"Why did you adopt us?"
Ulrich did not answer.
Airam kept her gaze fixed on him.
"You knew about our mother. Anna-Maria," she said, hardening her tone. "You took us in knowing who she was. Knowing we were her daughters."
Ulrich remained silent.
Airam's grip tightened again, harder now. For the first time since the dance began, her control showed a visible crack. Her lips trembled once from anger forcing its way through restraint, dragging hurt behind it.
"Did you..." She swallowed once. "Did you want my mother dead—"
"No."
Ulrich cut her off immediately.
There was nothing hesitant in the answer.
He already understood where her thoughts had gone. If his intention had truly been to gain control of Anna-Maria's daughters, to claim their talent and shape it for his own use, then yes, it would have been easier without Anna-Maria herself standing between him and them.
But that had never been his plan.
"I wanted to take all four of you," Ulrich said.
