Page 61 of Sinful Mates

“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.

Chapter Seventeen

“Let go of me, Theo.” I try to shake my arm from his harsh grip. I’m not going to play with these two anymore and be their doll they ooh'ed and ahh'ed over when I was being their good girl. No fucking more.

“Why do you do that? As soon as you don’t like the topic of conversation, you want to run off. You have every right to be mad at Tobias, but this would have eventually happened. No matter what you think, you were always meant to be ours.”

“So you expect me to be okay with turning into a blood-sucking monster or a furry dog who howls at the moon?” I snap. I hope Theo gets as pissed over my reduction of his species as Tobias would be. Tobias huffs behind me, clearly annoyed. Good. “Let go of me, Theo.”

“Not until you listen. If you don’t choose willingly, I will choose for you, Imogen. I won’t risk your life. We won’t let you go.”

“So, what, I either become like one of you, or I never leave the property? Newsflash, asshole, I have been stuck here already for weeks.”

“Watch your mouth, Imogen. I won’t have you disrespect Theo.”

“Or what Tobias? Seriously, things can’t get any more fucked up than they already are. What exactly are you going to do about it?” He snarls but doesn’t say anything.

“Like I thought, now, fucking move out of my way.” Theo crosses his arms over his chest. Refusing to move.

“You are testing my patience, just hear us out, bloody listen for once.”

“I have done nothing but listen to your mate bond bullshit. I feel exactly the same as when I first got here. Nothing is going to change that, not even some stupid imaginary bond. Besides, how do you even know it works on humans?"

“Really, do you feel exactly the same?” Theo demands, an eyebrow raised and he dares to scoff at me. Fucking asshole. He moves so fast I don’t have time to react, and I find myself shoved up against the door. His lips are at my neck, his fangs brushing the skin of my throat. I shiver and my stomach tightens. I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. All I can focus on is his body pressed against mine, his legs parting mine. He sucks on the mark he'd given me, and sparks moved across my skin. A moan escapes my lips as they part. He sucks and nibbles on my skin, and arousal floods through me. Then the fog settles over me, I try to shake it off. I know I feel more for them, feel oddly connected to them, but knowing he is doing his mind control mumbo jumbo pisses me off, overriding the sensation that makes me want to give in to anything he wants.

He pulls back, his lips leaving my skin, his voice below my ear. “You can’t tell me that feels the same. I can smell your arousal, I know how much you want us.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that tries to creep in, getting stronger. Managing to clear my thoughts, I push him and break the hold he has over me. “That’s because of your mind control thing, not the bond.”

“It’s not that, and you know it. Why do you keep denying it?” asks Tobias, who is casually standing and watching us.

“I want to go to bed. Just let me leave, please, it’s still dark outside.” Theo moves to the side, letting me pass, only to wrap his arms around my waist. The familiar fog moves over me again. I turn around and face him, before slapping him, annoyed he is using his vampire tricks on me. My slap echoes through the house, the sound of flesh on flesh, and not the fun kind this time.

I’m actually surprised at the amount of force I use. I can tell I didn’t hurt him even the slightest, but the pure rage on his face shows just how angry he is. I'd even dared to do that.

“Imogen, apologize to him,” Tobias demands. I do feel guilty. I can’t believe I actually hit him, but I’m sick of him using the fog to get what he wants out of me. I don't want a decision as huge as this to be one pulled out of me rather than one I actually choose.

“Tell him to stop doing his vampire voodoo, then.” I spit back at Tobias.

Theo grabs me, and I gasp at how strong his grip is. This is the Theo of my nightmares. The one who enjoyed hurting Tom. He yanks me toward him and I collide into his hard icy chest. From the corner of my eye, I watches Tobias creeping closer, worry clearly visible on his face.

Theo's lips are so close I forget how to breathe, fear consuming me as his eyes turn red. He leans in closer, his voice held the anger he feels toward me.

“The fog works both ways, Imogen. You’re going to learn that the hard way.” Tobias reaches to grab him, but Theo is faster. I’m spun around so my back is to him and he leans down, fangs plunging into my neck. There is nothing gentle this time. I scream at first from the shock, and as it rolls over me, I scream from the pain, tears rolling down my cheeks. My neck has been attacked by a rusty can opener, and he isn't done. He bites straight onto the side of my neck and shoulder, tearing through my flesh, my blood forming a river pouring down my shoulder.

Tobias wrenches Theo off me. I stand there trembling, before falling backward on the ground, landing on my butt. I clutch my neck. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts! I pull my hand back from the ragged flesh, and it was coated in blood. It look like I'd decided to fingerpaint with it.

Theo snarls at Tobias, shoving him away, before his eyes fall on me. His eyes return to their normal hypnotic green, but they are filled with a new emotion, terror. I stare at my hand, then back to Theo. The blood isn't stopping. Am I going to die here? Like this? Theo moves toward me, arms outstretched. But there is no way I can handle that.