Page 46 of A Mate for Vasek
The female, a Tallean, eyed him. “Ooh! Brothers. We can make room.”
Shit! This was not how he’d imagined it.
“Where is she?”
“What is wrong if you are not here to fight? I know you are not here for this female.”
The female glared at him, ire rising. “That’s rude!” She pulled her dress back up her body, shoved her way out, and started back toward the party.
“My mate. She ran off. You were gone and…”
“And you thought I’d gone to exact my revenge? Or maybe to steal her from you?” Ranek looked offended.
Fuck! Vasek felt like an asshole for assuming the worst. “I apologize.”
Ranek deflated. “I do not fault you for thinking I’d do something like that. I might very well have in the past when I was blinded with anger.”
Vasek spared a glance over at the female disappearing inside a door. “Still looking for love despite the curse?”
“The curse? I don’t believe in that shit.”
He gawked at Ranek.
“I am still alive. I mourned Channa for many years. But one day, I woke in my cell and realized I never knew her. But I am still alive. I am sane. Well, sane enough anyway. And I have a chance at a new life. I’m willing to try again. I will find my mate. And when I do I will give her the Stars.”
There wasn’t even a hint of the derangement in his brother’s eye that he remembered from their meeting so many years ago. There was only a zest for the life he planned on living.
“I’m sorry for leaving you locked up.”
Ranek bellowed a laugh. “I deserved it. I was… out of control. I’m sorry about your hand.”
It really was time to forgive and start fresh. He missed having a brother. Missed having someone he could depend on. Vasek held up his hand. “This one works just as well.”
A shrill scream had Vasek’s blood freezing in his veins. “Dawn!”
He ran toward the sound, weaving through trees and bushes and leaping across the low-planted flower beds. What he saw filled his vision with red. He snarled as bloodlust took over. He lunged for Morad, who had his hands on Dawn’s neck.
Morad met him, his fangs and cheeks extended. They exchanged several blows, their punches meant to kill and maim. But each had their edge dulled by Euphora, and they were well matched. They exchanged several blows before Morad sent a kick flying in Vasek’s direction, claws extended.
He rolled, acutely aware that next to him, his brother was going into bloodlust as well. He and the other male clashed in a mess of fists and claws.
But Morad didn’t fight fair; he reached for Dawn and put her in front of him as a shield. Rage filled Vasek, and with a fluid, practiced motion, he reached down for the knife in his boot. The hilt was sticking out of Morad’s neck before he could even flinch.
Vasek looked around and realized that they were now surrounded by Kean’s guards, and they had blasters trained onall of them. Even at Morad, who was clutching at his throat as red spilled forth, filling the air with the tang of iron.
Zharor marched in, looking irritated that he’d been dragged from the party. His eyes landed on Morad, his quick brain coming to the right conclusion. “Looks like these males have already done our job for us.” He turned to the other culprit, who was down but not out. “Escort him out of the stronghold,” he demanded.
Zharor then knelt in front of Dawn. “Are you hurt, female?”
Dawn’s hand went to her reddened throat.
He reached for the marks. “We will get Ulkin to look at…”
Vasek growled and got in between them. Every blaster came out, aiming at him.
Zharor put his hand up, not even looking worried in the slightest. “Stand down.” He stood and turned to Vasek. “I put this female in your care, medic. I will give you access to our medical wing.”
“I will bring my mate to my shuttle,” Vasek said, lifting Dawn up off her feet and into his arms. She felt perfect there, and he would never let her go.
