Sinful Mates 1-3 novel Chapter 77

　　Imogen’s POV

　　Days passed by and the council still hadn’t caught Bianca, I was beginning to think they weren’t even looking for her. I had hardly slept; my mind wouldn’t let me. My mind never giving me rest, fear consuming me. Not fear of her, but fear of who she could take from me. Tobias and Theo took turns going to work, swearing to remain by my side until they catch her and until I have my bloodlust under control. I fear it won’t ever be under control, the more I feed, the more I want. My hunger insatiable and my darkness ever consuming.

　　Moving back to my position at the bedroom window, I watch the night pass, time goes by quickly and sometimes I find myself trapped in my thoughts only to come around and another day has passed, my days seem to blur into one and I honestly had no idea how many days had passed since I returned here.

　　When the morning rises, Theo walks in kissing my cheek, forcing my attention to him.

　　“I need to go to work, Tobias has Thaddeus” he tells me before walking out of the room. Following him downstairs, I find the house is a mess. For people with nothing but endless time on our hands, we still can’t manage to keep the house clean. Tobias is laying on the couch with Thaddeus on his chest, his eyes closed. I walk over, leaning over the couch and kissing Thaddeus head before kissing Tobias’s lips. His eyes snap open, and I realise he had dozed off.

　　“Hey,” he whispers, not wanting to wake up the baby.

　　“I swear this kid waits until daylight to sleep, I’m so tired.” He yawns. His hair is sticking up at odd angles and he hadn’t shaved in what looked like days, his eyes also darker as he peered up at me.

　　I feel like a terrible mother, his words making me feel guilty when I realise Theo and Tobias have been pretty much doing everything, while I have a pity party, stuck in my own thoughts and too scared to hold my own son in case my bloodlust kicks in. Walking back upstairs, I find the baby wrap Tobias and Theo had been using. I then look at the contraption. I had seen them wear it multiple times yet, couldn’t work out how to put it on. Walking downstairs Tobias opens his eyes.

　　“What are you doing?” he asks, staring at the baby sling in my hands.

　　“How does it work? I feel like he will fall out of it” I tell him.

　　“You need to tighten the straps at the back,” he says. Standing up, he places Thaddeus in the bassinet next to the lounge.

　　“Come here,” he tells me, and I walk over. He tightens the straps, and it feels a lot more secure. I go to grab him out of the bassinet when Tobias touches my arm. I can see the concern in his eyes. He glances at Thaddeus, who is sleeping peacefully.

　　“You should feed first, Imogen.” I felt like he just punched me in the gut. I could feel his apprehension through the bond. He thinks I will hurt him. It hurts knowing they don’t trust me with our own son.

　　“It’s not that okay, just better to be safe. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I didn’t trust you” He blurts, when he feels my mood shift.

　　“Just feed then, I will help you get him in the sling.” I nod and he sits down on the couch before tapping his lap. I walk over and hesitate. Theo isn’t here to pull me off, if I lose control. Tobias grips my hips pulling me forward making me straddle his legs. He kisses my lips before yawning. He looks exhausted, the sleepless nights were taking a toll on him. Tobias shifts and angles his neck towards me, I kiss the side of his neck, my hand rubbing his cheek, his stubble feels rough in my palm. I feel my fangs break through my gums, and I sink my teeth into his neck. Tobias moans loudly from the endorphins in my saliva. I feel his blood flood into my mouth, stopping the burning ache in the back of my throat.

　　I feel him rub my back, his warm skin making me shiver before I pull myself back. Looking at Tobias, he looks a little buzzed, a lazy smile slipping onto his face. I climb off his lap and eventually he gets up and helps me put Thaddeus in the sling. He feels heavier, like he has put on some weight as he snuggles into the sling across my chest. I feel Tobias’s eyes on me, watching me carefully, as if he is too afraid to leave me alone with him.

　　“You good? I can stay up; I just need coffee” He mumbles out while yawning.

　　“No, go to sleep, I will be fine. You will feel it if I’m not,” I tell him, and he nods before laying down his eyes instantly closing. I look down at Thaddeus stroking his nose with my finger.

　　“Let’s clean house,” I whisper and walk into the kitchen and start stacking dishes and cleaning the benches.

