Page 55 of Roman

Luc carried on regardless. “Aren’t you the one who told me this was it? Demons driven by blood and sex and violence—no magical solution, no human calming balm?”

For a semiferal monster, he had a good memory. “I was just saying what I thought,” Roman defended. “I did not know any more than you did. You were hopeful; I was cautious.”

“And now you’re a true believer, are you?” Luc jeered.

“I could not tell you what I believe, Luc.” He didn’twantto tell Luc what he believed. He didn’t want his relationship with Danny poisoned by past mistakes.

Lucien laughed then. It wasn’t the exuberant laugh Roman had heard so often in the past. It was a harsh sound. Grating. “You doubt yourself, don’t you? You doubted me, and now you doubt yourself. Always so consistent, Roman.” He stalked closer. “Afraid you’ll turn him and he’ll be just another monster? A sadistic disappointment like me?”

Roman held his ground. “This is not something I feel the need to discuss with you, Luc. Why are youhere?”

“Why am I here?” Luc smirked. “I thought that was the deal we made. You and me. Whither you go, so do I. Right, mon ami?”

“I think that deal was broken when you tried to kill me, Lucien.”

”Psh,” Luc scoffed, “what’s a little disagreement between friends? You’d broken my heart. I wanted to break yours. I just took it a little more…literally. Besides, I haven’t tried to kill you in decades. Over half a century.”

It was true. Although, Roman hadn’t been letting him get close enough to try.

Roman wasn’t exactly sure what Luc wanted with him anymore. His old friend’s goal in recent decades seemed to be to try and annoy Roman more than anything. Drive him out of town after town, either by his presence alone or by piling up the bodies and threatening to break Roman’s cover.

Was his whole goal just to remind Roman of past sins, future madness?

Roman couldn’t take that risk. Because if anything was going to set Luc off, break the armistice they’d found themselves in, it was going to be discovering that Roman had found himself a mate. The very thing Luc felt so sure that Roman had deprived him of.

Roman’s hope now was that it was worth trying to talk it out. That perhaps his former friend could still be reached.

“Lucien,” Roman breathed out. “About Victoria…I am sorry, all right? I tried to honor what she wanted.”

Luc was by all appearances unmoved by the mention of his former love’s name. “I see Soren’s been sticking around,” he announced in an abrupt change of subject.

Roman shrugged. “Yes. He comes around from time to time.”

“Ah, but not just that,” Luc contradicted. “Living together now, aren’t you?”

That answered the question of whether Luc had been watching Danny’s house. Roman felt his blood quicken and his demon seethe at the thought.

They needed Luc gone. They needed their mate safe.

Roman forced himself to focus. “We stay together for the time being. Not for long. He will move on soon. And you should do the same.”

Luc glanced over his shoulder. “Is that right, Soren? Moving on soon?”

Roman started as his blond friend stepped out of the shadows at the edge of the alleyway. First he’d been too absorbed in memories to notice Luc’s approach. Now he had been so distracted by his confrontation he hadn’t even noticed Soren nearby.

Goddamn it.

It was sloppy. Inexcusable.

Soren said nothing in response to Luc’s greeting. Just leaned against the wall at the end of the alley, hands in his pockets.

“So what’s this?” Lucien questioned brightly. “The two of you are finally going to kill me? Put me down for my own good? The righteous Roman and his little sidekick.”

Roman decided to try for reason one more time before violence broke out. “Victoria—”

“Fuck Victoria!” Luc roared, black eyes flashing and fangs gleaming. “This isn’taboutVictoria. It was supposed to beus! After all your promises, all your assurances, youleftme. Youabandonedme.”

“You tried to kill me!” Roman protested.

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