“You don’t have to do this,” Lazarus all out growled.
“I’m not a pussy.” he said, even though he knew his teammates knew it to be true. Griffin almost lost his footing. He needed to try and at least stand tall, so he pulled his shoulders back.
“Fuck this,” Lazarus growled. “Leave him alone, Lance.”
The male who he often referred to as a friend smiled. Lance looked lost. A flash of pain crossed his face. Not the physical kind, the kind that could sometimes be found deep inside. In that moment Griffin felt sorry for him. There was certainly no humor in this. Not for either of them. Despite the pain he already felt. The pain that was sure to come, he forgave Lance in that moment.
His friend was not being himself. That much was for sure. Lance was in there somewhere. He was going to find him and help him. Right now though, in order to do just that, he needed to die. Tomorrow…well…he would think about tomorrow when the sun rose again.
Even though it was useless to even try, years of training made him lift his sword as Lance struck. In the male’s defense, it wasn’t nearly as aggressive as it could’ve been. His arm vibrated as Lance’s sword crashed into his in a useless attempt at a deflection, then he felt the blade slice across his throat. Felt his blood gush in time with his heartbeat, which was already weakening.
Fuck!
A look of regret crossed Lance’s face for a mere second. Gone in a flash. No one else would have seen it. Griffin did though. It meant something to him.
The poor females screamed. He wished he could tell them that it was okay. Unfortunately, his vocal cords had been severed, so talking was impossible. He needed to remain calm and die with honor.
There was more screaming and retching noises. He couldn’t scent anything because his own blood clogged his nose and mouth, it ran down his throat. Griffin slowly brought his hand to the wound to try and cover the worst of the damage. Maybe if they couldn’t see it then they wouldn’t be so upset by it. There was a loud splattering as his blood hit the hard ground. Not to be helped. There was sweet fuck all he could do about that. It was becoming harder and harder to breathe. Impossible with all the blood.
His heart rate was slowing, weakening. He knew the signs. Had been through this enough times before.
Everything was becoming fuzzy. Someone shouted to call an ambulance! Must be one of the females, because a vampire would never say such a thing.
Lance made a small noise. Almost too soft to hear. It sounded almost…anguished. Then his stare hardened back up. The male lifted his sword arm.
At long fucking last, Lance was acting like a friend. He was going to finish Griffin off. His death wouldn’t be quite as long. Bring it the fuck on!
There was growling. Shouting. Laughing. He couldn’t be sure because things were becoming hazy. He felt a little like he was floating. His vision was clouding up. His heartbeat so soft and thready, that it was a fucking joke.
Why wasn’t Lance delivering the final blow?
More screaming. Female. Maybe. No definitely. They were panicked for sure.
Then someone was in front of him. By the wild tangle of hair that he could see, it had to be a female. A human. What the fuck! He sucked in a breath, fighting death now instead of welcoming it. His mind cleared ever so slightly
“Leave him alone!” The female cried. “You’re an asshole and a bully!”
“Get away from him, human,” Lance spat back at her. Griffin had to strain to hear them.
Griffin tried to move. To put the female behind him but his limbs refused to obey. She was in danger. Why was she taking such a risk?
“Get Griffin to the healers,” someone growled. It sounded like Lazarus. The male was closer. Lance grimaced and took a step back.
Thank fuck! He could finally die in peace. He felt his eyes roll back as he fell. His heart stopped as he hit the ground.
It always took the brain a while to catch up. To slowly become so oxygen starved that it died. He’d read somewhere once that cockroaches could survive days without a body. Poor little fucks.
The female screamed. The sound was far away even though she was leaning over him. He could feel her little hands on him. On his wound. It had mostly stopped bleeding when his heart stopped yet she still clasped the wound.
Her lips moved as she said something. He couldn’t make out what it was. The light from the sun was behind her head. Her hair glowed. Her blue eyes were wide. She was afraid…for him. She was petrified.
