“Again. What is your point?” asked Roman. “That Wi-Fi is better?”
Okay. Was Roman on vampire drugs too or just plain dumb?
“I meant,” Stark explained calmly, “that we need a leader who is above the fray—above the temptation of her ego, above greed or the need for power. And that vampire is Anna, our resurrectedqueen, but she is only driven by her heart and love for our world. She will not side with you.”
“Why not? I’m a supermodel. And super, super good looking.”
Okay, vampire Zoolander.Roman was dumber than my sock. So then why was Stark bothering with him? And why would any vampire follow him?
Maybe that was the point. Roman would make a great figurehead, easily controlled by a small group—the vampires really in charge. I didn’t know, but it fit what I’d learned about their kind. Sneaky. Everything done behind the scenes.
“Why not?” Stark said to Roman. “Because Anna lovesme, and when we marry for a second time, I can guide her—balance out her youthful passion with my tempered wisdom.”
“How does Anna feel about that?” Roman asked. “I want to ask her myself.”
“No,” Stark said firmly. “I cannot allow her to be tainted by your insanity.”
“Then we go to war,” Roman announced.
Here we go.I prepared to jump out and distract Roman once they began fighting.
“We both know you do not have the acumen to win a war,” Stark argued.
“No, but I can lead a revelation. My people war ship me!”
This vampire really did have a screw loose.
“Calm yourself, Roman,” Stark ordered. “This is still a discussion. I am opento a proposal if you truly want my Anna.”
Stark was stabbing me in the back again. I couldn’t believe it. No, wait. I could. My blood began to boil.
“What do you want in exchange for her?” Roman asked.
“I wish to keep my island.”
“That’s it?” Roman asked.
Yeah, that’s it?
“I want your sworn commitment,” Stark said, “a formal declaration, that you and any of your followers will never step foot on my island. It must be signed in your blood and recognized into vampire law with penalty of banishment if you break your word. Plus, I get all of your assets if you do.”
Roman laughed. “No one wants your stupid island anyway. That all?”
“Not quite,” Stark said. “If you wish me to relinquish my claim on Anna, I will do so; however, Anna must still be allowed to choose whom she wants freely.”
“Easy. She’ll want me. I am far better looking, richer, and more influential,” Roman said.
Slow your roll there, Chadster.
“A firm possibility,” Stark pandered, “however, she must select you of her own free will, and that means she must do so as a vampire. This way, we both know she is not under the influence of vampire power.”
“All right. I’ll turn her. Let’s do it now,” Roman declared eagerly.
“No, I will do it,” Stark said.
“That would make you her master. It’s cheating,” Roman argued. “You already have the advantage of a past-life connection.”
I hated that these two beings were arguing over my life, my humanity, and leaving me out of the discussion. My feelings and soul meant nothing to them. The only thing either cared about was their own power. No one was really going to fight for me or the people I loved.
