Page 43 of Daring Her Vampires (Embracing The Bond #12)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luca

E very tear she sheds shatters my heart.

I hold her tightly in her bed, and Atlas lies behind her, stroking her hair.

It was shocking to see a woman who looks like my mate.

Knowing she was the mother who was thought dead was unsettling.

She lied bravely to her. I felt every word through the bond and knew she was torn.

Sally was fierce while she killed the vampires.

I was proud of her for doing so well during the battle, even though she was hurting and anxious to see her mom.

“I’m getting you wet,” she mumbles, lifting her head. She pats my shirt and smiles slightly.

“I would make a bad joke, but I don’t want to be insensitive,” I say, encouraged by her smile.

“It’s always a good time to joke.” She rolls over and presses her hand to Atlas’s chest. “Thank you both for letting me have a moment of weakness.”

“You don’t have to thank us,” Atlas says.

“Being upset about your mom isn’t a weakness,” I whisper, thinking of my mom.

“I wanted to push for more answers, but what’s the point?” She wipes her cheeks. “She was dying. I didn’t want to spend the only time we had arguing. She felt trapped, and I understand that, yet I was her daughter.” She sighs and looks between us. “Do you think I did the right thing?”

“Yes,” Atlas answers.

“It would have solved nothing to prolong the anger.” I brush my thumb over her jaw. “She’s at peace now.”

“Are you? At peace?” Atlas asks.

“I still have questions, but I don’t think her answers would have satisfied me,” she says. “I won’t miss her, because I never had her. She was a stranger with my face.”

“Are you going to always wonder about her reasons?” I ask, hating the thought of her pain.

“There is a way,” she mutters. “I need to find my father.” I stop my snarl.

“Is that what you want?” I ask.

“I do. He may not talk to me, but I’ll get closure,” she says.

“I’ll call Shade,” Atlas says, sitting up.

“Call Quinn,” she says.

“I can call both. Shade may have more resources,” he says, pausing.

“That may be, but I think Quinn knows where he is.” We stare at her.

“How? Why wouldn’t he say something?” I ask.

“Quinn knows a lot of things,” she sighs. “He hides many of his skills. He also protects people. I’m guessing he did some research into my past when I started working for him. I don’t think he knows it all, but enough.” Atlas nods and leaves the room. “How are you feeling?” she asks, facing me.

“I didn’t have a long-lost mother show up,” I say, and she tilts her head.

“No, but you finally got justice for your mom,” she says softly.

“I see her smile every time I look at Allie,” I admit, grinning.

“She's gone, but her features are clear on her face. I didn’t have enough time with her, and I still miss her. Oddly, the feeling remains after all this time. I’m not sad, yet I wish she were still alive.

I doubt she would have accepted the gift of being a vampire, so she would still be long gone.

” I play with the ends of her hair. “You were right; things happen for a reason. We wouldn’t have the life we do now or have seen all we have if she would have lived.

Our human lives would have been short, and we would have lived out our lives working the land.

It was a hard life. I’m still amazed at all the changes we have seen.

” I drop her hair and glide my finger over her lip.

“I wouldn’t have met Shade or accepted working for him.

I wouldn’t have come here and met you. That would have been a tragedy. ”

“It would have,” she whispers.

“I have been stuck, living the same day over and over. I’ve enjoyed our travels and the experiences with my siblings.

My life has become dull. It was full of color when Mom was alive.

Her gardens and smile gave me light. She was quiet but steady.

Her fear of our father held her back from showing her joy.

I saw glimpses of it.” I cup her cheek. “You gave me the light back. From the first moment, I knew you would help me see color again.” Her eyes glisten, and I smile tenderly.

“I love everything you are. Your love is almost too big for your body, so you shine it on everyone you care about. I’m grateful I get to bask in it.

I have never trusted anyone except Allie and Atlas.

They have loved me through my worst days, and I didn’t think I would have someone else to love.

You have shown me what it means to love with your whole heart and soul.

You were meant to be mine.” I kiss her softly.

“Watching you fight today, all I felt was pride. I am proud to fight beside you for the rest of our time on earth. I will always protect you, but I will never doubt your abilities. You have adapted to being a vampire so easily. The universe knows all. I didn’t believe it before, but I do now.

I love you, Tricks. I love you for your heart, your beautiful soul, and the way you attack life.

You’re sexy as fuck, and I want to get lost in your love forever. ”

“Damn,” she breathes. “You don’t say much, but when you do, it packs a punch.” She lunges forward, hugging me.

“Anyone can talk, but if the words don’t mean anything, what’s the point?” I hold her tight and look toward the door. “My selfless brother has been giving me time, but it’s his turn.” Sally moves away, and Atlas opens the door.

“Quinn knew where he was but lost track of him,” he says roughly. “He’ll find him.”

“It won’t be right away, so we have time,” she says, patting the bed.

“And you say I’m quiet,” I mumble.

“Fuck off,” Atlas grunts, sitting on the other side of Sally.

When he sits stiffly, avoiding her eyes, she straightens and faces him.

He cups the leather on his wrist and stares at the wall.

“My purpose has been to keep the family together, no matter how I had to do that. I pretended to be happy to be a vampire and live the rest of my time with the scars that proved it. I couldn’t be unhappy or regret the change, unwilling to validate the guilt Allie felt.

It took years to be at peace with my vampire side.

There were times when I thought it was pointless to feel any joy at all.

Using my speed and skill to help those weaker than me finally gave me a reason for being a vampire.

Luca and Allie kept me sane, and they are the only ones I loved.

