Page 62 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

AURORA

“ G et the fuck off me,” I snarl at Adicious. The blade to my neck terrifies me but I use that fear and twist it into pure, controlled rage. Between feeling the cold metal, and responding, I’d decided to let my facade drop. I’m done with acting.

“I think I prefer you more compliant,” Adicious taunts me, his tone dripping in male arrogance.

I smile up at him, showing him my fangs. “I just asked nicely. Don’t make me use force.”

“You really are a feisty female. Where has this side been hiding for the last few days.”

“Planning your downfall.”

“And how do you think that’s going to come to fruition? You’re currently under me and under my control. I might just take you now and complete both bonds so you’re tied to me.

My core clenches.

Adicious alters his position, placing one of his knees between my thighs, forcing them apart. My hands, which are currently holding the arm gripping the knife, push against him as I try to move myself further across the bed .

The knife pushes deeper, if I so much as take a deep breath it’s going to cut skin.

“You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.” Adicious moves further over me, placing his free hand beside my head as he leans over. “Time to make my claim.”

I feel Ty getting closer. I feed him details. His returning growl is chased by fear.

I need to keep Adicious talking until he can get here.

Before I can speak, however, Adicious moves the knife.

I think he’s making a fatal move until he slashes straight down my front, slicing through the material of my dress and nicking below my sternum in the process.

The scratch burns as blood pools down my stomach.

It's not deep but I wince and instantly scent my biggest secret, my glamour not extending to my blood.

“Fucking Gods, you’re already mated,” Adicious growls over me.

I muster my courage and use his surprise to push upwards.

With one knee on the bed and one standing, Adicious's balance isn’t too hard to throw off as I slam myself up towards him and roll, wrapping my calf around his standing leg.

I feel the knife once again at my flesh but ignore it as my plan works and Adicious loses his advantage.

The manoeuvre sends him crashing to the mattress beside me. We fight for the upper hand. I feel the knife slip free of my skin and have the sinking realisation I’ve been stabbed.

I focus on the blade, now covered in red, and avoid it at all costs as Adicious starts swinging it wildly.

I manage to get out of his way and roll away from him, eventually gaining a sliver of space that allows me to roll over to the opposite side, and land on the floor.

Raising to standing, I see Adicious on the other side of the bed, also now on his feet.

Looking down, I see blood flowing steadily out of a deep slice in my side. I don’t think he managed to get deep enough to damage any organs but the blood loss will weaken me. The dress hangs in tatters, but the skirt is still intact. I can’t do anything about my chest being exposed.

“How the fuck have you been hiding your scent?” Adicious snaps at me furiously. I see no point in my glamour anymore and drop it entirely.

“I am a Glamourer, a fucking powerful one.” I keep one hand pressed to my side, hoping my vampire healing will kick in and the skin will knit soon so I stop bleeding.

“You’re mated to him. I can smell him all over you.” I swear he’s going to burst a blood vessel with how irate he is. If only we’d be so lucky.

“Yes, Ty found me months ago.”

“And where is he now?”

“I—” I start to say.

But, by some epic fucking timing, the window behind Adicious blows out, and darkness starts pouring in. Shadows as thick as oil flood the room, sending it into pitch night. I take a huge breath in relief, sucking in the scent I’d know anywhere, the scent that means I’m home.

“You dared to lay a hand on my mate?” Ty’s growl is more venomous than I’ve ever heard. And he's a pure lethal predator as he appears through the dispersing shadows, revealing Adicious knocked onto the floor by the shower of glass.

Ty launches for the male, landing several hard blows with his fists. Adicious retaliates with forceful punches of his own.

Noticing his hands are empty, I quickly dive over the bed and search for the knife. I hear more shouting coming from outside the broken window but I don’t allow it to distract me.

The two males continue to lash out at each other as they both get to their feet.

Ty slams Adicious into the wardrobe, wood cracking and splintering at the force being used.

Ty immediately launches for Adicious’s throat and tries to sink his fangs into flesh but Adicious moves at the last second, pushing Ty off him.

I see Adicious pull his fist back to deliver a hard blow to Ty’s kidney and I move. Intercepting the strike, I wince as the stretch pulls on the wound in my side. I hang on to Adicious’s arm as he tries to pull out of both of our grasps.

“I’m doing what I should’ve all those months ago and ending this.” Ty lashes out again, forcing our enemy to slam into the wardrobe for a second time. It fully gives this time and we all go to the floor.

I lose my hold and narrowly miss Adicious’s flailing hand as he reaches for me.

In the commotion of broken wood, fabric, and the ferociousness of the fight, I somehow end up underneath our enemy, his weight pinning me, and his fist wrapped around my hair, holding me to the floor.

Ty tries to dislodge the male but doesn’t succeed. He goes for his throat from behind but Adicious twists. On the third attempt, Ty’s fangs sink into his ex-leader’s shoulder and blood sprays everywhere as my mate drags his teeth along the muscle there.

Unable to move, I keep trying to unseat Adicious by bucking. I also start looking for the knife once more. I don’t want it brought back into this fight unless it’s in my hands.

“Red,” Ty’s call gets my attention in the nick of time as I swing to stop Adicious sinking his own fangs into my neck.

I slam a palm up into Adicious’s face, landing straight on his nose and breaking it in another outpouring of blood. It splatters over me as Ty manages to get on his feet and behind his ex-leader to wrap an arm around his neck.

“I’m okay,” I pant out as I feel Ty’s fear rise.

Adicious bucks above me, trying to shake Ty off. Both their weights end up on my thighs, trapping me beneath them. I look round for the knife once more. The shadows covering the floor disperse enough for me to catch a glimpse of it under the bed.

I stretch my arm out as far as I can but can’t get purchase on the dagger, falling only an inch or two short. Adicious lets go of my hair as his fight with Ty intensifies above me and it gives me a little more wiggle room.

As my fingers wrap around the end, Ty comes crashing down beyond my head. I hear the crack as his body slams into the floor.

Lost to panic, I twist and to my surprise, Adicious’s weight lifts. Too concerned with how Ty landed on his shoulder, I scramble towards him, relieved as he rolls and tries to stand.

The blood covering the floor makes everything slippery but we regain our footing. Time seems to slow as the next few seconds play out like I’m watching a horror movie.

Ty reaches for me.

I’m spun with such force, I land back on the bed.

I see Aidcious’s form slam into my mate.

A glint of metal shines in mid-air

I hear the sharp intake of breath as Ty pulls back.

I feel the sharp pain ring through my head.

Then all I focus on is the blade sticking out from my mate’s chest.