Page 81 of Those That Are Lost

“Why not go to the authorities?”

“Er…” Red’s eyes dart to me before looking back at her friend. “Because they’ll kill us. Vampires aren’t exactly legal, remember?”

“Right… Shit. Fucking hell, Rory! Of all the scenarios, I didn’t imagine this!”

“I know, it's a lot.” Red takes a step towards her friend.

‘You took it far better,’I remind Red.

‘It was a relief to me. After what I was experiencing, I was happy to know I wasn’t losing my mind.’

“Are any of those campaigns you mentioned still running?” I ask Bree gently. With Red’s glamour, we hopefully will have enough cover but it's an added complication we could do without.

“Claire’s been managing most of it for the last few months. I’ve been busy with this big showcase. You need to tell her. You’re going to tell her aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course. I was planning to find you both once we’d settled back in Froan City,” Red answers her. We’d talked about this already. I knew she missed her best friends, and as long as we came out of this alive, we’d agreed she could seek them out, and tell them the truth. Hope that they’d want to be back in her life.

“She’s going to call me tomorrow. Can I tell her?”

Red looks to me, but no thoughts come through the bond. She’s at a loss.

“As long as you press the importance of keeping our secret. The authorities really will kill us if they discover we’re still in existence.”

“I get that. I really do.” Bree’s eyes tell me she understands the gravity of holding our secret. “Have you been alive since the war?”

“Yes. I was born to a vampire pack. I was turned during the conflict and have been in hiding since.”

“Gods. I never sided with the Fae governments, neither did my parents, they refused to join the fighting. So you know.” She waves a hand at herself, indicating her heritage.

“I know.” I offer her a reassuring smile. “I may have looked into your family when I found out what Red was. I needed to know she’d be safe in her house.”

‘You never told me that!’Red fires at me as she spins to look at me as well. Her features are schooled, however, so I can’t tell how she feels about it.

‘Gold level stalking abilities, remember? I was very thorough.’I cock my head and give her a look I know will have her forgiving me.

She rolls her eyes but the flush to her cheeks tells me it worked.

“Okay, that’s creepy but I’m glad you protected Rory,” Bree relents, completely unaware of the conversation between myself and her friend.

My phone chimes inside my jeans pocket. As only the wolves and Henry have this number, I pull it out and check it.

HENRY: We’re in room 518 whenever you’re done. Think you’ll be happy with who we’ve found. Providing he’s not lying.

Gods damn, have they managed to capture whichever males Adicious has stationed here?

TY: Will be there as quick as we can.

I relay the info to Red using our bond.

She and Bree are both sitting back on the bed now, voices a normal volume as they chat.

I don’t want to rush this reunionbut I’m intrigued to see who Henry and Antares have managed to corner in the last hour in our absence.

Bree’s phone is the next one to chime.

“Shit! I’m meant to be at this function for work right now. I need to go,” she says as she pulls the device from her clutch. “I’m going to have to go, I can’t risk my contract.”

“Go, of course.” Red stands from the bed and comes over to me. I tuck her into my side.