Page 67 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

AURORA

A gent Morris holds her hand out for us to shake.

‘Do we trust her?’ I ask my mate. When he doesn’t respond, I glance up at him to see his eyes meeting those of Mitch, followed by Henry, then Ash. And finally Atlas.

They’re four males he has classed as friends. Four males with varying levels of involvement in all the revelations we’ve discovered tonight.

Mitch, the double agent.

Henry, the scholar who has been pushing for this exact thing in his research and academic publications.

Ash, the cousin whose parents are the closest thing to family Ty has left.

And Atlas, the only other sole survivor of Ty’s former pack. The one that remembers what was and how things should be.

Ty turns to me last. ‘I think we should, but I won’t if you have any reservations. It’s you and me, Red. That’s all that matters.’

‘No.’ I gently take his hands in mine. ‘Each of the males surrounding us matter too. I want a home for me, but I want a home for them too. And you. You deserve this. ’

As soon as we shake on the deal, Agent Morris breaks into a string of orders and we suddenly have a professional team to support the clean-up. Hours pass in a tired delirium as we burn bodies, bloodied clothing, carpets, sheets and scrub walls, floors, and ourselves.

It's well into the afternoon when we finally all gather back out in the garden area and collapse onto the grass.

The police squad are sitting close by, debriefing. The rest of us are laying in the sunshine, simply absorbing its warmth. A couple of the wolves have even shifted to sprawl out and nap. My body is so tired every muscle aches.

My head is nestled into the crook of Ty’s arm. He’s shirtless and I skim my fingers over the mottled skin where he was injured, the bruising fierce. His muscles ripple where my touch tickles his side and his hand tightens on my arm where he’s cradling my body.

‘Stop that,’ he groans.

I giggle softly. ‘Never thought you’d want me to stop touching you.’

‘I don’t. But if you keep stroking, me I’m going to get hard and I’m too tired to move.’ He does lift a knee though, loosening his jeans around the crotch where the denim had been pulled tight as he laid flat out.

‘Spoil sport.’ I sigh, and poke him this time, lower down and well clear of his injury site.

“Dinner’s up!” Atlas’s voice calls out from somewhere above us. He and one of the detectives, Carnell, had driven into the city to fetch us some food. And by food, I mean actual food for the detectives and blood for us.

Slowly we rise, as do Henry and Antares who’d been resting nearest to Ty and me.

Despite reassurances, both had found it hard to allow any of the other supernaturals to spend any prolonged time in our vicinity.

Hopefully, that will ease soon. Most of the vampires had expressed their wish to bond to us, the only ones declining being Nazhir, who was returning to his brother’s pack, and Mitch.

We’d talked to Mitch more throughout the day.

He answered all questions Ty threw his way and explained just how he was passing information back and forth.

It had something to do with docks and stinking of fish.

With regards to a pack bond, which he’d sounded enthusiastic for in West Scotia, he now asked for time to decide.

I understood it. He had a career and a life outside of the pack.

He would continue to be our liaison, but he didn’t know what was next for him now this mission was over.

The group of detectives shuffle, opening up their circle as we join them, bags of hot greasy takeout and a satchel of blood packets having been dumped in the middle by the two guys. The wolves waste no time in digging out the burgers and chowing down. The detectives are a little more civilised.

Ty hands me a blood packet of my favourite blood type, and comes to sit crossed legged beside me.

“We had better head back to the offices soon,” Morris says as she pops a few fries into her mouth.

It's a weird image as she's still wearing her tailored suit, although minus the jacket. Whilst at complete ease in her role as leader, she is much more down to earth than she first appeared. She got just as stuck in with the cleaning as those she commands. It grew my respect for her greatly. Her grouchy bodyguard, however, barely speaks and only helped with things that directly supported his charge. Why she needed a bodyguard in such proximity all the time, I didn’t know and wasn’t going to pry about.

The detectives all mumble their agreement before more general chatter breaks out. A couple of the demi-Fae officers can't hide the squeamish looking grimaces as us vampires start piercing blood packs and sucking on the valves.

“Hey, I don’t judge your food choices.” Mitch elbows one of his colleagues.

“I’m not judging man, but it is weird to see,” he responds.

“Don’t want to try it then?” Mitch waves his own blood pack under the guy’s nose. They break into laughter as Mitch gets his arm battered away.

“We haven’t discussed blood supply yet,” Ty says to Morris, swallowing the last of his pack.

“No, but I’m sure we can work a deal out with the hospital. I expect your supply needs are only going to increase. Do you manage alright now?”

“You mean how we steal it?” Atlas chimes in.

“Hhhmm, you’re right. We will make legalising your supply a priority. Have you got enough for now?”

“We will need another run tomorrow. We’ve had to drink more to heal from the fight but our demands won’t be as much in the day to day,” Ty informs her. “It would be good if we can figure out a safe way to get some fresh supply too.”

She thinks for a minute, shovelling more fries, before answering.

“We can come up with some ideas, you do the same and we’ll start planning in a few days.

I really want to make this work. Maybe you can come to our offices regularly for a while.

