Page 28 of Those That Don't Exist
“We’ve been through this already tonight, I don’t answer to you.” I let him see my fangs. “Now, let’s go do this hospital run and get back. I could use a drink.” I stride away not giving him time to answer back.
Try as he might to engage me in conversation I simply keep snarling at him. It riles him to no end which I’m sure I’ll pay for soon, but I need time to think of some version of the truth for when we get home. Curse the fucking blood bond.
So, as we break in and out of the hospital - which is as easy as breathing to me - I run scenarios through my mind of how to control the report I know I’ll have to give. Unhelpfully, two giant alarms keep buzzing around my head.
If Adicious finds out I stopped her, I’m dead. If she turns, and that’s looking inevitable now, I’m even more certain I want her to be mine.
The following morning,I take off by myself onto our land. I do it frequently enough no one will question it. Last night hadn’t gone well, but hey I am still alive.
Adicious was in the lounge with several of the pack when Ronan and I had returned. I kept my report succinct but I think Adicious was suspicious. He asked me even more questions than usual, and I had to work damn hard to keep my voice, and my heart rate, level. I’d feigned tiredness, getting out of there as soon as I could.
Maybe it's paranoia but I swear this morning more than a couple of the guys had brought up Aurora. It wasn’t as if she was never talked about, but I felt like they were trying to get a rise out of me. Ronan even made a quip about how hot she was.
My thoughts are a huge jumble and my stress levels are way too high as I crest the hill of my destination. I jog the last bit, stripping to my boxers as I go and plunge feet first into the cold pool of water, shocking my body, and my mind, into silence.
We’re lucky to have a significant amount of land with the ranch. It means we can give in to our nature without being worried about being discovered.
It also includes a river which runs down from the mountains above us, through our estate before connecting to the much larger one which flows through the city, and to the ocean below.
The mountain run-off has a series of waterfalls and swimming pools along its winding path. The one furthest from the house is my favourite. Pressed up to the foot of the mountain range on the edge of our property it is fed by the waterfall above and offers complete privacy. There is a small rocky shore that can be traversed to enter more gracefully. Or you can choose the twenty-foot cliff like I did.
I break the surface, inhaling deeply, having pushed my lungs to the max. For the first time in weeks, I can breathe. I tread thewater for a little while, focusing on my breathing and letting the cold seep into my muscles.
Just as I’m relaxing a noise snags my attention. Two seconds later my peace is shattered by the rush of someone leaping off the cliff face. He releases a “woohoo” and hits the water, cannonball style, to cause the biggest splash he can. So much for being alone. My fangs extend with my frustration.
Atlas breaks the surface with zero finesse. Arms flapping and shaking his head like a dog, his shoulder length hair spraying water droplets everywhere. He chuckles as he clocks my scowl. I’ve avoided him at all costs since he joined the pack a couple of weeks ago. I have too much guilt and I don’t want Adicious seeing us together.
“Either you’ve been avoiding me or you’re feeling guilty because you’re the reason I’m now stuck in this bullshit pack.” He’s always been too perceptive, it’s not his magical ability but still he can read a room very quickly.
“You can’t say stuff like that out loud,” I warn.
“Don’t worry, no one else is around.” This is his power. He can feel the presence of others far better and at more range than even our supernatural senses allow. What’s particularly annoying is that he was born with it, being part Fae, so there was no sneaking up on him as kids. Playing hide and seek with him was always a losing situation.
“For what it’s worth I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure they’d actually find you when I discovered you weren’t dead. And I have to admit a selfish part of me hoped to see you again.” Even though we’ve not spoken in decades it feels familiar, like we weren’t ripped apart at all.
“Ty, do you honestly think I’d be here if I didn’t want to be?”
I freeze, my head nearly ducking under the water. Despite what he said about it being a ‘bullshit pack’ did he wanted in? Heholds placating hand up as he quickly continues, swimming over to where I’m paddling.
“I wasn’t going to come back here at first. Trust me I wanted nothing to do with those thugs. When they rocked up acting like entitled pricks, demanding I come back to the city, I turned them down. Then they told me it was you who found out where I was. I haven’t heard much about you since the end of the war. I was slightly surprised to learn that you’re still alive, if I’m honest. Even more shocked you’re in this pack as some minion. We all know the rumours about how it’s ruled, how heavy handed Adicious is, and the shady shit it gets up to. I came back because I didn’t believe you would be tolerating this.” He pauses, giving me a look as if to say I’m an idiot. “So, why are you tolerating this?”
I’m hesitant. I haven’t been able to be honest about anything for years. Some part of my brain locks my tongue down making it hard to speak for several seconds.
“Adicious got me straight and clean again.” That is the truth, as sour as it tastes on my tongue.
“Ty. Look, I know it must’ve been hard. The others have told me bits and pieces of what you’ve been through. But isn’t this one punishment too much, being here and living like this? Are you happy here?”
“I was,” I say on an exhale. “And I’m sworn now. Whether I like it or not I’m Adicious’s to use as he wishes. I managed to go under the radar in the beginning but now he knows how useful I can be, and has seen the extent of my powers. I get a lot of the missions. At least I’m here in these lands.”
“You should be running these lands,” he counters, bringing his gaze to mine as if to bore our history into my brain, like the memories of what was don’t haunt my mind everyday.
“Adicious has kept us safe,” I say, almost reflexively.
“Pppffftt,” he scoffs, splashing water my way. “Adicious may not have exposed you to the authorities but you must see the state of the place.” It’s true, the ranch is run down and overgrown.
“I don’t have a choice,” I mumble without meeting the gaze I know he’s giving me.
“Ty, you know that’s crap. Your parents…”
