Page 3 of Daring Her Vampires (Embracing The Bond #12)

“Brothers,” I gasp, my fingers tightening.

“Blood brothers.” I look between them. They do look similar, but it’s rare for vampires to have a biological family.

My curiosity is overriding my need to calm the situation.

I did not expect to meet my mates today or ever.

I thought my time was past. My feelings are a tangled mess in my gut.

I can’t deny it, and I don’t really want to.

“We were turned at the same time,” Luca says, stepping beside Atlas. “We didn’t expect to meet our mate today.”

“What’s the case?” Quinn asks as he pulls out his phone.

“A vampire is turning humans without permission. The transition is brutal because of the lack of bond and their unwillingness.” Atlas gently pulls my hand, and I end up between the brothers.

I’m not mad about it. “He kidnaps them first. Nothing is explained about our world. They don’t know he is a vampire until he strikes. ”

“When they survive, the thirst for blood is too extreme to control. If they survive.” Luca curls his pinky around mine, never taking his attention away from Quinn.

“He’s raising an army of hungry, terrorized women and men.

The bodies are piling up, and we can’t keep up with the number of memories we have to change.

Shade told us you had vampires here who could help. ”

After a brief silence, the room erupts with energy.

“Oh shit, Micah,” I whisper, turning to face the door.

“Get…the…fuck…away,” he snarls, his teeth flashing. Micah’s mate Daisy appears beside him and clutches his arm.

“Micah.” I’ve never seen my friend's face so severe. “I’m okay.”

“Good. They would be dead if you weren’t,” he growls, and I glare at Quinn.

“Now you decide to text,” I say.

“He needed to know,” he says.

“She’s our mate,” Atlas says, slowly turning. Luca stiffens and follows his brother. “She stays by us.”

“Fuck you,” Micah says, gliding forward. “She’s family. My family.”

“She doesn’t need protection from us,” Luca growls.

“Sally, maybe you should come here,” Daisy says, looking at Micah.

“Do not move,” Atlas commands, moving in front of me.

“Enough,” I snap, walking around the group.

“Micah, thank you for coming. Put away the fangs.” I stop in the middle of the room, looking from Micah to the brothers.

“You are my mates. Tonight, I will thank the universe for sending me gorgeous vampires, but right now, you need to calm the fuck down. They are family. You have to play nice. I’m alright with the growly, dominant thing, but don’t use it on me until you’ve earned the right.

” Luca’s lips twitch, and I decide to ignore what it does to my lady parts.

“You’ve come for serious reasons. We need to concentrate on that.

Later, I’ll decide what to do with you two. ” I wiggle my fingers at them.

“Do you want a suggestion?” Atlas asks, smirking.

“No,” I say firmly, but then lean forward. “At least, not right now.” I clear my throat. “Micah, I love you. You're making your mate nervous. Promise you won’t kill them.” His jaw ticks. “It would suck if I finally get mates, and you take them away.” I resist the urge to stomp my foot.

“Fine.” He takes a deep breath. “I won’t kill them.”

“Thank you,” I say dryly. I notice my mates don’t appear to be worried, and I wonder how old they are. Micah is six-hundred years old and the oldest vampire I know. He always seems calm but can rip your heart out in a second.

“Heath is on his way,” Micah says.

“Dammit, Micah,” I whine.

“I may have texted him.”

“How am I supposed to have time with my mates?” I grit out, and he smiles.

“Don’t worry, Tricks. We’ll get creative,” Luca says silkily.

I bite my lip, staring. Fuck, I want to find out what his ‘creative’ means.

I meant what I said; I’m not usually a woman who prays.

I will tonight, thanking whoever sent them to me.

I could stare into Luca’s eyes all day. A vampire’s eyes change when they meet their mate, and a white ring appears around the edge, signifying that they have a mate.

Atlas is hiding a beautiful, muscled body under his clothes.

They were in my dreams. It was their hands gliding over me, and I’m surprised my gift chose to give me wet dreams. I knew one man couldn’t handle me.

“Jesus, Sally,” Quinn sighs, and I shake my head.

“Huh?” I blink and look at him. My mates are distracting.

“Can we get back to the case?” he grumbles.

“Am I stopping you?” I press my lips together to stop the laughter bubbling.

“We tracked the destruction they have caused,” Atlas says, saving me from Quinn’s deadly look. “The last dead body, drained of blood, was three hours from here.”

“You think he’s coming here?” Quinn asks.

“Yes,” Luca answers.

“Why?” Micah asks.

