Veso Read online

  Pregnant? Glen balked at the concept. Memories of something a friend went through a few years ago surfaced. May had gotten knocked up by her boyfriend, they’d gotten married, and it had turned into a nightmare. John had pretended to be happy at first about the baby. Later, he’d resented the hell out of being tied down by a wife and kid. He’d slept around with countless women, taunting May with his affairs. They’d eventually divorced but she’d watched May’s life spiral into pure hell. That would never be her.

  She bucked her hips and grabbed at the bedding, trying to get out from under him. Veso let her go and she separated their bodies. She sat up and scooted away on the bed. “No. It was one time. I’m sure I’m not ovulating. I had a period recently.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know!” She snagged the covers, jerking them up to her chest to cover her body.

  “Lower your voice.”

  She’d forgotten about the danger outside, solely focused on the one indoors with her. “I lost track of time while I was being held but life couldn’t be that messed up.”

  He stood, totally naked as he kicked off the boxers around his ankles. “So you refuse to become my mate?”

  She stared into his eyes and saw anger there. “A minute ago you were debating about if you wanted me for a mate or not. Now you’re asking me? What made you decide? Is it because the lowly human didn’t beg you to mate? Is that what you were expecting? Get over yourself.”

  He turned away, showing off his muscled ass. He had a great one. She also spotted some red scratches on his upper back, realizing she must have put them there during sex. They weren’t bleeding at least.

  “Get some rest, Glenda. I’ll be downstairs.” His voice came out harsh; it was clear that she’d made him mad.

  He strode over to the ladder, avoided looking at her, and climbed to the lower floor.

  Glen lay down, curled into a ball, and hugged the blankets she gripped even tighter. He was angry but she felt torn up inside.

  What if he was right and he’d gotten her pregnant? She’d been an idiot to say yes to a quickie with him. He was just so hot and she’d wanted him. The consequences hadn’t even entered her mind.

  It was his fault for licking her thighs and brushing his nose against her clit while doing it. He had turned her on and made her ache. He’d been the one to insist her thighs needed healing.

  She closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else. Everything would seem better in the morning. So far no one had attacked the cabin. They might survive through the night again without being found.

  She pushed away any thought of Veso and focused on her breathing. In and out.

  * * * * *

  Veso woke with kinks in his neck from sleeping on the too small couch. He’d dragged a chair over to the end of it and shoved a pillow on the seat to accommodate his longer legs. He stood and stretched, staring at the tiny cracks along the sides of the closest covered window. Hints of light showed through. Morning had come.

  He used the bathroom and then climbed the ladder as quietly as possible. Glenda slept in the center of the bed. She lay buried in covers but one foot and hand stuck out, besides part of her face. He carefully covered her limbs to keep her warm and walked to the edge of the loft, jumping down. The human in the closet made a noise and he listened, hearing light snoring.

  He walked to the front door and unbarred it, peering outside. No movement caught his eye and he inhaled, not scenting Vampire. They must have completely avoided the cabin during the night. He closed the door, barred it again, and walked over to the cell phone. It was time to call his clan. He dreaded it but he couldn’t avoid it any longer. His father had to be worried. His friends were probably out searching for him. He also needed help getting Glenda back to his territory before nightfall. The Vamps wouldn’t dare go after her there, now that they’d already invaded once. The clan would be on high alert.

  Glenda had rejected his offer to mate her. He’d messed up by sharing his thoughts of the pros and cons of mating with her and she’d thrown them in his face. Her words replayed in head. A minute ago you were debating about if you wanted me for a mate or not. Now you’re asking me? What made you decide? Is it because the lowly human didn’t beg you to mate? Is that what you were expecting? Get over yourself.

  He ground his teeth together and tried to cool down. He was a VampLycan. She should be flattered that he wanted her. He had so much to offer. Then again, maybe he didn’t. His future with the clan would be uncertain with a human mate, as would any chance of others taking them in. She’d be in constant danger from Vampire nests and Lycan packs if they had to live in her world. He’d fight them all off but he’d be doing it alone with no backup.

  “Damn.” He ran his fingers through his hair and turned on the phone.

  A few text messages waited. He read them. The human should have checked in already, begun searching for them, and the so-called king had sent threats to the human under his thrall. It was a reminder that the master would kill innocents if Veso didn’t break them free and reprogram their minds, then send them somewhere safe by nightfall.

  He called information, asking for the number for the lodge, then requesting it be connected. It rang four times before a familiar voice answered.

  “It is good to hear your voice, Davis.”

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s Veso.”

  “We thought you were dead!” Excitement sounded in the VampLycan’s voice. “Those damn Vampires said they killed you.”

  “You captured some?”

  “They spoke to Kira. She’s alive but the bastards attacked her too. She was bad off but she’s better now. Where are you?”

  “I’m not entirely sure. We made it to a cabin but I’m estimating I’m still about forty miles from home. I need you to send help. I’m being tracked by human thralls with tranquilizer darts during the day and soldier and Vamps at night. Can you trace the call?”

  Silence greeted him.

  “Davis?”

  The VampLycan didn’t answer him and he glanced at the phone. It had dropped the signal. “Damn it!” He tried calling back but it couldn’t connect. He walked around, lifting the phone, searching for a stronger signal but it wasn’t showing anything.

  “Goddamn it,” he yelled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Glenda’s voice drew his attention toward the loft. She clutched a blanket around her body, bare shoulders revealed and her hair messy from sleep. “The signal went down.”

  “Why?”

  “It happens sometimes if there’s a storm but it was dry outside. The master must have become worried we’d captured a human since the one in the closet didn’t check in a few hours ago. There were texts on his phone. That damn suckhead probably sent other humans to do something to the tower to take out cell coverage in this area.”

  “I thought you were going to have that guy we captured check in. We discussed this.”

  “I overslept!” He threw the phone. It smashed into the fireplace. “They will be coming for us. Get dressed.”

  “You broke another phone? What’s wrong with you? Maybe we could have gotten a signal outside! Maybe it was just down for a minute or so.”

  “Stop wasting time arguing with me, damn it. I refuse to be drugged again. We’re out of here.” He stomped into the kitchen, yanking open cupboards to grab supplies.

  “Crazy VampLycan,” she huffed from above. “You have anger issues.”

  “Get dressed. We leave in five minutes.”

  “I am.”

  It had been a mistake to throw the phone but he’d needed something to take his frustration out on. Glenda was his mate. He was certain of that now. They’d shared blood when they’d kissed and he’d known.

  A human wasn’t supposed to be his mate, nor had he ever wanted to bind his life with any woman. Even as they fucked, he’d tried to use logic to talk himself out of claiming her. The timing was shit. His clan wouldn’t accept her. They were being hunted.