Authors: Juliette Springs
“You’re undecided,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.
Startled, he realized she was getting his emotions strong and clear.
“Why? What are you hiding?”
The blunt question caught him off guard. With a true mate’s connection, there would be no guard. She would know his every thought whether he tried to hide it or not. It would be like being completely exposed and open to another. He decided to be honest, at least to a certain extent. She would find out the truth soon enough.
“A lot of things will change for us. Right now we can sense each other’s emotions. It gets stronger the longer we are near each other.” Victoria nodded. “Imagine being able to talk to another person mentally. Being able to think of the person and send your thoughts and words to their mind without anyone else listening.”
He watched her gulp. “That sounds deeply personal.”
“It is,” he replied, his voice becoming a low murmur. “Envision being able to know everything your mate is thinking. He will know your needs and desires without you having to voice them.”
She swallowed again. “What else?”
“Well, you already know about the amazing sex.”
She nodded, avoiding his eyes. She circled around him and dropped into the recliner.
He met her gaze and sat down in the opposing loveseat. “We will always desire to be near one another. I’m told being close to your mate brings a sense of peace.”
“I’m not ready for this.” She stared at him like he was crazy. “Are you forgetting up until a couple of days ago I didn’t know your real name? You’ve been deceiving me for years and now I’m supposed to just let all that go, drink your blood, have sex with you in front of your brothers and then we’ll live happily ever after!”
Khafil had known she wouldn’t be eager at the requirements of becoming a true mate with him. “I understand you aren’t happy with me right now. I did what I had to do for the betterment of the Imvura.”
“Ahh, yes, your all-important brotherhood,” she interrupted sarcastically. “How can you sit there and honestly act like everything you did was okay because it was all for the Imvura Brotherhood.”
An icy wave washed over him at her knock against his deepest beliefs.
“If I’m not mistaken, isn’t this mate relationship supposed to be above everything?” She looked him in the eye. “Isn’t it?” she continued, demanding an answer.
“Yes,” was his frigid reply. “How dare you have an attitude with me?” She jumped up and started pacing the room. “I’m the one who’s been used and who’s been betrayed. What do you have to be mad about?”
“I didn’t enjoy lying to you,” he said evenly, trying to calm her down. “I hated myself every day. Still hate myself for the deception. Unfortunately it was necessary.”
“The Imura Brotherhood will always come first for you, won’t it? If you had to do it again, you would, wouldn’t you?”
Khafil’s heart dropped at the sadness he saw in her eyes. However he couldn’t lie to her either, even if the falsehood would erase the unhappiness.
“Yes, I would,” he replied, sorrow in each syllable.
Victoria’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You would sacrifice our relationship again, wouldn’t you?” Her stomach clenched as she realized he would forfeit their true-mated relationship again if he had to for the good of the Imvura. “Why? Why are they so important over me?”
“Victoria,” he started.
She shook her head and covered her ears in an attempt to block him out. His heart clenched. “No. Wait. I need you to understand why I had to sacrifice so much for my brothers. My father, Zanhoden, is Council leader of the Imvuras.”
A sick expression came over her face, but he forced himself to continue. “I’m his oldest child and only son. Which means I’m next in line to be ...”
“Council leader,” they said in unison.
Hopelessness engulfed Victoria. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, she now knew why she’d been lied to, why deceiving her had been a necessary evil for Khafil and would be again. Even though she was his mate, she was expendable and so was their relationship. Her last bit of hope died and her resolve hardened. She wiped her eyes while Khafil watched her silently. “I can’t be your mate.”
“You already are. Nothing can change that.”
“Find another who knows her role.”
“I can’t. You’re the only mate I’ll have and despite what I’ve done to you, I don’t want to lose you.” His dark eyes searched hers, imploring her to believe him.
Part of her weakened at the sincerity in his tone, but the bigger part reminded her of how sincere he’d seemed to be when they made love, when he’d looked her in the eyes and pretended to be someone he wasn’t.
“All I ever wanted was you, Khafil. When we were kids, in high school, after we moved, I compared every guy I met to you, and they all fell short.”
She watched as the meaning of what she had said registered on his face.
“When we met again, I honestly believed it was fate and somehow we were meant to be together.” She gave him a sad smile. “But knowing what I know about you and how you deceived me, I can’t agree to be your true mate now.”
“Ever?” he asked.
“Not until I know I come first. I deserve better than being second behind your brotherhood.” She searched his face, trying to see if he understood where she was coming from. She saw nothing in his cold expression.
“You even said in your world I’m supposed to come first, but so far I haven’t and you won’t give me any guarantees that I will.” She paused for a second, hoping he might interrupt her and say she was wrong. After several seconds, it was obvious he wasn’t. No affirmation she was doing the right thing. Acceptance would come after the pain went away. If he knew about her possible pregnancy, would it change anything? She didn’t think so. She couldn’t believe this cold, unfeeling person in her hotel room was the same one who had made such passionate love to her a few days ago.
