Page 103 of Sinful Mates

“So, what do you think will happen?” Josiah seems to think for a second.

“I think she won’t be punished, Imogen. Unfortunately with no one challenging Alaric's position, we have no say on what the council does, and I can’t now because I killed him.”

I flop down on the couch, defeated.

“We will find a way, I promise,” Theo says, sitting beside me and rubbing my leg. I lean forward grabbing my coffee which has now turned cold. When Josiah and Caroline leave after dinner, I begin doing the dishes. Then Theo’s hands slip around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” he whispers.

“You know what’s wrong,” I tell him. He kisses the side of my neck and nods.

“We can go to the trial to state our case and see what happens,” he tells me.

“And if that doesn’t work?” I sigh.

“Well then, we appeal or hope someone steps up for Alaric’s position,” he tells me.

“Why don’t you do it?” I ask. He seems taken aback for a second. I can feel through the bond it never really crossed his mind and that he is content with how we live without having to worry about the politics.

“The council wouldn’t allow it, not while Christopher is in charge,” he mutters.

“What’s so important about him, that no one will go against him? Isn’t everyone vampires?”

“Well, yes, but he is an elder and a strong one. What are you getting at, Imogen?”

“I just think it might be time for a change in power, you can’t tell me you agree with what happened to your father, and that Bianca will just get away with what she has done. We only need to convince the others to agree.”

“And if they don’t?” Theo asks. I have been thinking about it all night. Everything is off about the council. I don’t understand how Bianca isn’t being punished if not for what happened, but for killing my mother and our father. She admitted to both crimes, yet is getting away with everything, and I know she must have something against them, either that or she is sleeping with them. Which I wouldn’t put past them.

“If they don’t, I’ll make them,” I said, my voice level.

“You think you can take down the council?” I feel anger at his words and feel the darkness slipping over me, its magic dark and twisted as it flows through me fueling my anger further. I chuckle slightly as I feel its dark tendrils slipping over my skin, wrapping around me protectively, strong and powerful. I have no idea what magic I have, but I know it’s not normal elemental magic , it is dark, twisted, and sadistic and addictively sweet.

“I know I can,” I tell him. My eyes burn and I see Theo step back before a seductive smile slips onto his lips.

“Let hope it doesn’t come to that,” whispers feeling the power surging throughout my body from the bond. I know I should fear my magic , but if I have it, why not use it?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Getting up this morning I can tell Tobias won’t cope with working today. He slips out of bed sitting upright, his hands running through his hair as he tries waking himself up. One of the plus sides of being a vampire is I don’t feel tired and don’t require sleep. Tobias, however, does. Even though I do the night feeds and get up to Thaddeus, he still wakes every time he cries. Being a light sleeper s really exhausting for him. Imogen, however, refuses to sleep, forcing herself to stay awake. I hear her every night walking around the house, always so restless, her mind always racing, and if she isn’t walking, she is staring off vacantly.

I wish she would just let herself go to sleep. She may be a vampire, but the witch part of her needs rest. The darkness I feel through the bond might lessen if she just got some sleep, but instead she fights against us on the matter, so paranoid someone is going to take him from us. I didn’t realize the paranoia comes with magic , yet watching her is like watching someone slowly lose their grip on reality, slipping ever so slow into madness. Putting my book down, I turn to Tobias.

“Go back to sleep, I can go in,” I tell him.

“You went yesterday,” he mumbles and yawns. I know part of the reason he struggles to sleep is that Imogen isn’t sandwiched between us anymore. We both find comfort knowing she is within arm’s reach. I know that is the primary reason he can’t seem to find rest.

“Lay back down, it is fine, I don’t need sleep,” I tell him watching him flop back down on the bed. He rolls, throwing his arm over my lap, pulling me closer. I run my fingers through his hair.

“We need to do something about Imogen,” I whisper, not wanting her to overhear, though I can tell through the bond her mind is preoccupied. Tobias yawns and I feel him nod.

“What do you want to do?” He yawns, rubbing his eyes, peering up at me.

“I don’t know, she needs to sleep; she is getting worse, always pacing, she never stops.” I can feel his worry through the bond.

“We can put her to sleep,” he says, and I hear the thoughts running through his head. Imogen won’t like that but if we can distract her enough, and we can get her to slip her guard down it might work.

“The only problem would be Thaddeus. She won’t let him remain unwatched while we distract her,” I tell him.