Page 19 of Roman

There was one thing he definitely wanted to know.

“Last night you said there might be a reason. A reason I feel this…drawn to you.”

Roman gave a sigh, settling his hips back down into the bed.

Danny tried not to mourn the loss.

“I did say that.”

“Care to share with the class?”

Roman stayed silent for so long Danny began to think he was refusing to answer the question. Then, with another sigh, he began, “First, keep in mind there is no organized vampire society, no council in charge. In general, vampires—as far as I know—are relatively solitary creatures. Generally if you move into an area and realize it has been established as another vampire’s territory, you leave. Otherwise, it can be seen as a challenge. Our demons can get restless, aggressive with each other. There are exceptions, of course. The one who turned me—we traveled as a pair for over a century.”

Danny wasn’t sure where this was going, but it was fascinating to hear about. He had a million questions, and normally he might not be able to keep his mouth shut. But with Roman’s large hand now rubbing circles on his lower back and his deep voice rumbling in that hard chest under Danny’s ear, he was content to just listen.

“Sometimes, when two unacquainted vampires are both traveling through an unclaimed territory, they might meet and swap stories or news about the wider supernatural world. It is part of how we learn about what we are, what traits band us together as a species.”

Roman paused then, and Danny gave a small nod against Roman’s chest to let him know he was still listening. “One of the things I have heard of is the idea of…mates. Vampires whose demons recognize each other. Belong to each other. They become bonded permanently. Soothe and calm each other, prevent the descent into a feral state that our kind succumb to.”

“Feral state?” Danny did not like the sound of that.

Roman tensed slightly beneath him. “The older a vampire is, the more they tend to lose touch with their humanity. The demon inside takes more control and gets wilder, more violent. Many of those vampires end up dying at the hands of our kind. Put down before they can expose us all.”

Danny had a hard time imagining the man currently rubbing his back so gently as some sort of feral demon-beast. “And at what point does this happen?” he asked tentatively. “How old does a vampire have to be?”

He felt Roman shrug underneath him. “It differs depending on the individual. Some hold on to their humanity better than others. In theory, we all succumb eventually. But apparently a mate can prevent the descent.”

Danny felt like he had more questions than answers. “I still don’t understand your demon. Is it a separate creature? A separate…soul…living inside of you?”

“It just…is. When I awoke after I was turned, it was there, inside me. I cannot tell you if it is a part of ourselves that gets awakened or a separate soul that…infests us. But it is part of me now. There are times over the years when it has been more dormant and times when it has been a little more…communicative. When my eyes turn black, when my fangs pop out, that is when the demon is at the forefront of my consciousness.”

Danny’s brain felt fuzzy trying to comprehend this entire new world he was learning about. He felt like he should switch to a simpler line of questioning. “How old are you, Roman?”

“I have lived over two centuries. But as a human, I was thirty years old when I was turned.”

Holy shit. He was cuddling with someone over two hundred years old?

“Oh. Wow. Um…wow. Wow, wow, wow.” Danny wasn’t sure why—when all this was pretty goddamn bonkers to begin with—it was the knowledge of Roman’s age that had finally broken his brain. Maybe it was the realization that this was a man—vampire, man, whatever—with not just decades of life experience over him butcenturies.

Danny suddenly felt small and young and a little foolish. What was it Roman had called him?Lovely boy. He reallywasa boy when compared to him.

Roman’s hand stopped its soothing circles. “Is this too much? Should I stop now?”

“No!” Despite it all, Danny didn’t want Roman to stop talking to him, to stop touching him. “No. Just…processing.” He breathed deep. “Tell me more about mates. How do mates even find each other if vampires are so rare and solitary?”

Roman shifted under Danny, his muscles tense again. “From what I have heard, mates are not necessarily found in other vampires. A demon senses his mate even…before…they are turned.”

Danny felt a shiver go through him. “You mean, a mate can be a human?”

“Yes.” Roman’s hand had stilled. “A human who, when turned, will be bonded fully with their mate. Their demons will recognize each other as partners and tether each other to their humanity.”

Danny felt hesitant asking this next part, but he needed to know. “And your point was…you think I’m that for you? A mate?”

Roman was silent for a very long moment before answering. The pause was making Danny anxious, but he wasn’t sure what he was expecting. For Roman to be all,Yes, human I just met. I am 100 percent certain you are my pre-vampire-demon soulmate who I will be with forever and ever?That would beinsane. Right?

Then why was Danny feeling so invested in the answer?

Roman’s voice was quiet when he finally answered. “I had stopped believing in the concept years ago. I have never met a mated pair. Have only heard stories. And I have seen for myself when a vampire was…mistaken about finding his. But I know I have never felt this draw before. Not to a vampire or human. My demon knew right away it wanted you.Iwant you.”

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