Page 53 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

We were given the rudimentary tour by Tripp, whom I’d ordered into action as we entered the house. He at least seemed scared of what Antares could do and was obliging in our requests. With a quick walk around the main floor, we’d been introduced to a few males who were lounging in the common room.

Atlas wasn’t with the group. I assume he’d stayed in his room following our little meet up in the woods.

Mitch, however, had been sitting at the makeshift bar, nursing a glass of liquor, and sporting a few new bruises to the ones we’d left him with.

My blood had heated at seeing the purple marks on his neck and face.

I noted each one and silently promised him that the bastard that laid hands on him would pay as soon as I was able.

With barely a few words, and a few wide eyes and shocked expressions, Tripp had led us up the stairs to the room that had been made up for me the last time I was here, the one I never saw.

Antares empties out the backpack he brought for us onto the bed and starts sorting the clothes. We have a few days worth each and a few essentials.

“Do you think they expected me to sleep outside?” Antares asks, jumping onto the bed after putting his garments into the dresser. He gives the mattress a questionable look as it squeaks under his weight.

“Probably,” I reply, letting out a small laugh. “Or maybe they think I’ll get you to sleep at the foot of the bed like a dog.”

“Tripp really wasn’t happy about you insisting I stay in here.”

“He’ll get over it.”

“I bet Adicious will be even less pleased.”

“Tough.” After Tripp informed us that the only rooms available for Antares were the ones they’d not restored—in the outhouse—I’d informed him that it didn’t matter because Antares would be sharing with me.

At the very least, we knew Mitch had a spare bed in his room after Ty left, but apparently that wasn’t being offered as an option.

It would’ve been too far away anyway. This room is at the end of the corridor, the opposite side to where Ty’s old room is.

And after I’d been informed it was Adicious’s room which was next to this one and Ronan was opposite, there was no way I was sleeping in here alone.

Plus, the bond between Antares and I was pulling strong, the danger we were in making it demand we stay close.

After the less than friendly greeting he’d received and the torture dungeons I knew existed two floors down, my protective instincts to him were just as strong as his were to mine as his leader.

No, Antares was sharing with me.

“So, what’s the game plan for tomorrow?” he ask as I unzip the dress and pull on a hoodie and some sleep shorts.

“We have to wing it for now. Talk to as many of the pack as possible. Start compiling lists of who we think will side with us and who we need to take out.” I keep my voice low.

Ty said the walls were fairly soundproof to supernatural hearing if we spoke at regular volumes but we couldn’t risk being overheard.

I hop onto the bed with Antares, matching his cross legged position and start to braid my hair.

“Adicious is going to try his hardest to get you alone.” Antares fiddles with the cotton sheet on the duvet.

“I know.”

“Pretty sure they’ll try and take me out too.” I feel his apprehension in my head.

“Let them fucking try.” I snarl. His eyes meet mine from under his lashes, assessing whether I meant that.

I guess no one has ever fought for him before.

But I will. “We will have to be extremely careful. Don’t drink anything they offer you.

” I’d warned him already about the time they’d drugged me, but I felt the need to reiterate it now.

He nods.

“Do you…” I pause, not sure I should bring it up. “Do you want to talk about Atlas?”

Antares eyes light up and he sits up straighter as soon as the name is off my tongue. “He’s pretty stunning, isn’t he?” He pulls his lip ring between his teeth like he’s trying to stop the bashful smile breaking over his face. “I wanted to climb him like a damn tree there and then.”

That makes me laugh. “I’m glad you refrained.”

“He didn’t even notice me.” His face falls.

“I’m sure he did. He’d have to, right? Ty said he’s partially Fae, so he might not feel the bond like you can but surely, if he’s your fated mate, he will have been attracted to you at the very least.”

“Wasn’t it his grandfather or something that was Fae? I wasn’t really listening to the family history part of our lessons.”

“I think so.” I try to dredge up that information from my brain.

“So, he’d be like you.”

“We don’t know how far back my Fae heritage goes. Only that my parents must’ve both been born vampires. Maybe my grandfather was the one who turned, maybe my great-grandfather. I don’t know.”

“You didn’t feel the pull to Ty?”

I sit on that for a few seconds. “Not that I’m aware of, but as soon as I spotted him, I couldn’t get him off my mind. We put that down to pack instincts though, seeing how I was alone and turning.”

“Vampires are weird.”

Again, I’m laughing. “You are one too. Need I remind you that you were the one insisting on sleeping in my room the night you took the bond.”

“I know!” Antares uses his magic to whip a pillow into his lap with a gust of wind. He hugs the thing to his chest. “I just can’t believe that you make a decision that lasts for eternity based on feelings.”

“As opposed to having no agency at all? ”

“The magic knows who will be good for you. It wouldn’t put you with a mate who isn’t your soulmate.”

I don’t question Antares out loud, but I can imagine some Fae must be unhappy with their chosen one. I hope that if Atlas is his, then he turns out to be one of the males we take into our pack. If we end up having to kill him or cast him out, I don’t know what that’ll do to Antares.

