A Mate for Kai (The Program Book 6) (8 page)

Her wings beat furiously as she quickly ate up the distance between the high peak that was her home and her destination, the vampire territory.

It was only when she lowered his zipper that it really dawned on him that Jordy meant to rut with him. Like, climb onto his cock and ride him. There was nothing unusual about friends rutting with one another. In fact, they were the odd ones out for not having done it sooner. It didn’t feel right though. Make that, it felt distinctly wrong. Their relationship wasn’t like that. Besides, he didn’t want a random fuck. Not even with his best friend. He wanted the dragon shifter.
Her.

Nuts.

Crazy.

Not going to happen.

“Stop, Jords.” He held his pants together, preventing her from pulling them off of him. She tried to swat his hand away. “I mean it, Jords. You can’t do this. I value our friendship.”

“So do I and that’s why you need to shut the hell up.” She continued to tug on his pants, trying to get them down. “You won’t regret this. I promise.”

“We haven’t done anything yet and I already regret it, Jordan.” He growled her name.

“Look.” She huffed. “Suit yourself. You know where to find me if—”

Just then there was a loud knock at the door. The person didn’t wait but walked right on in like they owned the fucking place.

The male’s eyes widened. “Oh shit.” It was one of the royal guards. Kai couldn’t remember his name just then. If it had been any other male he would have punched them. A royal guard? What the hell? The male spent the next few beats eyeballing Jordan’s naked body. By the look on his face, Kai could see that he liked what he saw. Little prick!

“What do you want?” Kai growled as he pulled his zipper back up.

“Um…shit.” The male finally had the good grace to tear his gaze away from Jordan so that he could lock eyes with Kai.

Jordan didn’t seem too fazed by the whole thing. She casually picked up her dress and then pulled it over her head.

How dare the little fuck just walk in like that? It had to be something important. “Why are you here?” He worked to keep the growl from his voice and failed.

The guard cleared his throat. “Your presence is requested in the Royal Suite. Right fucking now.” It was like the male had suddenly remembered why he was there.

What the fuck!

“What’s wrong?” He could hear the worry in his own voice. “What’s going on?” He couldn’t think of a single reason why he would be summoned to the royal chamber...

It couldn’t be good though. He’d never been summoned there before.

Shit!

The guard smirked. “It’s that female you messed around with in Sweetwater. The one…”

Shit!

Kai couldn’t help it, he closed the distance between himself and the male and gripped him by his vest. The leather didn’t offer much purchase. “What about her?” He all out growled.

The male’s expression hardened. His jaw clenched. “I’m not at liberty to say.” He grit out. “Come with me and you’ll find out soon enough.”

“What did you do?” Jordy gripped him by the arm. “What happened with that female? What are you hiding?”

Trying to keep his expression passive, Kai turned to her. “It’s going to be okay.” He could only hope. If this was about the dragon shifter, he was in a world of trouble. Maybe it was some human female claiming to be pregnant by a vampire. It would be normal to assume that he was the culprit. It might not be her at all. Yet, he couldn’t help but to wish that it was about her because if that were true, then maybe he would get to see her again.

He was fucked in the head.

Kai followed the Royal guard. Remaining close on the male’s heel. They moved quickly through the castle.

“All I can say”—the guard glanced back at him from over his shoulder— “is that I’m glad I’m not you. You poor fucking bastard.” Kai could make out his chuckle as he leapt up the stairs four at a time.

Taken aback, he sucked in a deep breath and followed the guard. He was oddly disappointed when they stepped into the Royal chamber. Of the female with the amethyst eyes, there was no sign.

Brant looked pissed though.

Oh fuck! By the tic in Zane’s jaw he could see the male was pissed as well. Beyond fucking pissed. He’d never seen Zane so rattled.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell us?” Brant growled. An all out, spine tingling, sweat inducing growl. It wasn’t the animalistic noise that had his blood running cold but the scent that came off of the other two males in the room.

Both strangers. Both scented of smoke. It was a subtle edge. One he had scented before. On her. The dragon shifter.

Both males looked at him like he was a piece of filth. The nearest male’s lip curled away from his teeth in a silent snarl directed at him. “A lesser. She didn’t even have the good grace to pick a royal vampire. What possessed her?” They spoke funny, like they weren’t from this century.

“Hold your damned tongue,” the taller of the two said. The male next to him bit back what he was about to say.

“Did you know the female you spent time with was a dragon shifter?” Zane asked. His king sounded altogether too calm for his liking, especially considering the male was anything but.

Kai nodded. “Yes.” He’d barely gotten the word out when a fist connected with his jaw. Kai heard a crack. Pain blossomed as his head was whipped back. He had to take a step back to stay on his feet.

Zane moved back into place. His eyes stayed on Kai. They were filled with that same disappointment as before. Only this time, there was a good dose of anger reflected in their depths as well. Kai massaged his fractured jaw. Although he could feel it swelling, he could also feel it healing.

Brant folded his arms across his chest. His white dress shirt pulled tight. His tie was still on, although loose around his neck. The sleeves rolled up to his elbows. “I guess you didn’t think it was important to mention the female you messed with was a dragon shifter.”

Kai didn’t say anything. The tension in the air was thick. Although there were plenty of seats, everyone remained on their feet. Of the queen and the royal heir, there was no sign.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Zane asked, his voice barely audible. It came out sounding deadly anyway.

Kai forced himself to remain still. To hold his king’s intense gaze. “I didn’t think anyone would believe me.” His jaw throbbed but he tried to ignore the pain. “I…wanted to…protect her…I guess.” He didn’t really understand his reasoning himself.

“How noble.” The closest of the shifters sneered. “For a lesser…”

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” Kai narrowed his eyes at the male who growled deep in his throat. It was a soft, menacing sound.

“These two males are her brothers. The male over there…” Brant casually flicked a finger in the direction of the taller of the two males. He wore loose fitting, cotton pants and nothing else. No shoes. Bare-chested. “Is the king of his tribe. You know how to fucking pick them. Don’t you?”

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.”