Page 36 of Daring Her Vampires (Embracing The Bond #12)

Chapter Twenty

Luca

“ S it down,” Atlas demands, and I snarl at him.

“How can you be so calm?” Sally looks like she is sleeping, but we both know she is being tortured.

The vampire is forming in her body and soul.

Once she closed her eyes, we both got dressed in silence.

I pace at the end of the bed, my attention focused on her face.

Atlas covered her in his shirt and the blankets.

“Listen to her heart,” he says, brushing her hair off her face. “She is strong.”

“I know,” I hiss, stopping to face him. “Shit can still happen. Aren’t you worried?

” I have relied on his calm control, yet at this moment, I need him to show his anxiety.

At least Shade has assured us that he hasn’t spotted Fredrick close to the apartments or Quinn’s office. One less thing to worry about.

“Of course I fucking am,” he growls, glaring at me.

“She means everything. If something happens to her during the change, I won’t recover.

I can’t dwell on that though, I have to believe she will come back to us.

Do you remember the pain we felt? I do. It was excruciating.

It burned to the point I wanted to die. I wished for death, instead of becoming the thing that took our family away, changed us to a point I wasn’t sure that we could go on.

” He looks at Sally. “Do you think I enjoy being the voice of reason? I was put in that role, and most of the time, I don’t mind it.

Allie is a wildcard. You are unpredictable.

Once our parents were gone, being responsible for both of you was a natural responsibility.

I worked hard to adjust quickly to being a vampire; I had no choice but to do so.

You lost it; your anger consumed you. Allie decided she needed to prove she was worthy of a second chance at life.

Her guilt gutted her, and she had nightmares of the night she killed Dad.

I couldn’t fail you.” My anger drains as I watch how tenderly he touches our mate.

“Fuck, Atlas,” I whisper. “I didn’t know. I should have. You have always taken care of us, and I took it for granted. I’ve only thought about myself, and not what you were going through.”

“It has been my privilege to be your rock. Sometimes, I loved that you looked to me for guidance. I needed to be there for you and Allie. It gave me something to think about other than my failures,” he says softly.

“Failures? What failures?” I ask, frowning.

“I couldn’t protect Allie or you from Dad. Allie got mixed up with Fredrick, and I let her sneak out to meet him. He caused all of this. He killed Mom, and I couldn’t stop that. I have failed many times.” He stares at Sally, refusing to look at me.

“Atlas, brother,” I sigh. “Have you met Allie? Do you think you could have stopped her from leaving the house? You had to sleep sometime. If she didn’t go that night, she would have snuck out another night.

You couldn’t control her actions. Fredrick thrives on chaos and murder.

How could you predict that he was a vampire?

Or that he would turn Allie and kill our mom?

You have been taking the blame for others.

It’s not on you. Things happened that led us to this point.

I don’t regret becoming a vampire. The power it gave me changed my life for the better, but I couldn’t have done it without you or Allie. I should be the one apologizing.”

“What the fuck for?” He frowns.

“I’ve been out of control and fighting constantly.” I grit my teeth, remembering all the times Atlas had to rescue me.

“Fuck that,” he spits, and I stop pacing. “Do you remember when Allie worked at that bar?”

“Yeah.” I tilt my head. “It was rough.”

“Rough,” he snorts, shaking his head. “She was determined to stay there despite our protests. You went with her for every shift and sat in the corner.”

“She was pissed.” I smile slightly.

“Very. But she was lucky you were there. How many times was she cornered? All those men were taught a lesson with your fists.” He points at me. “You protected her.”

“She’s our sister. I had to watch out for her,” I say.

“You didn’t have to. She can take care of herself, which she told us repeatedly.

I am not the only one who keeps us safe.

You contributed to the family. You’ve matured over the years, using your anger in the right way.

The first year we were turned, it was difficult for you to adjust, and the temptations of new power overwhelmed you.

I get it. I went through the same thing—you just don’t remember.

” He looks at me fondly. “You were too wrapped up in trying to control yourself to notice what I was doing.”

