Page 34 of Daring Her Vampires (Embracing The Bond #12)

Chapter Nineteen

Sally

I move away from Luca and pace to the couch and back. They look at me expectantly, and I twist my hands.

“Did you mean it? When you said we would fight together?” I ask, and Atlas stands, narrowing his eyes.

“Yes,” he says slowly, and I bite my lip.

“I have a list of addresses,” I start, looking back and forth. Luca tilts his head and crosses his arms. Atlas walks over and stands beside him.

“And?” Atlas mimics his brother. Damn, they are a hot wall of vampires, and I get distracted.

“Tricks,” Luca growls.

“So…” I grimace, shifting. “She thinks he could be at two locations.”

“Two?” Atlas drops his arms.

“More likely, one of them.” I sigh. “Mara is positive that I am supposed to be there.”

“You didn’t think we would allow you to go?” Atlas asks.

“No,” I drawl, lifting a shoulder. “At least, not after you hear the rest.” I pause.

“Are you going to tell us?” Luca asks.

“Do I have a choice?” I mutter.

“There is always a choice,” Atlas says.

“We won’t force you. I thought we already established that we will treat you as an equal,” Luca says, and guilt churns in my gut.

“Mara saw me there, with Fredrick,” I blurt out.

“She spelled the room so no one could hear her tell me that. She didn’t tell me to go but gave me the information.

When she left, I stayed in the room and had a vision.

I saw Fredrick kill me.” They growl, and their fangs drop.

“My visions aren’t always right, and the future can change.

I doubt my death is imminent, yet I need to find him with you.

” They stare at me, and I fidget. “You know, I should be commended for telling you. I struggled with the decision.”

“Why did you struggle?” Atlas grits out.

“I have always made my own decisions. I’ve had to depend and protect myself. Considering someone else's opinion is weird.” I can’t tell what they are thinking.

“We aren’t just anyone,” Luca reminds me.

“I know,” I say softly.

“Heath was right,” Luca continues, stepping forward. “We do not doubt your strength or ability to protect yourself. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to keep you safe.”

“Do you worry we could get hurt?” Atlas asks.

“I think I will always worry,” I say, seeing his point.

“Do you think we are weak?” Atlas moves forward.

“Of course not,” I sigh.

“Did you get the same feeling with the vision of your death as when you saw our daughter?” Luca asks, stopping in front of me.

“I didn’t think of it like that,” I mumble, frowning. “I felt sure that we would have a daughter. There was no question.”

“Your death?” Atlas grumbles.

“I was startled.” I look away and recall the vision. It should have scared me more than it did. “My emotions were detached. I don’t think it’s a fact like the other one.”

“So it is possible, but if we are cautious, it might not happen as your vision.” Luca studies my face. “Do you want to go with us?”

“Yes. Regardless of the vision, I need to.” I feel compelled to be there, yet I’m not sure why.

I could stay home, and perhaps that would make the vision null and void.

I’ve never backed away from a fight. It might be stupid, but I have to be with them.

What if I don’t go and Fredrick somehow gets to me here?

It’s better to stay together and attack as a group.

“We would rather you stay behind,” Atlas says and holds up his hand when I open my mouth. “We won’t stop you. The vision worries me, and it would pain me to put you in danger.”

“Hearing the differences makes me think there’s something else going on.

It might still be possible. We have yet to see all your skills in action.

Spending so much time around your family, we haven’t discussed them.

” Luca grabs my hand and pulls me to the couch.

“Allie has fought with us for years. Of course, we are more fearful of her getting hurt.” Atlas sits on the coffee table in front of us.

“She has proven her abilities. Still, she’s our sister, so we are careful,” he says.

“Do you think I am less because I’m a rabbit shifter?” I ask. They haven’t acted in any way to make me believe they do.

“No, Tricks,” Luca says, turning to face me. “We are curious and don’t know much about the powers of rabbit shifters.”

“Your visions fascinate me,” Atlas says, tilting his head. “We know they have increased since we met.”

“In the past, they were sporadic and often blurry. I can’t always see faces or details.

The weeks before we met, I had dreams.” I lick my lips, and they both glance at my mouth.

“I felt like I was in heat. I knew multiple hands were on me, yet I didn’t know why.

It was alluding to my two mates.” My scent increases, and Atlas narrows his eyes.

