Filed to story: Sinful Mates (Imogen) Book by Jessica Hall
I glance at Josiah, but I have a feeling he is a black coffee, no sugar type of man. “Black no sugar,” he says. So my guess is correct, I busy myself, making coffee.
I hand them their coffees before leaning on the island counter with my coffee in my hands. Caroline goes to say something but is cut off by her husband.
“So, all this trouble for you. Although, I’m surprised you even came downstairs, most humans would run.”
“Well, I suppose I’m not like most humans then,” I state. My words make me question my own sanity. Maybe there is something really wrong with me. I do seem to be questioning everything at the moment, especially my sanity. “So, you don’t have a problem with your sons being bisexual, but have a problem with me being human, correct?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Correct, it is against the rules we have lived by for centuries. I have nothing against you personally, Imogen. How could I? I barely know you. But you don’t understand the risk my sons are taking by keeping you.” The way he speaks is like I’m their pet, not a person.
I nod. I do understand their reasons but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw my life away for the sake of a few broken rules. If no one knows I exist, why is it a problem? Caroline clears her throat awkwardly, obviously fearing this is going to become another argument that she would be stuck in between.
“I’m not changing. I don’t want to be like Tobias or Theo, I like my humanity,” I say, not taking my eyes off him.
“You won’t be given the choice if that’s the case, Imogen. There are only two options for you: death or change. You need to hurry up and embrace one.” I hear Tobias growl behind me. The sound is low and deep in his chest, it gives me goosebumps.
“I never asked for any of this. My choice has already been taken from me. I have been held prisoner here for weeks, and now you’re saying I don’t have a choice, yet I’m still alive. If you’re going to kill me, get it over with then,” I challenge.
His lips tug up into a sly smile. “I like her, she has sass. But you boys are aware it’s going to get her killed,” he says, looking at both of them behind me. I know they won’t allow their father to hurt me. While they stand behind me, I feel safe enough to say what I need to say. This choice they are trying to make isn’t theirs to decide but mine, and I’m fine with being the way I am. Either they all accept that or I leave, one way or another. I don’t want this man deciding my fate.
I look at the grandfather clock, it is a little after 4AM. Noticing the time makes me yawn. I quickly swallow my coffee down, hoping to give myself some energy. Josiah keeps his eyes on me the entire time. I’m very aware of his gaze. It reminds me of a snake about to strike.
We sit and stand in awkward silence for a few seconds, everyone drinking their coffee. “If you refuse to be changed, what sort of future do you see yourself having with my sons? You will grow old and then die. I’m not sure if they told you this but a mate bond…”
Tobias cuts him off. “She doesn’t need to know anything else father, I won’t have her decision swayed because you’re speaking nonsense.”
“She has a right to know, not that it will matter when she is dead, which by the sounds of it will be sooner rather than later, son.”
Tobias goes to say something, but I stop him speaking first. “I want to know, finish what you were going to say.”
His father grins triumphantly, like he won. “Like I was saying, a mate bond doesn’t just stop or go away after you die. If something were to happen to you, they would never be able to take another woman again. Mates are for life, not like you humans with this whole death do us part nonsense. Something happens to you, they will forever be left with each other, and that’s only if your death doesn’t send them crazy. Losing a mate, I have heard, is equivalent to losing part of your soul.”
His words make my heart skip a beat. They know even if I say no that me leaving could destroy them, yet they marked me anyway. Did they just assume I would bow down to their needs? The thought scares me; I don’t want to be the reason for their destruction. I also never asked for any of this. Yet, if I chose wrong either way I’ll die or be killed, the options aren’t all that appealing. I also worry that eventually, aging I’ll look beyond their immortal age. I will be older than them if I do stay human. Will they still want me when I’m old and wrinkly like a worn-out leather handbag?
I look toward them, Theo and Tobias are watching me. “You knew marking me could destroy you, yet you still did it?”
“You will understand once the mate bond kicks in, Imogen. Don’t think too much of it right now, please. Ignore my father, he is just rambling,” Theo says. The mate bond, everything comes down to this invisible bond we are supposed to have. I find myself more needy of them, but do I feel the same way as they do about me, I’m not so sure.
“Something to think about, Imogen,” Josiah says. I nod but don’t answer, too busy stuck in my own head, which is trying to grasp what the hell Tobias was thinking when he marked me.
“We will head off; I will give you as much time as I can boys, but either convince her or…” He glances in my direction, he doesn’t finish the sentence, instead stands up, his wife following after him. I follow them to the door and his mother kisses my cheek softly before getting in their red convertible.
I turn and walk inside, with Tobias and Theo chasing after me.
“I’m sorry, Imogen. I didn’t know they would show up before the month ended,” Tobias says when I shut the door.
“How long do I have?” I whisper.
“Pardon?” Tobias asks.
I can hear the fear in his voice, like he thinks I have already chosen death. To be honest, I was planning on remaining human, but after what his father said, can I really go ahead with my decision, knowing how badly it will affect Tobias and Theo?
“How long do I have before I have to decide?” I ask louder.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?