Page 42 of Daring Her Vampires (Embracing The Bond #12)

“Don’t look at her,” Allie snarls, her nails digging into his skin.

Blood drips down his skin and under his shirt.

She dips her head, her lips close to his ear.

“You took everything from me. My human life. My virginity. My mother.” Luca slides his arms around my waist, and I lean against him.

“She was kind and beautiful. You took her life as if it were nothing.” Tears gather in my eyes as her voice becomes tortured.

“You turned me into a monster and left without explaining how I was supposed to survive.” Atlas stops beside me, his hand slipping into mine, but his gaze is fixed on his sister.

“My brothers were forced to make an impossible decision. They agreed to be turned because they loved me. You haven’t loved anything in your whole pathetic life.

Family isn’t a herd of killer vampires. Look around.

” She sinks her fingers into his throat as his eyes flicker around.

“They knew I needed this kill. You will die without knowing the beauty of life. All you have known is anger and hatred. Those are the emotions I’m giving you.

Take them to hell with you.” She yanks her hands apart, and his throat splits open.

His eyes are unseeing as he falls to the ground.

Allie steps back, her chest heaving, staring at the man who hurt her.

“Sister,” Atlas rumbles, walking toward her. She jerks, blinking, and throws herself into his arms. He moves them back so the fire can assure us of Fredricks death.

“I’ll be back, Tricks,” Luca mumbles, leaving me. I watch him embrace Allie, and the sight warms my heart.

“Your mates are good fighters,” Micah says.

“Luca is wicked fast,” Heath adds, strolling toward us. Bane and Hunter follow him, and Bane winks at me. The snake didn’t break a sweat.

“I respect Atlas’s brute strength,” Ryker says, whipping the blood from his hands.

“I have to admit it,” Quinn grumbles. “They can handle themselves.”

“You do know they can hear you,” I say dryly.

“Of course.” Quinn shrugs.

“So all of you accept them because of the way they fight?” I ask, looking at them with wide eyes. Many of them nod. Boys are weird.

“Plus, they protected you, at the same time allowed you to fight,” Micah says.

“I like them because they’re sexy as fuck,” Roxanne grins as she moves toward us, having won her battle. “Even more so when they fight.”

“I’m not stable enough right now for you to say that,” I grit out.

“Shit, sorry.” She stops abruptly, her hand gripping the side of her neck. “I keep forgetting you're part vampire.” I nod stiffly, attempting to control the overly possessive demon inside.

“What did you do to the first vampire you killed?” Daisy asks.

“It’s nothing.” I bite my lip.

“I saw it too,” Heath says. “It wasn’t nothing.”

“Fine.” I cross my arms. “I can influence humans. I use my lucky rabbit's foot similarly to how Heath can use his cane. It works on the supernatural now. I don’t use it often, and it’s not a party trick.” I’m defensive of my gift.

“You don’t have to explain,” Luca growls as the trio joins us.

“Sally, we would never make fun of it,” Micah says softly. “It’s just another reason why you are a fierce, strong woman.” My face flushes, and I can’t meet his eyes.

“She was always a badass,” Roxanne says.

“I’m ready to leave,” River announces. “All the bad guys are dead and burned to a crisp.” We turn as one and walk across the clearing. Atlas and Luca sandwich me between them.

“I wonder whose house it was,” Roxanne says.

“Fredrick probably killed the owners,” Allie replies.

“It’s gorgeous,” she says. “A little rough around the edges, but I could totally fix it up.”

“Do you want to live in a place that has seen so much death?” Allie asks.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Roxanne snorts.

“Is anyone else hungry?” Daisy asks.

“Hey, that’s my line,” River pouts.

“Well?” Daisy persists.

“Yeah,” he answers.

“I could eat,” Juliana says.

“Me too,” Roxanne chimes in.

“Does anyone else think these types of battles are becoming too easy?” Elijah asks, walking backwards in front of us, his arms wide. The long line of shifters and vampires talking and laughing pause as they consider his point. “I mean, some of us just watched.” He looks pointedly at Heath.

“I severed a head,” Heath informs him.

“From ten feet away from the vampire,” Quinn says dryly.

“So?” Heath smirks.

“We should celebrate the win,” Roxanne says, clapping. “We should go to a club.”

Everyone yells, “No.” My smile is automatic. The adrenaline is wearing off, and I know Bash is with my mother by the cars.

I have to face the woman who abandoned me.

“Tricks.” Luca squeezes my hand, and I glance at him. “Are you ready?”

“No.” I smile sadly. “I never will be.”

“It can wait,” Atlas whispers, but I know everyone can hear. They sober and the conversation stops.

“I’m afraid it can’t,” Marie says, appearing ahead of us. “She won’t last.” I nod and blur.

