Page 106 of Daring Her Vampires
“You never told me that,” I say roughly.
“I didn’t want to remember,” he admits, brushing his fingers over his cheek. “Our lives turned miserable. How could I justify the love I still had for him? I held out hope that we could go back. Be the way he used to be. Mom would get frustrated when we spent hours away from the house. You were younger and stayed with Mom. Allie didn’t have any interest in running around the woods, and she would never kill an animal. It was our time together, and I cherished it. I have felt guilty for missing him, so it’s easier to remember the bad. We were devastated by Mom’sdeath. You didn’t mourn Dad, but I did, although I did it silently. I don’t know what happened to him, and I wish he were alive now so I could ask him why. It’s too late. I will never know. As a boy, I loved him, that’s why it was so painful to see the abuse he inflicted on you, Allie, and Mom. None of you deserved his wrath.”
“He never hit you,” I mumble. “I wondered why.” I thought it was because Atlas was bigger.
“I hate that he didn’t,” he rasps.
“Why?” Sally asks.
“I felt as if I was between two worlds. I saw the shit he did, but I didn’t feel it. For some reason, even in his worst moments, he treated me differently. It gutted me that you hated me for it.” He glances at me, and then away.
“Never,” I whisper. “I wondered why, but that’s it. You saved us from him.” He nods.
“Get all the answers you can,” Atlas says, looking at Sally. “Whatever you need to do to move on. You might not like what he has to say, but it’s better than always guessing. I will support you. When you told me I was going to be a father, I was overjoyed. I want to be better than him, yet, early on, he taught me how a dad listens and how to be patient. Having a baby with you gives me a chance to love a child as they are supposed to be. I don’t want you to have any doubts that I will protect and love the baby just as much as our family.”
“Is that why you haven’t shared about your relationship with your dad?” she asks.
“Partly,” he grumbles. “Your family has hardly left us alone, also.” He closes his eyes, tilting his head back. “I feel your love through the bond. It’s big and beautiful. Being your mate is a gift. I will cherish it, and any children we have.”
“I know you will,” she whispers, crawling onto his lap. She cups his cheeks and stares into his eyes. “If you can feel mylove, you can also feel my confidence in your feelings for me, and know I believe in you.” She hugs him tightly. “In both of you.” She pulls back and motions with her hand. “Come here.” I sit up and move closer. “I love you. I didn’t think having a mate was in my future. When I was younger, I waited for someone to rescue me. As the years passed, I knew no one was coming, so I had to rescue myself. I learned to protect myself. I didn’t have anyone to fight for me or keep me safe. I had settled into the world and took any fun and pleasure I could find. I have lived on my terms, never caring about the roles society shoved down women’s throats. I have never felt shame for playing by my rules, and fuck everyone else’s opinion. Because of that, many people have left my life quickly, unwilling to accept me for everything I am.
“Living here, with the family I found here, was the first time I felt accepted. I still have moments of doubt that they truly love me. I have been the joke before, and I hoped that they weren’t laughing behind my back. I’ve lived in fear, so I relish being in a group. The silence still scares me. I’ve not dealt with the trauma of my past, but I know I have to face it. Going to my father feels right. I care about his reasons, yet my life will go on if he turns his back, unwilling to answer for his decisions. I doubt seeing him will change my opinion of him. My memories and his actions are hard to justify. I have wondered if he truly loved my mom or if she was a possession he lost. Now that I know she left him, things make more sense. He must have remembered her betrayal every time he looked at me.”
“That doesn’t excuse how he treated you,” I grit out.
“No, but I can understand it. When I thought she died, I assumed he was in mourning, and I was the reason she was dead. He blamed me, but not for the reason I thought.” She lifts a shoulder. “I need to see him, and regardless of the outcome, I will have you to support me.”
“Of course we will,” Atlas says, gliding his knuckles over her cheek. “Our love will never end.”
“I’m counting on it.” She smirks. “Having vampires for mates was a surprise. Hopefully, I can curb my urge to drink from my friends.” She laughs.
“It will pass.” She slides away from Atlas and sits between us. “Your movements have slowed. How are you feeling?” Her emotions have stopped coming fast and furious through the bond.
