Aaron held his ground, but kept an eye on the muscles in her shoulders and chest. If she was going to try something it would start there. "My best friend's daughter," he said. "And if you go anywhere near her I will kill you. I won't even bother making it fun, I'll just do it."

He didn't love her. Love wasn't real. But he was fond of her, in his own way. And this... this creature so arrogant and presumptive would not go anywhere near her.