His arm tightened around me for a moment. I heard the regret in his voice. "I have to go. The Roane Family could've doubled back."
I bit back tears, but I couldn't fight the wave of sadness that washed over me. He was always leaving. "When?"
"In a few minutes." He hesitated a moment. "Bastion's been waiting for me. Once I return and learn how things are, I will come back or I'll send for you."
"I can't go back to a normal life, Roane." My eyes searched his. He must know this. "I can't be the college student anymore. Too many people know about me. Pippa, the wolves." Who else?
He nodded and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. "I know. Trust me, I know."
"I'm coming back. I'm going to be at your side. We're stronger together than we are apart."
He held my gaze for a moment, a long moment. The minute stretched into another and then a third. My heart pounded the whole time and I held my breath. Was he going to accept my plea? He couldn't protect me any longer. I had to start fighting on my own. It was time for everyone to learn who I was. I felt it in my bones and I felt the thirst within me. I wanted to fight.
"I know, Davy. You don't have to worry, I'm going back to check on everybody. If the Roane Family has returned, I won't risk my best warriors. I'll go alone. Don't worry. If I need you guys, you'll be the first to know. Gavin and the rest have strict instructions to never leave your side. Think of them as your personal entourage."
"Great," I groaned. "Wren is part of my entourage."
"She's not so bad," he teased. "She might act tough, but she's grown a little fond of you. I can tell."
No matter what he said, that vampire was still tough. She might be happy with Tracey among the group, but I knew if or when things went south between them, Wren would blame me. There was nothing logical about my speculation, just a gut feeling.
"Tracey asked if she could speak with you."
I took a breath. She wanted me to tell her about her mother and sister. Did Talia want me to tell her about the child?
"Roane, do you think I should tell her about Talia's daughter?"
There was silence for a moment and then he murmured, "I think Tracey would be indebted to you for the rest of your life if you did."
"So should I tell her?"
"If you were Talia and you had a child, would you want your sister to be told?"
I closed my eyes as a wave of sadness washed over me. "I would want her to be told."
"There's your answer. And Davy?"
"Hmmm?" I looked up.
He kissed me softly and whispered against my lips, "Can we not talk anymore?"
"Why?" But the sudden darkening in his eyes told me and I felt my own desire leap in response.
"I think you know why," he responded, his eyes half closed already. Then he reached for me and it wasn't long before both of us were groaning.
It was an hour later before we could even move from the bed. When I thought of going to the bathroom, my mind screamed in protest. My bladder didn't agree and I tore myself from the bed to dash for the bathroom. When I came back, Roane was sitting on the edge of the be
d. The blankets pooled around his waist and the Roane tattoo was prominent on his arm.
I traced it as I sat beside him. "You're not a Roane anymore." It felt weird to say that.
He glanced at me and then lifted one of my legs onto his lap. As he caressed my thigh, he murmured, "I'll always be a Roane. I'm just not on their side with this one."
"You think you will be in the future? Can you go back to them?"
"They're wrong about you. I hope they figure that out, but history is filled with moments when leaders make wrong decisions. They rarely apologize."
I was about to say something about how they should apologize, but someone knocked on the door. Roane was across the room in a flash. He stuck his head out and then he looked back. "Gregory spotted a new army approaching. I have to go."