The male’s hair was shaggy and dark. Same color as his sister. As her. It was an unruly mess. His eyes were a vivid green. Unlike anything he’d ever seen before. Just like with the female dragon shifter, they reminded him of sparkling jewels.
That’s when Kai realized what Brant had said. The king. He was also her brother which made her…a princess. He’d fucked around with a dragon shifter princess. Wait a minute. If she was a princess, why him? Why had a female such as her picked and seduced him?
“Does this male have nothing to say for himself?” The other dragon shifter bit out between clenched teeth. “He defiled Ruby and slighted our kind. At the very least, we deserve an apology. This male needs to get on his knees.”
Ruby.
Her name was Ruby.
Brant cleared his throat, his stare directed at the smaller of the two shifters. “Thank you…” His eyes widened for a second. “Inferno. Did I pronounce that correctly?”
The male gave a quick jerk of the head as confirmation. His hair was just as big of an unruly mess as his brother’s but his eyes were that same brilliant amethyst color as Ruby’s. Although, they didn’t hold the same warmth, the same passion as the female he remembered. On this male, Inferno…what a fucking pussy name…the brilliant purple looked cold and deadly. Then again, he couldn’t really blame the male. Spending time, as he had done, with a dragon shifter female was obviously frowned upon. Too fucking bad. It had happened. He wasn’t going to apologize for it.
“Good.” Brant nodded his head. “It has been brought to our attention that—”
“I can speak for myself.” The dragon shifter king stepped forward. “I’m Blaze.” His eyes were firmly on Kai. He said his name because he felt Kai should know it, not as a cordial introduction. The male pursed his lips for a moment as if trying to calm himself. “I’m not sure exactly what went down. How you ended up with my sister but I’m pretty sure she blindsided you.”
What the fuck? Why would he say a thing like that?
“You wouldn’t have had too much choice in the matter. Although I would love nothing better than to make you kneel before me and to take your life.”
Nice guy.
Zane growled low in his throat. The tendons around his neck bulged. “Touch him and you will regret it.”
“He would deserve everything he got.” Brant narrowed his eyes at Kai. “Every single fucking thing. I’m not starting a war over this lying son of a bitch. You would be welcome to kill him.” The male glanced at Blaze. Another pussy name.
“Touch him and you die,” Zane growled. “We will talk about this later.” He added, glancing at Brant.
Blaze, held up both his hands. “No one is killing anyone and there will be no war. At least, not if my one condition is met.”
Zane ground his teeth so loudly they could be heard gnashing together. “I could not command such a thing. It would be up to Kai to decide.” The shifter had obviously already divulged what the condition was. Zane didn’t like it. Kai had a feeling he wasn’t going to like it much either.
“Bullshit,” Brant snarled. “I will command it then. He fucked around and needs to pay the price. I think the dragon shifters are not being unreasonable.”
“You’ll command no such thing,” Zane snarled right back. Although the suite was large and airy with a living area, a separate dining area as well as an open plan kitchen, it was starting to feel cramped and stifling.
“The choice would be simple.” The dragon shifter king’s eyes shone with determination. “I know that you will have had very little choice in the matter. Ruby can be…persuasive, at the best of times. Also, a vampire is no match for a dragon shifter. I have taken this into consideration.”
Kai could see how Brant bristled but Zane put a hand to the other male’s chest, silencing whatever it was he planned on saying.
Kai felt irritation rise up in him. He didn’t like the way this male talked about his own sister. The things he was insinuating. He found he didn’t give a fuck what the dickhead shifter thought about him but it was just plain wrong to talk about Ruby like that. “I’m a strong male in my prime. A warrior. I didn’t need to be coerced, persuaded or physically bettered in any way. Ruby is a beautiful female, I wanted to be with her.” She may have kidnapped him but it was true.
“That’s settled then. You were an active participant. You therefore need to accept your fate with honor.” The shifter king smiled. There was not an ounce of humor in the gesture. “My ultimatum is that you mate her or I will kill you by my own hand.”
