She laughed warmly at the show of fuzzy dominance, and she slid her fingers under the kitten's tiny chin and rubbed. "Yes, I know you're the Queen here. Duly acknowledged," she said to the kitten, then looked back up at him. "I'll leave you to wonder then. Perhaps we can share theories in our next letters," she said. It was a teasing phrase, but her gaze said she was being serious, giving him what he asked for, even while insisting on what she wanted.
She looked back at the kitten. "I'm not going to tell you that what this woman is doing to the people you care about isn't your fault, because you've probably heard it a million times over. Instead, I'll promise that I will let no one other than Vlad and Rosalie, who you seem to trust, know that we are speaking. In return, I want your promise that you'll consider the possibility that there are other avenues, other than giving into her demands."