Page 100 of Daring Her Vampires
“Such fire,” he rasps, licking his lips. I clench my hand, ready to take his head off. “I want to build a world for our species. We need to take back the power. The humans are weak, but they can be made stronger. You’ve been fucking up my progress.”
“You call killing them progress?” I hiss.
“There have been some casualties. Nothing is perfect. They were too weak to complete the change. As you can see, many others have. We work together, bringing the truth. You have been in my way, and I want you gone. Allie is a bonus.” He looks around. “I wasn’t expecting your friends. It’s unusual. Dragons with shifters and vampires.” He stares at Heath. “What are you?I’ve never smelled anything like you.” Heath sighs, gripping his cane and his mate tightly.
“It never gets old,” he whispers, tipping his head back. “Would you like me to show you?” Heath stands straight and lifts a brow.
“I think he does,” Luca says, grinning. “Any more questions?” he asks Allie.
“No,” she whispers.
“Can we kill them now?” Luca asks me.
“Wait,” Fredrick says quickly. “Can I propose a trade?” He grins. There is a reason he has been calm. “Bring her out.” He studies Sally, and my neck prickles.
Someone emerges from the house, a body over his shoulder. I pull Sally closer. Her frame is frozen. The body is thrown at Fredricks's feet. I’m shocked as the woman's hair falls away from her bloody face. She looks exactly like Sally.
“No,” Sally whispers, moving forward. “Mom?”
Fuck. Her vision was true.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sally
Her face is covered with blood. It’s matted in her hair, and her clothes are torn. I’ve seen pictures, and she looks like me. My vision featured my mom, and I had no idea. Her heartbeat is slow. She is on the edge of death. My whole life, I thought she was already dead. All those years, my dad pretended she was gone. He had to know she wasn’t. Why did she leave us? Why did she leave me? How is she here? I forget about everything but the body not moving on the ground.
“That got your attention.” Fredrick crouches beside her, and I have to stop myself from diving at him. “My spies informed me of your mate. A lovely rabbit shifter who had you wrapped around her finger. I thought I could provoke you into a trade where you give me Allie, and I would leave Sally alone. Imaginemy surprise when a rabbit shifter who looks just like her was caught sneaking around.” He tugs on her hair, and I snarl.
“Motherfucker, don’t touch her.” Atlas wraps his arms around my waist when I lunge forward.
“I had an idea.” His grin widens. “Give me your sister, and you get the mother. She told me everything. She’s not built for torture; she couldn’t hack it. Apparently, this was her way of protecting the daughter she left.” He lifts his brows, and my stomach rolls. How does he know more about her than I do? My mind can’t focus, and everything is blurry. My demon is hissing in my head, feeling my pain. My rabbit shifter whimpers.
“Let her go,” Luca demands, his eyes wild. I’m sure he can feel my confusion and anger. It fuels his and Atlas’s need to remain close, which is the only thing holding me back.
“I don’t think so. The minute I do, you and your friends are going to try to kill us. I can’t let that happen. Our work isn’t done.” He stands, staring at me. “Do you want her?”
“Yes,” I grit out.
“Give me Allie,” he demands.
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
“Aren’t you curious about her reasons for leaving you? Your questions will never be answered.” He looks down. “She doesn’t have long. I’m afraid we worked her over good.” He looks back at me. “There are more of us. Yes, you have powerful friends, but you are a new vampire. It will be a fight.”
“I’ve never been afraid of a fight,” I say, my fangs emerging. I feel the rest of the family walking through the trees. They always have good timing. I watch Fredricks's eyes flare, and his fear begins to bleed through his scent. “My family isn’t either. Let me have her, and we will kill you quickly.”
“What kind of deal is that?” he spits, his hands on his hips.
“The only one you will get,” I promise, and his vampires shift.
“I will kill her before you get to her,” he says ruthlessly. “You will never know why she left you. All your answers will forever be lost.” I don’t look behind him to where Bash and Marie are, sneaking beside the house. Their bodies are blurring in place. I’m confident in Bash’s skills; if I can’t get to her, he will.
“Why would I care?” The words are bitter on my tongue. I do care, even though any excuse she has will never make up for leaving me with an abusive father. “I have a new family. Allie is my sister, and I would sacrifice a woman I hardly know for her anytime.”Bash, will you get her?I direct the question toward him, praying he doesn’t ask questions.
“We will have her before he can blink.”I have to concentrate on not showing the emotion his statement causes.
“You expect me to believe that?” His gaze hops around the family surrounding me. I don’t risk turning around, but I’m sure it’s a beautiful sight.