Everything slowed as her lips moved again. What was she saying?
He could feel his brain shutting down. No pain…he didn’t feel any pain. Go figure. The female reminded him of an angel. A beautiful…delicate…angel…no pain…just calm. Then he died.
Chapter 2
Griffin screamed. And screamed.
Then he screamed some more. No one could hear him. His body lay still. It was as if his insides had been removed and replaced with giant boulders. He weighed a fucking ton. His eyelids were the heaviest of all.
Pain burrowed its way into his marrow, into his bones, his joints, his very soul. It consumed him. This was how he imagined it would feel to burn, skin melting like wax. The sensations became too intense and he screamed again. The sound contained within his skull. Amplified by his own mind.
As bad as it was, at least he was over the worst. The pain was almost bearable. Almost. It felt like someone had stuck hot pokers down his throat. It wasn’t the first time he had, had his throat slit and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. The only consolation was that the blade had not been silver.
When silver was involved, a vampire didn’t always come back. The process could take days. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend the sheer agony. The process, when it took so long, changed males. It was impossible to come out unscathed. Mind intact.
Even as he continued to scream, his mind was on Lance. That poor fuck. He had been through this, though his experience was the worst. Five days. It was the longest a male had ever remained dead and still returned. No wonder he was a mess. Five days of torture, of sheer hell.
A twitch. Yes!! He’d managed to move a finger. The blistering pain receded somewhat before returning with a vengeance. His finger throbbed. It was as if an acid filled heart spewed flesh-eating liquid through the digit.
Best to get it over with. Griffin grimaced. An actual grimace, as opposed to a perceived one. As in, the muscles in his face really moved. It hurt!
Mother–fuck–it!! Make that, it hurt like a bitch with claws. It felt like his face had caught alight.
He growled and it felt like more of the same flesh destroying acid slid its way down his throat. The growl became a groan as he flexed his muscles. The groan quickly turned into a pained roar. His pain flared like a fire suddenly drenched in gasoline. His only consolation right now was that it would be over soon.
“For blood sakes…” A low, irritated growl. “You’re a male in his fucking prime. You were only dead for fifteen minutes. You’ve been lying there for hours. Grow some fucking balls.”
Griffin had to smile even though the action hurt. His body felt like it was dripping in perspiration. The air caught his skin and his teeth began to chatter.
“You need to leave.” An irritated female, a voice he knew all too well.
“No way!” Lance growled. “I need to give this asshole a piece of my fucking mind.”
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” Eleanor sounded pissed. Then again, she was somewhat of a mother figure to him considering how many times he had been down here over the last few years. The old healer was protective of him.
Lance snorted. “I’m tempted to kill him again. I might actually do it. The moment those eyes open.”
“Don’t you dare!” She raised her voice. “Touch that boy and I will have you sent to the dungeon. I’ll make sure you damn well rot.”
“Relax, healer.” Lance sighed. “I won’t kill him”—a long pause—“again. Once is enough for one day.”
�
�Thank fuck for small favors,” Griffin croaked. His vocal cords were still healing. Damn but his mouth was dry. It felt like his tongue was sticking to the roof of his mouth. He needed blood as in right fucking now.
“He speaks.” Lance sounded bored.
With great effort, Griffin managed to crack open his eyes. First the one and then the other. When his vision came into focus, he saw Lance leaning over him. His mouth was set. His eyes hard.
What was his problem now?
“I should fuck you up. You know that, don’t you?” Lance’s eyes narrowed.
“You already did a fabulous job,” Griffin croaked. He sucked in a ragged breath having to close his eyes for a few beats. Exhaustion weighed on him.
“Why the fuck didn’t you fight back? You’re an elite for fuck sakes. An elite.” He repeated the last. The bed moved. By the time Griffin opened his eyes, Lance was on the other side of the room.
It was clear that the male was torn up over what had happened, he just didn’t want to admit it. In short, Lance felt bad.
