Once he stepped into the bright hallway, he didn’t look back; he heard Ella’s comment and smiled.
“Wow, just wow. I’ve never seen you in a dress—ever.”
An outburst of laughter followed, and he knew Isabella would be fine with the soul-shifter. Marcus led him down the narrow hallway and through to a side room. A large, well-organized office surrounded by ancient books lining the wall-to-floor bookshelves and the pungent smell of rich cigars lingered. The need for a stiff drink and a smoke washed over him. As if the other man instinctively knew, he studied his broad shoulders as the clink of glasses caught his attention. The ex-Navy SEAL was a heavier build than he was, and he wondered about his strength as he was a soul-shifter, which meant not human. The rough, chiseled man handed him a glass, which he accepted as he flopped down into the upright leather chair, and he pinched his nose before talking.
“Thank you, Roman. I know what you did couldn’t have been easy.”
The unexpected words of understanding shocked him. He knew a little of the man he faced. Taking a large sip of the rich liquor, he shifted in the seat and rubbed his chin, admiring the man’s thick beard.
“Turning a human into a vampire isn’t a walk in the park, and it isn’t something we take lightly. We do it out of necessity. When the numbers are low and we need partners, and sometimes out of pity.”
Marcus didn’t sit behind the desk, which he suspected was Steel’s; he sat opposite him, swirling his drink and matching his stare.
“I suspect that display in there was to teach Isabella and Jake a lesson?”
Roman didn’t need to explain his actions to anyone, but he admired Marcus and the way he cared for his wife. He knew their history and the difficulties they had faced. The man had made mistakes, but he was fighting for his family, which was exactly what he was doing.
“By the laws of my kind, Isabella is mine and as such, under my protection. It was my decision to either change her or not, regardless of what anyone else said. I understand the emotional hang-ups humans have, especially when faced with death. It makes them irrational and unable to think straight—I accept that.”
“Jake may be human, but he was a Navy SEAL. We make life-and-death decisions all the time, but I do not believe he fully understood what becoming a vampire would involve. How could he? He simply couldn’t let her die.”
Roman nodded and wiped his chin with his hand. “Forgive me, but Jake is in love with Isabella, and that makes him act foolishly. Anyway, it’s of no consequence any longer because she is a vampire and that cannot be undone.” He tapped his fingers on the end of the chair, restless and gazing out the window for distraction, all the while wondering how the witch was doing.
“Well, that makes two of you! Roman, you may think you have everyone fooled, but I know the look of a man in love, whether mortal or not. From the moment I met you, the way you shadow the witch is out of a need to ensure she’s safe. That stems from love. Otherwise, what you say makes no sense. You’re not mated. You could have the pick of females to choose from as the prince. I bring this up because we need to close the matter on this rivalry. We’re dispatching Henry in forty-eight hours, and I’m sending Jake’s team as backup, which means they will be away for an indefinite period. This will give you some breathing room to sort this relationship out once and for all.”
“I see—I’m not sure I agree, but thanks for the insight. But forgive me when I say if I need advice about my love life, you’re the last person I would ask. I’ve heard the mess you have made with your own. As for Jake, I’m giving Isabella some time with her friends. The need to feed will outweigh every other desire. I would say an hour tops before that impulse becomes overbearing.”
Roman knew that once Isabella fed, the craving for sex would call to her. Would Jake allow her to feed from him? As he wondered over his actions, he pinched the bridge of his nose. The need to claim her and take her away instead of letting whatever would happen, happen intensified. Maybe Drayton was right and this anguish was love, but he didn’t like it. Outside, the snow gathered on the thick branches, promising a harsh winter.
“But Isabella has to take control. Now, tell me, how is Steel?” Roman asked, wanting a change of topic, as well as being curious as to the leader’s condition.
“He’s recovering, and should be back to screaming at everyone in record time.”
“And your son, Nate?”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed. He sat forward as the chair squeaked. “Safe—with Zephra, until all of this is over.”
“I understand, but even when you think those you love are safe, life intervenes.”
Roman downed his glass. His innocent and pretty wife Sofia gave him two healthy sons, but the poor economy in Italy didn’t help his family when he went to war to fight the Spanish. He left those he loved behind vulnerable and alone. He thought they would be safe. When he returned a vampire, he discovered his family had died, but not from starvation or war—something far worse. He wiped his mouth.
“I was married once before. Her name was Sofia. She was generous with her affections, warm and loving. Everything a woman should be. She gave me two strong sons, Matteo and Raoul. Dark and always in trouble like me, but while I was fighting in the war, the plague infested my village. They died alone and in terrible pain. Family is
