When I first met Roman, I wanted nothing to do with him. Sure, he’s hot, sexy, has that come fuck me smoldering look down pat, coupled with the bad boy image … of a vampire. Did I forget to mention the added pleasure of permanent stubble that drives me absolutely wild? Sill, the fact remained, he’s a walking, talking, breathing zombie without the rotten corpse. And yet, I love him, despite everything that’s happened.

Today, we’re cutting the ribbon on Roman’s new casino. Well, actually, it’s mine, but to keep the civility in our relationship, I let Roman pretend it’s all his. Besides, his business sense far surpasses mine, which I suppose is a testament to his five hundred and thirty-three years of traipsing around the world, watching countries flourish, going through a depression, rising from the ashes and battling numerous wars.

To celebrate Roman’s birthday, I took him to the traveling history museum where we stayed for hours, thanks to Selene, who offered to babysit Nic for us. Roman covered each era in great detail, telling me stories about the people he’s met, what he did and how he served multiple countries as a soldier. I never knew my vampire was so well rounded. Mostly, I thought he sat around drinking blood and staring at the wall. It was refreshing to learn he played such an instrumental part in defining the world. I could listen to him every day, talk about the things he’s experienced, how the world has changed and how some of the transformations aren’t for the best.

After what Roman refers to as a “little” misunderstanding, I took a step back from our relationship, which is very hard to do when Roman and I are in love, and Nicolai and I are bonded. It’s awkward, hard to explain and I’ve been tempted many times to change my relationship status on Facebook to “It’s complicated.” When I’m out and about, I’m often flanked by two vampires. The stares I receive are uncomfortable, and my relationship with Leslie no longer exists. One vampire was hard enough for her to take, throw in Nic who has no filter and no sense of personal space and Leslie bailed. Can’t say I blame her. Lana, on the other hand, likes Nicolai and he loves me.

Roman and Nicolai fight, constantly. Daily, in fact. Nicolai wants to feed on me, and I refuse. I don’t care if I’m breaking some Covenant or not. The law I follow says I don’t have to do it, and I won’t. Mostly out of vindictiveness. Although, I’m not sure who I’m spiting because to see Nicolai in pain does hurt my feelings. It’s not his fault, my-couldn’t-check-his-temper vampire went off the rails and tried to kill him. All of this could’ve been avoided if Roman wasn’t so damn stubborn and refusing to accept my help. I remind him of this all the time.

Nic also wants other… things, which as his bonded mate, I suppose he has a right to request, but no. I’m not, nor will I ever be, intimate with him. This is where I don’t feel sorry for him and start to resent Roman. Again, avoidable, yet I had to ask Roman to install doubled plated steel doors, which I had blessed by the same priest my father used, at my apartment to keep Roman’s “son” away. I don’t trust Nicolai, at least not yet. He still has some growing up to do.

Who knew a newbie vamp would be so adolescent? One too many times, I’ve yelled the words, “you’re grounded” because of some idiotic thing Nic has done. We’re talking really childish act, like walking in the garden display at the Bellagio, climbing to the top of the Luxor and jumping off the Stratosphere. I get that ordinary people don’t do these sort of things, and this is probably some vampire thrill seeking activity to test his immortality, but enough is enough. Nicolai doesn’t listen to Roman, only me, which means when he’s doing something he’s not supposed to, I get a call to come pick him up. Talk about getting the raw end of the deal, which again, I blame Roman for.

He’s tried to make it up to me with offers of trips around the world (we couldn’t because Nic attempted to join the mile high club as soon as we stepped onto the plane). Roman bought me the most exquisite jewels, designer clothes before they hit the rack, and offered a brand new house. I almost took him up on the home. That was until he said he and Nic would live there as well.

One big happy family.

No.

My father stands to my right and Roman to my left, both of them holding the red ribbon in place so I can make the cut. There are news crews here as well as reporters from various newspapers. My project… I mean Roman’s, has become a human-interest story, bringing a multitude of human service agencies to his door. At my suggestion, Roman opened an office, hired a vampire secretary (at my urging) and started another company helping the people of Nevada with finding temporary housing, jobs and helping with some expenses, such as clothing and transportation, so people can get back on their feet.

When my father found out my deceit, he was livid and told me I was no longer a part of his family. I called his bluff and anonymously contacted the news about the project and how the Gaming Commissioner was refusing to grant the license. My dad knew I had done it and called a meeting where I laid it all out for him. He would give Roman and me, because yes, I wasn’t going to give up on the project, the license needed to open the casino, and he would accept Roman as my boyfriend. The latter he balked at, threw his hands up in the air, and said over his dead body, which Nicolai took as an open invitation to kill him.

