Page 36 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

TY

I don’t see a way out. I need more time. Just a little more time.

Who am I kidding? I’m no closer to a solution than I was a month ago.

I’m pacing Red’s room as she lays passed out on the bed. I had to knock her out before she not only exposed herself but maybe killed her friend in a blood frenzy.

She’s got fangs now. It was the first thing I checked when I got her to her room - although the wound in my hand was a pretty sharp indication.

The inevitable happened and I’m not prepared. I hoped against all hope I wouldn’t see the extended canines as I‘d gently pulled back her top lip. My stomach dropped as the evidence stared back at me. But I couldn’t stop the rush of heat in my veins either.

Seeing her with those deadly pointed teeth took my breath away.

For a second I let myself cherish the moment, as fucked as we now were.

Red is stunning anyway but seeing her fully transformed was something else.

It proves our theory, both her parents must’ve been unturned vampires. She is a full vampire now.

And I’m still fucking bound.

I run my good hand up over my face and into my hair as I push everything aside for now, pulling myself together.

I lick my palm to fully seal the bite Red gave me, my saliva knitting the skin together, before leaving her room to check on Bree and Claire downstairs.

I need to ensure they didn’t see anything.

I also need to guarantee not a trace of blood has been left or Red might lose control as soon as she wakes.

I find Bree in the kitchen, drinking some water.

Her now bandaged hand rests on the counter.

I can smell the injury but thankfully the bandage does something to smother the scent.

Thankfully, with her Fae heritage, I know the wound will be sealed within the hour.

I’ve also been around enough blood, and have built enough control, my own fangs haven’t even extended during this whole incident.

“Are you ok?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

“Yes, thanks. Helps having a doctor’s daughter as a best friend.” She laughs. “It's not deep. I swear I’m such a klutz sometimes. How I never fall on stage is a miracle.”

I return the smile before striding to the lounge. Claire’s still cleaning up the mess.

“Here, let me help,” I say, reaching for a cloth to aid in mopping up the spilled wine. And blood.

“Thanks, I love that girl but she does create a mess in everything she does.” Claire chuckles. She doesn’t say it loudly but I hear Bree snort from the Kitchen. Bree’s Fae side meaning she can hear us clearly.

“Love you too!” We hear her call.

“Where’s Rory?” Claire asks, flinging the final bits of glass into a trash bag.

“Upstairs. She passed out from the sight of blood I think,” I say it without hesitation, hoping they didn’t notice my hand at their friend's neck to make her pass out.

“Odd, she’s never seemed squeamish before,” Bree comments as she joins us, taking a seat on the sofa.

“The accident changed a lot of things for her,” Claire says quietly, before turning to me. “I’m guessing you know all about it?”

“I do.” More than you ever will.

“I’m glad you seem decent,” Bree voices, taking me a little by surprise.

“Er… thanks.” I pause. “I think.”

“Me too,” Claire says. “Rory has been fully back to herself since she started dating you. It’s good to see her happier.” I preen a little at the compliment. “Treat her right though, won't you.”

It's not a question, it's a threat. These two females would go to bat for the girl upstairs. I knew their bond was strong but I see it clearly now, they’re like sisters. They both wear the same fierce expression, if I was human I’m sure I would be terrified.

“I can promise to try. I can see how special she is.” I don’t want to lie to them, I realise, as we finish cleaning.

Claire lays some sort of powder over the short pile rug to soak the remaining fluids out of the weave.

I can’t smell any lingering traces of blood so I think Red will be fine to come down when she comes to.

A shadow brushes up against my leg a few moments later, notifying me Red has indeed started to wake. I quickly help Claire finish packing away the cleaning supplies and first aid kit before heading back upstairs.

I find Red sitting at her desk, gazing into her mirror. She looks pale. She spins in her chair as I enter, panic in her eyes. A sharp canine sticks into her bottom lip as she chews it.

So, she’s aware of having fangs. I wasn’t sure if she felt them before I rendered her unconscious, or if they’d retract before she woke.

“It’s going to be ok,” I soothe her as I kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine. A single tear tracks down her cheek and I nearly break.

“How?” she asks.

“I’m not sure yet but we will figure it out.” I squeeze her hands in mine.

“Is Bree ok?” Her words are over pronounced, unused to the fangs. I can't help but find it adorable.

“Yes, she’s fine. The cut wasn’t deep.” Red stiffens under my hands.

“Do you have any blood packets left?” I ask. She glances at the desk drawer.

I reach over and pull out the single pack in there. This will have to do.

“Drink it,” I tell her. She takes it from me, her hands a little hesitant.

“I need scissors,” she murmurs. It makes me smirk.

“Not anymore you don't.” She flinches. Realisation sinks into my bones, we’ve been treating this so wrong. We’ve been fearing this day, and now it’s here the female in front of me is petrified.

Sure, it has put us in even more danger, and I’m going to have to figure out how to tell Adicious, but having her fangs also means she can protect herself better. She is a weapon now. Besides, having fangs can be fun.

“I can’t.” She pushes the blood packet back at me. I refuse to take it. I instead cup her face, brushing my thumb across her lower lip, releasing it from her teeth. My skin makes contact with the column of one of her fangs and she shivers. Her gaze meets mine, sheer terror in her emerald irises.

“You know what? I’m relieved you have them. It means you’ve fully turned and we don’t have to worry anymore about you being somewhere in between,” I tell her but I can see she isn’t convinced. “I love that you’ve got them, you’re now truly a vampire.”

