Free The Shadow's Son by Nicole R. Taylor Page A

the decision the Roman wanted or making him realize the truth. And the truth was… Regulus was right. But, there was another thing he didn't factor into the arrangement he had offered. Revenge.
    The Romans had ruined his life from day one. That day in the woods in Virginia, where he was shot, that was the moment their demise became his problem. He just didn't know it until he met Aya. Just because she'd thrown him away, didn't mean he should disregard his own revenge. Maybe going with him was the only way to end this for good. To end everything .
    But, now that Regulus was here in front of him? The Roman had only shown him that fighting his urges was useless. He was born into vampirism as a cold hearted predator. Sam wasn't. Pure, sweet Liz wasn't. They were the opposite, they were the good things about being vampires. And that's why he had to leave them behind to go with his greatest enemy.
    He could never kill Regulus, not on his own. She was the only way. And Zac was sure that wherever she'd gone, she'd be looking for an opportunity to do just that. If she turned up, he would help her, but he didn't want to lay eyes on her again. Just like he had been to her, she was just a means to an end. Until then, he would align himself with his own kind and stop fighting his nature. He didn't have the strength to resist anymore.
    He would go with Regulus. It was his only option if he wanted to come back.
    Pulling on a pair of dark jeans and a wife beater, he thumped downstairs and shuffled into the parlor. He caught Sam's eye as he turned around on the sofa. How was he going to tell him?
    "Are you feeling better?" Sam asked.
    "Somewhat," he shrugged, sitting across from his little brother.
    "What's happened?" Sam could tell he'd made a decision about something and from the tone of his voice, he knew that he wouldn't like it. Zac had never given his brother a reason to like anything he did. His decisions had always landed both of them in hot water, but not this time. This time Sam would stay out of it.
    "Sam…" After everything, he had trouble saying it.
    "You're going again, aren't you?" The look in his little brother's eyes was one of disappointment and he almost caved.
    "Yes."
    "Why? Because of Aya? Because of what Regulus made you do? You can't go off again, Zac. Not this time."
    "This time it's different, Sam." He heard himself pleading and it didn't sit well.
    "Why?"
    "This is it. This is my last chance. If I can't control myself this time, then it has to end."
    "Brother..."
    "Sam, please," he pleaded, knowing his brother would fight him to the end. He had to convince him. If this time he couldn't find who he was and find the balance between his humanity and vampirism… then it had to end. He had to die.
    "I won't let you." Sam's hand was on his arm. "I won't let you go."
    "Sam, you have to."
    "Zac, no. This isn't the way. Let me help you. We can leave and go somewhere else. Somewhere where Regulus won't be able to find us."
    "And what about Liz?" he snapped. "What about her?"
    Sam hissed and sat back, rubbing his temples. "She will understand."
    "No," he said, firmly. "She won't understand at all. She loves you and you deserve to be with her. Always."
    "I…" he began, but Zac held up a hand to stop him, determined.
    "You deserve a better life, Sam. You've always wondered when I'll go off the deep end. Following me around for decades to make sure I'm doing all right, to pull me back. That's not what I wanted for you," he sighed, running his hands over his face. "I never wanted this for you."
    When Sam grimaced, Zac knew that he understood what he meant. The fact that he was a vampire. That it was his fault that his little brother had become this… this thing . "I know, brother. But, it is what it is."
    But, Zac wasn't listening. "You have Liz now. You need to go and be with her. She needs you. Go to LA with her, go back to college if that's what you want to do. But, just live the life you want."
    "Zac," Sam began, his