“We do, but we heal quickly.” Right now, it was best to leave out the little detail that they had ingested vampire blood. One issue at a time.
“How did you find us?” Donovan asked.
“The vampire had attacked me earlier.” I glanced at my leg, knowing my wound had already healed. “We were already on high alert. Katherine and Lillith were staking out the dorm. I’m not sure how you got out without them seeing you.”
“Because Brock told us your Dad was in front and to sneak out the back.” Donovan huffed. “Of course, it was all a damn lie.”
“He didn’t want the vampires to see you.” Egan shook his head. “We should’ve accounted for that.”
“Wait…” Axel lifted a hand. “You’re saying your two buddies are vampires. The same kind that almost drained me and Donovan dry? Weren’t they just here a second ago?”
“They aren’t like the one that attacked you.” I hoped these were the right words needed to reassure them. Lillith and Katherine had tried to protect them the same way we had. “They helped get you two out of there and someplace safe.”
“Speaking of which.” Donovan glanced around the room. “Where the hell are we?”
“Somewhere in the Smoky Mountains.” I couldn’t be more specific because I didn’t even know where exactly. “We’re with their family.”
“We’re in a house with a bunch of vampires?” Axel took Roxy’s hand. “Are we sure that’s smart?”
“It’s fine.” Roxy linked with me. Right?
They wouldn’t have brought us here only to kill us. I had to believe that reasoning. I wasn’t worried about our two friends, and for them to have such strong morals, their nest had to be the same way. Vampires were easily corrupted. That was one reason why Dad had forced our vampire friends to hunt Donovan and Axel down in the woods. He’d been hoping their vampire instincts would take over once they smelled the human blood. Even though they had in a way, Katherine and Lillith had been strong. They’d stayed away when the slightest temptation had set in.
“We’ve gotta get back to Kortright.” Donovan tensed. “We have class tomorrow.”
“There’s no going back,” Egan said, saving me from having to deliver the bad news. “If we take one step on campus, Sadie’s dad will descend on us. There will be no saving you a second time.”
“How long do we have to stay away?” Axel fidgeted. “We can’t fall behind.”
“For a while.” Egan met my gaze. “Sadie’s dad is looking for us. We might not even go back this semester.”
“Then we go back and take them out.” Donovan stood and slowly walked around the room. His breathing increased. He was obviously not pleased. “Easy-peasy.”
“You don’t understand.” They didn’t know how our world worked. “My dad has power and influence. We can’t just take him out with our small group here.”
“Do you realize how damn hard I’ve worked to get into that college?” Donovan turned, his anger funneling right at me. “Despite hopping from school to school, Axel and I busted our asses to make sure we didn’t get behind. We want a better life for ourselves.”
“I’m sorry.” I walked over to him and reached for him. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” The last thing I wanted was for him to give up on his dreams or change his life because of me. “But we have to come up with a good plan before we go back.”
He moved, preventing me from touching him.
“Hey, man.” Axel climbed to his feet and glanced at his friend. “Look, I get that this isn’t ideal, but they are helping us.”
Out of everything he could’ve said or done, Axel stood on our side. He’d been fighting Roxy and me the entire time, but now he was the most reasonable of the two.
“Maybe, but everything we worked for has gone down the crapper.” Donovan headed down the hallway to the front door.
“I’m sorry.” I hated that he was struggling.
“Yeah, you’ve said that already.” Donovan exhaled, and his eyes softened ever so slightly. “I need some air.” He turned and walked out the door, leaving me behind.
Chapter Three
Everything inside me screamed at me to follow him, but he needed space from me. By following him, I’d be disrespecting his wishes.
Axel stepped toward the door and almost fell over. “This will take some getting used to.”
“Is it really that different?” Roxy’s eyes twinkled with interest. “I thought you’d be steadier on your feet.”
“No, it’s off-putting.” He looked around the room. “It’s like everything is in 5D.”
Egan lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t think 5D is a thing.”
“Exactly.” Axel pointed at him. “That’s what I’m getting at. It’s like everything is more dimensional and sharper.”
“I can help you,” Roxy said and stood. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Thanks, but I need to talk to Donovan.” Axel brushed his fingers along her arm. “He needs to talk to someone, and I’m the only one who understands what he’s going through.”
“If that’s the case, why aren’t you upset and angry?” I was thankful that whatever animosity had been brewing between Axel and her seemed to be gone, but I’d expected him to act more like Donovan was. Donovan and I were pretty much mates now except for the official claiming part.
“I’m thankful not to be dead, and the three of you have everything to do with that.” Axel shrugged and glanced at Roxy. “And if this is why you fought against being with me so hard, then now, maybe we can be together.”
“But Donovan and I didn’t fight nearly as hard, so you’d think it would be easier for him to accept.” Maybe by turning, he no longer felt a connection with me. Could it be possible? Had I somehow ripped his side of the mate connection away by biting him?
“Donovan was damn determined to be with you. I was scared. That was the difference.” Axel took steadier steps toward the front door. “It’s going to be okay. Just give us a few minutes.”
As he opened the door, Egan called, “If anything happens, all you need to do is yell.”
“I’ve really messed up.” My shoulders sagged, and I plopped down on the couch. I wanted to wallow in self-pity, but now wasn’t the time.
“Hey.” Roxy sat next to me, taking my hand in hers. “Donovan has always been very focused and doesn’t like things out of his control. He just needs time.”
I wasn’t too sure about that. I might have messed up but leaving him to die hadn’t been a viable option. At least, he was alive to reject me. It’d be easier to know he’d left me and was happy than for him to be a rotting corpse in the ground. “Maybe.” I didn’t want to hear any more false sincerities. They didn’t smell like lies because they believed it, but they couldn’t know.
Katherine entered the room and asked, “Is everyone okay?”
“Define okay.” Roxy frowned at me.
Lillith and the rest of the vampires entered right behind her.
“That’s fair.” Lillith nodded and sat on the couch across from us. “I take it Donovan is less than thrilled.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” Egan turned his attention to the unfamiliar vampires. “Is this all of you, or are there more around?”
“Nope, this is all of us.” Cassius stepped in front, taking the lead. “How about you? Will any other dragons be making an appearance?”
It was obvious that he was the head of the family.
“Not as of now.” Egan crossed his arms and leaned back. “Unless we need reinforcements.”
“Yes, Katherine and Lillith told us what’s going on.” Cassius’s attention landed on me. “They informed us that you’re Alpha Tyler’s daughter.”
“I am.” It physically hurt to admit, but the truth was supposed to. “But I’m no longer part of his pack.”
“They told us that part too.” Cassius straightened his shoulders. “That’s the only reason we’ve allowed you to stay here.”
Roxy rolled her eyes and scooted next to me. “Wow, and I thought Lillith was tactless.”
I loved that she was protecting me even though we were outnumbered and had no clue where we were.