Page 54 of Roman

Luc gave a small sigh, eyeing Roman’s hand on top of his. “To us, then.” He raised his glass to Roman.

“To us.” Roman took a sip, trying to ignore the feeling of dread building in his stomach.

Luc had said nothing more on the subject that night, but Roman knew afterward that the discussion had had an impact. It had been part of why Luc waited so long to try to turn Victoria.

Roman had thought Luc was grasping at straws. His friend had been a more pious man than Roman when he’d been human. Luc had struggled in the beginning, he had told Roman, with what they were, with the things they craved.

For most of the time Roman had known him, he had hidden it well under a guise of exuberant debauchery, but Roman knew underneath it all, Luc’s conscience still plagued him.

And then they had met Soren, who had told them the hard truth—they didn’t have an eternity after all. They only had as long as they could cling to their humanity, and who knew how long that would be. Unless, he had said, they found a soul to tether them…

Victoria had seemed like a lifeline to a drowning man.

Was Roman the same as Luc had been? Grasping at straws with Danny?

No, his demon growled.

Something deep within Roman recognized something deep within Danny. It was different from anything he had ever felt—Romanknewit was different. With every fiber of his being. What came next he might not be sure of, but he knew Danny and he belonged to each other, and that was not a thought Roman had ever expected to feel about another soul. Not when Roman wasn’t even sure he had a soul left.

The thing was, he was still not sure he had been wrong about Luc and Victoria. That might be arrogant of him, to assume his situation with Danny was different—maybe a means to assuage his internal guilt—but Roman had been there when she’d died.

Her thoughts had not been of Luc. They had been offear. Her fear of death, yes, but even more her fear of becoming like them. Roman had seen then for the first time what she truly thought about them, underneath the surface fascination and attraction, and it had been nothing good.

And how could someone feel that way about their fated mate?

Because as much as Roman might fear the thought of Danny not wanting to turn, he did not fear what Danny felt about what Romanwas. He knew there was no contempt or disgust hiding underneath the surface. Roman had seen the way Danny had reacted to Roman’s compulsion of his mother, all wonder and gratitude.

Dannysawhim, both his human and demon side, and he liked what he saw, Roman was sure of it.

They needed time for their bond to strengthen, to better understand each other, yes, but it was there, the seed of something real and true. What they needed was a break from the drama and distraction.

They needed Luc gone.

Speak of the devil, and he will appear.

A familiar voice broke through Roman’s thoughts. “Still here, mon ami? I thought you would have fled town by now. Must be a very special something keeping you here.”

Lucien.

Roman should have been paying close attention to his surroundings, not losing himself in pointless reminiscences. Now Luc was standing at the mouth of the alleyway, blocking Roman’s exit. He looked as elegant as ever, if one ignored the fangs and black eyes.

Well, Roman had wanted a confrontation. Here it was. “You already know why I’m here, Luc. Why areyou?”

Luc took another step into the alleyway. “Oh, I think you know that too. Nice suit, by the way. Still trying to convince yourself and everyone else you’re a civilized creature?”

Figured he wouldn’t want to get straight to the point. Lucien had always loved to play with his food. Roman straightened his cuff. “You are the one that taught me looking respectable is half the battle in evading suspicion.”

Luc laughed at that. “But evading suspicion from whom? Your human boy? Does he think you’re a white hat, just one with an unfortunate blood-drinking habit?”

Roman’s demon didnotlike Luc bringing up their mate. “He knows what I am.”

“Does he really?”

“Really.”

Luc seemed to take in the deeper meaning. He always had understood Roman easily, except regarding the one incident that had torn their lives apart. His black eyes narrowed on Roman. “Are you telling me you’ve shown your little boyfriend your demon side? You must be very serious about him. Is it possible that Roman, thenonbeliever, thinks he’s actually found a mate?”

Roman said nothing. It was taking all his effort to keep his demon inside.

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