Page 25 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

I dive past him, but I’m no more than a single step out of the bedroom when strong hands wrap around my waist, yanking me back. In a blink the door is once again slammed closed and I’m pressed up against it, face first.

Ty’s front is to my back, as he grabs both of my wrists in one of his strong hands, holding them between us at the base of my spine. The other flicks the lock on the door and then brushes up my arm.

“Please don't scream.” His mouth is at the tip of my ear. I hadn’t thought of that, both my housemates are home, it's still early. They’ll hear me I’m sure of it. I take a lungful of air.

“I said don’t.” His growl vibrates across my body, his free hand coming up to cover my mouth.

I twist and wriggle in his grip but he’s much stronger than me.

I think of how much I’ve been lifting and pounding at the gym but I can’t budge him an inch.

And he’s still healing from injuries. I try for another few seconds before going limp.

He falls for my tactic, as he feels me soften he relaxes his grip. I take the opportunity. Turning, I snap my hands out of his grasp, and swing a fist at his face.

He blocks it easily, shooting his hand up and grabbing my forearm, halting my momentum in a second. Honestly, it's scary how strong he is.

He manages to pin both of my wrists above my head this time.

And now we are face to face, my back to the door.

I immediately become hyper aware of the full length of him pinning the full length of my body and we fit like two pieces of a puzzle.

I swear even our heart beats are pumping their rapid rate in sync. It makes goosebumps erupt over my skin.

“Red, please,” he pants, the plea shining in his damn crystal blue eyes. “I’m not going to force you to go anywhere, if you don’t want to.”

“But your orders,” I whimper.

“I can find a loophole.” He doesn’t sound certain. “I will find a loophole.”

“But you’re bonded. I know enough about vampires to know packs are like your family. You’ll protect each other above everything.”

“Yeah, that’s how it should be.” I hear the sadness in his voice again.

“But?”

“But, mine is corrupt. Adicious is a tyrant. Truthfully, I despise it.” The devastation bleeding from him at the admission is almost palpable.

His hold on my wrists loosens but this time I don’t try to pull free.

“I joined it on a promise of something I thought would make me happy. And for a while it did help me get better. I’ve…

” He pauses, as if the words are choking him.

“I’ve lived through some atrocities. I’m not proud of it, but when Adicious found me I was broken, he pulled me from a dark place. ”

It dawns on me, the vampiric lifespan.

“You lived through the war?” I whisper and he nods. Gods alive. I’ve cried when reading about the destruction the war brought. Living through it, living through your kind being slaughtered again and again must’ve been beyond traumatic.

“Adicious has always been total in his rule, his word goes. That I can handle, I could understand it. Everything changed after the war. However, experimenting on others is something I loathe. I haven’t been involved in much until you, and I have only followed orders. Most of the time I keep to myself.”

“Can’t you leave?” I ask.

“The only way to break a blood bond is for me to spill his blood. It doesn’t need to be fatal but it’s me endangering him. Going against what the bond stands for.”

“So why don’t you do it?” I push, feeling my heart pang in sadness for him, for what he’s been through, and I’m sure this is the abbreviated version.

“It's not that easy Red.” He looks down at me then, meeting my gaze. “Adicious doesn’t let anyone leave. And he has loyal members in the pack. If I tried to injure him he’d order them to kill me on the spot.”

“And he wants me? To bind me to him in this way?” I can't stop the selfish thought before it's out.

“No, Red.” Ty leans into me further, something I didn’t think was possible. “He wants you as his mate. You’d be his equal. Although I’m sure he would be the same dictator in a relationship as he is with us.” Anger flashes across his irises.

“Relationship?” My voice comes out a few octaves higher.

“I wondered if you had truly understood me earlier. Red, if you become his mate, you’d have to sleep with him. Be his in every sense of a romantic relationship. Mate bonds are like marriages, but stronger. Broken only by death.”

The fury and panic erupts in me.

“No! Hells no! This guy, who you say killed my father, has used me as an experiment, expects me to crawl to him and be his partner?” I’m spitting the words in absolute disgust. “I won’t, I don’t care if I’m a vampire or not, I won't. I don't have to do it, do I?” I plead. “Just because he turned me, there isn’t something there already right? I’m not connected to him right now am I? ”

Ty releases my wrists, moving his hands to my waist.

“No, you’re not.” The growl is back in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter who turns you. Hell, most females are turned by their parents once they reach adulthood.

A mate bond, however, can only be made during sex.

” His thumbs are brushing circles over my hips.

With his additional height he surrounds me.

My hands, now free, have found their way to his broad shoulders. It’s like we’re embraced in a dance.

“Ok, so I can choose. There’s absolutely zero chance I would ever choose him if what you’ve told me is true. The guy killed my father.” My breathing eases a little but Ty stills. “What?”

“He could force you. I think he plans to do just that if you’re not compliant.”

His words are acid over my skin.

“You mean he’d…” I can't say it, it's too abhorrent.

“Rape you? Yes, I think he’s that evil.” Ty brings his head forward, his lips at my forehead and his nose in my hair. He inhales like he’s scenting me. It’s slightly odd, and intimate, but it does soothe the panic filling me. Why do I feel so at ease in this predator's embrace?

“I wouldn't let him, Red. Trust me, I’d kill him if he even tries.”

“But wouldn’t you be in trouble? Why would you risk yourself to protect me? In fact, why are you not handing me over?”

I think I know the answer, and have done since the first time our gazes locked weeks ago. It's something we’ve yet to voice to each other but it's been there since the very first time I spotted him watching me.

“Because Red, I want you to be mine.”