” He focuses on her face. “I didn’t think I could have a mate.

Honestly, I didn’t think there was a woman who could pierce my heart.

It’s hardened over the years; they have been the only ones who could break into it.

One look at you, and I felt it crack. You easily slid inside and showed me another way to live, and to love.

I didn’t understand your family. How can they love each other when they are so different?

Many of us are naturally enemies. Vampires aren’t social.

We like to keep to ourselves, and our emotions are locked away.

You are the force behind all the gatherings, the humor, and the love you shower on all of them.

I understand their defense of you, and need to ensure we treat you how you deserve.

” He takes off his cuffs. “Luca was right, we lived, yet we didn’t enjoy much.

I don’t want to hide my scars anymore because they led me to you.

Allie wasn’t stopping me from showing them, I was.

I didn’t want to be reminded of the day my human life ended.

Now, I will look at them with pride, knowing I wouldn’t have you if I didn’t have them.

“I love you. My heart beats for you, and the shell is gone. The truth is; I hate my father because he changed. When I was young, I wanted to be just like him. He wasn’t always violent and never raised a hand to me.

We used to hunt together. He taught me how to live off the land, and we would spend hours talking. ” He shakes his head, and I frown.

“You never told me that,” I say roughly.

“I didn’t want to remember,” he admits, brushing his fingers over his cheek.

“Our lives turned miserable. How could I justify the love I still had for him? I held out hope that we could go back. Be the way he used to be. Mom would get frustrated when we spent hours away from the house. You were younger and stayed with Mom. Allie didn’t have any interest in running around the woods, and she would never kill an animal.

It was our time together, and I cherished it.

I have felt guilty for missing him, so it’s easier to remember the bad.

We were devastated by Mom’s death. You didn’t mourn Dad, but I did, although I did it silently.

I don’t know what happened to him, and I wish he were alive now so I could ask him why.

It’s too late. I will never know. As a boy, I loved him, that’s why it was so painful to see the abuse he inflicted on you, Allie, and Mom. None of you deserved his wrath.”

“He never hit you,” I mumble. “I wondered why.” I thought it was because Atlas was bigger.

“I hate that he didn’t,” he rasps.

“Why?” Sally asks.

“I felt as if I was between two worlds. I saw the shit he did, but I didn’t feel it. For some reason, even in his worst moments, he treated me differently. It gutted me that you hated me for it.” He glances at me, and then away.

“Never,” I whisper. “I wondered why, but that’s it. You saved us from him.” He nods.

“Get all the answers you can,” Atlas says, looking at Sally.

“Whatever you need to do to move on. You might not like what he has to say, but it’s better than always guessing.

I will support you. When you told me I was going to be a father, I was overjoyed.

I want to be better than him, yet, early on, he taught me how a dad listens and how to be patient.

Having a baby with you gives me a chance to love a child as they are supposed to be.

I don’t want you to have any doubts that I will protect and love the baby just as much as our family. ”

“Is that why you haven’t shared about your relationship with your dad?” she asks.

“Partly,” he grumbles. “Your family has hardly left us alone, also.” He closes his eyes, tilting his head back. “I feel your love through the bond. It’s big and beautiful. Being your mate is a gift. I will cherish it, and any children we have.”

“I know you will,” she whispers, crawling onto his lap.

She cups his cheeks and stares into his eyes.

“If you can feel my love, you can also feel my confidence in your feelings for me, and know I believe in you.” She hugs him tightly.

“In both of you.” She pulls back and motions with her hand.

“Come here.” I sit up and move closer. “I love you. I didn’t think having a mate was in my future.

When I was younger, I waited for someone to rescue me.

As the years passed, I knew no one was coming, so I had to rescue myself.

I learned to protect myself. I didn’t have anyone to fight for me or keep me safe.

I had settled into the world and took any fun and pleasure I could find.

I have lived on my terms, never caring about the roles society shoved down women’s throats.

I have never felt shame for playing by my rules, and fuck everyone else’s opinion.

Because of that, many people have left my life quickly, unwilling to accept me for everything I am.

“Living here, with the family I found here, was the first time I felt accepted. I still have moments of doubt that they truly love me. I have been the joke before, and I hoped that they weren’t laughing behind my back.

I’ve lived in fear, so I relish being in a group.

The silence still scares me. I’ve not dealt with the trauma of my past, but I know I have to face it.

Going to my father feels right. I care about his reasons, yet my life will go on if he turns his back, unwilling to answer for his decisions.

I doubt seeing him will change my opinion of him.

My memories and his actions are hard to justify.

I have wondered if he truly loved my mom or if she was a possession he lost. Now that I know she left him, things make more sense.

He must have remembered her betrayal every time he looked at me. ”

“That doesn’t excuse how he treated you,” I grit out.

“No, but I can understand it. When I thought she died, I assumed he was in mourning, and I was the reason she was dead. He blamed me, but not for the reason I thought.” She lifts a shoulder. “I need to see him, and regardless of the outcome, I will have you to support me.”

“Of course we will,” Atlas says, gliding his knuckles over her cheek. “Our love will never end.”

“I’m counting on it.” She smirks. “Having vampires for mates was a surprise. Hopefully, I can curb my urge to drink from my friends.” She laughs.

“It will pass.” She slides away from Atlas and sits between us. “Your movements have slowed. How are you feeling?” Her emotions have stopped coming fast and furious through the bond.

“Fucking fantastic,” she hums, tilting her head.

Her heat fills the room, and I want to claim her again.