Page 10 of Born Free

I look over at Roman, suddenly needing a little strength. I’ve kept secrets for so long now, the thought of exposing them all is kind of terrifying.

Over the course of the next hour, I proceed to tell all of them every truth. About what my mother was. About the curse she placed on me as an infant. I tell them what happened with Pablo and how Roman was there to witness my second Resurrection. I tell them the truth about how we trapped Archer King and that it involved another of my deaths. We tell them how I’ve saved Roman’s life multiple times, but that it led to my multiple deaths.

I confess that Sebastian took the Necromancer as prisoner, and that I allowed it. I tell them what I hoped we could do with him when Jon and I went looking for Ingrid’s bones.

He never knew this part, and I can see the devastation in his eyes.

I report letting Markus go.

And then I fill them all in on what really happened the night Sebastian disappeared.

“Sebastian lost his mind,” I say. My eyes are fixed on the table. “He was totally convinced that Roman and I were having an affair. And he staked Roman.”

“But he’s still sitting here with us,” Elena points out, confused.

I nod. “We discovered my gift that night. I touched Roman. I instantly died another death. But Roman came back.”

The table is silent for a good sixty seconds. What we’re discussing is impossible. Vampires who drink blood and live immortal lives so long as they’re not staked or beheaded is impossible enough. But coming back from the dead, over and over, and the ability to bring others back as well? It’s entirely impossible.

Until it’s not.

“You may be the most powerful vampire or gifted to ever walk this earth,” Sigrid says, her tone low and serious. “Complete power over death.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what the limitations are. There are still a million question marks. And I’d really, really rather not have to test those limits.”

She gives an acknowledging nod. “I simply implore you, my dear niece, to remember the great responsibility you have on your shoulders alongside this powerful gift. Many would use it for bad, terrible things. Always search your heart for your intentions. Be sure they are good.”

I nod, and for a minute, I can imagine how this all could be used for evil. So many would use my abilities to gain power, wealth, fear for themselves.

You and I have never been and never will be black and white people.Sebastian said those words to me once, and I knew they were true then, and I know they’re true now.

I will never be all good.

But now I have people around me who will undoubtedly keep me in check.

“You’re right, thank you,” I say with a hoarse voice.

“Anything else you want to tell us?” Elena asks with an arched brow. There’s this look in her eyes, one that says she’s disappointed in me that I didn’t tell her all along, but there’s also a hint of mischief there.

I let out a breath because I know exactly what she’s getting at. “It’s complicated,” I admit, my tone snappy. “We’re figuring it out.”

Elena grows this smile, one that says,see, I knew it.

“What are we talking about?” Jon asks, his brows furrowing.

“The fact that Roman and Juliet have been fated to fall for each other,” Sigrid says, a coy smile curling in one corner of her mouth.

“You knew?” I bark, my eyes snapping to her.

She shrugs. “I thought I was misreading things when you first came to town, you two were so savage toward each other, surely I couldn’t be seeing things correctly. But, as time has gone on, it’s grown stronger and stronger.”

“You two are together?” Mason questions. There is no jealousy there. We dealt with our feelings long ago, and from what I saw between him and Lily Roshan last night, I’m a thought of the past. But he is confused.

“Like she said,” Roman answers, looking over at Mason. There is no sheepishness in his eyes. Only cool confidence. “It’s complicated.”

“I don’t know why,” Elena says. “If it’s fate… And you two have been looking at each other like you’ve been waiting to rip each other’s clothes off for the last month.”

“You’ve been out of your coma for four damn days,” I call her out.

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