Page 52 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

TY

“ I ’m not sleeping with you either,” Red spits in his face. I stand frozen in fear, anger molten in my veins.

My heart still beats for her even if it's been in pieces for the last ten days - the length of time we’ve been shackled in the basement of the ranch house.

For ten days I’ve been living… No, it’s not living . I’ve been witnessing my worst nightmare. I’ve been suspended in a hellscape where I can’t help the female that owns me, heart and soul.

I’ve even been parted from my shadows, their absence grating on my skin like road rash.

Then Adicious walked into the room and hell got so much worse.

“I won’t be giving you a choice in that either,” he whispers in her ear but loud enough to ensure I hear it.

He’s going to force himself on her and force the blood exchange. It's medieval and barbaric. Forcing a mate bond has been outlawed for centuries. If there were a council left Adicious would be put to death for it.

Nevermind , I’m going to end him for even trying. I need to get these fucking cuffs off me.

I do the one thing I’d thought of but hadn’t resorted to until now.

I swing my left hand as far out from the wall as I can and throw all my strength into the punch.

Pain explodes down my arm as my hand makes contact with the concrete, I barely feel it.

My two outermost knuckles have shattered.

It's not quite enough. I swing again and this time angle my hand so my thumb takes the most impact.

I hit true. I wrench my arm down in a quick action, my broken knuckles making even more sickening crunches as my hand slips free of the cuff.

I hear Adicious say something else to Red but my focus narrows in on Ronan. Until this point he’d been standing, like a fucking statue, against the door to the basement cell under the ranch house. The prick moves towards me as he notices my hand slip free.

“Adicious, he’s broken one of the chains,” he yells over his shoulder as he makes a grab for me. I use the additional space I now have with only one hand still cuffed to dodge him.

If Adicious answers, I don’t catch it. Aurora’s screams are what fill the room and I take a second to look across the space. My ex-leader has her pinned on her front to the wall, her arms look seconds from breaking. He’s up against her.

If he manages to enter her I will not only end him but I’ll do it slowly and in the most painful ways I can imagine.

Fuck that, I’m already at there. I’m going to flay him alive and drain every bit of blood from his body, I’ll remove his fangs before carving him up like a hog on a spit before finally removing his head and ending his life.

First, I need to deal with Ronan. He lunges for me again.

I manage to duck in enough time and stick my leg out in a swing kick.

I connect with the back of his knees, taking him down.

I have precious seconds to get this second chain off.

I can’t break my second hand. My left one is now useless and I need at least one good arm to punch with.

Instead I grip the chain attached to the cuff with my good hand, before swinging both legs onto the wall. I’m forcing all of my weight onto the bolt as I push against the wall. I hear the metal groan but it's not enough.

Ronan’s recovered and is already standing.

He punches my side, forcing me to drop to the ground once more.

We go back and forth on the short chain my leash allows as he takes a couple more swings to grab me.

I lead him in a dance for a few more precious seconds before taking my shot.

I allow him to pin me up against the wall as he lunges for my chest. His fingers wrap in my shirt, he pushes me back.

I’ve always been the better fighter though.

He should’ve gone for my throat. Or my good arm.

I bring my right hand around to the back of his head as I tilt my head down.

His nose makes contact with the top of my skull and I hear the satisfying crack of bone.

He drops like a stone at my feet. I stamp down on his face with my boot a couple of times in quick succession.

Blood sprays everywhere as the bones give under my foot.

It's not enough to kill him but I’ve shattered his face enough he’ll need several hours to heal.

Refocusing on getting free I pull the chain tight as I sink my fangs into the metal. My lips burn and I can feel my gums protest as I bite down hard. My canines feel like they’re about to shatter. Red’s screams continue to be the most horrific soundtrack to this onslaught of torture. I bite harder.

As the metal starts to give under my teeth one of my fangs does indeed crack, the end snapping clean off. Blood pours into my mouth and I have to let go.

Fucking, shit, that hurts.

It’ll grow back as soon as I can drink but the pain radiating from the raw nerve ending, now exposed, hurts like a mother fucker.

I repeat my earlier move, grabbing the chain below where I’ve dented the metal with my teeth and use my good hand to haul all of my weight behind the pull.

It creaks and with a shove of my legs against the wall it finally gives.

I land on my back on top of Ronan’s unconscious torso but am quick to roll up, getting my feet under me.

Eyes already zeroed in on my prey, I launch with my full vampire speed.

Sinking the fingers of my good hand into the flesh of Adicious’s neck, I claw him off my female.

He twists in my grip like a cat. My hold doesn’t stick but not before my nails sink deep into his flesh and tear at the soft flesh of his throat. I’m thrown back a step in the momentum and so is he.

