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“We’re not going to let anything happen to you while you’re with us,” he says with what I’m sure is meant to be an encouraging wink, but it doesn’t help the pressure building in my chest.
I stare at him for a moment. “That’s your plan? Guard me twenty-four seven? I have school and a life I built before the four of you came around and screwed it up. This is insane, I—” I push away from the table and stand. “I didn’t sign up for any of this.” I blink back the sudden urge to cry. From fear or frustration—or a combination of both—I’m not entirely sure.
Atlas touches my arm, and my world narrows on him. “Sit down,” he says in a silky voice.
My body complies while my mind screams profanities at being overpowered by vampiric glamour. I scowl when he pulls his hand back. “I’m allowed to be upset.”
“Of course you are,” Atlas agrees. “What you’re not allowed to do is run away from us.”
“Certainly not before hearing our kick-ass plan to ensure your safety,” Lex says focusing on his plate as he drowns his roast in gravy, as if we’re not talking about how to protect me from an immortal who wants me dead because my family was the reason—at least in part—that he didn’t get what he wanted all those years ago.
I take a deep breath, exhaling a heavy sigh. “Okay, fine.” I glance around the table. “What’s your brilliant idea?”
16
It’s been two weeks since I found out about the vampire named Dante who wants to kill me.
According to the guys, they’ve sent Dante on a wild-goose chase looking for me. I suppose it helps that they have property all over the United States—but it’s only a matter of time before Dante comes to Washington.
“You’re distracted today.”
I blink until Atlas’s face comes into focus. His silver eyes are tired, and he hasn’t shaved in enough days that he’s grown a bit of a beard. I don’t hate it, I decide as I stare at it for a moment. “Sorry,” I mumble, lifting my arms into the defensive stance we’ve been practicing over the last week. Since finding out about Dante, I’ve been adamant about training daily again despite what Lex said about me being safe while I’m with them. Evidently all I needed to reignite the fire in me to protect myself against the supernatural was a threat against my life by one of them. “I’m good.”
“I could have killed you a dozen different ways in the time you were spacing out,” he says flatly.
I roll my eyes. “You sure know how to cheer a girl up, Atlas. Has anyone ever told you that?”
His expression doesn’t change. “No.”
“Shocking,” I mutter dryly.
He cocks his head to the side. “You want to keep running your mouth at me, or do you want to train?”
I prop my hands on my hips. “Hmm… Option C, all of the above?”
Atlas shrugs. “If you’re prepared to defend yourself with witty comebacks, I won’t waste my time with you in here.” He turns his back on me, heading for the door.
I grit my teeth. “Wait.”
He keeps walking.
“Atlas!”
He stops, keeping his back to me.
I storm over to him, and right as I’m about to launch into a maneuverhetaught me, he turns, causing me to collide with his solid chest.
“Sloppy,” he chastises, steadying me. Instead of letting go, he hauls me against him.
I grip his forearms, my mouth suddenly dry. “Wh-what are you doing?”
He leans down until our lips are barely an inch apart. “Fight me off.”
Excitement swirls in my stomach and heat gathers south of there. I lick the dryness from my lips and take a steadying breath. “How do you suggest I do that?” I ask in a low voice, hyperaware of the race in my pulse.
“I don’t care how, Calla. Figure it out.”
I frown. “Anything I do, you’ll see it coming. Any maneuver will be too slow to be effective and certainly won’t be strong enough.”
