He paused where he’d watched the men and searched for signs of them. He spotted them right away. The bearded man kept by the creek but the other two had spread out, going into the woods. It meant they would only have to get past two of them. More could be out there but the area wasn’t exactly high on human population. It was too remote.

King Charles might possibly have up to fifty humans total under his control. More if there were any logging camps. Veso hadn’t left VampLycan territory in a while so he wasn’t certain what was going on with the surrounding areas anymore. One thing was certain though, the master had set up his base and been in the area for a significant time before he’d gone after a VampLycan. He’d known the locations of all the humans.

It infuriated him. Decker had kept the clan so busy with his bullshit that Vampires had gotten within a hundred miles of their territory and set up a nest. It was just another reason to hate his clan leader.

Glenda touched his leg, her small hand lightly resting on his calf. He turned his head, peering at her.

She arched her eyebrows.

He motioned her to stay quiet and not move as he turned his head back toward the creek, watching the progress of the humans. They were moving away but were still within sight. At least she’d get some rest while they waited to move on. He once again hoped his people would find them soon.

Another thought struck, a grim one. What if Decker had already returned to the clan? It was possible no one would be sent to search for him. Nabby had been in charge when he’d been kidnapped, and that asshole also wouldn’t lift a finger to help him.

But Davis would tell Bran, his father, about that call, even if Decker or Nabby ordered him not to. He could depend on three of his close friends too. Lavos, Garson, and Kar would search for him. They had formed a bond over hating the way the clan was run. All of them had been trapped by at least one parent swearing their allegiance to the clan from birth.

He glanced back to check on Glenda. Her hand remained on his leg. She’d used her other arm to tuck under her face and seemed to be using it for a pillow. Her eyes were now closed. He sniffed the air, not picking up anything that alarmed him. They’d wait it out there for a bit, she’d get a rest, then it was time to keep going. He’d get her to safety even if his friends couldn’t find them. She was his mate.

The knowledge no longer irritated or angered him. A bond might have been started because of the blood share forced on them inside that mine, but an emotional one had formed since. He couldn’t imagine just letting her return to her human world and never seeing her again. They’d face a lot of obstacles. One of them being her refusal to become his mate.

He smiled. That was one challenge he’d look forward to. He’d seduce her until he broke her stubbornness.

Memories of the night before struck and his dick hardened. He should have taken it slower with her but he’d waited too long to know what it felt like to have her under him, to be inside her. Once he got her home, things would be different. He’d teach her no human could compare to him. Even if he had to keep her in his bed for weeks until she agreed to become his mate.

To get Glenda to agree to mate him would be easy compared to taking over the clan and ridding it of all the rot.

He and his friends had talked about taking out Decker and making Lavos clan leader. His friend wouldn’t have a problem with him taking a human mate. Kar and Garson would accept her too. They liked all females, regardless of their race. His father, Bran, might not be thrilled to see him bonded with a human, but he had faith his father would help him protect Glenda. He’d done much worse for Veso, like leaving his own clan to join one he hated to raise his son.

It would work out. It had to. One problem at a time.

Chapter Fourteen

Glen lifted her head and peered into Veso’s eyes. He was watching her with a frown. He tended to be grumpier than her, even when she was exhausted and feeling like crap.

“They’re out of sight. We need to get moving again. That’s all the rest you can have right now. I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Stay low, do not talk, and be prepared to drop flat if I motion you to.”

“Okay.”

She pushed up to her hands and knees, getting to her feet. Veso did too, not wasting time brushing off his clothes. He just put on the backpack and took off down the incline. She scrambled after him, struggling with her tired body and attempting not to fall on her face. They reached the creek and Veso scooped her into his arms. She didn’t protest as he sloshed through the water and eased her back onto her dry feet on the other side. He let her go and continued on.

“Thanks. That was very gentlemanly. I appreciate it.”

He didn’t glance back. “You’re my mate. I can’t have you getting sick. Keep moving, Glenda. Less talking and faster walking.”

She stumbled, surprised at his continued insistence. But she wasn’t buying it. He hated humans too much to really want her. She was sure this was just his ego talking. “I’m not going to become your mate just because you say I am.”

He spun and grabbed her so fast that she gasped, staring up at him. His hands on her hips didn’t hurt but he had a good hold on her. “Let’s get to safety first, then we can fight.”

“Sorry.” He was right. There were three men with dart guns looking for them.

He let her go, sniffed the air, and made his way through the trees again. She hurried to keep up. He had a wide stride and she almost had to jog to keep up with him.

Her mind was still stuck on him saying she was his mate. She couldn’t be. Their lives were totally different. He turned into something with four legs and fur. He was also a bit of a bully and disliked her entire race. That trust issue of his with women would become a problem too. The sex was great, at least that one time, but he’d probably be impossible to live with.

Her mind brought up a host of other problems they’d face as a couple. She couldn’t see Veso handling her sixty-hour workweeks well. He seemed the type to be demanding. Her job wasn’t the greatest but she’d worked hard to land that manager position. It had been in the bag until she’d been kidnapped. They’d probably fired her for not showing up anyway.

Veso was probably just messing with her head about the mate thing. Anger was great motivation to survive. It also kept her distracted from thinking about being returned to that mine and becoming a breeding machine for a monster. She’d never hear anyone talk about their family history again without grimacing. Her ancestor was a maniac and mental—and also very much undead. She wished he was buried deep in some graveyard.