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“I’m trying to figure it out.”
I shake my head. “I don’t follow. Figure out what?”
He closes the distance between us, sitting on the edge of the bed and gripping my chin between his thumb and finger. “Of all the outcomes we could have ended up with from that damn blood oath, I can’t figure out how we were so incredibly lucky as to find you.”
My eyes widen, and I’m leaning in too fast to say anything before our lips collide. The kiss starts slow and quickly builds, deepening into a fiery exchange of power. Where he pushes, I pull; we move together perfectly in sync, our hearts pounding as if they’re trying to escape their cages and be closer.
We’re both breathing heavily when we break apart. His lips return to mine, lingering there as he whispers, “Good night.”
In the blink of an eye, he’s gone, leaving me trying to catch my breath as I stare at the delicate floral design on the duvet covering my legs. I press my hand against my chest, waiting for my heart to return to a normal pace before I slide fully under the covers. I stare at the ceiling, going over the events from the last few days. It all feels like a fever dream—some of it incredible, but a lot of it a nightmare.
I toss and turn for an hour, trying desperately to get comfortable, but sleep refuses to come. I’m too wired, and my thoughts are racing, trampling one another and keeping me awake.
Pushing my hearing outward to the other bedrooms, the sounds of the guys’ steady breathing reaches me, and I sigh. At least they’re getting some rest. Which is good, considering I couldn’t do what I’m about to if they were awake.
I slip out of bed and find my phone at the bottom of my duffle bag, opening a new text to Brighton. I chew the inside of my cheek as I stare at the screen, my heart beating in my throat as I type out a short message.
I need to see you tonight. Alone.
Five minutes go by as I force myself to sit on the end of the bed instead of pacing the room so I don’t make any unnecessary noise and risk waking the others. Because what I’m about to do really isn’t going to go over well.
My phone buzzes in my hand and my heart races as I read her response.
Lincoln Memorial in an hour?
I quickly type back,Yes.
Tiptoeing around the bedroom, I change into jeans and a T-shirt, shrugging on a jacket before I pull on and tie up my Docs. I slide my phone into my back pocket and open the bedroom door slowly, praying the hinges don’t make a sound. A few seconds that feel like hours later, the door is open wide enough for me to slip through into the hallway. I close the door behind me, cringing when it makes a softclick.
I make it three steps toward the staircase before I freeze, immediately sensing the vampire ahead of me in the dark.
“What is it,” Atlas says in a low voice, stepping into the hallway, “you think you’re doing?”
I zip up my sweater, exhaling a sigh. “I want to see her, Atlas.”
“Right.” He nods. “And what part of absolutely the fuck not didn’t you understand earlier?”
Anger rises in my chest, and I cross my arms. “Oh, I understood it perfectly fine. What, did you all think distracting me with a few orgasms would make me forget about my best friend?”
He steps forward, and I suspect he’d look a lot more menacing if I couldn’t see clearly in the dark now. “You are one of us now, and she’s one of them. Do the math, Calla.”
“So, what? We’re going to kill her too?” I snap at him.
“If it comes to her or one of us, yes, without hesitation.” His voice is firm and there’s a fire raging in his eyes that makes my heart beat faster.
Part of me gets it—his intense response—I understand why he’s angry. He sees what I’m doing as idiotic, putting my life at risk unnecessarily to help Brighton. I recognize the danger, I’m not ignorant to the risks. They’ve been making my head spin since I decided to text her. Brighton is one of the most important people to me and has been for years. I couldn’t forgive myself if I just let her continue down this path she doesn’t want just because she’s scared. I’m scared too; I need my best friend as much as she needs me. So I have to take the chance. In this case, I believe taking the risk is necessary. But it’s painfully clear Atlas doesn’t agree.
“You’ll glamour me to stay here if I try to leave?” I ask in a tight voice.
“I truly hope you don’t force me to do that, but yes, I will.”
The urge to scream builds in my chest, making it harder to breathe. I glare at him a few beats longer before shoving past him with a snarl and going back to my bedroom, slamming the door as I fight back tears.
Dropping onto the end of the bed, I pull my phone out and open the text conversation with Brighton.
Can’t make it tonight. I’m sorry.
What? I’m already on my way there. What’s going on? Where are you?
