Page 41 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

TY

R ed stands from the bed and stretches her arms high above her head. I’m momentarily dazed by her naked form. She grabs a blanket, going to wrap it around herself.

I launch from the bed and steal it out of her hands, throwing the offending item back on the mattress.

“Hey!” she squeals, trying to reach over me.

“I need one more touch,” I say, softening my voice to a soft plea as I grab her hips and bring our bodies together.

Her skin, slightly sweaty from sex, feels euphoric plastered against my chest. I take a deep inhale and relish in the heady mixture of our scents. She might not be permanently marked with mine yet but this is deeply satisfying to the beast in me.

“I need to go clean up.” She squirms in my hold, her thighs pressing together. I remember that I came in her.

Moving my hand down her body I push my middle and index fingers between her legs. My cock gives a valiant pulse when I feel my cum dripping out of her. I swirl it around her sex before pushing it inside her.

“Ty, what are you doing?” Red pants into my chest, her hands clinging to my shoulders.

“Just ensuring you’ll smell like me all night Red,” I growl in response.

“Are you going to be even more possessive now we’ve slept together?”

“Totally,” I say without hesitation and with complete sincerity.

I flash her my fangs, they’ve not retracted since she jumped into my arms. “You’re mine, Red.

Make no mistake about that, mate bond or not.

” She rolls her eyes so I reach up, grabbing her chin.

“I mean it. Until you tell me otherwise you’re wholly and solely mine. I don’t share.”

“Well neither do I.” Red smiles back at me, completely unaffected by my domineering tone. “Now get dressed whilst I go clean up.”

She pulls back, out of my hold. If it’s possible, I fall harder. I love that she matches my energy.

Being possessive of a mate is part of our nature and even though she’s not technically mine yet, I know she will be soon.

She pauses at the door, a blanket once again covering her body.

“Oh, by the way, I’m on the contraceptive tonic. What we did won’t get me pregnant.”

Fuck, I probably should’ve mentioned this earlier.

“I wasn’t worried, now you’ve turned you won’t be fertile until you're mated.”

Her jaw slackens in surprise.

“Sorry, I should’ve said.”

“Are you saying I won’t have any more periods, won’t have to deal with brewing the tonic every month, none of it?”

“Yeah. And even when we’re mated your body will reabsorb the uterine lining every month, you won’t get periods like you did as a human.”

“Amazing!” Her face lights up at delight. “This vampire thing gets better and better.” She leaves, closing the door behind her.

Whilst Red is in the bathroom I grab the bag I’d stashed under her bed a while ago, it's got a few outfits and some key things like my identity documents and some cash. I pull out some joggers and a hoodie.

I’m dressed by the time Red returns. Her scent is dulled but I can still smell myself on her skin which is pleasing.

She immediately spots the bag. “Where did that come from? You didn’t have anything with you.”

“I hid it under your bed a while ago,” I say coyly, shrugging like it’s not a big deal. “Since I started planning my escape, I thought it might come in useful.”

“So, you’ve been in my room, put those there, without me knowing?” Is she angry or shocked? I’m a little unsure…

“Are you mad?” I ask hesitantly.

“Well, you could’ve asked.”

“Stalking tendencies, remember?” I offer her my best ‘forgive me’ pout. It has the desired effect as she smiles back, before stepping towards me and offering me a kiss. I bend to oblige her.

“I forgive you, but no more!” she chastises. “Include me in all of these plans please.” She jabs my chest with an index finger.

“I promise, Red. From now on it's just you and me.” Once we figure out how to get the pack off our backs. Which is rather pressing.

“Ok, good,” she says sternly.

I stuff the rest of my gear back in the bag to re-stash it under her bed as she rummages through her wardrobe and quickly pulls on some leggings and an oversized jumper.

“Alright, I need to go see Claire. Do you think we can go to this thing tonight? I don’t want to let Bree down.” She chews her bottom lip.

I’d thought about it whilst I’d dressed, guessing Red would still want to go.

“I think it’s actually a good opportunity.

We can get out of the house and into somewhere public.

The pack won’t be expecting us to hang around, and on the off chance they figure out where we are it's a public setting. They won’t risk exposing us.

It’ll be safer for us to plan there, than stay here where they can ambush us. ”

“Are we going to have to leave?” Her whole body sags as sadness descends over her.

“I think it's safest,” I say gently. She nods, but I don’t know if she’s accepting that fact or not.

“Ok, I’ll be back up in a bit. Unless you want to come down with me?”

“No, go get a coffee and grab a dress for tonight. I’ll stay up here.” I’m giving her some alone time with her best friend, it might be her last opportunity for a while.

As soon as Red is downstairs I grab my wet jeans and dig in the pocket for my phone.

Pulling the device out and sitting back on the bed I’m surprised it’s still working after the swim I took earlier.

I’m also glad it's working because there’s a message from Atlas.

Atlas: What the fuck did you do? Although, it's about damn time! Adicious is sending some of us out in pairs to hunt for you. It's not the whole pack but avoid the docks if you can.

A second message comes through as I’m reading the first.

Atlas: I hope you’ve got to your female already. We’re about to leave. Good luck!

