Part 27
SANG:
"I showed you mine. Now it's your turn."
I muster all of my remaining strength and slap him across the face. Roman's head snaps to the side from the force and his cheek tints pink from the contact. I hear Wil gasp and I bite my lip to keep from screaming. I'm terrified. What the heck did I just do?
Roman's Adam's apple bobs up and down as swallows hard, and the veins in his neck stand out. Beneath me, I feel every one of his muscles has tensed up. Oh my God! What did I just do!?
Then, his head turns ever so slowly back to me, and his eyes are almost all pupil, with a tiny sliver of crimson surrounding. "Foreplay already, my little lioness? Save that for later. Now, it's time for you to feed."
His words are calm, but his voice is strained, as if it's taking him all his effort not to retaliate for my slap. "Never." I wish I could've said the word with more force, but I've been through a lot today. I don't know how much strength I've got left.
"You seem to be under the impression that I'm a patient man. Or maybe you're under the impression that you have a choice in the matter? Neither is true. Now bite."
I shake my head back and forth, lips pressed together like a toddler who doesn't want to eat their vegetables.
"Wil!" Roman shouts, "Show her."
Show me? Show me what? I tear my gaze from Roman's and watch as Wil hesitantly moves toward us.
"Why so slow, Winchester? Do you suddenly think you have a choice as well? Should I remind you of my mercy? Should we discuss your sister? Dear Kayli with her useful talents?" As he speaks, Roman's grip on my waist tightens, expressing his anger.
"No!" Wil says quickly, then amends himself, "No, sir."
He shuffles over and holds up his tablet so I can see the screen. It's a feed of a parking lot, and it shows my boys huddled together, talking. My heart hurts to see them—it feels like it's been so long. I feel as if I've entered into a nightmare, and they're the shining rays of hope.
"This is the mall's east lot. Directly inside the mall's east entrance, is this." He swipes at the screen, which shifts to another camera feed. The mall's hallway holds at least fifteen people.
Roman pulls me closer to his chest. "There are sixteen vampires there, pet. Eighteen superhumans against one and eight teenagers. What do you suppose the outcome of that fight will be?"
Wil's finger swipes the tablet screen again and it shows my boys. It looks like North hands Owen a knife, and I can't breathe. It feels as if the walls are closing in. I pant, gasping for air, but none enters my lungs.
Roman makes a cooing noise as if that will calm me, and holds my head in his hands. His eyes have reverted to normal, and staring into their gunmetal sheen focuses my breathing. "See? It's okay. Shhh."
I jerk my head from his hold and stare back at the tablet. Wil is staring downward, avoiding my eye contact. "Don't hurt them," I whisper.
"I don't want to hurt them, kitten. But I want you. So let's make a trade, hmm?" Roman recaptures my face with his hands so I'm forced to look at him. "Finish our bond, and your Academy boys and my traitor brother live to fight another day. Everybody wins."
"Everybody wins," I breathe out, almost ready to laugh at the crazy turn my life has taken. "How do you expect me to trust you'll keep your end of the deal?"
"Sang! I'm crushed. I've done nothing but provide for you and take care of you!" Roman's eyebrows raise in offense. Then he grins, because really—he knows he's already won. I can't risk calling his bluff. I would never let anything happen to my boys, or Owen. And Roman knows that.
"No harm comes to them, Roman." This time my voice isn't meek. It's steel. "I mean it."
"Yes," he purrs, running his thumb over my lips. "Show me those claws." Then he blinks. "You just called me Roman."
"I will never call you Master."
Roman leans down so his lips are a hair away from mine. "You will be the only one worthy."
He doesn't kiss me like I expected him to. Instead, he turns and tells Wil, "Call them off and start the car. We'll be out in a minute."
Wil leaves immediately, casting one quick, tortured look at me before running out of the door.
"Now," Roman leans back against the couch, placing his hands behind his head—the picture of confidence. "It's time."
I close my eyes and take ten seconds for myself—my last ten seconds as myself, how I was.
Ten. I was finally happy. I finally had a family. I would miss them.
Nine. Victor, fire eyes and musical fingers, always tapping.
Eight. Kota, calm, collected, intelligent. Green eyes focused and beautiful.
Seven. Gabriel, hilarious comments, always making me smile.
Six. Nathan, tough, with protective arms, and his sweet side.
Five. Luke, never-ending goofiness and fun, baking with me.
Four. Silas, non-judgement and easy friendship.
Three. North, silent strength, knowing he'd always be there.
Two. Sean, caregiver, nurturer.
One. Owen, lover, my other half...
I open my eyes. Ten seconds. I gave myself ten seconds to mourn the old Sang, because I know I'll never be the same.
I stare at Roman's neck, seeing the faintest pulsing at his throat. I lean forward and inhale at his collarbone, breathing in blood and fire. I feel my fangs descend, and know my eyes have gone red as well. I open my mouth to latch on, but he suddenly pulls my head back.
"Let me look at you," he mutters. Roman's breathing is coming faster now, and I realize he's—I don't know—anxious?
His eyes scan my face, and he licks his lips as he takes in my scarlet irises and tiny fangs. "Perfect," he whispers, then pulls my head to his throat.
I sink my canines into his neck and I'm not gentle. But of course, he likes that. Roman groans and grips my hair, pushing me harder into his flesh.
The first sip is like jumping into ice water—my body goes into shock. But the more I pull into my body, the warmer I get. After just a moment I feel as if I'm burning up—literally on fire. It's weird, but not painful.
Finally, he releases my head and I fall backward, off his lap and the couch completely. I sit there, looking up at him, gasping.
My body is reacting to his blood, and it's the strangest sensation. All of the electricity I feel with Owen comes up to the surface, and it clashes with Roman's flames. I'm tingly and hot, and I feel like I'm going to explode from the competing feelings.
Finally, my body stops trembling.
The fire won.
Roman had gotten to his feet, now he holds out a hand to me. "Come, lioness."
I swallow, licking the remaining blood from my lips, and I slip my hand in his.
____________________________
Wow!
150 pages—57,243 words later...
THE END!
(of book one—I may be able to be convinced to writing a sequel...)
I know this ending is going to piss a lot of you guys off, sorry about that! It's the ending I had in my head from the start, and I tried to change it, I tried to be a good person, but I couldn't! :( Don't hate me!
Thanks for reading and sticking by me!
xoxo, SB