What the fuck!
Mate her? This was a whole other story. Sure, Kai was excited as fuck about the prospect of seeing her again. Spending some time with her. Maybe just maybe there would be something there…but to outright mate the female. No fucking way. Then he pictured the female. Their explosive coming together. Like an orgasmic whirlwind. Maybe mating the female would not be such a bad thing after all. That type of compatibility didn’t happen often. If she was the sweet, soft female he believed her to be…maybe. They would need time. It wouldn’t need to be very long.
“You will,” the male snarled. It was then that he realized he was shaking his head.
“It is something we can discuss,” Zane said. His demeanor was calm and casual, like he wasn’t talking about Kai’s whole life. His future.
Mother fucker.
What the hell.
He was surprised the Dragon shifters didn’t have shotguns slung across their backs. Make that double barrels, aimed at his ass. If the situation wasn’t so fucked up he would’ve laughed at the visual.
“There is nothing to discuss.” Blaze cocked his head, his gaze on Kai. “You will mate my sister and that is the end of it.”
“There is one term I wish—” Whatever Zane was about to say was cut short by a loud commotion outside. There was yelling, snarling, followed by more shouting.
“What the fuck?” Brant’s sentiments matched his own.
By the time Zane was at the window looking out. The noises had dulled and by the way Zane released the blind, there was nothing to see.
The dragon shifter king cursed under his breath.
“That isn’t what I think it is.” Inferno growled, his eyes on his brother. He too cursed. “Is it?”
Blaze shook his head, running a hand through his hair in what looked like frustration. “Why couldn’t she leave it alone? I wish she would listen to me…just for once.”
The commotion from earlier reared up again. Only, this time, the noises came from the stairs that led to the Royal Suite.
Blaze paced to the other side of the room and then back again.
Kai’s heart felt like it was about to beat out of his chest.
“Unhand me.” It was her. Ruby. The dragon shifter. Her. “I can walk. I’m not some invalid. You don’t need to touch me,” she snarled.
There was a loud sounding crack. “Oww!” A male growled. “Female, you need to stop hitting me.” His voice held a pleading edge that made Kai want to smile. Ruby was one hell of a female.
“Don’t touch me again.” She said, just as she walked through the double doors leading to the chamber. Her eyes shone with defiance. Her chin was tilted up. Her shoulders were back. She was naked and magnificent and pregnant.
Fucking pregnant.
Fuck.
“Ruby.” The dragon shifter King sounded bored.
“Blaze.” Ruby tilted her chin even higher, looking down her nose at her brother, through long lashes.
Brant’s eyes widened and he diverted his gaze. Zane did the same. The two royal guards turned their gazes to the ceiling.
Good.
They were right to look away, at least, they were if they valued their eyes.
Where had that come from? She wasn’t his female. He felt actual relief when the males kept their gazes elsewhere. Although vampires were far from being prudes, they didn’t walk around stark naked. Shifters seemed to hold no such reservations.
Kai could feel his mouth hung
open. That his eyes were wide in his skull. Fucking pregnant. Her belly looked tight, it was neat yet well-rounded. His child. His. Fuck.
“No.” He growled. “It can’t be.” Another loud growl was torn from him. It had to be a mistake.
Brant slung his dress shirt over her shoulders, which Ruby accepted with a small nod of the head. She worked her hands through the sleeves, quickly doing up two or three of the buttons, to secure the garment, which fell high on her thighs.
The younger looking shifter gave a haughty laugh. “What, are you such a damned idiot that you can’t recognize a female in the middle of her heat?” Inferno scoffed. “Then again, you are a lesser male and a vampire at that. So maybe it’s not so surprising. Idiot.”