　　The entire day goes quickly, and I finally haul the last load of washing inside, when I feel Thaddeus stir. Tobias was right his sleep pattern is way out of whack. He slept the entire day. I quickly make him a bottle and change his bum when I hear tyres on the dirt road.

　　“That’s daddy,” I tell Thaddeus while I feed him, waiting to hear the door open. Tobias was still asleep on the lounge when I hear, not one but two car doors shut making me get up.

　　Walking into the lounge room just in time to see Caroline helping Josiah walk into the house. I hadn’t seen or spoke to Caroline since before I had Thaddeus, Josiah I hadn’t seen in months. He collapsed into the armchair with a grunt. Tobias’s eyes flying open as he jumps to his feet. He sighs when he realises it is just his parents before locking eyes with his father. Josiah looks terrible, His suit is filthy, his hair a mess, he looks exhausted, and I noticed he had a slight limp as he walked in. He rested his head back on the chair.

　　Tobias went to say something, when his mother cut him off. “Give him a second son, let him catch his breath” She tells him. Tobias nods.

　　“I will go get him a change of clothes” He tells her before disappearing upstairs. Caroline notices me standing there and a huge grin breaks out on her face as she walks over, embracing me tightly from the side. She looks down in my arms and rubs the back of his hand.

　　“He is perfect,” she says before ducking down and smelling his little head. Thaddeus stares up at her, wondering who she is.

　　“You want to hold him,” I ask, and she immediately put her arms out and I place him in them. She then goes and sits next to Josiah, who immediately sits up a little better to see while he rubs Thaddeus tiny feet. Josiah smiles brightly, looking at his grandson.

　　“I will go put on some coffee,” I tell them walking into the kitchen. When I come back out, I hear more tyres on the road and I notice Josiah wearing a pair of track pants and a normal T-shirt. You can tell he isn’t impressed with his attire, but he looks comfy. I have only ever seen him in suits, so I found it funny with him looking like an ordinary person. The front door is thrown open and Theo steps. He hugs his mother briefly before his attention goes to his father.

　　“Oh god you’re okay,” he whispers. I knew Theo was worried about his father, but I didn’t realise to what extent. I was so caught up in everything else, I forgot to ask him how he felt about everything. I felt selfish and guilt was gnawing at me.

　　“We do have some news” His mother announced, and I placed the tray with coffee on the table, completely forgetting I was even holding it. Quickly sitting next to Tobias. Caroline hands Thaddeus to Josiah, who is all too happy to hold his grandson as he ignores her, paying all his attention on him.

　　“They caught Bianca” Caroline says, making my eyes dart to her. I feel excitement bubble up at her words, only for it to be squashed with her next words.

　　“They are holding the trial in a month, but the council feel reluctant to punish her, especially after Alaric was killed. Seems like Bianca has gotten quite cosy with a few of the council members” She tells us. This can’t be happening. She can’t just get away with what she did.

　　“What do the other council members think?” I ask.

　　“They want her punished, of course, but they won’t go against Christopher.”

　　“Who is he?” I ask.

　　“He is an elder, unfortunately he doesn’t like Josiah or Theo for that matter.” Caroline said.

　　I feel my anger bubbling under my skin.

　　“Why didn’t you run for council, Josiah?” I asked. Everyone looked at him, only paying attention when I called his name.

　　“I was a council member, I stepped down and Tobias and Theo didn’t want any part of it,” he said. I could tell he wasn’t happy about neither of them volunteering in his place.

　　“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 for Alaric’s position we have no say what the council does, and I can’t now because I killed him.”

　　I flopped down on the couch, feeling defeated.

　　“We will find a way, I promise,” Theo said, sitting beside me and rubbing my leg. I leant forward grabbing my coffee which had now turned cold. Josiah and Caroline left after dinner. When they left, I went and started doing the dishes. When I felt Theo’s hands slip around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder.

　　“What’s wrong?,” he whispered.

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

　　“We can go to the trial 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 was content with how we lived, 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” I ask.

　　“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 just need to convince the others to agree.”

　　“And if they don’t?” Theo asked. I had been thinking about it all night. Everything was 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 was 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 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 fuelling 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 a normal elemental magic, it is dark, twisted and sadistic and addictively sweet.

　　“I know I can,” I tell him, I feel my eyes burning and I see Theo step back before a seductive smile lips 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?