He stands glaring at me, neck trickling blood, flies on his jeans open and below his crotch. He quickly buttons them, covering himself back up.

Did he manage to force himself on her?

My fury ignites and I launch again. I can’t look at Red right now, I need to end this piece of scum first. I do hear her inhale a breath beside us, it's a pained gasp like she’s surfaced from being held under water.

Me and Adicious collide.

“I regret the day I ever sought you out, you poisonous little shit,” he growls at me.

“I bet you do. I’m going to end you,” I sputter back.

He’s taller than me but isn’t as fit. Years of using his lackeys to do the physical work is about to help me defeat him. I’m an arm down though, so it's a challenge.

I land a couple of shots to his ribs, one to his jaw. I manage, somehow, to get my body between his and Red’s and I vow to the gods that’s where I’m staying. I hear her behind me, the chains keeping her bound are clanking. I risk a glance to see what Red’s doing but it costs me.

Adicious strikes out, his fist connecting with my temple.

My vision blurs for a second and my teeth rattle.

Fuck if I’m going to let him get the upper hand .

I launch myself at him again with the aim to take him to the floor.

I tackle him, my shoulder going into his gut and my hands wrapping around his middle.

I grip my broken wrist with my good one which causes lightning bolts of pain to radiate up my arm but I keep hold.

I turn us as we go to the floor, it would be better for me to land on top of him but I save my hand from taking the force against the hard flooring.

We slam into the concrete on our sides and I scrabble to roll us.

It surprises him that I roll him on top of me but it was my good arm trapped under his body. Thankfully, I have enough momentum to continue the roll so I end up on top with my arm free.

I smash my fist in quick succession against his face as I get my knees underneath me until I’m sat astride his chest. He struggles, thrashing viciously, nearly unbalancing me but I get my hand around his neck and squeeze cutting off his oxygen.

It's difficult without both but his strength leaves him as I crush his windpipe entirely.

“Ty, please.” Aurora’s sobs finally cut through my rage and I risk a brief look at her. She’s shredding her wrists trying to get free.

“Red, don’t hurt yourself. Give me one more minute,” I growl at her.

I squeeze my fingers tighter against Adicious’s throat, with his oxygen supply cut I’m only pinning him until he passes out.

He finally goes limp beneath me but I am not chancing that he might be faking.

In a swift move I lean down and, between my one good fang and the broken shard I have left, I sever his carotid.

He’ll still recover but it’ll take a lot longer.

As soon as I’m sure he’s fully unconscious I’m at Red’s side.

Pulling the boxers at her ankles up to cover her before gathering her to my chest, I clutch her to me.

Despite the blood and sweat covering me, her tears burn hot against my skin, even through the shirt I’m wearing.

She buries into me as much as she can whilst her hands are still strung up in those cuffs.

Her finger tips are broken and bloodied.

She’s not mortally injured, I have to tell myself. I rub the back of her neck and take a second to breathe in her scent. It's still fully hers which means Adicious didn’t manage to complete the bond. It doesn’t mean he didn’t get close though, so I force myself to find out.

“Did he…” The words choke in my throat. “Did he manage to penetrate you?” The second she takes to answer is the longest of my life.

“No,” she releases on another sob, shaking her head. I pull in a deep relieved breath. I stopped him in time.

I ease my hand up to her hair, carding my fingers in the strands, and use it to gently pull her back so I can look at her face.

Her eyes are red and swimming with tears and there is a smudge of blood across her right cheek.

I lean forward, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Breathing in her scent once again to ground myself.

“I’m going to get the keys. I’m pretty sure Adicious will have them on him,” I tell her. Her sobs increase.

“Don’t, don’t. Please don’t leave me.” I barely make out the words as she begs me.

“I’m not. I need to just step over there and grab the keys, ok? Then I can let you out.”

Fresh tears run down her face as I step back, utter panic back in her face.

I continue talking soothingly as I move back over to Adicious.

I need to get her out of here. We don’t have much time before someone comes looking I’m sure.

I’m surprised we haven’t been rumbled already.

These dungeons are soundproof, even to vampire hearing, but one of the pack will no doubt come to check on Adicious and Ronan if they’re down here too long.

More relief floods my system as my guess proves correct, Adicious has a key in his jeans pocket. I extract it quickly and dart back to Red.

It takes me longer than I would’ve liked, with only one hand, to fiddle with the locks and get them undone, but I manage the first before Red snatches the key from me to do the second.

As soon as she’s free she’s in my arms properly.

Clinging to me like I’m her only lifeline.

I would like nothing more than to never let go.