“Fuck you.” Kai pointed a finger at the dickhead shifter. “I was told that…never fucking mind.” He snarled. For some reason, he still couldn’t dump this female in the shit. Blame it all on her. He couldn’t. If it made him an idiot. A fool, then so be it. The thing that got him the most was that the shifter male was right.
“Everyone needs to calm the fuck down,” Zane said. “You need to calm down.” He looked directly at Kai. “We need to be calm and rational about this. What’s done is done. It cannot be undone.”
“That’s for fucking sure,” Brant muttered.
Calm down.
Now.
Like fucking hell.
“There is nothing to talk about.” Those vivid green eyes locked with his. “You will mate my sister or you will die by my own hand. Choose. Now.” The male had similar golden tattoos across his chest. They seemed to shimmer and brighten. Maybe it was just his imagination, but it was as if scales appeared beneath the ink. Maybe they were melded together with the ink. It was hard to tell. It wasn’t his imagination though when the male’s teeth elongated. When tendrils of white smoke drifted from his flared nostrils.
“Stop this,” Ruby said. For the first time since arriving this evening, her voice was timid and unsure. “I resigned myself to doing this alone. You know that. I have no need of a male in my life.”
Kai hated hearing her say that. If it were up to this female he would never have known about this. She didn’t need or want him. The knowledge burned him.
“You should’ve thought of that before.” Blaze snarled, taking a step towards his sister.
Call it instinct. Call it more of the same stupidity. Kai snarled right back at the shifter king, taking a step towards the male. King or not, his show of aggression towards Ruby, towards his unborn child, was unacceptable.
Ruby might not be his but the child she carried inside her belly most definitely was. Everything in him bristled. Every nerve ending, every muscle, every goddamned tendon. Everything readied itself to protect what was his. So this is what an angry dragon shifter looked like. Bring it on!
Zane instantly stepped between them. The male’s hand felt heavy against his chest. “Everybody needs to calm down. Kai was not aware that the female was in heat. This has come as a shock to him. A shock to us all, I assure you. We need some time to digest this.” He took a deep breath. “Kai is struggling to think clearly right now.”
Like fuck.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. Zane went on. “They need to be granted an opportunity to discuss this. We need to be given some time to come to terms with this. We can discuss it further in the morning.”
Blaze frowned. “We’re not staying. This isn’t some game. It’s not a discussion. It’s fucking simple. Either he mates with my sister or he dies.” The male raised his brows.
“There is no way I will mate a female that lied to me.” Kai shook his head. There were so many things on the tip of his tongue. Things he wanted to say to hurt her. She deserved to be hurt. Yet, he couldn’t help but remember the sadness that had been in her eyes. It was still fucking there. The unshed tears that threatened to fall. The way she apologized to him with such sincerity. At the time, he believed it was because she had abducted him, but now he knew there was more to it. So much more.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Those purple orbs focused solely on him. Once again they were filled with tears. For just a second it felt like they were the only people in the room. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. Kai wasn’t falling for her vulnerable act. Not again.
He shook his head. “It’s not good enough. You lied to me.” He worked his jaw. Mistake. The throbbing started up again. Kai ignored it. “You lied about something so important. You stole from me.” Then he turned and walked out. He didn’t give two fucks. The Dragon shifters could come after him. They could fucking kill him for all he cared.
“Please give me a chance to explain.” Her voice followed him as he fled down the stairs. No way. No fucking way.
Chapter 9
The next morning…
Ruby watched as Blaze paced. Up and down…and up and down. His feet sank into the woolen rug with every step. Dawn had long since come. Dragons were early risers. It seemed that vampires were not.
They were in one of the towers. It had numerous bedrooms, a living area, dining area and a station for preparing food. Although she wasn’t sure why since meals had been brought to them.
“You should never have come. I can’t believe you risked…yourself like that.” He looked angry. His eyes shone. His muscles bulged and his jaw worked. Tension radiated off of him. This was the first time he had addressed her since last night.
“I’m fine. The young one is safer when I’m in dragon form. I was hoping to spur on my release.”
