Zed's Dishonest Mate (12 page)

Luka cleared his throat. “Don’t mind him.” He pointed at Zed. “He’s a tad bit overprotective.” He thought after the mating Zed would ease up, but the vampire prince was even more overprotective than before. “He hardly ever leaves my side.”

Zed never budged from his protective stance in the corner. If he heard Luka’s comments, he never let on.

Avery chuckled. “That’s okay. New mates tend to be very possessive. I’m used to it.”

Luka sighed. Avery released his leg.

“It’s completely healed. I was worried that the swelling would destroy the joint, but the magic and Zed’s healing ability worked.” Avery stood.

Luka grabbed Avery’s sleeve. He looked at Zed and then at the door, repeating the action a couple of times, trying to silently tell his mate that he wanted to talk to the doctor alone. Of course, Zed ignored him. Why couldn’t this be easy? “Zed, I’d like to talk to the doctor.”

Zed nodded.

“Alone,” Luka added.

“I’m not leaving.” Zed stiffened his shoulders like Avery would at any moment launch toward him and attempt to force him from the room. Avery was only a few inches taller than him. The elf looked as threatening as a mouse.

He reached for Zed’s hand. “It’s okay. There are a few things I need to ask the doctor.”

“Why can’t you ask with me in the room?” Zed challenged.

Luka looked to Avery for help. There were a few things that Zed didn’t need to know. At least not right now.

“It’s common for a patient and a doctor to meet privately. Luka might have questions that only another elf can answer. I don’t want him to push questions aside because he’s too embarrassed to ask in front of others.”

He gave Zed a sheepish smile. “The doctor thinks it’s important.”

“Are you keeping something from me?” Zed asked. “Remember, no more lies.”

Luka’s eyes widened. He mentally crossed his fingers, so it wouldn’t count, and shook his head. “Even if we’re not in the same room, I’ll still feel you.”

“There’s nothing that you should feel embarrassed about. I know you better and more intimately than anyone else, but I’ll wait right outside the door.”

The guilt threatened to suffocate him. He had plenty of times to confess before now, but he didn’t. He just couldn’t be completely honest. A little voice inside kept whispering to him, telling him to hide the truth. He watched Zed move toward the door and felt the loneness creep into him.

He started to reach out to Zed, but the visions slammed into him. He watched Avery reaching out to touch Bishop, but the vampire pushed the elf away. Then Avery sat beside him as Luka lay in bed. His hand rested on his extended belly. He tried to push the images away, but they kept coming. Avery’s ring rested on Bishop’s finger, a sign of an elf’s mating. He closed his eyes and let the images flash by one after the other. Once they started, he couldn’t stop them. The speed increased. Each picture changed too fast to grasp the events. It would take a while to understand each image. He might never remember the entire vision, but deep down his subconscious would understand and feed him what he needed to know. Just as suddenly as they began, the visions ended. He snapped his eyes open. Avery looked frightened, paler than normal. Zed stood next to the bed, a large hand resting on his knee.

“What was that?” the vampire prince asked. His voice held a tinge of fear.

Luka looked away. “What was what?” he asked, pretending not to understand the question.

Zed growled. “Something took over for a minute. It cut into our bond. Your mind no longer connected to mine. I want to know what that meant. Is that clear enough for you?”

He felt Zed’s impatience, anger, and fear through the bond.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Zed glared at him. “Not good enough.”

He sighed. “I might…I mean sometimes…” Luka couldn’t find the words.

Zed moved in and grabbed his hand. “No more secrets. Stop lying to me. Just say it.”

“I can see the future,” Luka blurted out. “When I see things, it’s like my mind is elsewhere. That’s why you couldn’t feel me.”

Zed looked at Avery. Then he turned his attention back to Luka. “You can see the future.”

Luka nodded. Didn’t he already say that?

“Was I in the future you saw?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not in this one. The images moved too fast.” A flash of Zed’s hand on his stomach pushed into his head. He turned to look at his mate.

Zed’s eyes narrowed. “Not this one? But in others.”

Luka nodded, not sure where the conversation was heading.

“Tell me about the others.”

Luka felt the anger. It ripped through their bond. He couldn’t identify the source. Something made Zed angry. He never lied about his ability, but Zed had asked over and over again if there was something else. He swallowed. Why didn’t he just tell Zed everything? This wasn’t the only thing he still kept from his mate. He turned to Avery. “Can you leave us for a moment?”

Avery nodded. He turned and walked out the door.

“Zed, I saw us all the time. That’s how I knew we were mates. I saw visions of us together.”

