Page 59 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

AURORA

T he final day in the pack house is passing both painfully slowly and in a blink. I’d woken up after a fitful night sleep—nightmares plaguing me once more.

The morning had passed incredibly slow with barely any of the pack around. Adicious had been locked in his office and wasn’t entertaining any conversation with me. I’d walked away rolling my eyes and frustrated that I couldn’t ask him the details I needed.

I’d returned to my room and decided to indulge the tyrant by changing into one of the dresses he’d picked for me and freshly curling my hair.

The dress wasn’t bad per se, but the neckline dipped super low between my breasts and the straps felt precariously balanced on my shoulders.

The sea green colour went well with my red hair and the floaty skirt allowed me plenty of movement so I wasn’t complaining on that front.

Although I was very likely to flash someone if I had to engage in anything in this dress.

Antares kept me company the entire time, breaking down every little movement and word Atlas had made in here yesterday. His obsession was growing fast. I only hoped that Atlas returned the attraction and once we came through the other side of this mission, they’d be able to hit it off.

A little after midday, we head down to the common room and grab some blood. We decide to head out to the veranda out the back of the property to drink it and find a few others of the pack out there enjoying the warmth of the sunny day.

The yard isn’t really a yard, it's not been kept up much at all. There’s evidence that flower beds once lined the property and that the space immediately behind the house was gardened but it's all overgrown, the wild grasses taken over.

There are a few old deck chairs and a couple of wooden benches dotted about, which is where Tripp and a couple of the others are sitting. Thankfully, Ronan is absent today.

Adicious has emerged from his office, however, and is sat amongst his males.

He calls me over as soon as we step out onto the decking.

I signal for Antares to join Atlas, who is also out here but sitting away from the main group.

I’m still in sight but want to give Antares time with Atlas, and I want to save him from any further comments on his heritage from Tripp and the others.

I go to sit on one of the empty chairs but Adicious surprises me by pulling me into his lap. I have to put my hand on his shoulder to avoid losing my balance entirely, and quickly force my body to relax so I don’t cringe away from his nearness.

“You are looking delicious today,” he says, stroking my bare arm.

“Thank you. I couldn’t resist this dress in the warm weather.” I give him a tight-lipped smile I hope is endearing.

He strokes my arm again, brushing over my wrist where the scar he left on me sits. And where my tattoo for Ty covers it over under the glamour I’m wearing. I want to stab him for touching me like this. His other hand he places over my thighs, it’s not restrictive but it feels like an iron grip .

Adicious has kept the physical touches to a minimum until now, for which I’ve been grateful.

I take a mouthful of the blood I’m still holding, letting the thick liquid distract me from my current position.

It's delicious as it slides down my throat and I immediately feel the flood of power as it hits my stomach.

“Did you not want to warm that up?” Adicious asks.

“Nah, I don’t mind it cold, especially on a warm day like this,” I tell him, leaving out the bit where I’m not drinking anything that I don’t have to suck through a sealed valve I’ve broken myself.

He swipes my hair off my shoulder and lowers his mouth to my skin. I deserve an award for not tensing as he inhales.

“Your scent is so potent. I can’t wait to taste you.”

You’ll get a surprise if you try, motherfucker, is what I think. Verbally, I hum a response as I pull on the blood packet again.

I drain the blood before leaning away to place it on the floor. I shift as I sit up, using the movement to pull my neck away from Adicious’s mouth.

“Is the whole pack going to be here tomorrow?” I ask with sweet curiosity.

“Not all, but most.”

“Some are still on the continent?”

“Yes.”

“Couldn’t they return now that I’m back?” I can’t help pushing him a little. After all, if Ty is dead, why should he have pack males out on the continent.

“They’re doing some other pack business.” He strokes my hair again, petting me like I’m a dog. “You don’t need to worry about it, you’ll get to meet them soon.”

“Is there anything I need to do before tomorrow?” I change the subject before he can get suspicious.

“No, show up on time, and wear something pretty.”