His only answer was to growl before continuing with his pacing.
What looked like anger clouded his featured but Ruby knew better. It wasn’t rage. It was worry. Over her. He treated her unborn child like he was nothing. Less than nothing. Making a face of disgust every time he spoke of his nephew, yet, she knew his fear was not just over her. It was also for the child. Her brother was greatly afraid. Though he would never admit it. Not even to himself.
That’s what this was all about. This sudden urge to find the male responsible. To make him do the honorable thing. It was borne of his fear.
Two weeks late. No one had ever been so late before.
She touched a hand to her stomach and sucked in a deep breath, willing her racing heart to slow and her breathing to normalize. Everything was going to be fine. It had to be.
“Please stop this craziness. Let’s go back to the kingdom of Fire.” Her voice hitched from the emotion that coursed through her. Seeing him again. The big vampire male. So beautiful, kind and trusting. So sweet and yet fierce. He was a good male.
She hated the anguish and the pain that had rolled off of him. The anger that burned in his eyes. What she really wanted was a chance to explain.
“No.” Blaze was resolute in his response. His stature stiff and unyielding. “He will do the honorable thing or he will die.”
“He didn’t even know I was in heat. I tricked him. I abducted him and held him against his will. It was all my doing and yet you’re going to make him pay.”
Blaze laughed. “Against his will.” He made a noise of irritation. “Yes. The male must pay.” A rough snarl. “He lay with you. Any male that lies with a female must understand the potential consequence and be ready to face up to his responsibilities. I can only hope that the vampire healers have some sort of explanation for your condition.”
And there it was. The truth. The real reason why they were here. “I can speak to the healers.” She held her breath a few beats, trying to rein in her emotion. “I’m sure they will be just as much in the dark as our own healers though. This is the first vampire/dragon pregnancy. Try and think logically about this. Let’s just say that he agrees to becoming my mate, where would we live? I would not be happy or comfortable living amongst the vampires and I’m sure he would feel just as out of place on top of a mountain peak in the middle of nowhere. He would be surrounded by dragons. A lamb amongst the wolves.”
“Then you would need to rema
in here.”
“What?” A shudder raced through her. “And raise my dragon son amongst vampires?”
“We still don’t know exactly what it is you carry. A bloodsucker? A fire breather? Neither? The child…if there even is a child…might not be strong enough to hold his own amongst our young.” She heard his voice catch for the briefest split second. Most would’ve missed the subtle sign. Her health and that of the child affected him. It did.
“There will be a child and he will be strong.” Ruby clutched her belly with both her hands.
“We don’t know if…” Blaze didn’t finish his sentence at the sound of others approaching. “We’ll talk about this later. You need to know that I haven’t changed my mind.”
Arghh! He could be infuriating. There was no time to think on it because there was a knock at the door.
“Enter,” Blaze said.
The door opened and the vampire kings filed in along with several of their guard. Of her vampire male there was no sign.
“Good morning.” It was the taller of the kings. He dressed strangely. In many different layers that looked stifling. There was a string knotted around his neck. Gold trinkets glinted on the edges of his sleeves. A bizarre ensemble. It didn’t seem to serve any function that she knew of. The other king was dressed in leathers from head to toe. She could see how this might afford some protection. Both forms of dress still struck her as peculiar. Then again, the vampires didn’t have to worry about undressing quickly or wearing garments that broke easily if one was unable to undress before shifting. For a shifter, the leathers might prove to be a tad…uncomfortable. The two species were so different.
“Morning.” It was the more built of the two males. His head was closely shaven, reminding her of Coal. Her brother was going to be mad. Fire breathing mad. He must’ve been completely captivated by Scarlet because Ruby was long gone before he could have made any attempt to follow her. The male would never have caught her though, even if he had tried.
Blaze had the good grace to nod in response. Inferno just stood there, his hands folded behind his back.
A Mate for Kai (The Program #6) Page 8