“They led him here.” Heath comes through the door, and his mate, Juliana, is beside him.

“Is he right?” Micah snarls.

“Probably.” Atlas lifts a shoulder, leaning back against the desk. Damn, they have no sense of danger. Why is that such a turn-on?

“You must be Heath,” Luca says, leaning beside his brother.

“Must be. You think you are Sally’s mates.” Heath’s cane taps on the floor as he moves closer to me.

“We know we are,” Atlas states.

“Hmm…” Heath stops, close enough to defend me if needed, and my little, bruised heart melts.

Sometimes, I think I’m more of an annoyance to the crew here, but the show of support weakens that belief.

They have made comments about when I met the man meant for me and how protective they will be, but I didn’t believe them. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.

“Why is the vampire following you?” I ask, and they share a look.

“He wants to kill us,” Atlas says.

“And take our sister,” Luca adds.

“You have a sister.” Moving toward them, I’m suddenly halted by the handle of Heath’s cane around my stomach, and I look over my shoulder. “Heath.” I’ve become close to him, but this level of protectiveness is new to me.

“Stay. I don’t like them,” he says.

“You don’t know us,” Luca says softly and straightens.

“I understand you want to protect her, but if you keep her away from us much longer…” He tilts his head, and in the next second, I’m between them in front of the desk.

My hair floats to a stop, but I don’t remember moving. “I won’t like it.” Damn, that’s hot.

“Why does he want to kill you?” Juliana asks, cutting through the testosterone.

“So he can finally have our sister,” Atlas says, his side pressing into mine.

The air gets sucked out of the room when a tall, stunning female vampire enters.

All attention turns toward her. She has long blonde hair, bright caramel eyes, and curves.

Her dress is tight, long, and bright blue with a slit from ankle to mid-thigh.

I’m super jealous of her blue high heels.

“Your sister,” I whisper to Atlas.

“Allie,” he says in my ear, and I shiver.

“Damn, everyone is yummy.” She grins. She glides to a stop by Luca. “Brothers, what did you find?” She tilts her head, studying me. “Sexy rabbit.”

“I like you.” I grin back. “I love the shoes.”

“Thanks.” She pushes her hair over her shoulder.

“Allie, our mate, Sally,” Luca says.

“Lovely.” Her eyes widen, and she presses her hands together in front of her chest. “Welcome to the family.”

“Tell them why Fredrick wants you,” Luca says.

“He’s my maker,” she says, crossing her arms. “I’m the one that got away. He doesn’t like losing what he considers property.”

“Did he force you?” I ask, frowning.

“Yes. He attacked me a little over three hundred years ago. He seemed to forget about me and threw me away. Now, he wants me back.” She sits on the edge of the desk.

“You didn’t choose to become a vampire?” Heath asks.

“No. He’s out of control. We’ve looked for him for years, yet he stays steps ahead of us.

When Shade told us about this place, we thought that if we had enough powerful vampires and shifters, we could find him.

” She crosses her legs. “Now that I know Sally is family, you will definitely help.” She smiles brightly, her fangs shining.

“We need more information,” Quinn says.

“Sure,” she says.

“Allie, stay here.” Luca straightens, putting his arm around my waist. “Tell them what they need to know.”

“We need to talk to Sally,” Atlas says, twining his fingers with mine.

“No,” Micah grunts.

“Agreed,” Heath says, tapping his cane.

“Does anyone care what I want?” I ask, pulling away and putting my hands on my hips.

“Of course, Little Bunny,” Atlas rasps.

“Don’t you want to spend some time with us?

” Luca asks, tucking my hair behind my ear.

My body wants more than conversation. Once a shifter meets their mate, their body goes into heat.

Being with them sexually is the only thing that can ease it.

I want them desperately, but they are important.

Restraining myself and them is for the best. Learning about them and their lives will only enhance our connection.

“Let’s go,” I decide, and walk around the desk. Grabbing my purse, I shove my phone inside and return to my mates.

“Sally,” Quinn grumbles.

“I’m okay,” I say, and look at all of them in turn. “Really. There is no denying they are mine. I appreciate the concern, but I need to get to know them. It’s almost time to clock out anyway.” I turn to Allie. “We will talk soon.”

“I can’t wait. I’ve always loved rabbits,” she says.

“Ready?” Luca’s palm glides to the middle of my back. I close my eyes briefly to hide the need in them, but I know they can tell what they do to me.

I straighten my spine and remember who the fuck I am.

“The question is,” I smirk. “Are you?”