“You manipulated the situation. You used your visions to bring us closer. We weren’t on even ground because you knew how things would turn out. Whenever there’s a problem, you look into the future for a solution. Then manipulate the present. Everything about you is a lie.”

Luka felt the words slap his face. “It’s not like that. The visions didn’t show me everything.”

“Really, then why weren’t you honest? What are you hiding?”

“Nothing,” Luka said without thinking. He bowed his head, so Zed wouldn’t suspect another lie. “I can’t change overnight. For so long I’ve kept secrets. I do things to keep the pain away. I hate conflict. I don’t know how to change that.” He prayed that Zed understood. A part of him was drowning and his lifeline pulled him down, not up. “I wanted to meet you for a long time.”

Zed stood. “You wanted to meet me? So you lied and forced your way into my life.”

The rage burned through his mate. For a brief moment, he thought the vampire would hit him. He lifted his arm up to block the blow, but when he looked up, he saw shock and disappointment.

“You still think I’ll hurt you.” Zed turned and walked out the door.

Luka forced the tears to stay inside as the pain tore at his heart. They were mated and Zed couldn’t change that. He had time to make Zed understand that the vampire had been saving Luka’s life years before they met.

Avery walked over to the bed and placed a hand on his hand. “It’s going to be fine.” He lightly squeezed.

Luka shook his head. “I’ve done nothing but lie to him. Even after he asked over and over again, I still kept things from him. I’m not done keeping secrets either. I don’t know how to share and be honest.”

“Talk to him. Trust him. You have to in order to be completely honest. Stop hiding behind secrets and lies. Zed needs to learn about these things because you told him. Not hit with them because you slipped up and couldn’t hide it any longer.”

Luka pulled his legs close to his chest. Avery asked him to trust Zed. At that moment he realized that he didn’t. He was waiting for the pain. Love hadn’t been a part of his life for a long time. “Avery, why does Zed hate liars so much? Everyone lies.”

“Not Zed. Something happened with King Kane. Zed has a brother, Ned, who had a relationship with Kane centuries ago. Kane used Ned and lied to him over and over again. Zed’s brother never got over it. Since then he’s been a shadow of himself. He hates people and lives alone up on a mountain. The lies Kane told him nearly destroyed him. He manipulated Ned into thinking they had a serious relationship, but instead used him.”

“He thinks I’m the same way.” The tears started to fall. Luka couldn’t stop them. “I didn’t tell him. I kept everything a secret. We’re full mates and he still doesn’t know about this.” He pointed to his stomach.

“The elf secret is something we guard. Most races don’t know the truth. Both of your parents were males?”

Luka nodded. “Yes, my elf father gave birth to me. My other father was human. I never told Zed any part of that. He doesn’t know.”

“He doesn’t know you can have children.” Avery sighed. “The secrets you keep will only hurt you. It’s not like he won’t find out. Someday you’re going to get pregnant and your stomach will grow. You can’t hide this.”

“I’m half elf. Until a few minutes ago, I wasn’t sure it was possible.” The vision showed him that it would happen. He just hoped that it hadn’t already happened. “I just have to tell him before it happens.”

“You need to tell him now. Learn from this mistake.”

Luka looked away, but still heard Avery’s heavy sigh. “Fine, but you have to live with the choices you make.” Avery’s hands rubbed down his leg, hovered over his knee, and moved over his body. “The leg is fully healed. Is there any pain?”

“No.” Luka’s hand went to his stomach.

“Your magic is still off, and your body has less of it.” Avery moved his hands up to the younger elf’s stomach. He felt around.

“I’ve been sick.”

“Yes, your body’s started to change. That could explain the nausea, or that you’ve already conceived. I can’t be certain but there’s a good chance you’re already pregnant. It’s too soon to tell. Do you feel it? Elves carrying usually feel the spark of life long before a doctor can feel it.”

Luka shook his head. “I’ve felt the heat and I’ve been sick, but the life spark isn’t there.”

“The mating is forcing your body to get ready. I can’t be certain if it’s already happened.” He sighed. “You must tell your mate.”

Luka nodded. “I need to find Zed.” He reached out. Zed was above him on the roof? “Thanks, Avery.” He paused. “I’ll send Bishop in and ask him to take you home.” Avery started to object, but Luka walked out the door. He’d seen them together in his visions. Avery and Bishop were mates. Why were they not together? That was a question for a different time.

“Bishop, I’m going to talk to Zed.” The older vampire walked him down the hall to the door leading to the roof.

“This way.” Bishop opened a heavy door. The stairs led upwards.

“I’ll be fine.”

Bishop shook his head. “After you’re with the prince, I’ll leave.”