I skid to a stop as I see her lying in the grass. Bash is sitting on the ground beside her, his face filled with sympathy. I’m grateful to him, and he stands as I approach.

“Thanks, Bash.” I touch his shoulder lightly, and he nods.

I sink to the ground and stare at the woman I’ve never seen in person.

They cleaned the blood from her face, but the scars and bruises remain.

I can see subtle differences in our features now that her skin isn’t red.

I’m not surprised that I thought she was me in the vision.

Her heart is slowing even more, and I know her injuries are too severe to heal.

My mates stand guard behind me, and the others give us space.

I gently pick up her hand, and her eyes open.

“Daughter,” she rasps, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” I ask, and I can’t help the bitterness that escapes.

“That I left you.” She swallows harshly.

“Why did you?” I also can’t help but feel hopeful.

“Your dad was abusive. He loved me too hard. I couldn’t do anything right, and he isolated me on the farm. I couldn’t take it.” Her eyes plead with me, and my anger rises.

“Why didn’t you take me?” I grit out. She’s dying, and I’m trying to be understanding.

“I couldn’t,” she chokes out.

“Tell me why,” I demand, and her eyes lower. “You met someone else.” She twitches, and I know I’m right. “He didn’t want a baby fucking up his good time.”

“It wasn’t like that,” she denies.

“We’ve all made mistakes,” I start, exhaling. “I can accept that, but you have to admit it.”

“It was wrong. I was tired. He was a horrible man, and I couldn’t go on.” She coughs, and blood drips on her chin. “I have regretted the decision ever since.”

“When?” I ask.

“What?”

“When did you regret it? Was it the day after you left a baby in the hands of the monster you feared? A month later? Years? When your new relationship fell apart? Tell me exactly.” My stomach rolls.

“I can’t answer that,” she mumbles, and I nod.

“How could you fight the bond?” I can’t imagine being away from my mates.

“He wasn’t my mate,” she says, and I jerk.

“What?” I whisper.

“It happens sometimes. A child can come without the bond.” My world is rocked.

“Was the man you left with your mate?” I ask.

“No. I had hoped.”

“You just wanted a way out,” I state. “Have you ever been mated?”

“No,” she answers, and her body shivers.

“Why did you come here? Did you send me the flowers?”

“I wanted to see you, but I didn’t have the courage. I left two flowers. I didn’t know how to approach you. I overheard things about the bad vampires. I thought if I could help…” She trails off, sagging.

“You thought I would forgive you.”

“I wanted to make sure you were safe. I’ve looked for you for a few years, but just recently caught your scent.

It was stupid to try to find them. I didn’t know what I could do.

Seeing you made my heart happy for the first time since you were born.

You turned into a strong, beautiful woman, who I didn’t need to save.

” Her tears mix with the blood in her hair.

“I did that. I made myself strong. Beauty means nothing unless it is held up by kindness and a good soul.” I bite my lip, holding back the sobs wanting to emerge.

“Are you happy? I need you to be happy,” she says desperately, her guilt eating her. I look behind me at my mates, and then to all my family. Their solemn faces make it harder to control my emotions.

“I am happy. I found my place, and a family who will protect me.” I almost regret my words when she flinches.

“I wish we had known each other. My path through life led me here, so I can’t regret anything.

I found my mates here. Everything happens for a reason.

We may not know what it is, but we have to trust that the universe knows.

” I lift our joined hands and kiss her knuckles.

“It was a brave thing you did.” I hold our hands to my heart.

“Thank you for trying to make things right. You gave me life, and I’ll always appreciate that.

You gave your life to keep me safe. I want you to have peace.

Please know I am where I’m supposed to be.

” I lean over and kiss her cheek. “I forgive you,” I whisper, and her breath rattles.

“Thank you, daughter,” she says, her words piercing my heart. I stare into her eyes as she takes her last breath. I continue to hold her hand as sobs escape. I use my other hand to close her eyes.

“Sally.” Atlas kneels behind me, cupping my shoulders.

“She needed that,” I rasp. “She needs my forgiveness, but that’s not what I feel in my heart. Why does it hurt so bad?” I let her go, and turn.

“I got you,” he whispers, gathering me in his arms.

“Luca,” I cry, reaching my hand out.

“I’m here, baby,” he says, and I cry harder as he takes my hand.

“I want to go home.” I press my face against Atlas's shirt.

“Then we will,” Luca says, and Atlas lifts me into his arms.

“We’ll take care of her,” Micah says, nodding at my mom.

I let my vampires carry me to the car. Atlas sets me on Luca’s lap in the front seat and gets in the driver's seat. I cry for the woman who knew nothing but misery, abuse, and a dream she was chasing that she never caught.

My dream of the woman who loved me but had died bursts, so I cry for the love of a mother I didn’t feel until tonight.

It was too brief to be real.