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I roll onto my back and open my eyes, staring at the plain white ceiling as I play over potential scenarios for tomorrow in my head.
Atlas comes up the stairs and doesn’t bother knocking before slipping into my room, closing the door behind him. “You should be asleep.”
“So should you,” I reply, watching him walk closer, and sit up, resting my back against the pile of pillows at the headboard.
The corner of his mouth tugs up ever so slightly as he keeps his eyes locked with mine and sits on the bed. The urge to reach for him floods my system, and I bite the inside of my cheek, gripping the sheets to keep my hands to myself. I’m still frustrated with him over what happened at the fitness club, and I’m not going to let that go just because part of me craves comfort from the vampire who made me. It’s fucking complicated and certainly something I wasn’t expecting when I decided it would be Atlas who’d turn me.
“What are you doing awake?” he asks, dropping his chin, his hair falling forward into his face.
“Oh, you know, enjoying a little late-night overthinking sprinkled with fear of the unknown and some general dread over our circumstances. Just the usual.”
“Calla.”
“Atlas,” I level.
“Drop the bravado. You can’t hide anything from me and you’re above acting indifferent to the things happening around you.”
My eyes narrow slightly as the throbbing in my gums grows increasingly more irritating. “What do you want me to say?”
“You could start with the truth,” he offers, shifting closer.
“The truth,” I echo with a humorless laugh. “You already know everything I’m feeling, so I don’t see much sense in vocalizing it.”
He shrugs. “Sometimes saying things aloud helps. If it’s something you’re worried about, talking about it takes away the power it holds over you in the fear it causes.”
I arch a brow at him. “Do you have a psych degree I don’t know about?”
“No. But living as long as I have has taught me a thing or two.”
I drop my gaze to my lap, tapping my fingers against my thighs. “Do you ever get tired of it?”
“Living forever?”
I nod without looking at him.
“Not in a long while. You created quite the rift in all of our lives. I imagine as did we in yours.” He places his hand over mine. “I can’t see what the future holds for all of us, but with you around, I can be sure of at least one thing—it won’t be boring.”
Pressing my lips together against a reluctant smile, I turn my hand over and lace my fingers through his.
He shifts closer, sitting next to me against the headboard with his legs stretched out in front of him on top of the covers.
“And what about tomorrow?” I ask.
“Tomorrow,” he says with a sigh, “could go a few different ways.” He turns his face toward me. “But I need you to promise me you won’t hesitate to fight—and kill if necessary—any hunters.”
I can’t help but frown. “If it’s them or me, I promise.”
His gaze lingers for a moment before he nods. “Thank you.”
I exhale a heavy breath, rubbing my eyes with the hand that isn’t holding his.
“Do you want me to help you fall asleep?” he offers in a soft voice.
“No,” I say, shaking my head for added measure, “that isn’t fair. You don’t have anyone that can do that for you.”
Atlas tilts his head to the side, his eyes roaming my face. “I’m not worried about me.” His concern for me may not be evident in his expression, but there’s a tingle in my chest that tells me it’s there. It’s a new sensation that I’m still getting used to—being able tofeelAtlas in different ways that deepen our connection past what I share with the others.
I roll my eyes, dragging my thumb back and forth across the back of his hand. “Of course you’re not, butIam.” I move into his lap, still holding his hand and using the other to push his hair back. “Maybe we can help each other,” I murmur, leaning down and resting my forehead against his. I lick my lips, the corner of my mouth curling at the quickening of his pulse. That has to be one of my favorite things about being a vampire I’ve discovered so far—hearing how I affect the guys after months of them knowing how they affect me.