“Are we…” I pause as if nervous about the next qu estion. It’s something that’s been on my mind. Whilst I know Ty will be intervening before anything can happen to me, I am curious as to how far Adicious wants to take this. “The mate bond, we won’t do that bit with the pack around, right?”

“They’ll need to see us bonded.” It’s a cryptic answer.

“But they’ll be able to tell afterwards. They don’t need to witness it.”

“Feeling shy?”

“I’m not into exhibitionism.” Unless it’s with my actual mate, but even this is too far for me. No shame to anyone who would enjoy that but being the centre of attention whilst getting fucked doesn’t appeal to me.

“Fine, maybe we can use a separate room, but I want them to hear you scream for me.”

He shocks me with reasonableness. I wasn’t expecting him to concede but apparently the tyrant can compromise.

“Deal,” I manage to force out.

Adicious smiles at me and the thick icky feeling on my skin is back. It's not a genuine smile. His eyes are always shuttered but I catch a glimpse of something hidden, something menacing.

I get the feeling the sudden decency is as much of an act as me agreeing to this whole charade.

I’m on edge for the rest of the day. My conversation with Adicious creeped me out. It felt too easy, too simple that he would listen to me.

Following that conversation, I moved off his lap and spent some time flitting between the others.

Adicious blatantly tracked my movements and eyed each of the males I engaged in conversation.

I watched every word that came out of my mouth, scared that I would somehow trip up and give away one of the secrets I was holding.

I wondered if Adicious could read the lies I was spewing every few sentences but Ty had reassured me his gift only applied to those that were bonded to him.

The pressure built so much that a headache started throbbing at my temples. I left the group and returned to my room, needing a darkened space to breathe.

As I sit on the bed and bend my knees up so I can wrap my arms around myself, I fight my lungs as they start refusing to take regular inhales. I feel the familiar tingles tightening my muscles and my brain tells me to run.

You need to get out of here. Leave. You’re about to fuck this up and get them all killed.

I haven’t had any intrusive thoughts for a while but they flood my head now. Panic seizes my chest and inhaling becomes harder as I fight the war raging in my mind.

I can do this. I am doing fine. This was my plan.

I chant the three sentences over and over, trying to drown out the other voices. Squeezing my eyes shut, I force myself to push the rising panic back into the dark corner I keep it locked in.

A soft brush around my thigh jolts me out of the position I’ve locked my muscles into. I look down to my left and there’s a thickening band of shadow brushing up against my skin where the dress has fallen up my leg and into my lap.

‘You’re okay,’ my mate’s voice cuts through the noise in my head.

‘P–p-p-please tell me that’s one of your shadows,’ I stammer.

‘It is, you’re okay. I’m with you Red. I’ve got you.’ His smooth voice calms me as it washes over me. He pulls so far into my head it feels like he’s right next to me. The shadow continues to band itself around my thigh.

‘How? ’

‘I’m not sure, but I can see it through your mind. And control it.’ The shadow pulls tighter and it’s almost like Ty’s hand is grounding me into the now, holding onto me tightly to bring me down from the panic attack.

‘Thank you.’

‘You don’t need to thank me Red. I hate that you’re pushing yourself this hard.’

‘I didn’t think it would be this challenging.’

‘Say the word and I’ll come and get you out now.’

‘It’s only one more day. And we haven’t told those we want to save our real motives yet, or how we want this to play out.’

‘I don’t care. If this is your limit, we get you out now,’ Ty growls. ‘Fuck all of them, I’m not paying for them with you.’

‘I can handle it,’ I reassure him as I move to lay on my side, exhaustion seeping in from the panic attack. The shadow sticks with me, coming to my forearm instead.

‘I’ll trust you for now, but if I feel you getting that stressed again, I’m coming to get you.’

‘Fine,’ I tell him, feeling myself relax.

‘Tomorrow, Red. This ends tomorrow. Everything is set from this side.’

‘The wolves?’

‘On standby.’

‘Okay, I’ll find Antares in a bit and tell him to start talking to the others.’

‘Rest for a while Red, I’ll stay here.’

Ty stays as a strong presence in my mind as I fall asleep.