the maelstrom of emotions raging within.

“Dirk,” Kurt’s voice sliced through the silence, sharp and laced with authority. “This is madness! You can’t punish him for defending himself.” Kurt squared his broad shoulders as he paced, his heavy footsteps echoing against the polished wooden floor. The tension radiating from him was palpable, each step a reflection of his frustration.

“Madness? You call this madness?” Dirk shot back, his voice cracking under the strain of anger and fear. “Talon is a vampire! We’ve all witnessed what they can do. How can you expect me to sit idly by knowing that my son was around that monster