Zed's Dishonest Mate (4 page)

“Let’s go,” Zed ordered as he turned and walked away, not bothering to check if Luka followed.

Luka cursed. His mate had teleported them to the border of the vampire territory. Why didn’t Zed transport them directly to his place? He started to walk after Zed, but his body hurt trying to keep up with the fast pace. “Wait, how about you carry me back to your place?”

Zed froze. “You might be accustomed to the pampered life of a prince. As my mate, you’ll hold your own. That means pulling your own weight.” He looked at Luka like he was a mosquito sucking out blood. “If you can’t handle it, go back and be the elf prince with everyone falling at your feet.”

Luka wanted to gag. Since when did others fall at his feet? He was a prisoner that barely saw the sun. Now, he had to put up with the pompous vampire prince. He wished the dreams of a loving mate had come true, but that wouldn’t happen either. He moved his leg. The pain was bearable. Slowly, he started to follow his mate, trying not to fall. If he hurt his leg any more, Zed would probably keep going.

Why was he so unlucky? That question plagued him since he’d turned five. “Can you walk a little slower?” Luka asked, calling after Zed. The vampire was already half a block ahead.

Zed turned and walked toward him. “You need to walk faster,” he demanded.

Luka needed to look up to see Zed’s face. “Your legs are long. Mine are short. Slow down so I can keep up.”

Zed walked right up to him, invading his personal space. Luka flinched at the anger on the vampire’s face. “Listen, elf prince. I accept that you’re my mate, but I don’t have to like it. I won’t follow your orders, so don’t bother giving them.”

Luka shook his head. Maybe living with Zed would be worse than the life he had escaped. “Why did you help me leave?”

“You asked.” Zed paused. “Even if we never fulfill the mating, I’ll always be responsible for you.”

“I don’t need anyone to be responsible for me. You hate elves. I get that. Let’s not prolong our relationship any longer then we need to.” Luka paused, not sure how to go on. He had nothing to live on, no money, no clothes and no food. “I need some money and a ride to the airport. I’ll pay you back once I get settled. This way we can both get out of each other’s way.”

The part of Luka that gave up on his dream liked the solution, but the anger directed from his reluctant mate indicated he was the only one in the relationship that felt that way.

“Sorry,
mate
,” the vampire prince said, emphasizing the word mate. “You don’t get to run away. Not with me supporting you. I won’t pay so you can lounge on a beach and do nothing. Besides, there’s nothing you can do. You’re a prince that can only order others around. Tell me I’m wrong. What are your skills?”

Luka flinched. He couldn’t use elf magic that well. The only thing he could do was heal his own broken bones. He barely did that right. Sometimes he dreamed of things that happened elsewhere like he was seeing through another person’s eyes. The only skill he had was the ability to see the future and that was out of the question. He couldn’t even read. Before the nightmare of being the elf prince began, Luka painted and drew animals. Sometimes he still sketched. He looked down before answering, not wanting to see the smug look on Zed’s face. “I don’t have any skills.”

“Now, you understand. The world holds no place for you. If you can’t contribute, then you’re useless. Follow me. I can’t guarantee you’ll become a leader or even productive, but you’ll be less of a burden to those around you. A prince shouldn’t be one in name only. You need to learn to be more.”

Luka shook his head. Too bad he was a prince in name only. He didn’t even have royal blood. Why the king forced him to be his son, he’d never understand. He looked at the angry face of his mate and decided to follow. He hated to admit it, but he needed help. If he rested for a couple of weeks, his leg would heal. His ribs were sore, possibly fractured, but not that bad. He would accept his fate for now. “Fine, lead the way.”

“I don’t need you to agree. Just follow in silence.”

Luka wanted to scream. No, he needed to control his anger, but the rage started to build.
No,
he told himself. Keep it inside. Silence was the best way for this to end. During the long walk, he no longer asked Zed to slow down, but the vampire no longer zoomed ahead of him. It was a tiny step, but it gave Luka a little bit of hope.

He followed Zed through the main entrance of a building located in the center of the vampire territory. The building was an old skyscraper that resembled a hotel or apartment complex. From what King Kane said, the main house was too secure for the elf king to break in and enter. He’d tried and always failed. The only people allowed to live with the prince were his trusted family members. He hoped that the members treated him like their leader’s mate and not the despised elf prince.

