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Soren’s face briefly showed his surprise before he hid it behind another smirk. “And? Did he tell you the same thing I always tell you? That you did nothing wrong, that Luc is just an overdramatic psycho whose only answer to eternal boredom is to mess with you?”

Roman gave a mirthless laugh. “Not in so many words, but yes—he agreed with your general feeling.”

“And what about you turning him? Has he agreed to that?”

Jesus, right to the heart of things. Soren never pulled his punches.

Roman found himself crossing his arms over his chest. “I have not brought it up.”

“You’re kidding me.” Soren rolled his eyes. “What are you waiting for?”

Roman walked over to the overstuffed couch in the middle of the room. He suddenly felt he needed to be seated for this conversation. “He is not ready.”

“Did he tell you that himself?”

“I just know.” Who on this earth would be ready to willingly turn themselves into a monster when there was any other option?

Soren gave a mocking laugh. “Well, what I know, dear friend, is that your potential mate there is incredibly breakable in his current state. It would take Luc all of two seconds to dispose of him. Permanently.”

Roman’s demon was pressing up tight against his skin at the thought. Danny bleeding out, Danny lying dead at his feet. Roman took deep, slow breaths, pushing the rage down, fighting to regain control.

Soren pressed on mercilessly. “You know Luc is going to fixate on him. He already has, if he’s been watching you long enough to see your fight with the petty criminal.

He saw you protect the boy. He knows what that means.

If you turn Danny, he’ll be so much stronger.

He’ll stand an actual chance if Luc catches him without you or me there. ”

Roman growled his frustration. “He’s not ready .”

“So you’ll what…take the boy and run?”

Roman shook his head, frustrated. “He won’t go. He has…responsibilities here. Something with his mother. I think she’s not well.”

“Can’t Doctor Muscles handle the mother? Isn’t that what older brothers are for?”

“It seems not. I do not know all the intricacies of their relationship, but Danny seems to be doing it all on his own.”

Soren threw up his hands. “Well, Jesus, Rome, you’re not giving yourself a lot of options here.” He hesitated, then narrowed his eyes. “Unless…”

Roman knew where this was headed but wasn’t ready to say it on his own. He needed Soren to finish the thought for him. “Unless what?”

“Unless you’re ready to finally deal with Luc properly. It’s the only real way to keep yourself and Danny safe.”

And there it was. The only definite, permanent solution to the Luc problem. All it took was Roman murdering his oldest friend, his vampire brother, the man who’d seen something in him and saved his life so long ago on the battlefield.

Except…

“He hasn’t killed me yet,” Roman murmured. “Even after all this time. Hasn’t really tried to in decades, not after the first two incidents.”

“No, he hasn’t. I guess you both have the same…twisted loyalty.” Soren didn’t sound too impressed. “But you don’t think he’s going to be—oh, I don’t know—incredibly triggered by you finding your human mate while he’s still wiling away in endless misery, all thanks to you?”

Roman huffed a humorless laugh. “I thought you said I did nothing wrong.”

“We both know Luc feels differently. And while he may have loyalty to you , he has no loyalty to your human.”

“He was my brother,” Roman insisted.

“Way back when, maybe, yes,” Soren conceded. “But is there even anything left of Luc in there, Roman? When was the last time you actually spoke to him? If he’s truly gone feral, you’d be doing him a favor.”

“And would you do the same to me?” Roman questioned defensively. “If I started inconveniencing your life, would you put me down so easily?”

Soren just laughed. “Easily? He’s been tormenting you for decades, Rome.” He looked Roman dead in the eyes. “And yes, if you lost yourself, lost all sense of what made you Roman, and started to threaten those I love? I would put you down.”

“And who is there that you love, Soren?” Roman regretted it as soon as he said it. He knew he was being unfair, turning his anger against Soren instead of himself.

“Careful, Roman,” Soren warned, his voice taking on an icy edge. “I would count you among the few, I think. But even then, my patience has limits.”

And Roman should be grateful for that patience, was the unspoken threat.

Sometimes Roman forgot how deadly his beautiful friend truly was. He came across as almost dainty, with his petite stature, delicate features, and flair for fashion. But with age came strength, and Soren was much, much older than Roman. “My apologies, old friend. I did not mean anything by it.”

Soren sighed lightly and broke eye contact, examining his nails. “You did, but luckily I’m feeling magnanimous. Take me to my room. You can make it up for me in the morning with pancakes.”

His friend really did love everything human, even the food.

After showing Soren to the guest room, Roman returned to Danny’s room.

His mate was still sleeping soundly, hugging one of his pillows to his chest tightly, as if to make up for Roman’s absence from his bed.

Roman slipped under the covers and curled himself around his mate’s back.

He inhaled deeply, taking in that unique milk-and-honey scent that was Danny’s alone, soothing himself and his demon like a drug.

He didn’t understand the feelings this boy stirred in him. How could he feel protective of another creature so quickly? How could he be entertaining putting down someone he had so much history with like a dog, just to ensure the safety of a man he’d met not even a week ago?

And why wasn’t he more troubled by it all?

All he knew was that he and his demon both wanted Danny. They wanted to keep him, and they would do anything to ensure the boy stayed safe.

Anything , he promised as Danny gave a little sigh and pressed back against Roman, searching for maximum contact even in his sleep.

Roman tightened his arms around his mate, finally allowing his eyes to close and his brain to quiet.

Roman would not let Luc take this from him.