Legion stared at him through lank fur that hung down in front of their beady eyes.
“I haven’t even been able to make peoplestandyou, Legion,” Roan chuckled. “There’s just something about you that no amount of mind control can make people not see.”
Legion’s eyes narrowed.
“Oh, did I hurt your feelings again? Because that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? Yourfeelings? So interesting for a psychopath to have those,” Roan quipped. “Here’s thetruth, Legion. I didn’t bother to bring Weryn back, because I knew he’d never love you. No matter if Eyros himself wished it to be so would Weryn love you. You are unlovable. So I knew it could never work.”
“So why are we still allied?” Legion asked softly with another shuffle. Just one more and he would be near enough to end this. For now anyways. Roan avoided connecting their minds as if he found it distasteful. So Legion knew that they had more leeway than others ever would have.
“Because there’s no going back for either of us,” Roan laughed. “Even if we wanted it.”
“Daemon has not punished any of the Immortals,” Legion pointed out.
“You think not? Why do you think he hangs back and lets them fight this war with us? Why do you think he leaves the War Children out there?” Roan shook his head. “You’re a fool if you think Daemon would forgive us. Because we don’t think we were wrong. Even now, we weren’t wrong. Were we, Legion?”
“I did not care about all of that. I just wanted Weryn,” Legion said simply.
“Oh, right, you didn’t act out of morality or strategy. You just wanted daddy to love you.” Roan leaned his head back and shook it. “You’re not fit for Daemon’s reign, Legion. You’re a monster through and through. In this new world, Vampires must be elegant beings who sip on blood from willing throats. That will never be you.”
“I control my hunger,” Legion said. “It does not control me.”
Roan looked down at his missing finger with a questioning eyebrow. “Forget this night, Legion, you’ve indulged too long.You can’t reel yourself back in. When was the last time youtriedto stop yourself for a long time?”
Every moment of every day with you.
“What about the incident with your family? I thinkthatis a prime example of how you’ll snap again. They gave you food, shelter and cover,” Roan listed off. “They were necessary for your survival back then. But you killed them!”
“That was long ago,” Legion growled.
“Becoming what you are,” Roan gestured with a moue of disgust at Legion’s form, “has only emboldened you. You look like the monster on the outside that you are on the inside. You can’t force that back inside. When was the last time you even shifted back to your human form?”
It had been a long time. Even on Earth, Legion remained in their true form. They merely kept to hidden areas where people who were not supposed to did not see them. Being in their human form was what felt alien to them.
“You think Daemon can have a shaggy monster around the humans he hopes to convince he’s not a threat to?” Roan chuckled. “So even if youcouldcontrol your need to kill–which you cannot–your very presence is an affront to his new kingdom. You don’t fit, Legion. You never will. So I’m your only last, best option.” Roan narrowed his eyes at Legion. “The question really is if I still need to be allied withyou.”
Time had run out. Legion knew it. They lunged.
Or rather, they tried to. But they were stuck in place. Frozen like a statue. Legion strove to move, but not even their eyelids twitched. Roan laughed.
“You really are a moron. I admit that I lost my temper. Lost my focus. Forgot that you’re a wild dog.” Roan’s lips writhed back from his teeth. He looked at his injured hand. “And I paid for it. But don’t worry.You’llpay for it even more.”
Roan began to circle him as if he were examining an animal ready for the slaughter. He tapped his chin with his injured hand. The blood streaked the sleeve and arm of his jacket, but it was already drying and he didn’t seem to be experiencing any pain.
“What was your plan, Legion? To kill me? What exactly would that do? I could have just taken Shaela’s form here.” Roan gestured over at the Wyvern Vampire.
Her eyes widened and she took another half step back.
“Where do you think you’re going, Shaela? How far do you think you could get before I root you to the spot, too?” Roan snapped.
She swallowed. “I think we should all get out of here.”
“Do you have enough power to get us out of here?” Roan asked.
She shook her head. “Not yet. I would need blood and rest and–”
“So you are useless to me,” Roan sighed.
“Could you not–not contact others to come here and get us?” Shaela asked. “Perhaps Raf or–”