I lock the phone, not risking responding. I don’t want to leave but it’s our best option for now.

This city is my home. I’ve finally found some balance again, being back here has made me feel grounded after so long of spinning out in my grief. But whilst Adicious rules over the pack we have very little choice.

The thought of killing Adicious rumbles across my mind. I’d love nothing more than to take the fucker out, but he won’t give me the chance to get him one on one. I was lucky taking on him and Ronan earlier, if any of the others joined in too I know I would lose.

My parents would hate to think I’m being forced out of our home. But they’d understand if they knew why. Gods I wish they could’ve met her .

They would’ve adored her. My mum believed in things like destiny and soul mates.

I’m sure she would’ve pushed me into mating with Red as soon as she saw the ridiculous smile I knew would’ve been on my face when I told them about her.

My father was a bit more practical. He would be the one warning me to wait, telling me to consider the pack, the one I would one day lead.

However, he’d say it whilst staring adoringly at his mate and I’d know he would be totally supportive if I chose to offer myself to Aurora before any time at all.

I think Red would be good in that position, leading a pack at my side. Even though she hates being the centre of attention, I’ve seen how dedicated she is, how much she cares for those she lets in. She would care for our pack I’m sure.

The phone in my hand cracks with the pressure my grip has on it. I chuck it on the bed beside me as I shake the fantasy away. I need to ditch it anyway so I can be one hundred percent sure I can’t be traced with it.

I can’t offer Red the position she deserves. Hell, even the safety she deserves.

If Atlas can be trusted we can’t head to the docks to get out of the city. We will have to head west, or north, and use one of the smaller ports.

Rubbing my face in my hands I decide I better shower and get dressed for this thing. We need to leave rather quickly and get ourselves somewhere the pack can’t cause a scene.

“I’m not running. My whole life is here.” I wasn’t expecting this when Red came back twenty minutes later. We’ve been going back and forth about what to do the whole time. The clock is ticking, I needed to get us out of the house.

I’d shown her Atlas’s messages. I outlined my plan to her. I don’t know what happened in the time she’d been outside this room but she’d come back adamant we could hide in plain sight.

“Red, you’ve seen how dangerous he can be, how violent he is. He won’t stop with injuries this time.” Frustration is bleeding into my voice now. I fumble over tying the tie around my neck as I pace her small room.

“I’m not running,” she says determinedly. “You can sneak around for a while, you’ve said you’re skilled at hiding. I can pretend I haven’t seen you. We carry on in secret like we have been.”

“Adicious knows about us now. He won’t give you any freedom if there’s any chance I’m still around.”

Our gazes lock in the mirror. She’s sitting at her desk, finishing her makeup. The determination in her eyes makes me waver. She’s confident we can do it her way.

“He doesn’t get a choice. I’m not bonded to him like you were. I don't have to follow his orders,” she argues.

“Please, listen to me when I say you won’t get a choice.” I stride over, dropping to my knees as she spins to face me, opening her legs to bracket my sides. I’m momentarily distracted by the floaty satin skirt of her dress riding up her thighs. I put my hands on her naked flesh.

“Red, if anything happens…” I trail off, pain squeezing my heart at the mere thought. “I don’t trust him within a mile of you. Hell, being on the same island is closer than I want him.”

“I’ll stay in public. I won’t ever be alone. He can’t touch me if I’m always around people. Ty, I graduate in a couple months. We can leave then and figure out where to go. I just… I need to graduate first.”

Against my instincts I feel myself wanting to do this her way, the plea in her voice breaking through my better judgement.

“Your dad?” I ask softly, as she moves to fiddle with the ring at her neck.

“Yes.” She inhales slowly, purposefully. “He was so excited about me finishing university. In the aftermath of the war, being orphans, neither of my parents had the opportunity. I need to complete it. I can keep myself safe for a few weeks. I promise, I won’t take any risks.”

My resolve to leave crumbles, I can’t say no to this female.

There is logic to her plan as well. It's dangerous, but we’ve been walking a perilous path for months.

If we’re vigilant I’m sure we can keep the pack at bay for a few weeks.

Plus, if we can set up our departure there will be less questions for Red to answer.

She can warn her friends. There is less chance they’ll file a missing person report.

She cups my face in her warm palms, opening her thighs wider to pull my body closer to hers. I go willingly, wrapping my arms around her.

“Can you stay hidden here for a few weeks?” Her voice has lost the argumentative tone which has the tension in me relaxing. I hate arguing with her.

“Yes, of course I can.” Keeping myself hidden would be easy. Well… sort of . Keeping her from harm is the bit I’m terrified of.

“Ok. Please can we do this my way? Let me wrap my head around leaving too. I always thought I would stay in the city.” There’s an edge to her voice telling me she’s near breaking point.

“I get it,” I tell her. “This city is home.”

Her eyes glitter with pain. I can’t face putting her through more.

“We’ll get through this,” I add softly. “We’ll find a way.”

I lean in, placing a kiss on her forehead. She’s been through so much this past year already I don't know how much more she can take before she shatters. I only hope I can keep her safe until we figure this out.