Page 7 of Born Free

Roman nods.

Thank goodness for vampire speed. I never could get ready this fast as a human. But I get showered, hair washed and everything, and changed into clean clothes in just the right amount of time.

“Ready?” I ask as I step out of my bedroom.

Roman nods and crosses to the door. He pulls it open, looking up and down the hall. No signs of Royal House members, we walk out, and I lock my door behind us.

CHAPTERTWO

We’re a ridiculous sight.I’m walking around in the thirty-degree pre-dawn light with wet hair. Roman isn’t wearing a shirt at all. Thankfully, the streets are quiet, and we reach the club in just a few minutes.

I pace in Roman’s living room while he showers. It’s still only half repaired from when Sebastian trashed it, and then the police turned it upside down, gathering evidence to put Roman in jail for Sebastian’s disappearance.

My heart is hammering. A lot needs to come to light in the next hour or two. I’m about to meet with the people closest to me in this world. I made a promise to myself that I would tell Elena and Mason everything. I’ve hid so much from them.

Guess tonight is the night to come clean with it all.

But there is one gray area that doesn’t just involve me.

Roman steps out after just four minutes. He is, of course, dressed in all black, head to toe. We step out, locking doors behind us, and set out down the sidewalk.

“So, just a heads up,” I begin as we walk at a quick clip, “I’m planning to finally tell Elena and Mason everything. And fill in Sigrid and Jon on the parts I’ve held back.”

“All of it?” Roman asks, his eyes fixed in front of us.

“Yeah, all of it,” I confirm. My nerves are making my stomach feel weird. It’s been a day. “And, just because of how I reacted after our last conversation, I know Elena’s going to be asking. What do I tell her about us?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roman says simply.

Oh boy. I let out a hard breath. Well, I’ve been honest with Roman about everything else, better to keep this good habit going.

“When me and Elena were dancing at the party, she told me I’m in love with you.”

Vampires don’t trip. I would think that’s what happened, even though it’s so small, but I know this as a fact. Roman hesitates, just a second. But it’s entirely noticeable.

“Yeah,” I say, cringing just a little. “I kind of freaked out. Like, nearly blacked out. That’s why I ran out of the Nocturne. I really, really needed some air.”

“Guess I never actually asked why you were outside,” Roman says, his tone a little off, a little uncertain. “That explains why you were talking crazy.”

“Yep,” I answer. “So, circling back around. Elena knows she triggered my panic. She saw me literally run away from her unexpected statement. And then you and I disappeared for like, thirty minutes. You came back shirtless. We both came back with messy hair. Elena’s a smart woman. So, what do we tell them all?”

Roman lets out a sigh, and then a swarm of butterflies explodes in my torso when he reaches out, and his fingers interlace with mine. “I think it’s nobody’s damn business, but we know for a fact that all four of them are nosey. I’ll go with whatever you want to say.”

I don’t know what to say, even to myself. Part of me wants to panic and demand he be the one who takes charge and decides.

But I’m trying to step up for myself. I’m trying to lean into my own authority and trust myself. “We tell them the honest truth. That we’re figuring things out, but it’s really damn complicated.”

He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Whatever you want.”

He’s in no rush.

Elena said those words. And now I have to think on them.

She acted like she’d known Roman had feelings for me for a long time. Were there signs? Because honestly, until he saved me from my own engagement party, I truly thought Roman hated me. When did things change? Is it possible that Roman really was patiently waiting for me?

I can only hold so much for one night. I shake that thought out of my head and focus on one crisis at a time.

The address Elena gave us is to a skyscraper three blocks from Godfrey Tower. I notice Roman subtly casing the area as we travel, searching for House members spying on us. I’m sure they’re there. But we slip into the building and enter the elevator, pressing the button for the twenty-second floor. It would be hard to follow someone in a skyscraper if you don’t know exactly what floor they’re going to.

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