Julian barked out a laugh. “If that’s the case, give the man his dissolution already.”

She snapped back, “What’s best for him is me.”

Sebastian grunted again.

Evangeline’s eyes went liquid and her gaze turned to Sebastian. “Is that what you want, my darling? A dissolution? To end us once and for all?”

All eyes shifted to Sebastian. Tessa watched, knowing this was a pivotal moment for him. He’d said that getting Evangeline back was necessary for him to keep the promise he’d made, but his actions toward Tessa had said he’d prefer to be free.

She put her hands in her lap and interlaced her fingers, squeezing them together. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed him away. Maybe she should have given in to her own feelings and let him touch and kiss her all he—and she—had wanted.

If he chose Evangeline because Tessa had denied him, she would be complicit in his unhappiness. Because there was no way he could be happy with that woman.

No. Way.

Tessa couldn’t imagine spending any length of time with her. Thank Freya this dinner was almost over and the charade with it. Any longer and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep her dangerous temper under control. The woman was just flat out infuriating.

Sebastian lifted his chin, his mouth firmly set until he finally spoke. “A dissolution would be bloody brilliant.”

Sebastian couldn’t believe the words coming out of his own mouth, but Evangeline’s presence at dinner had put a very hard line under the truth of who she was. And always would be.

Compared to Tessa, she was, well, there was no comparison. Unless you went with something like black and white. Winter and summer.

Angel and devil.

Evangeline’s mouth gaped open.

Sebastian folded his napkin. “I’m not saying I would abandon you, Evangeline. We’ve been connected this long, we can certainly remain…acquainted. But you’ve been out of my life for centuries, except when it suits you. Which is most of the time.”

She sputtered a few words. “But…I—”

He held up his hands. “I’m willing to continue helping you should you find yourself in need of something, because I imagine you have few friends willing to extend themselves for you that way.” Also, he was obligated to help her and would be for the rest of his life so why fight it? “That need would be mostly monetary, the same as it’s been these last centuries, but this more personal relationship of ours, such as it is, has been over for a very long time. Let’s make it official. Let me—and Tessa get on with our life. I can have my solicitor draw up the necessary dissolution papers in a day then we can send them off to the council and be free to live our lives.”

Spending time with Tessa had made him realize just how deeply he was suffering at Evangeline’s hands. There was no reason he couldn’t fulfill his promise to her father but live his own life as well. Having her sign dissolution papers would finally bring this ridiculous relationship to an end. They would be completely divorced in the eyes of the council and there could be no repercussions for either of them after that, even if he was still technically her sire.

Her mental and emotional hold on him would be gone. She would become just another item in his budget to be accounted for.

Evangeline finally found her voice. It held an edge of weepy disbelief. “I came here to make amends and resume our life together and this is how you repay me?”

“I’m not repaying you, Evangeline. That implies a debt I owe you and if it’s cost analysis you want, I assure you your side of the ledger is rather lacking. I’m merely attempting to move on with my life.”

Anger shimmered in her eyes. “I don’t believe you. I think you’re trying to force me into groveling. Trying to get me to beg you to take me back.” She sniffed. “That’s not who I am, Sebastian, and you know it.”

“I do.” Indeed, if she had groveled and begged, he might have taken her back no questions asked. But she hadn’t. And he’d told the fortuitous lie that had brought Tessa, and the bright light of reality, into his world. “I promise I’m not trying to force you into anything. Again, this isn’t about you. It’s about me. My life.” He looked at Tessa. “My happiness.”

“Good for you,” Hugh said.

“Rubbish,” Evangeline spat out. “You can pretend all you like, but I know you, Sebastian. I don’t believe for a moment that you’re planning on getting married. This is a game and I, for one, am done playing it.”

Sebastian laughed. “You’re done playing? Games are all you know.”

She reared back in her chair. “Is that what you think? Fine. I have a new game for you. Give me one week, living in this house with you. Let me see the two of you together, twenty-four hours a day. Convince me that you’re truly in love and I’ll give you your dissolution, no questions asked. I’ll sign with a smile. I’ll even pay to file the papers with the council.”

Her words settled over him like a pall. Tessa would never agree to that. She’d never move in with him, not after today. Asking her to keep this charade up for a week with Evangeline in the same house was too much. A bridge too far. “I wouldn’t even let you live in my guest house.”

Tessa spoke before he could say anything else. “I’m game if Sebastian is game.”

Sebastian cleared his throat to cover his surprise. “Be that as it may, Tessa and I need a moment to discuss this.”