Chapter 16 #7
His father grins triumphantly, like he won the dispute.
Let him have this moment. What he has to say was more important.
“As I said, a mate bond doesn’t just stop or go away after you die.
If something happens to you, they will never take another woman again.
Mates are for life, not like you humans with this whole death do us part nonsense.
If 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. ”
I shudder. His words make my heart skip a beat. They knew, even if I said no, that my leaving could destroy them, yet they marked me, anyway. Did they just assume I would bow down to their needs? The thought scared me. I didn’t want to be the reason for their destruction.
What will happen when I age past their immortal ages? When I’m old and wrinkly like a worn-out leather handbag? Will they still want me? I can't imagine myself having a session like we'd endured such a short time ago. I'd break a hip or two, maybe even a rib. Why did this have to be so complicated?
I stared down Theo and Tobias, both watching me, preparing themselves for whatever I'd choose. "You knew marking me could destroy you, yet you still did it, why?"
“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 said.
Again with the mate bond. Everything always comes down to that invisible bond we are supposed to have. How can they be so sure it will even work with a human? Sure, I find myself needing them more, but can I honestly say I feel the same way about them as they do about me?
“Something to think about, Imogen,” Josiah says. I nod but don’t answer because I’m busy stuck in my own head, 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, letting his words trail off.
He stands, his wife mirroring his movements.
I follow them to the door, and his mother kisses my cheek softly.
Before getting in their red convertible.
I turn and head back 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. His eyes search mine, a desperation glowing inside. The peace we'd shared seemed an eternity ago.
“How long do I have?” I whisper.
“Pardon?” Tobias asks. Fear laces his voice, making his words tremble, like he thinks I have already chosen death.
To be honest, I had planned on remaining human, but after what his father said, can I really go ahead with my decision, knowing how badly it will affect these two?
How it will leave them broken without me. It’s hard to even think about it.
“How long do I have before I have to decide?” I press softly. The last thing I want is to waste any of our time in an argument.
“Till the end of the month,” Theo says, moving next to me.
So, we had nine days, that was it.
“What are you thinking?” asks Tobias, his gaze softening from his usual penetrating glare.
“I don’t know what to think, but it’s clear I never had a choice in anything.
You took that choice, and one thing I can’t fucking stand, Tobias, is not being able to control my own life.
You made sure of that when you bloody marked me, knowing full well what the repercussions were going to be. , I snarl, pointing at him.
I’m so mad at him. Not only is he forcing my hand, but he also put Theo at risk. What he has done is selfish. If he hadn’t marked me, our lives would never have changed. None of this would have happened, and I would still be clueless about what they are.
“It’s not that simple. You don’t know what it’s like when you find your mate because you are human. We would have marked you eventually anyway. We wouldn’t have been able to help it, the bond doesn’t give us a choice.”
I giggle, they probably think I'd gone mad because I’m laughing about this entire situation. I was so over hearing about this bloody stupid mate bond. If it had been an option, I'd have carved the skin off my body and tossed it away.
“Fuck you, Tobias, and you can shove this whole mate bond up your ass. I’m done.
” I turn to walk toward the stairs, only to be spun around and smack into Theo, who glares at me.
I push past him, only for him to grab my arm in a tight grip.
I turn to look at him, but the look on his face makes me take a step back.
I glance at Tobias, his face also holds the same deadly stare.
The laughter about any of this died away.
Were they ready to show me their true feelings about this?
To lock me away until this dumb ass bond of theirs takes effect and I’m forced to be their willing slave?
Will I offer my life to them at that point?
I answered their stare with one of my own. I will not be broken, not even by them.