I swallow the I love you on my tongue. I want to say it. I do love her. I’m so in love with her I can’t imagine this ending in any other way than with her as my mate. I don’t voice it yet though, I want to be free when I tell her. So I can offer her myself in all ways.

“But it's too dangerous for you,” she whispers. “What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to do what we have been doing. We’re going to take this day by day. I’ll work harder to find a way out. Now, drink,” I encourage her.

She lifts the blood packet to her mouth.

She’s seen me do this a few times so I let her mimic what I’d done before.

It takes her a second to get the coordination but when she lets out a pleasured groan as the first mouthful hits her tongue I see her relax a little.

I lean forward, placing a kiss on her forehead before letting her drink the rest of the packet.

I wait until Red has fallen asleep and then I sneak out of her house. I need to get back to the ranch. As relieved as I am about Red being fully turned, I walk up the driveway feeling like I’m heading to my execution. I have no better plan, I’m winging this.

I know I can’t lie, so Adicious is about to find out his project has indeed had a successful outcome.

Whatever he says I need to manipulate the situation to buy Red more time.

I need to avoid her coming here at all costs.

Keep him away from her until I’m free. At least she bit me and not someone else so I could use semantics to dodge his direct order and leave her at home.

I walk into the common room, freezing when I find most of the pack here. So worried about how this conversation is going to go I hadn’t listened out for how many separate voices there were.

I head straight to the bar to pour myself a long measure of the whiskey sitting on the bar-top - sobriety be damned . I barely taste it as I chug it back. I watch as Adicious stands from the couch where he’s sitting with Ronan and saunters over.

“Ty, finally gracing us with your presence. How’s my project?”

Time slows. My breathing stutters. Every fibre of my being screams at me not to do this but the bond I have to my pack leader tugs as I think about lying.

“She’s got fangs.” It doesn’t even sound like my own voice to my ears. The way the conversations around the room cease though means I did indeed say it. A feline-like grin splits across Adicious’s face.

“Well, finally.” He lights up at the news.

I want to puke.

“You may have taken your time but well done, Ty.” He turns to the room.

“Did you hear that lads, we’re about to get ourselves a female vampire.

” Cheers erupt and I have to plaster a smile on my lips, to pretend I’m delivering the happiest news the pack could receive.

My eyes catch Atlas’s and I see some of my own emotion reflected back.

Mitch too seems subdued as he clinks the glass in his hand with the others.

“Where did you leave her?” The question jolts my concentration back to the vampire in front of me. I drink another mouthful of the scotch.

“She’s at home.” Again I can’t lie.

“Why not bring her back here?”

“She’s shocked and freaking out. I knew she wouldn’t come willingly. I couldn’t cause a scene as her housemates were home.” This truth I can bend a little. Omit details.

“Fine. But I must meet her soon.” He stares at me.

“And you will. Give her a little time to get used to the idea. She’s quite emotional.

As soon as she’s ready I’ll bring her here.

” I’m flying by the seat of my pants here.

If I can get him to agree to wait until I bring her here, which will be never, we’ll have some more time to come up with a plan.

“No,” he deadpans back. My heart skips a beat. “If you don’t think she will come here I will go to her.”

My blood turns hot and I taste venom, how do I stop this?

“Ok, give me a few days.” What I’m saying I’m not sure, I’m planning this as it comes off my tongue. “Let me set up a date for you. To meet her, officially.” Adicious eyes narrow.

“Tomorrow,” he states.

“Tomorrow?” My voice sounds a little higher than it should. I take another gulp of the whiskey. At this rate it may get me drunk, this itch to reach for the Fae strength stuff intensifies but I can’t throw away the last few years.

“Ty, I’m trusting you with this plan to get her here willingly.

I conceded that in the long run it would be better than snatching her.

But I’m not leaving her out there for a few days.

If word gets out we have an unmated female we will have every pack and rogue descend on us.

No, I will meet her on campus tomorrow. Understood? ”

“Yes, Adicious.” I make sure to keep my gaze low as I agree. The reminder of there potentially being more males than just him wanting Red sends my head snarling. Murderous thoughts flit through my mind as I think of anyone pushing Red into anything she doesn’t want.

“And you’ll join me.” Now that I wasn’t expecting.

“Sorry?” My mind races, where is this going?

“She trusts you right?” he asks me.

“Yes, I think so,” I answer. “At least in so much as I’m the only vampire she knows right now.”

“Good,” he responds. “You can play my wingman.”

Oh gods, no. The whiskey I downed nearly makes a reappearance as I answer.

“Sounds good.”

We talk further, me filling him in on Aurora’s timetable and what time we will be setting off to the campus tomorrow.

It's the first day of the spring term so she won’t be free until early afternoon.

Adicious doesn’t know I have her number in my phone - thankfully he doesn’t ask - so he plans for us to ‘surprise’ her.

I have to keep up my facade for a long while after as the pack parties into the early hours. I manage to sneak off for a few minutes to message Red, typing out a quick but lengthy text to forewarn her of what's coming. I don't know if she’ll even get it until morning as I had left her asleep.

It's not until I get to my room near five in the morning that I dare to check my phone. A reply from Red sits in our chat thread.

Red: I’ll be ready. Please don’t worry, we can do this.

She sounds so confident and collected in the message.

She’s one of the strongest people I know when faced with things that would shatter another.

How she can rally so fast I don’t know, she cries about it and then comes out fighting.

My chest tightens with longing to be with her right now, snuggled together in her bed.

Instead, when I next see her, I’ll be bringing with me the male who plans to keep me from her forever. And I’m no closer to figuring out how to stop him.