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He takes the coffee, his eyes dancing over my face. “I’ve already let the others know.”
I arch a brow at him, panic creeping through me and making my chest tighten. “You were listening?”
“I caught the tail end, that’s all. I was checking to make sure you were okay.”
I take a sip of my coffee before setting the mug on the table in front of the couch. “Okay.”
“What were you guys chatting about?” Mom asks, sitting across from us in the chair Gabriel had been occupying before we’d slipped away.
Gabriel and Dad share a brief look before Gabriel turns his attention to me and smiles. Dad does the same to Mom. Evidently neither is going to share, and I’m sure as hell going to press Gabriel about it when we’re alone.
4
Atlas
The ceiling of this hotel room is filthy. It’s safe to say it hasn’t been cleaned since the building opened a few years ago. Granted, no human would notice; however, it’s all I can focus on as sleep evades me.
Lex and Kade are asleep in the bedroom across the suite from me. As much as the support of the guys helps on most occasions, I find myself needing more tonight.
Unfortunately, she decided to stay at her parents’ house.
I considered having Gabriel bring her back here but ultimately decided that wasn’t a fight I wanted to get into. Calla has been through a lot, even just in the last twenty-four hours, and as much as I want her at my side, she more than deserves time with her family.
Closing my eyes, I force my muscles to unclench and try to ignore the weight sitting on my chest like a pile of rocks.
I’ve never been this unsure, this conflicted. I’ve always done what Simon and Lenora expected of me, even if it was the last thing Iwantedto do. But this… forcing Calla down one of two paths—neither she wants—I’m not sure I can do.
Sleep eventually drags me under, and when I open my eyes, I’m no longer in the hotel suite with the dirty ceiling. I’m surrounded by dark windows and black silk sheets—the Washington house I designed for us.
I sit up slowly, my eyes flitting around the room at inhuman speed, taking in the familiar space. Something tugs in my chest when my eyes land on where Calla is leaning in the doorway.
Fuck me. This isn’t real.
Her cheeks are flushed and her beautiful, soft brown eyes are filled with desire. I can hear the pounding of her heart from across the room, and my cock hardens at the sight of her in that black lace slip.
“What is this?” I force out, my eyes hyper-focused on her.
She pushes away from the doorframe, padding across the dark wood floor toward the bed. “Remember the time Gabriel was able to reach me while I was asleep?”
I arch a brow at her, leaning against the headboard. “You’re telling me we’re dreamwalking?”
It’s one of our lesser utilized abilities and only works when the vampire is extremely focused. I’ve done it on a handful of occasions—closed my eyes, pushed my thoughts outward to the person I was trying to reach, and connected with them. It helps when they’re open-minded and willing, though born vampires have the ability to dreamwalk even if the other person isn’t willing—it just takes a bit more concentration and it helps if the vampire has fed recently, putting them at their strongest.
And on nights such as tonight when some of us are apart physically, it is certainly a handy ability to have.
She nods. “Gabriel was able to connect with me easily from the same room, and I…” She trails off, her cheeks becoming pinker. “I missed you, so I asked him to try reaching you.”
The corner of my mouth twitches as I watch her move closer. “What was that last part? I want to make sure I heard you correctly.”
She offers me a dry look. “Getting so old you should have that vamp hearing checked?”
“Cute,” I deadpan. “You didn’t miss Kade and Lex?” As soon as the question leaves my lips, they waltz through the doorway. “Hmm.” I glance at both of them, then chuckle as Gabriel saunters in behind them. “Well, this is new.”
Kade shoots up behind Calla and scoops her into his arms before depositing her onto the end of my bed. She yelps in response, her heart racing, and she manages to kick him in the stomach as she sits up on the mattress.
“This way, we’re all together,” Gabriel comments, standing next to Lex.
My eyes shift from him to where Calla is sliding up the bed toward me. Part of me wants to flip her over and take her from behind while she screams into a pillow, but that’s not what she needs right now, so I forcefully lock up the monster inside me and grip Calla’s chin between my fingers. Her eyes flick between mine, searching for what I can’t tell, but she wraps her fingers around my wrist and leans in, pressing her lips against mine. Her kiss is soft and warm andher. I’ll never tire of this human, which doesn’t bode well for me in our current situation.
