Page 76 of Roman

“Danny must be pleased.” Roman was glad his mate would have his brother there to keep him company in Roman’s absence, even if Roman hadn’t fully forgiven the man for not taking proper care of Danny over the years.

“Sure,” Soren said lightly. “Though why anyone would be pleased to have that dull rock around, I’m not sure. He could’ve figured out that one-armed thing on his own.”

Roman could hear Danny protesting again in the background, defending his brother. “Family is important to Danny. And now you will not have to go out of your way to follow Gabe.”

“I’mnotfollowing him anymore.” Soren’s reply was indignant. “I just thought, for a minute, that he might be half-interesting. But I was wrong. He’s straight and boring as dirt.”

Roman had a feeling it was the “straight” part that was really upsetting Soren, but he let it slide. He had enough drama on his own without getting into Soren’s.

“Take care of them for me?” Roman requested, hating that he was having to ask someone else to watch his mate for him.

“I will. Though I’d rather be kicking Luc’s ass than be on babysitting duty. Call me if you need backup?”

“I will.”

“Want me to kiss your mate goodbye for you?” Soren teased.

In the most even, pleasant voice he could muster, Roman replied, “Touch him and I rip your heart out of your chest, mon ami.”

“Noted, you beast.” Soren snorted.

“Put my mate back on the phone.”

Roman and Danny said their goodbyes then, in terms that Soren only protested as being “too mushy” twice. Roman was loath to let the boy go, but he needed to continue moving.

He looked down at the last text he’d sent Luc.

You wanted me, come get me. Let us hash it out, old friend.

Roman could only hope he wouldn’t be killed in the process.

Roman hadn’t been driving long when the answering text from Luc dinged on his phone.

So dramatic, brother. Meet me in Islington, corner of First and Ash.

That was only a half hour away. Luc had definitely been catching up nicely, then. Unfortunately, it was back in theotherdirection, and Roman would be heading back toward Danny rather than further away.

The meeting would not be as far away from his mate as Roman would have liked. He would have preferred to have as much distance as possible between any Luc outbursts and his lovely human. Days away, even. But if this meeting went poorly, Roman would just continue heading south, pulling Luc along with him.

Further and further away.

Roman’s chest ached at the thought.

South had been his original plan. Hyde Park had only been meant to be a stopping point. Of course, that had been before Roman had met Danny. It felt like a lifetime ago. Bizarre how much Roman’s goals had changed since meeting the boy.

He had been aimless, hopeless, on the run—both from Luc and from the inevitable crumbling of Roman’s hold on his own humanity. He and his demon had been at war with their urges. Now they had goals in common.

Protecting Danny. Possessing Danny.LovingDanny.

And Roman had faith, for the first time in forever, that he would not die alone, a monster.

“Your control is improving, Rome. Not enough for them to truly enjoy it yet, I don’t think, but you’ll get there.”

Lucien was licking the blood off his own lips, looking pleased at his protégé. They were in plush armchairs by the fire in his bedroom, across from Roman’s own in their shared apartment. It was grander than anywhere Roman had lived before. Their human guests, if one could call them that, had just left, compelled into confusion, a trick the older vampire had been teaching Roman over the past few weeks.

The weeks since Roman’s family had driven him away, their faces full of fear and confusion and hatred.

Lucien had told Roman not to return to his home, but he hadn’t been able to listen. Had been convinced his family would be able to see he was still the man from before. Convinced he could play the part of human.

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