“I haven’t thought about the transition for years,” I mumble, trying to recall how Atlas behaved.

“Good.” He laughs lightly. “I was an asshole.”

“That sounds right.” I grin.

“I thought it was hilarious to seduce a human's girlfriend. It was a game. I didn’t use my influence to do it, until it didn’t work.” He chuckles. “It was so easy, and eventually, it lost its appeal. I don’t know how many relationships I ruined.”

“Shit, Atlas,” I laugh. “I vaguely remember a human latching onto you many times.”

“I played with them.” He lifts a shoulder. “I tested my limits all the time. None of them held any appeal to me; I just wanted to see if I could. Their blood always tasted sweeter after they gave in.”

“So you were just as fucked up as me.”

“Yes.” He stares at the wall. “I always got permission. They may have been under my influence in the end, but I never forced them. In my darkest moments, I never crossed the line.”

“You never would,” I growl. “We didn’t need to. They gave their desire freely.”

“Allie didn’t,” he whispers, and I flex my jaw.

“You are nothing like Fredrick,” I hiss.

“I know,” he sighs.

“Do not compare yourself to him,” I command, knowing he thought it for a second. “She was forced. He didn’t influence her or treat her gently.” My stomach rolls thinking of her story.

“You're right. I would never do that to anyone. Women should be respected in every way.” He looks at Sally. “We’ve done things we aren’t proud of, but we did the best we could at the time.

Sometimes we pushed the limits, but we never crossed the line.

If we were truly bad, the universe wouldn’t have given us such a gift. ”

“I should have told her,” I whisper harshly.

“What?” He glances up.

“That I fucking love her.” My heart squeezes. “I didn’t think I could love anyone.”

“Of course you can. You show your love to Allie and me.” I look away. “You can’t admit that to us, but you can for her.”

“It’s different,” I grumble.

“Why? Because we’re men?”

“Fuck off.”

“I love you, too, brother.”

“Shit.” I turn and run my hands through my hair.

“You have time to tell her. She’ll wake soon,” he says, sobering.

“How do you know?” I turn back.

“Can’t you feel it? The bond growing inside you.”

I close my eyes. “Yes,” I say softly. “How can I love her so deeply so quickly?” Her heart was racing minutes ago, growing accustomed to the change. It’s beginning to slow; her body is becoming like ours.

“How can possessive creatures such as us share her?” I open my eyes. “It’s magic. Fate. Whatever you want to call it. I love her too. The universe knew who we needed. She has shown us what is possible.”

“She will give us a family.” I sit on the bottom of the bed and cup her calf. “A daughter.” I still have not wrapped my head around that thought.

“Hopefully, more children,” Atlas whispers, smiling softly. “The next generation of Sallys.” We share a grin.

“Wild. Beautiful.” I look at her face. “Her family is going to be mad we didn’t tell them.”

“We’ve shared enough moments with them,” he grumbles.

“They won’t see it that way.” I can picture Micah using his power to punish us, at least try to.

“I don’t care. This moment is ours. She will wake, and she can tell them.”

“I predict many uncomfortable family gatherings for years to come,” I say dryly.

“The ones we have had haven’t been uncomfortable?” he asks.

“Right,” I mutter, scowling. “Do you think we will be accepted anytime soon?”

“They won’t have a choice.”

“Micah will want to kill us.”

“He’ll get over it,” he says.

“Not likely.”

“What matters is how we are with Sally. He’ll see our love, eventually.”

“All of the vampires here are powerful,” I mention lightly.

“We are too.” He grins, and I shake my head. “How do you feel about them? Will you ever feel like you belong?”

“Maybe.” I wasn’t expecting anything that’s happened. I’ve barely had time to breathe. “They love her, so I can try to blend in.”

“You? Blend?”

“Weirder things have happened.” I laugh shortly. “I’m sharing a mate with my vampire brother.”

“True. Who would have predicted that?”