“We should get some sleep,” I say, too tired to get deeper into this conversation.

“Is Ty going to have my balls for sharing a bed with his mate?” Antares says jokingly but I hear the worry beneath the flippant comment.

“He’ll be happy I’m being protected,” I tell him. It’s partially true, although I can imagine my mate getting a little possessively jealous if he knew.

We shuffle round and get into the bed. I don’t know how much sleep I’m going to get, especially as the door doesn’t lock, but I know I’m going to need to be refreshed for our first full day in our enemy's den.

Snuggling down into the covers I let down the barrier in my head for the first time in hours. Ty notices immediately. ‘Please tell me you’re okay.’

‘I’m good.’ I feel the relief pour through our bond. ‘I miss you already.’

‘I think Henry is ready to stab me, this is harder than I imagined.’ I curl myself up a little smaller, hugging my arms around myself at feeling my mate’s pain.

‘It’s not for long, then we get forever,’ I say to reassure him, and myself.

‘Holding you to it, Red.’

‘I love you.’

‘I love you too.’

I feel my brain start to slip into unconsciousness as the tiredness takes over. I keep our connection open as I drift off, feeling Ty at the other end even though we don’t exchange any other words.

A hand over my mouth jolts me awake. Fangs immediately extending, I punch my hand out to grab the throat of the male standing over me.

As my eyes focus, I recognise Atlas in the darkness. He doesn’t resist my attack. I don’t have a firm hold on him but I dig my nails into the sides of his skin as he muffles a choked sound at me hitting his Adam's apple.

The commotion wakes Antares beside me who is quick to assess the situation and leaps over me to shove Atlas away.

“Stop,” Atlas whisper hisses. “I don’t want the others waking up.”

To my surprise Antares doesn’t use his power on our intruder but rather drops his arms away from Atlas’s chest as soon as he is between me and the threat. He looks back over his shoulder to check I’m not injured.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, sitting up in the bed and untangling my legs from the covers. I lean over and switch on the bedside lamp, dull orange light filling the space.

Atlas backs up a little. I don’t think he was actually here to harm me, so I gently pull Antares back until he’s sitting on the bed beside me.

“I needed to talk to you,” Atlas says, keeping his voice low. “It’s not right. You shouldn't be here.”

“Why shouldn’t she be? This is her home,” Antares answers for me.

“Because I’m not giving up on him. And I find it too hard to believe that you have too.

It doesn’t make sense,” Atlas addresses me, looking straight past Antares.

“I told you he’s not dead and you barely reacted.

Either you’re really not the person I thought or you know the truth and are hiding it.

Ty wouldn’t fall for a cold-hearted bitch. ”

That last comment stings. I don’t want Atlas to feel that about me, but I need to be sure I’m not being played. Afterall, Atlas is bonded and could have been ordered to test my loyalty, test my story.

“You’re bonded to Adicious.”

“Only because Ty is… was in this pack. I have no loyalty to the male leading it. I only took the bond because I could see how much Ty was trapped here and knew that only from the inside could I free him.”

“Why would you risk yourself like that?”

“Because we’re a pack. Him and I. I tried hunting him down after the war but because I wasn’t in the military, I had no contacts and didn’t know who I could trust. I couldn’t poke around too much or I could’ve exposed either of us. As soon as I found out he was here, I came back.”

I catch Antares eye and he gives me a look telling me he believes him. However, if these two have anything like a mate bond between them then it’ll colour Antares judgement.

“Here.” Atlas reaches into his pocket and I tense. He pulls something out enclosed in his fist before stretching out to hand it to me. “I took this when Adicious ordered me to dump everything you turned up in when we captured you. I hope it might tell you I’m on your side.”

I cautiously reach out and open my palm. A metal chain drops into my waiting hand, warmed from being in Atlas’s pocket. On the gold chain sits a plain metal band.

My dad’s wedding ring. The one I’d worn since he died. The wedding ring he never took off after losing my mom.

Tears prick my eyes as I pick the chain up and let the ring spin, glinting in the soft light of the room. I thought I’d never see this again. I clasp it again in my right palm. Taking a fortifying breath, I look at Atlas, who’s eyeing my wearily.

“I hope you know what I’m risking here,” I tell him as I hold my left wrist out and reveal the tattoo.

I don’t let the rest of my glamour drop, not wanting any of my scent to permeate the room, but this I can give as evidence.

“I’m not going to tell you much because I know how Adicious’s lie detection works and we’ve got to stay under the radar long enough to know how to stage the next part of our plan, but I hope you recognise this. ”

Atlas does indeed. His nostril flare and his shoulders sag in relief. “He found you.”

“He did.”

“And you’re here to take back the lands.”

I nod.

Atlas looks to the ceiling as he rubs his jaw. I feel the tension leaving him like a palpable force as he locks onto my gaze once more. “Tell me how I can help.”