Two vampires approached the moment they entered the building. Luka studied them. Tonight was the first time he’d seen vampires in person. With the added hostility between his race and the vampires, no elf went to any of the meetings that vampires attended. Those meetings rarely happened and the video conferences took over most of their communications. Zed was the first vampire he’d talked to or touched. He smiled. It was appropriate that it was his mate.

Another vampire approached. The other two lowered their heads as this one walked closer. He greeted Zed.

“Bishop, this is my mate, Luka,” Zed said, loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear. He looked over to Luka. “I want everyone to know he’s here. No one is to touch him.”

“Of course,” Bishop said. He cocked his head to the side.

“He can’t protect himself, so we need to discuss protection for him,” Zed added.

Luka silently counted to ten, trying to keep the anger building inside from exploding, but it was getting harder. He wasn’t some defenseless waif that needed to be protected. He could take care of himself. What he hated the most was Zed discussing his future like he wasn’t a part of it. Luka glared at Bishop as the man looked him up and down. After a few seconds under the intense stare, Luka moved closer to Zed. He grabbed his mate’s shirt with a shaking hand.

“Bishop, enough.” Zed’s body tensed.

“Sorry, Prince Zed. I didn’t mean to scare him. He’s going to need around-the-clock protection.”

“Yes, also increase security for the building. My mate isn’t just an elf but the elf prince.”

“You can’t be serious. The elf prince?” Bishop’s stern face grew more serious. His eyes darted around the hotel, looking for all possible problems and dangers. Luka started to like the man.

“Yes, the prince.” Zed laughed. The cold sound filled the room, but the laugh never reached his eyes.

Luka seethed beside him. Zed didn’t take him seriously. Hell, the man didn’t even talk to him after entering the hotel. Well, that was going to change. Luka tugged on Zed’s shirt, but Zed continued to ignore him. Luka tugged harder, pulling at the shirt. Still, he was being ignored.

“It’s rude not to properly introduce us. Especially when you’re talking about me,” Luka said with a slight annoyance in his voice. Interrupting was equally rude, but he wouldn’t be ignored.

Zed looked at Luka and smiled. The smile never reached the tall, sexy man’s eyes. It hurt that his mate didn’t like him and barely tolerated him.

The vampire prince cleared his throat. “Do you want them to call you “sir”? How do you want the common people to address you?”

Luka stared back. He didn’t care about titles. Zed’s opinion of him was so low. What did he do? He looked directly into Zed’s eyes and said, “It seems, Zed, that you’re the only one hung up on titles. To me it doesn’t matter.” It was useless to try and control his anger. He couldn’t do it. Everything that happened tonight was wrong. His loving mate didn’t exist. He was left with someone that didn’t care and thought so little of him.

Zed walked over and tried to grab Luka’s arm, but Luka moved back and held up his hand to stop Zed from touching him. Zed stopped and looked at the smaller man. “Do you hate a vampire’s touch that much?” Zed asked.

Luka’s eyes widened. He didn’t think of it that way. Some of the anger disappeared. He didn’t want to be hurt. Angry people tended to beat him. No matter what, he wasn’t going to let his mate hurt him. That would destroy him. After years of hope and prayers, if Zed hurt him, it would leave him with a large, empty void inside of his heart. “No, but I won’t let you touch me in anger.” He looked over at the other vampires. “That goes for everyone here.”

“You can’t stop us. You’re small and weak.”

Luka shook his head. “I might not be as strong as you, but my strength comes from inside.”

Zed laughed. The sound filled the room. “Where do you come up with this crap? Either you can protect yourself or not.”

“Well, I don’t have to worry about that now. I have a big strong mate to protect me,” Luka said sarcastically.

“That’s true, little elf. I won’t let anyone hurt you. To touch you is to disrespect me.” Zed looked at each vampire in the room. “It doesn’t change anything. I’ll make sure you learn your place. You will live here with me and do as I say. It will take a while for you to change, but maybe after hard work you’ll appreciate things.”

“I’m not afraid of hard work,” Luka responded. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “If I don’t live up to your standards, what then? Will you beat me? Starve me? Kill me?”

