"I'll ask you once again," Margaret said during dessert. "Will the conference truly put and end to the threat?"
Dante looked up and met her gaze directly. "Yes. That's our intention."
"What if it fails?" she pressed, her doubt lingering despite his calm answer.
"Then we will handle it ourselves," Dante said simply. "We do not give up when it comes to family. We will fight until the threat is either eliminated or contained."
Margaret looked at his eyes without flinching, then to Adrian and Lucien. Both of them held her gaze with the unshakeable resolve as Dante.
"Very well," she said finally, placing the desert spoon on the plate. "Then I'll trust you to handle it. But Lilian, you must call me every day that you are gone. I need to know you're safe."
"I will, Mom. I promise," Lilian said, smiling and held her mother's hand gently.
After Margaret had retired to her room, Lilian went to the study to meet the three princes.
