Chapter 21 #4
Caroline's eyes dart to the side, refusing to meet my own, and Josiah pats Tobias on the back, walking toward their car, grabbing Caroline’s hand, and tugging her along with him. Tobias walks me up the front veranda and we climb the stairs. I wait until his parents are out of view, and turn to him.
“What the fuck is going on Tobias, who is he?” It’s another fucking secret! They know they can tell me and save me from all this confusion.
Tobias growls at my tone of voice, but I’m sick of no one telling me what is going on. “He was a member of the council. He is also the same man who turned Theo and his parents.”
I stare at him. What? That didn't... Should I really be surprised Caroline has lied to me just as her sons keep lying to me? I want to strangle the lot of them. “But Caroline said she never saw the crazy vampire doctor again.” Was there more to the story she was hiding from me?
“Look, that's all you need to know right now. My mother didn’t lie, we haven't seen him since. He left the council before we even knew about it. We only found out he was a council member, upon visiting the council for the first time. His photo hung in their gallery. He went missing the year he changed them. We thought he had been killed by hunters because no one, including the council, has seen him since. But that photo proves he is still alive.”
I stare at Tobias. In all the time I'd known him, he'd never been that forthright with answers.
He actually answered so much with that one sentence, and despite the situation, relief flows through me.
Maybe it won't be impossible for us if we can be honest like this. “If he is alive, why is he in a photo with me and my mother, and why don’t I remember meeting him?” This is all becoming too much and so god damn confusing.
“I’m not sure who he is to you, but my parents will find out.
Shit, they forgot to take your blood.” Tobias strides inside and goes to the wine rack.
He presses down on the wooden top and it springs open, the lid opening to reveal a hidden compartment.
He takes something out. It is a bulky phone; he turns the screen on and dials a number.
I stare dumbfounded. I thought they didn’t have a way of contacting anyone out here?
Clearly, I was wrong. And just like that, another secret.
Someone must answer. “You forgot to take a blood sample.” I can’t hear the other half of the conversation, but I know he is talking to his parents. “Okay, I’ll bring her over on Thursday.” And he hangs up the phone.
“You have cell service out here?” I ask, annoyed. I want to take the phone and smack him with it. How many cracks would it take to get to the brain of a stubborn asshole werewolf? I’m dying to find out. And maybe it would force him to start telling me the whole truth more often.
“It’s a satellite phone. On Thursday you are coming to meet the council so they can run some tests.
” My throat burns with rising bile, and my stomach threatens to expel everything I've eaten for the last week. I don’t want to go to the council to meet the same people who will decide my fate.
What if they decide it is time to forcibly change me themselves and I have no way to escape?
Tobias, seeing how nervous I become, places the phone back in the cupboard before closing the lid and wrapping his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. I relax against him, and he rests his chin on top of my head. “Don’t be scared, I won’t let them hurt you, Imogen.”
Hurt me? He wants to do worst to me than that because he can't bear to treat me like a real person and not just a possession. “No, you will just let them kill me,” I say, stepping back and away from him. He sighs before turning and heading toward the living room.
Theo is still in the exact same position on the armchair by the fireplace. A perfect statue. I’m worried about him, but everyone keeps saying he will be okay. “How long will he remain like that?” I ask, placing a hand on his shoulder. He doesn't even blink at my touch.
“I’m not sure, hopefully not long.”
I get on the couch and turn the TV on and put a movie on.
I’m mentally drained. I try to watch the movie, but it’s hard seeing Theo out of the corner of my eye sitting so still.
It gives me the creeps. Tobias is obviously used to Theo going into this state.
He doesn't even glance over at him. Instead, his big warm hand rests on my thigh, rubbing my flesh, circling higher and higher.
I rolled onto my back, escaping his touch for the moment.
The bond wants me to give in, to let him have his way, but I fight against it.
“When we go to the council, will they decide then how much time I have left?” Tobias gazes at me before climbing between my legs, his arms resting on either side of my head as he holds the weight of his body off mine.
“I’m not sure, but Theo and I will be with you, so will my parents, so don’t be worried. You may think they don’t like you, but they do. They just aren’t used to dealing with humans. They won’t let anyone hurt you either, Imogen,” he says, kissing my forehead.
My resolve against the damn bond melts. Tobias has shown more warmth and honesty to me in these few minutes than he has our entire relationship.
When he pulls back, I kiss him. He smiles against my lips before he thrusts his hips into me.
He’s already hard underneath his pants, and I moan as his lips move to my neck and he sucks on the skin.
My eyes flutter, my head leaning back, and I freeze.
Theo's still form is directly over his shoulder, still staring off blankly.
I know he isn't there, not really watching us, but it makes me shiver.
“What is it?” Tobias asks.
“Theo is creeping me out staring off like that,” I explain. Am I a horrible person for saying something like that?
Tobias glances over his shoulder before sitting up. “I can try and wake him?"
“How did you wake him last time?” He has a silly smirk on his face. If he had a way of waking him, he should have done that earlier.
“By touching him,” he says, his lips turning up slightly, obviously remembering the last time he was in this state.
I laugh, of course he would wake up. Well, if he wants to just stand there and be all lost, I was going to get some vengeance.
At least on one of these men. I stand and Tobias watches me. “What are you going to do?”
I know it’s childish but right now, I’m bored. “You got a Sharpie?” I ask with a silly smile on my face, lighting up at my idea.
Tobias's eyebrows furrow in confusion. He stands and strides off before coming back with a permanent marker. “What do you want that for?”