“Where do you come up with this garbage? You seem to have a very active imagination, but the stories you’ve heard about vampires aren’t true. I will treat you as my mate as long as you live up to my expectations. If you don’t, I’ll return you to your father and you can continue your pampered lifestyle.”

Luka swallowed and turned away. His legs threatened to give out, but he wouldn’t let his mate see the weakness. The threat hung in the air. It helped a little that Zed didn’t know it was a horrible threat. No, he would meet the vampire’s demands. Whatever character that caused others to punish him, he’d find and eliminate it. His life depended on it. “Ok, I agree,” Luka finally said.

“Well, that’s nice,” Zed responded, then turned and walked away from him. “Follow me.” Zed moved to the stairs. “You will stay with me on the top floor.”

Luka stopped. “Can we take the elevator?” he asked. Zed’s back stiffened. Luka flinched back as the other man became angry, but his leg throbbed. He wouldn’t make it up the stairs. Before Zed could explode, he quickly added, “I walked a long way today. More than I’m used to and I’m tired. For today, can we please take the elevator? Please,” Luka begged. If he couldn’t do this, would Zed send him back?

“The elevator doesn’t work. Tomorrow you will climb up and down the stairs, but for today grab onto me and I’ll teleport us to the top floor.”

Luka sighed in relief. He walked over to Zed and wrapped his arms around the larger man’s waist. He leaned in. Being in his mate’s arms felt right. Zed’s entire body was hard with thick muscles. He felt the strength flow into him. Then the sadness hit. They might have been loving and caring mates in his visions, but right now Zed barely tolerated him.

Zed held Luka closer than needed. The elf smelled like the wind and everything good in nature, a natural aroma of flowers, trees, and pinecones. He was addicted to the sweet scent. While not necessary to breathe, he took in a deep breath, memorizing the unique scent.

They reappeared inside of his apartment. Luka’s eyes were tightly closed. The small elf’s brow wrinkled. His fists wrapped tightly around Zed’s shirt. He held Luka a little longer than needed, relishing the feel of the small elf perfectly nestled into his body.

Zed wanted a strong mate. No, he needed a strong mate. Not physically strong, but his mate had to be mentally strong. Luka was the type of person more concerned with how the problem affected him. He would never be concerned with people dealing with difficult times. Those things wouldn’t bother the small elf or if it did, it was because it dirtied his pretty view of the world.

The elf dressed in a pure white turtleneck and white dress pants. The outfit looked good on him, but most clothes would fit the elf’s lean body. The bright white was another example of Luka’s disconnect from reality. Zed would never wear a color that showed all the blood and dirt that accompanied running a territory. The elf avoided work and had no desire to participate in such things. Luka probably never realized the impracticality of wearing such a light color, but it was unpractical for any leader that needed to get down and dirty.

The apple seldom falls far from the tree.
Kane was exactly the same way. Some things were just inherited. His beautiful, spoiled mate lacked discipline and had serious character flaws. He was selfish, self-centered, rude and demanding. Those things could be changed with hard, backbreaking work, but the worst part couldn’t be changed. The dark blood of King Kane flowed through his mate’s veins. Luka had a beautiful face, but he had an ugly heart.

Zed would try. The fates created them for each other, but if tonight was any indication, he had his work cut out for him. The main problem was the small elf’s attitude. Luka wasn’t serious. He wasn’t trying. First, whining about walking too fast. He wouldn’t even attempt to keep up. No, Zed had to modify his pace. Then the elf prince demanded to ride the elevator. Normally, he’d force the small elf up the stairs, but making a scene in front of the others would have lasting negative implications for the spoiled elf prince.

He needed to get tough. In a room full of vampires, Luka would learn to straighten his back and climb the stairs, not complain about being tired. Leaders never got tired. He shook his head. Luka hadn’t climbed the stairs. Instead, he complained. That said it all.

The first step was getting Luka to learn to suck it up and get the job done. Complaining would bring more work. Maybe tomorrow he’d have his mate climb the stairs ten times. It wasn’t barbaric, but a start to improve the elf’s character.

Tonight, he’d let it slide. So much had changed for the elf. Luka was young, he reminded himself. He had an eternity to change a few decades of bad learning. Hopefully, taken away from his arrogant, spiteful father, Luka would start to understand the world. He’d help his mate stand on two feet and be less of a brat.