Page 19 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

TY

I find a seat by the giant fire the wolves had started.

Everyone has gathered in an empty part of the clearing outside the main lodge we were staying in.

There’s about a dozen others from the wider pack who have joined the festivities too.

Some introduce themselves, others give a small nod or look but don’t come over to investigate the visitors.

Theodora’s pack wasn’t the original one to settle here.

The tundra wolves opened their lands during the war to those in West Scotia, and a few others where the fighting was the most intense.

The alphas from each joined forces to form a council of sorts and managed to declare themselves independent, negotiating the treaty with the Fae leaders in Scotia.

How they achieved it, I have no idea. It always seemed like a punishment in some ways, that they’re trapped up here and can never leave without risking execution but as I look around, I see it for what it is. A haven.

I wish the vampires had been offered the same kind of deal.

Red and Henry mingle, both seem to have gotten over their initial wariness and are chatting animatedly with the pack. Red’s even accepted a mule of their hot cider. She gasps in awe as the lights overhead dance across the sky in flashes of bright pinks and greens.

“She loves you, you know.” Eetu takes a seat next to me on a log bench, his gaze following mine to the stunning creature with dancing red waves.

“She used to. I’m not so sure anymore.” I sigh.

“She does. She’s scared, but she’ll be yours soon enough.”

I don’t answer. Every particle of my being wants for that to be true.

The ache for her is in every one of my bones, in every breath I take.

I keep seeing flecks of the Red I knew back in Froan, but she’s still buried deep and I don’t know if Rory even wants that person back.

Sometimes it's like my presence returns her to her pain. Sometimes I feel like I set her free of her cages. It’s confusing as fuck.

But just in case the Red I knew is trying to come back to the surface, I’m going to remain here, holding the lifeline.

Eetu nudges me with his elbow to draw my attention back. “I saw the way you wouldn’t let Ash feed her tonight.”

“Yeah, well… I’ve not given up quite yet. I’m certainly not giving other males a free ride to swoop in. Rory can choose who she wants but until she tells me to fuck off entirely, I’m not about to let her feed off others that are unmated.” I grouch.

“You realise that’s not quite how it works right? She couldn’t bond to him just through feeding from him. Or do I need to give you the talk?”

“Yes, I know how it works. I’m not risking it. Vampires can bond to wolves through blood. I don’t know when he last jacked off.” I don’t bother concealing the growl in my voice.

“Thanks for that mental image of my son. I surely hope he wasn’t up to that when preparing our food tonight, or as we were all at the table.” The older male shudders beside me.

“Still…” I have nothing logical to say .

“Still, she’s yours. I think we all felt that message loud and clear.”

Good.

“Are you going to take back your pack lands for her?”

That grabs my full attention. I take my eyes off Red and look at the guy I’d once considered an honorary uncle with how close he and his mate were to my parents. The laughter lines starting to form at the creases of his eyes wrinkle at my expression.

I huff. “Me and what army? They’re over a dozen strong. I can’t fight them and win.”

“But you have considered it?”

“Of course I have, but it's too dangerous.”

“What about Henry? You seem close.”

“What about him? He’s a good friend, we fought together in the war.” I feel I know where this is leading.

“He could be your first bonded.” Eetu folds his arms across his chest, eyebrows raising, telling me he thinks I’m being obtuse. I’m not. It has crossed my mind. But for the sake of trying to end this conversation, I will act like it.

“Form a pack with him? Still not enough to win a fight.”

“Maybe not, but if you don’t start, you’ll never reach the numbers you need.

Plus, when you take your mate, you’re going to need a pack to protect the pair of you.

It’ll get out sooner or later that there is a new female vampire, she’s going to be coveted by every unmated male with fangs on the continent.

” His switch in tactic has my own fangs throbbing with bloodlust.

“Don't you think I know that?” I say, teeth clenched.

“So, why not build yourself some protection?” He really isn’t letting this go.

“Because who’s going to want to join me? I have no lands, a giant target on my back, and probably a freaking bounty on my head too. I can’t offer anything. ”

“Ty, we both know that’s not true.” His hand comes to my knee.

We sit in silence for a couple of minutes, my brain swirling with stupid ideas. Useless ideas that he’s unleashing with this damn conversation.

“I bet he would if you asked. I bet there’s more than one in your old pack who are fed up with how it's being run currently. And I’m not just talking about Atlas.”

Atlas… Another thing I’d fucked up. I’m the reason he bonded into the pack with Adicious as the ruler. Then I’d abandoned him. I hope he’s surviving back in Froan.

“You know about Atlas too? Is there like a secret network of video cameras you have set up or something?”

“Or something.” He irritatingly doesn’t explain further.

“Even if Henry bonded to me, and Atlas could defect, it's still not enough to take out Adicious and those loyal to him.” I sound like a broken record at this point.

“Then ask for help, Ty.”

What?

“That’s delusionally cryptic.”

“Do you believe in fated mates?” My blood pounds in my skull as I try to keep up.

“For us?” I seek clarification, eyebrows raised. He nods and gestures for me to answer. “No, I don’t. I know the Fae lament on about feeling a physical pull, but I’ve never heard a vampire say the same. As far as I know, the wolves work similarly to us, we choose our mates.”

“Do you not think the magic has any sway?”

“No, I have no idea how it works, but from those I’ve spoken to, they’ve met and fallen in love without the use of magic.”

“Maybe it's not as strong as the Fae, but think about it. Lean into your magic, what’s it telling you.”

I give him a sceptical look before feeling for my shadows. They’d been happily lounging at my feet, but with the pull on my power, they dance awake, jumping around in the flickering darkness of the fire. I let them loose to roam free.

Almost instantly they seek out Red, as they often do.

A few of them thicken at her feet and race up her side.

I see her stiffen the second she feels them, but she relaxes again as she realises what’s brushing up against her.

She leans a hand down to her thigh and almost caresses the one wrapping itself around her leg.

My chest feels too small as I watch on. My heartbeat suddenly wild.

“Maybe it's not truly fated, but I think the magic pulls us towards what’s good. It helps bring good to the world. Would help bring you home should you wish for it.” Eetu gets to his feet and walks off, leaving me alone with that parting comment.

I leave my shadows to play as I sit heavy in my thoughts.