Good!
“Can we have this conversation some other time?” Griffin really needed blood and maybe to sleep for the rest of the day. He couldn’t deal with Lance at the moment. It was clear that his friend needed him though. Griffin sucked in a ragged, shaky breath.
“No,” Lance growled. He clenched his jaw. “Never take the pussy route with me again. You fight back. Do you hear me?”
“And what? If I’d fought back there would’ve been a different outcome? I highly doubt that.” It hurt to talk but Griffin ignored the pain and forged on. “There would’ve been more bloodshed, maybe a few broken bones, a severed limb or two and I would’ve still ended up dead. Don’t try and deny it.”
Lance glanced away. His jaw was still set and his frame rigid. “It pissed me off. You not fighting back, pissed me the hell off.”
“What’s wrong? It was like you had zoned out or something. I was following orders, asshole. You should try it sometime.”
Lance let out a deep breath, his shoulders slumped. “Zane is a dick. I was angry and I…it’s…” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and made a noise of frustration. “It’s nothing.”
Griffin had to chuckle. “Nothing. Like hell. You looked ready to take on an army. What did Zane do?”
“Showed me something…said he was doing it for my own good.” Lance ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have….” He paced to the other side of the room and suddenly found the view really interesting. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Are you apologizing?” Griffin couldn’t help but to smile.
“Not a fuck,” Lance growled. “I can’t help it you’re a pussy.” He strode back to the bed. “I should’ve gone easy on you. I was pissed and you were there and…” He shook his head.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll live.” He grinned, or at least he tried to grin.
Lance gave a half smile. It was genuine, which was rare. Lately, the only smiles Lance gave were the charming, fake as hell kind. “Your eyes are glowing,” the male said. “Come to think about it….shit”—he shook his head—“your irises are a tad red.”
“I’m starving,” Griffin croaked.
Lance rolled his eyes. “We have a whole horde of human females on our territory, ripe for the picking and you’re starving? Go fucking figure.”
“I’m not a huge fan of leftovers.” He could hear the frustration in his own voice.
Lance laughed. As in all out laughed. So much so that Griffin was forced to smile along with him. “Not a fan of leftovers? That’s funny. Only because it’s serious bull-fucking-shit. We’ve shared. We’ve shared plenty.”
Griffin tried to lift himself up into a more comfortable position and finally slumped back.
Lance sighed dramatically before lifting Griffin up and pulling him into position. He even pulled a cover over Griffin. How fucking sweet. It looked like Lance was feeling even guiltier than he was letting on. His friend was still in there…somewhere.
“Thanks.”
Lance growled. “Your groaning was irritating me.”
“There is more than one reason why I like the idea of a human mate.” Griffin paused, swallowing thickly to try and quell the raging thirst. “I don’t like the idea of my female…my mate having been with another vampire male. I don’t want leftovers. Especially not after an ugly motherfucker like you.” He tried to smile. To play it down. It wasn’t very vampire of him to think like this. Something so trivial shouldn’t bother him in the least yet the thought of his female…the one he actually spent the rest of his days with…having rutted his friends, even one of them, bugged the hell out of him.
“What about that human…” He seemed to be thinking it over. “Tina, I think her name is? I thought you were into her?” Lance raised his brows.
Griffin smiled. “She’s quite lovely. We were compatible but”—he shrugged—“it wasn’t like that.” His smile grew. “Wait a minute…” Griffin chuckled. “She’s one of the few humans that you didn’t rut. I love you too, bro.”
Lance frowned. “What? You think I left her alone because I thought you liked her?” he snorted. “You’re wrong.”
“I know you did. Thank you. I—”
Lance threw up his hands. “Tina is not my type or I so would’ve gone there regardless.”