“It feels right. Being here and sharing with you. It will take time to enjoy being around all of them. We’ve only had to worry about each other. What about work? Have you thought about whether we will continue to work for Shade?” I ask.

“Why not? We don’t report to the office. Working remotely is normal. We’ve lived all over the world.”

“What about Tricks? She’ll want to work with us.” I can’t imagine she will sit home and wait for our return.

“She would be an asset,” he says, picking up her hand. “Her skills are many and will only grow as a hybrid.”

“Shade would be thrilled,” I say.

“Yes, he will welcome her.”

“Asshole has too much interest in our mate.”

“He’s involved with the family. More than any of them know,” he says, frowning. “His secrets are getting annoying.”

“He can’t hide in the shadows forever.” He’s always been a mystery, and I’ve respected his privacy.

“It will take a momentous occasion to force him into the light,” he says.

“Perhaps a mate is in his future,” I muse.

“I would like to see how he deals with that,” he chuckles.

“He is the one who has to control everyone and everything. I bet he falls hard and fast.” Shade sits behind his computers, relying on his technology to keep him connected to the outside world.

“He must have many secrets. How can a shifter that not many people have seen run a business and employ so many?”

“He’s talented. His words hold weight.” Atlas sits up and rubs his face.

“How long has it been?” I ask.

“Three hours,” he replies, standing. “Take my place. I need to move.”

I move to the side of the bed and lie beside Sally as Atlas leaves the room.

I misjudged his pain. He has always hidden his emotions, whereas I have shown every moment of anger.

The mask he wears cracked a little while speaking about Sally, yet there is much more going on behind the facade.

Meeting our mate has given him another family member to worry about, but it has also allowed him to let go.

Sally is perfect for him. Not for a second did I think of letting her go so he could have her to himself. I’m selfish enough to want it all.

Atlas is the best brother anyone could have.

We have fought many times over the years, but we have always worked it out.

Living with your siblings for hundreds of years, it would be odd not to disagree.

Allie is the most ferocious when she wants something.

Working in the bar was tame compared to all the trouble she got into.

We rarely needed to rescue her; we usually had to clean up the damage she did to those who hurt her.

I wonder if Fredrick is the reason she sought out excitement as she tried to bury the feelings from his behavior.

Sliding down further in the bed, I roll and cocoon Sally.

I curl my arm over her head and press against her side.

The bond is knitting together inside me, tying me to her.

When it’s complete, I’ll be able to feel every emotion she has and locate her anywhere in the world.

If she is in trouble, I will know. I close my eyes and touch my forehead to her temple.

I feel her love, but I have from the beginning. It’s pure and beautiful.

The flowers disturb me. She brushes it off and shoves the feelings it evokes deep down.

I know it hurts her. She hides as Atlas does.

When she is done with the transition, she won’t be able to lie about it anymore.

We have to do something about her dad. I won’t allow him to torture her anymore.

I concentrate on her breathing. It could take all night.

I’m not enthused about informing her family if we don’t show up at the office in the morning.

We will have them at the front door, demanding her presence.

“Your blood smells yummy, boyfriend.”

I open my eyes and stare at the smirk on Sally’s lips.

“Tricks,” I rasp, and Atlas blurs through the door.

“I want to try out my fangs,” she hisses and lunges.

“Shit,” I gasp as she pushes me to my back and straddles me.

She strikes fast, sliding them into my neck, and my fangs drop.

I’ve never had another vampire feed on me, and never had the desire to do so myself.

Having my mate do it brings me to the brink of euphoria.

She drinks deeply, and I grip the back of her head.

Her pleasure slides through me, joining mine.

The bond snaps into place as she takes the action to complete it.

Her soul is blinding. All of her emotions flood into my body.

The pain she felt through the change turns into a memory, and joy at being one with me replaces it.

She lifts her head, and I stare into her eyes.

The white ring appears in them, and my blood drips down her neck.

“Delicious.” She licks her lips and tilts her head, focusing on Atlas. “I want more.”

If I weren’t studying her so closely, I wouldn’t have seen her move.