“Fucking fantastic,” she hums, tilting her head.
Her heat fills the room, and I want to claim her again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sally
“My skin feels charged with electricity,” I rasp, cupping my throat. “I can feel your blood and presence in my body. It’s been difficult to concentrate on anything for longer than a minute.” I glide my fingertips across Atlas’s hand. “Everything is sensitive and sharp at the same time.” I rub my knuckles over Luca’s cheek. “The texture of your skin is different. My vampire has merged with my rabbit, and they are both greedy to experience anything and everything.” I drop my hands to their legs. “I don’t know what are my emotions or yours or both. I can also feel your love and concern for me. Killing the vampires was easy, and I was thrilled because of the victory. Thank you for trusting me to fight with you. I could sense your anxiety, but you didn’t act on it.”
“You don’t have to thank us,” Atlas says.
“I do. You treat me like an equal,” I whisper.
“Because you are,” Luca rumbles.
“Not many men have thought the same,” I scoff, squeezing my hands. “When I allowed myself to think about having a mate, I feared they would consider me as less. I didn’t have many examples of healthy relationships in my life until coming here. I didn’t think the qualities I’d hoped for existed. Both of you are proof that they are.” I look at Luca. “You have encouraged me to express myself and live how I want. Your simmering violence turns me on. I know you would kill for me in an instant. The deep love you have for Atlas and Allie is beautiful. I felt your fear when Allie was fighting Fredrick, but you knew she had to take back her power. The way you quietly observe is fascinating. You claim to always be on the edge of losing control, but you know when to pull back and when to strike. I see how you look at the family, and it’s not in fear. They may overwhelm you, yet it’s something you crave, to be included in a group. Your childhood was horrible, but you found the beauty in your mom. Being here around a family is what you have hoped for. They are your family. I want to share them with you, and I know they will love you too.” His emotion causes his eyes to darken. “You deserve love. The boy you were is no longer. They can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t allow anyone to cause you pain. My family, our family, will protect you, just as you will them.” I lean over and kiss him lightly. “Plus, you're fucking sexy in your suits,” I whisper against his lips. Pulling back, I turn to Atlas.
“The protector,” I whisper. “The big brother, and loyal to your core. It goes against every fiber of your being to allow Allie and even Luca to fight their own battles. When you thought I was in trouble during the fight, your rage filled the bond. But you listened when I knew I could recover. You kept one eye on me while you killed. I want to share your burden. The four of us arefamily. The rest of them are family. We are a team, and I want you to trust that we are here to help you. The leash you have around your control is slipping. I’ve seen it happen many times. You would die and kill for us.” He lowers his eyes, and I tilt my head. “I am proud of you.” His head snaps up. “You became the vampire you hated because of your love. Allie would have been lost without both of you, so you chose the difficult path. I admire it, and it shows how loyal you are. I want that. I’ve had very little in my life. The choice to become a vampire was easy for me. Being a shifter helped with the decision, but I would do anything to stay with you. It’s okay to love your dad. Remember the good times, and don’t be ashamed to miss him. You have held your family together through everything; it’s time to enjoy the life you fought for. The choices you made brought you to me, and I’m grateful. Luca isn’t the only one who has violence just under the surface. You look calm on the outside, but remember, I can feel your emotions. The fight was enjoyable for you, and I could feel your pride as I held my own.” I circle his wrists with my fingers. “We all have scars, they're just not visible. I have abandonment issues for obvious reasons, and I’ve hidden my trauma with humor. I want you to wear these with pride. You survived anyway you had to, and no one can judge you if you claim the marks. We get to live on our terms now, unashamed, loud, free, and with love. Our souls are joined, and no one can tear us apart.” I lift his arms and kiss his scars. “It doesn’t matter if you want to wear the cuffs or not. I find the leather super sexy.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and he chuckles. “I do wonder one thing.”
“What?” Atlas asks, tilting his head.
“Will sex be different as a hybrid? I haven’t tested out my vampire skills in bed.” I grin as his eyes grow intense.
“Why don’t we find out?” he replies and looks at Luca. “What do you think, brother?”