“They have been centered around emotions, a knowing of something that will happen. I can’t predict what will happen, I just know it will be bad or good. ”

“I think your gift will increase when we turn you,” Luca mentions lightly, touching my thigh.

“Probably.” I glance at his hand and back at his face. “I know vampires can influence others. Do you do it often?”

“Not often,” Atlas answers, scooting forward and propping his elbows on his knees. “Sometimes we need to while we are working. If the person we are rescuing gets panicked. It works best on humans, but there are some shifters whom we can influence for shorter periods.”

“I’ve kept a secret,” I say, hopping up.

“The family doesn’t know.” I walk to the stand by the door and reach into my purse.

“Heath uses a cane to hold his power.” Palming my tool, I return to my seat.

“I have something similar.” I open my hand and reveal my rabbit’s foot keychain.

“Some rabbit shifters can influence others. I am one of them. My power is held in my rabbit's foot.” I grin, and they stare at it. “It doesn’t look like much.”

“How does it work?” Atlas asks.

“I rub it against their skin and influence their decisions and thoughts. Humans are more susceptible, and their memories will be changed forever. It comes in handy if I deal with bad people.” I bite my lip, waiting for their reaction.

I feel protective of my gift and thought using a rabbit’s foot was clever.

“Brilliant,” Luca says.

“May I?” Atlas asks, holding out his palm.

“Sure.” I shrug and drop it in his hand. “It is the same as Heath’s cane. Without the holder of the power wielding it, it’s just an object. It won’t have any effect on you.”

“You are full of surprises,” Atlas mumbles, giving it back. “Why didn’t you share this with your family?”

“It’s personal.” I stroke the fur. “I trust them, but we already share so much. This is something I wanted just for me. If I need to use it for them, I will.”

“You do trust us.” Luca glides his palm over my hair.

“Yes.” I want to bask in his attention. “Rabbits have been undervalued, ridiculed, and thought of as a joke of a shifter. This is my secret. Sometimes I like to be thought of that way. It makes it that much sweeter when I can prove them wrong.”

“We don’t think of you that way,” Atlas whispers, gripping my knee.

“I know.”

“Your secret is safe with us,” Luca adds, still stroking.

“I’m waiting for you both to freak out,” I say, laughing lightly.

“About?” Atlas asks.

“The vision, completing the bond, or how independent I am. You’ve been patient, and vampires aren’t known for that,” I say dryly.

“I’ve been surprised by my demon's patience and willingness to share,” Luca says, dropping his arm to the back of the couch. “You are an exceptional woman and should be treated with respect.” I blink, my eyes watering. “Every minute, I want you more. I don’t want to rush you.”

“We want you to choose us, just as we choose you,” Atlas says, twining his fingers.

“The interference of your family has helped calm us in a way. It’s annoying.

” He smirks. “I want to build a foundation of mutual respect and trust. We agreed the first day to go slow. It’s been challenging.

I hide it well. I want to change you and complete the bond. ”

“This isn’t a game to me,” I whisper. “It’s been fun joking about begging, but I would never treat our bond as a joke.

” I have waited so long for a mate who could keep up with me, love me, and respect my strength.

Deciding to be a vampire and complete the bond wasn’t a hard choice.

“There is one way that would make me harder to kill.” They tense and stare at me.

“I’ve known from the first day that I would be with you forever.

Getting to know you both was necessary, and we will continue to grow closer. Why wait?”

“I don’t want you to do it just because of Fredrick,” Atlas grits out, his gaze intense.

“The choice should be made without any influence,” Luca says.

“It’s not because of Fredrick.” I cup my tool in my hands, staring at it.

“I’ve wanted a family. Someone who was just mine.

For years and years, I have been alone. I thought the universe forgot about me, and I tried to come to terms with that.

The vision of our daughter made it real.

Seeing you guys with Allie made it real.

You could belong to me. I have a sister now.

I love the family, and I am grateful to have them.

This is different. I’m not doing this to beat Fredrick—I want this because I want you.

” I look at Atlas, and then Luca. “You are mine. I love how you make me feel. You don’t look at me like a joke.

I’ve always wanted to be valued; the past few days have shown me you do.

Your patience with my family, even though you don’t understand them yet, tells me everything about you. ”

“We don’t know how long it will take,” Atlas says.

“You could be out of control when you wake,” Luca points out, straightening and leaning forward.