It would be good to show you our resources, and I’m sure the Prime Minister will want to meet you as soon as he returns. ”

That sounds insane to me. How have I gone from student, to vampire, to fugitive, to now meeting the head of our island to discuss ways to make life better for the pack I’m about to lead.

I’ve lost my father and isolated myself from my friends, found the love of my life, and nearly lost him. I very nearly lost myself.

I lean my head on Ty’s shoulder as the group continues talking. The conversations shift but I don’t take in a single word. I simply lean on my mate and inhale his scent, letting it ground me. I cherish the feel of his warmth seeping into my skin, the deep tone of his voice every time he speaks.

I look over as Antares bursts into a particularly raucous laugh. He’s sitting next to Atlas and I have to smile watching his ridiculously obvious attempt at flirting. I see Henry noticing it too. Our eyes catch and I roll mine, knowing how entertaining this might be to witness.

My gaze snatches to the wolf laying up against Henry’s crossed legs.

Ash must’ve shifted back after eating and looks like he’s fighting sleep as Henry’s hand creates soothing circles in the fur on his side.

I hadn’t realised how close those two were, the way they’re acting looks almost intimate.

Henry freezes as he becomes aware that I’m still looking at him.

I quickly move my head, not wanting to disturb whatever that moment is.

Ty’s hand coming to my thigh, distracting me from the rest of the group. He strokes my leg softly through my leggings. I close my eyes to everything except his touch.

So many things could’ve gone differently in the last two years.

There were so many times where I could’ve made different choices.

I’ve experienced the worst pain of my life, both physically and emotionally.

I will wear those scars permanently. I’ll have to prioritise my mental health to keep it in a positive place, I know where the slippery slope is and how easily I could fall. For right now though, I feel hopeful.

‘Come on, I think it's time we head inside and find a bed for you.’ Ty’s voice pushes through the sleep fog descending on me.

I look up to see several people already standing, gathering the rubbish from our meal, and finding coats and jackets. The sun is starting to set and the temperature has already cooled from the hot afternoon sun.

The detectives pile into their cars and leave, Mitch heading out with them.

We’re about to go into the ranch house and figure out where everyone can sleep when the sound of tires on gravel makes everyone pause.

Assuming it's one of the officer’s cars returning to grab something they’ve forgotten, we round the house instead.

It's not one of the black cars with tinted windows however, it's a taxi.

“There’s someone with power, and two without,” Atlas states, coming up behind me and Ty.

Before we have time to panic, the car is slowing and the back door is opening. A whirl of blonde hair and a female in tight fluorescent pink leggings and a lycra sports top is charging right for me.

Bree slings herself around me before I can brace. I’m slammed back into Atlas’s chest and he and Ty have to stop us from crashing to the ground entirely.

“Bree, how did you get here?” I say, my voice breathy from being nearly winded.

“Rory, thank the gods you’re okay,” she says over me, pulling back and scanning my face, neck, every part of my body she can see whilst keeping a firm grip on my shoulders. “You are okay, right?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” My face splits into a huge grin.

It’s only at my confirmation that she seems to notice that she’s now surrounded by several males, none of which are human.

“Bree! I told you not to leave me behind!” Claire comes racing up to the group too, although stops short at the sight of the group with me. Behind her, the taxi has turned around and is already heading back up the drive. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I’m good. Everything’s fine,” I tell her, stepping forwards to greet her.

“After Ty and Henry ran out of my house yesterday, I’ve been so worried.” She looks me over the same way Bree just did.

“Well, okay. It was a bit scary for a while but it’s all fine now.” I close the distance to hug her.

“I was so worried.” Her voice cracks as she squeezes me right back. Bree joins in too and slings her arms around us both.

“How did you get here so fast?” I ask Bree again as we break apart.

“Claire called me as soon as you left her place. She told me you were going alone to confront the guy who caused you to run. I jumped on the first ferry I could.”

“But what about your ballet company, won’t you be in huge trouble?”

“They weren’t thrilled, but I couldn’t let you face this by yourself. What if you needed help?”

“I had help,” I state before turning to Claire. “Didn’t you tell her about Antares? And the fact Ty and Henry were at your house?”

Claire squirms a little. “I did, but it felt so wrong to me, leaving your mate behind? It screamed danger. And Bree is so feisty, and strong. She is practically Fae after all.”

“Am I not feisty and strong? I’m more than that too, I’m a double threat with my strengths,” Antares speaks up indignantly, shooting forwards. He’s pointing to his ears as well as showing his fangs.

Claire shrinks back a little, understandably intimidated by the male brandishing his teeth at her.

Henry grabs him by the arm and yanks him back. “Put your fangs away you idiot. Claire doesn’t know you. She called the person she trusted to save her best friend.”

“I’m just saying—” Antares argues.

“Bree,” Ty cuts over Antares. “It’s good to see you again.

And Claire, thank you for looking out for my mate.

” He comes forward to wrap an arm around my waist. “However, we are all dead on our feet. You’re welcome to stay and we can fill you in.

The house is pretty dilapidated but we should have enough rooms. And, you should know, there’s several vampires here.

I promise they won’t harm you, but I’d understand if you would rather go back to the city. ”

“No, I want to stay,” Bree says. Claire agrees.