Bishop helped him up the stairs. When they reached the top, he saw Zed. Even if he hadn’t seen him, Luka felt him.

Zed turned. His eyes were no longer brown but a glowing red. Luka nodded to Bishop. “Thanks.”

Bishop looked at Zed.

Luka touched Bishop’s arm. “Can you take Avery home?”

Bishop stiffened under his fingers. He reluctantly nodded before walking back down the stairs.

“You shouldn’t be up here.”

“You’re here. Where else should I be?” He walked over to Zed, determined to explain everything. “Can we talk?”

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say,” Zed spat out. “Everything is a lie.”

“You’re angry.”

“What gave it away?”

Luka closed his eyes. He looked at Zed. “Do you hate me?”

Zed’s eyes snapped to him. He pushed Luka up against the roof door. “Hate you. No, I hate myself for falling for you.” He seized Luka’s lips into a brutal kiss that was demanding and filled with a relentless need for control. Luka relaxed into the kiss, letting Zed have his way.

He pushed Luka hard against the wall, lifting the elf up. Luka’s hardening shaft rubbed against Zed. The vampire’s large, cold hands pushed his shirt up. The kiss softened as Zed lowered Luka to the ground and yanked the small elf’s pants down. The bright red lounge pants rested around his ankles.

Zed rubbed his thick finger over his sensitive opening. Still slick from their previous round of sex, Luka only felt a slight burning as Zed shoved two fingers inside. He braced himself against the wall as Zed pushed in a third finger. He moaned as the finger touched something deep inside. Soon he heard the rustling of clothes as Zed freed his trapped cock. Luka felt the hot shaft against his ass crack. Zed rubbed it in between his cheeks, only touching his opening. The cock continued to rub and Luka groaned.

“Fuck me,” he demanded.

Zed ignored the order. “When I’m ready. I need to calm down first or I’ll pound into you too hard and I refuse to hurt you that way.”

Luka heard the strain in Zed’s voice. His mate would never hurt him. He turned his head. “I can take whatever you give. Stick that hard cock in my ass and fuck me. Or maybe you don’t know what to do with it.”

Zed hissed and pushed in with one hard thrust. He bit his lip as Zed gave him only a little bit of time to adjust before setting a hard fast pace. He felt the burning pain mixed with pleasure as the cock hit his pleasure spot over and over again. Zed increased the pace. Something Luka didn’t know was possible. Zed held onto his hips with a strong grip that would leave bruises. His own cock was painfully hard. Luka wanted to reach down and stroke it, but his hands pressed against the walls kept his body from being roughly pushed into the hard surface. If he moved, Zed would fuck him into the wall. He moaned and cried. He needed relief, but Zed ignored his cock.

“Please,” he begged. “Touch me.”

Zed leaned in and whispered into his ear. “Not yet. Feel my cock.” Zed pounded into him. “There is one thing I hate more than anything and that’s liars.” He thrust in and out again and again. “You will keep nothing from me. You will never lie to me.” He pounded his ass with a few more hard thrusts. “If you do, next time I’ll fuck you over and over again. Your hard cock will demand to be touched, but it won’t be. For hours your ass will be mine. Do you understand?”

Oh yes, Luka understood. Zed threatened to fuck him over and over again, with his hard cock never getting the stimulation it needed. It sounded like the worst torture imaginable. “I promise. Now please touch me.”

“That’s the problem with liars. Their promises mean nothing. Maybe I need to fuck you a couple of times, so you understand.” Zed licked his neck, pressing small kisses under his ear.

Luka squeezed the cock moving in and out of his ass. He moved his hips back to meet each thrust, determined to bring Zed’s release.

He felt Zed’s lips turn into a smile. “Well, if you’re that determined.” Zed’s large hand grabbed his cock and he squeezed as he slowed his thrusting. Zed played with the tip. Luka wanted to touch himself, but he didn’t dare move his hands from the door. Zed started stroking as he pulled almost all the way out and pushed in with one hard thrust. Luka’s arms couldn’t hold up his body. Zed pulled out and turned him around. His back hit the wall. Zed lifted Luka up. One leg was pulled free from his pants before Zed slammed back into him. He brought both legs up and wrapped them around Zed’s waist, pulling his mate closer. He reached down and touched his own cock as Zed’s large, perfect cock continued to pound his ass. Soon he couldn’t stop his release. He exploded all over his hand and stomach. Zed’s hot seed filled him, while some spilled out and down his ass. He felt the warmth inside and then the spark. His eyes widened. He looked at Zed and forced a smile. It was one more secret. Was it too late to mention he could get pregnant after he became pregnant?