I can admit, I let Nicolai stalk my father for about thirty seconds before I told him to stop. In hindsight, I know it wasn’t nice, but my father really needed to be taken down a notch. When he finally calmed down, I handed him the file I had compiled over the years. Details of his shady transactions, from as far back to when I was a teenager, placed in date order for his perusal. My demand was simple; accept Roman and subsequently Nicolai, as part of my life. That was it, nothing more.

The enormously large scissors are hard to squeeze, but I do it, slicing through the ribbon that has served as a makeshift barrier from the main door of the casino. The reporters descend on Roman and me, firing questions at us from all angles. “It’s easy math,” Roman tells the crowd. “We own the building outright, and after expenses are paid, the revenue will be used to continue funding the Roman Weston Home for Indigent Humans.” I smile at the name of our company. It was actually Roman’s idea to add my last name. I think he did it because he knows it gets on my father’s nerves, but considering the Sisters strip humans of their identities and give them new names, except Nicolai, which makes me shudder just to think about, Roman never had last name and doesn't remember his human one.

Nicolai is standing against the wall, waiting to join us. As soon as I start toward the casino, he takes his regular position on my right side. I feel sorry for him, I do, and wish there were something I do could to break our bond so he could be free. I’ve gone as far as to seek out a high witch priestess, hoping she can break the spell, curse or whatever it is tying him and me together.

“You look very beautiful today, Fiona.”

“Thank you, Nicolai, that was a very nice compliment.”

“I’d like to fuck you now.”

I roll my eyes. “See, now you’ve gone and ruined the moment. Think before you speak.” Selene and Roman believe that when he demanded to have Nicolai come feed him, Nic was actually in the middle of having sex with another vampire, hence the constant desire to have sex. Selene also believes the last conscious memory Nicolai has, is of sex and the word “fuck” which comes out of his mouth far more than it should and at the most inopportune times, like when we’re standing in line at the grocery store, and he blurts it out. However, that’s all he does. While I have a healthy fear of him because he’s still learning the ways, he’s yet to try anything but force himself on me.

Roman slaps Nicolai on his head and tells him to watch his mouth. Nic takes this to heart and strains his eyes down to his pushed out lips. “I swear the Sisters did something to his brain when they performed the ritual,” Roman says. He’s exhausted, and if he slept, he’d probably have sleepless nights, but as it is, he spends most of his time watching Nicolai, teaching him and trying to keep him out of trouble.

“We’ll figure out how to break the bond,” I tell Roman, leaning into him for a kiss. “The priestess is working to uncover ancient rituals.”

“There’s no guarantee,” he says

I shake my head. “No, there isn’t. However, until we know for sure, there isn’t anything we can do about the situation.” I take Roman’s hand, and we walk further into the casino. Almost every table has someone sitting at it, and the slot machines are full. When Roman redesigned the layout, he put less equipment in, saying it would create more demand. So far, he looks to be right, but I have concerns.

“If people are waiting for a spot at the blackjack table, what’s keeping them here as opposed to going down the street to the next casino?”

Roman smiles. There’s a wicked glint in his eye. He doesn’t need to answer because I already know. All the dealers at the tables are vampires, and I have a feeling, each person’s being compelled to stay here.

“Roman, this is illegal.”

He pulls me into his arms. “It’s only illegal to compel a human into doing something they don’t want to. Each one here wants to spend money. We’re just enticing them to stay a little longer. Don’t worry, my love, they’re still in control and can say no.” He winks. “Trust me, darling. You know I would never break another rule of the Covenant.” This is true.

“What do you say, should we go check out the view from the Presidential suite?”

“I have a better idea.”

“What’s that?” I ask, only to watch Roman drop to one knee. Already in his hand is an opened black box with a dazzling diamond sparkling under the casino lights.

“Roman!” My hand covers my mouth, and I start to nod before he even asks me anything.

“Fiona, will you give me a chance to be your husband for the rest of your life?”

“Yes, yes I will.”

Roman stands and carefully places my engagement ring on my finger. Out of nowhere, Selene, Corban, Damen, Lydia, Lana and even Nicolai surround us, congratulating us. Nicolai looks hurt, which I can understand. I pull him into my arms and whisper, “Don’t worry, we’ll figure everything out, and you’ll be free.”

“And we can fuck?” he asks with a smile.

I throw my hands up in the air and start laughing, along with everyone else. This is what my life has become, surrounded by vampires as my friends, with one who has a one-track mind. If someone had asked me seven or eight months ago, what I’d be doing now, my answer would’ve been easy, laying by the pool, spending Daddy’s money. Ask me now, and I’ll tell you, running a business that helps people in need, while trying to break a bond so a man can be free to fall in love, and not upset three Sisters who are hell-bent on making sure I pay for my vampire’s mistake.

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