Page 68 of Roman

Soren gave a little cough. Was Roman imagining it or was Soren blushing ever so slightly? “Whatever,” he huffed. “Just don’t go forward with any insane, Luc-related plans without filling me in first, okay? I don’t want your bleeding heart getting one of my best friends killed.”

That was more like the Soren Roman knew. “I’m touched,” Roman drawled.

“Shut it. Save the mush for your boyfriend.” Soren walked out, and they listened to the sounds of his footsteps heading up the stairs, presumably to the guest bedroom.

Roman reached across the table to grab Danny’s hand. He needed to be touching his mate. His demon was restless, frustrated with the distractions keeping them from getting answers. “So…forever.”

That delicious flush stole across Danny’s cheeks and down his neck as the boy fidgeted in his chair. “There’s a lot to discuss before we even get to that. And—and you haven’t even asked me, so…”

Roman turned Danny’s hand over and placed a kiss on his palm. “Daniel Kingman. Lovely mate, my little king. Would you do me the honor of solidifying our mate bond, staying always by my side? Would you turn for me?”

Danny’s flush deepened as he swallowed roughly. He was adorable in his embarrassment. “I’ll think about it. We have other things to focus on right now. Also, I might be a little drunk.”

Roman fought off his disappointment. It may not have been a resounding yes, but he knew his mate wasn’t another Victoria. He wouldn’t toy with Roman—wouldn’t bring up eternity if he didn’t have serious thoughts about following through.

“All right, little king. Although, there are…logistics we would need to consider, when you are up for the discussion.”

“Like what?”

“It is often…difficult for a newly turned vampire, Danny. It can be hard to control your demon. They tend to wake up hungry, to take control more easily in the beginning, demanding to be fed. And families and friends tend to notice new changes like black eyes and fangs. You would most likely have to leave for a time, while you adjusted. And I know you have…responsibilities here.”

He watched as Danny frowned in thought, swaying slightly in his chair. Definitely a little drunk.

“We can discuss it all another time. We should get you something to eat and put you to bed.”

“It’s not even nighttime.” Danny’s lower lip pushed out in a delicious pout.

“You barely slept at all today. You must be exhausted.”

Danny nodded with a frown but grabbed at Roman’s hand when he tried to free it to stand up from his chair. “Wait. I want you—I want you to promise me something. While I have the courage to ask.” He took a deep breath before speaking again. “If I do turn out…monstrous. If I become feral. You’ll put me down. You won’t leave me to be a killer.”

The very thought of it was like a sharp knife pressing into Roman’s chest. His demon howled inside him at the thought, but Roman didn’t let the sound out. He forced himself to stay calm. Danny didn’t need his rage. He needed his reassurance. Even so. “I do not know if I can promise that, mon amour.”

Danny squeezed his hand in understanding. “Please just think about it.”

Roman found himself agreeing, but he already knew his answer.

He didn’t know what it said about his own character, clearly nothing good, but if he had a choice between a monstrous Danny and a world without Danny at all, he would take the monster.

As far as Roman was concerned, the rest of the world was expendable. His mate was not.

seventeen

Danny

“Thewholething,”Romansaid, tilting the water glass up so Danny was forced to finish its contents.

I mean, really, Danny thought.I’m not a baby.

But he didn’t actually protest. Only stood there, blinking stupidly, as Roman took the glass away. Maybe whiskey on an empty stomach after only two hours of sleep had been a dumb idea after all, but Danny had been shaken by his separate encounters with Gabe and Luc. He’d needed something to steady his nerves, to give him courage to address the issue with the two vampires in his house.

Now he just needed something to steady his legs.

Roman had already made him eat some toast, and Danny had sobered up accordingly, but the exhaustion was catching up to him physically. Now his vampire was turning the bed down for him like some kind of manservant.

Some kind ofsexymanservant.Mm.

“Come on,” Roman urged. “Time for bed. Strip.”

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