“Not your type?” Griffin laughed and instantly regretted it. His still regenerating lungs protested and he ended up in a coughing fit. His chest burned. Griffin put a hand on his sternum and groaned. “Admit it.” He was breathing heavily. “You didn’t touch Tina because you mistakenly thought that I was into her. Anything with a pulse is your type.”
“Don’t make me stop yours again.” Lance grinned. “Just to prove a point.”
Griffin felt his eyes widen. “Make that, anything in a skirt with a pulse. I’m sure you’re eager to leave.”
Lance frowned. “Did you hit your head as you fell?”
“You’re eager to go after Tina now that you know I’m not interested.” Griffin shook his head. “You can go. I don’t mind.”
“I’m not going after Tina. Besides…” He looked down at the bed before meeting Griffin’s eyes. “The humans think I’m a monster. There is no way I’m getting into any more of their panties during this heat.”
“Maybe it is an opportunity for you to think things over. You need to stop your shit.”
“I won’t fucking kill you again. I apologized.” Lance sat back down on the edge of the bed.
“Technically you didn’t. You actually need to say the words sorry or I apologize in order for it to count, but I’m cool with it. That’s not what I meant.” Griffin swallowed. His throat burned. “The humans are not toys. They have feelings and emotions.”
Lance clenched his jaw. His eyes darkened. “I know that.”
“You can’t move from one female to the other. They do not understand our ways. They put emotion with the physical act.”
“I am very clear before rutting any of them. I make sure that they know that I am not interested in a mate. That it’s all about the mutual pleasure…nothing more and nothing less. I won’t sleep with them afterwards or kiss them or any of the other gestures that show emotion.”
“This is a program designed to bring vampires and humans together. To bring about matings and offspring. You do realize that, don’t you?”
“I know exactly why The Program came about. I’m not interested in mating.”
“Why are you a part of The Program then? You’re causing shit with the other males.” How did he make Lance understand?
The other male rose from the bed. “I see myself as a barrier. If a female is worthy of one of our males then she won’t give in to me. I’m performing a duty.”
Griffin smiled. “Is that what you’re calling it? You’re a fucking martyr?”
Lance grinned. “A highly pleasurable duty. I was going to tell you…” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Tina
propositioned me yesterday.” He held up his hands. “I didn’t take her up on it. I’m glad you don’t like her. She isn’t right for you. She failed the Lance test.”
“And a female that can resist your charms would pass?” Griffin had to roll his eyes.
Lance nodded. “Damn straight. If she can resist this”—he gestured to himself. Cocky fuck!—“then she is worthy. If not, kick her to the curb. Humans can’t be trusted. They belong with the beasts.”
“So cynical. You do realize that not all females are bad? Hell, Stephany was not bad either for that matter.”
“If you say so.” Lance’s expression told him that he didn’t believe that for shit.
“It’s been almost a year, Lance.” Griffin raised his brows. He knew he shouldn’t go down this road but hell. Someone had to set Lance straight.
And just like that he watched his friend shut down. Lance clenched his fists and folded his arms.
“It’s time to move the fuck on.” His voice broke from trying to force it.
“I have,” he growled. “Every single day.”
“I’m not talking about all the mindless rutting. Don’t you ever want something more? Something meaningful?”
Lance shook his head.
“Don’t you want a mate?”
“I have a mate,” Lance growled. “Stephany may have moved on but I believe in the lores. We are bound. I will never form a meaningful relationship with another. I can’t.”
“Yeah, because your relationship with Steph was so damned perfect. Soul fucking mates.” They had been estranged. Mated for twenty years but not one day of those together. An accidental mating gone horribly wrong. It was only when Stephany was unavailable that Lance wanted her. Go figure.
“Do you know what kept me from dying permanently? What brought me back from fucking death? The one thing that helped me through the endless, mindless pain?” Lance looked distraught. “It was thinking of her. Picturing her face. Her hair, her eyes. She should be at my side. Not with that fucking beast. I can’t get over her. I won’t.”
A Mate for Griffin Page 2
