"I can't begin to imagine the things he did to you," Max whispers in Andrew's ear, still clutching him tight, "And I'd never ask you to relive those memories just to tell me. But I promise you, I'll never let him take you back. You're mine now and I'll keep you safe."

A memory of his own floats back to the surface at these words...

"They will not have his blood... Take him to the manor. He belongs to me now."

Max had always understood that his master, Erik, took him in to save him. That was always made crystal clear. The vampire always seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement. But, sometimes, Max could feel a weight between them, in the small looks of pity or the vampire's furtive frowns when he thought Max's mind was elsewhere. A hint of sorrow, regret, that Max could never quite place. Max thinks he understands now what his master was feeling that night.

Fiercely protective and agonizingly guilty for knowing the only way to save a life is to take it for himself.

But unlike Erik, Max has a plan to set his Pet free. He just needs time.

"Lucifer has no control over you anymore. Do you understand?"