He stood. “I’m obviously not going to change your mind now, and I have to eat.”
“What?” she responded, hurt by his easy acceptance of her decision. “If you actually really cared, you would try to convince me I’m making a mistake and I have it all wrong. But only the Imvuras get effort like that from you. I’m just your mate.”
“You don’t understand, and I’m out of time. Regardless of your decision, you are still going to have to leave with me.”
“What?” she sputtered. “Like hell I will!”
He smiled in that cold manner she had grown to hate. “Yes, you will. Unless you want your loving father to take you and make you follow his plans.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“He would, and he would have Taalib Duma law on his side.”
“What do you mean Taalib Duma law on his side?” she asked, confused.
“If he finds you living by yourself without a male or your mate around to protect you, in our world, you are single. All single females are under the protection of their father, their mate, or their husband.”
“So you see, it’s either him or me. And you’re too important to my plans for me to leave you even if it’s your fondest wish.”
Heat infused her cheeks at the implication. It didn’t matter to him if she wanted him or not for her true mate. His brotherhood needed her to use against her father. She straightened. She wasn’t a bit sorry for not telling him she could be pregnant. A baby would fall right in line in his plans. Right now she wouldn’t give the bastard the satisfaction. It would be her secret for as long as she could hide it.
“You’re a real bastard,” she whispered.
“It’s what I do best.”
She had to agree. His track record spoke for itself.
Victoria sat in Khafil’s car, pissed. After his announcement that she had to go with him, Khafil had calmly told her she had five minutes to get her stuff together and they were leaving, even if he had to drag her out kicking and screaming. He also informed her that he’d already brought her things, including the new clothes. Even though going with Khafil was not in her plans, given the option of going with him or staying alone and taking her chances with her father, she decided to go with the devil she knew. She quickly grabbed her belongings and left with Khafil. She wasn’t ready to admit, even to herself, that a part of her had screamed at the thought of not leaving with Khafil. She blamed it on the mate situation.
They had been driving for over an hour. The entire time she sat in stony silence, refusing to say one word. She had turned in her seat and stared out her window. Unseeing, her mind wavered between anger at Khafil, fear of where they were going, sadness, and disbelief. She got tired of fighting to keep her eyelids open and let them drift shut. She heard the car driving over what sounded like rocks when she opened her eyes. She turned in her seat and sat up noticing her surroundings. Gone were the endless miles of highway. They were now driving down a dirt road in the middle of corn fields. She looked around and saw nothing but farmland in all directions. She was about to ask where they were, but bit back the questions. She didn’t want him to think she was interested in any part of this kidnapping.
“The entrance is up ahead.”
She continued to watch their approach, irritated he had read her emotions and answered her question anyway. The car slowed down and came to a complete stop in the middle of the dirt road. She turned as Khafil pressed two buttons underneath the CD player on his console. She felt the car lower.
“What in the world?” Before she could continue to ask him what in the hell was going on, she peered out her window to see that the road had opened and they were indeed being lowered into the ground underneath. Seconds passed before they entered into total blackness.
Lying in the bed located in Khafil’s quarters, Victoria was miserable. It had been a week since she was more or less forced into moving to Imvura headquarters with Khafil. The quarters were luxurious and she found no fault with them, except that they were underground. All quarters were built at least six feet below ground level because Taalib Dumas had to rest below ground. It was one of their many, “had to haves”. She was sure there was a scientifically justifiable reason for it but she was a little squeamish knowing she was sleeping six feet under. Now that she thought of it, she realized Khafil’s apartment must have been just for show-for her benefit. He couldn’t have slept there since it was impossible for him to sleep aboveground.
There was a massive king-size bed with a firm mattress and the softest satiny sheets and bed linen she had ever slept in, besides the ones in Khafil’s make-believe apartment. They also had a massive living area with a huge flat-screen television and beautiful enormous sofa and recliner. Every room had carpet except the kitchen area, which was stocked with food and beverages. When she asked Khafil why he had a kitchen when he didn’t eat food that required cooking, he reluctantly admitted the kitchen had been installed for her use. Her heart sank at his reply. Her takeover had been planned meticulously. Had she even stood a chance of not falling for him hook, line, and sinker?
Despite being surrounded in luxury, her attitude toward him had not thawed. She was still a combination of royally pissed and utterly hurt. She and Khafil only spoke to each other when absolutely necessary and it was done in a cool, abrupt manner. Since he had accomplished his goal of obtaining her, she had served her purpose.
Has he asked you to bond with him?
She ignored the little voice inside her head. Until she was sure he really cared for her and she would be respected as his true mate and not cast aside for the betterment of the Imvuras, she would continue to resist the lure of being his true-bonded mate. She didn’t know how long she could continue to deny him. She was lonely and miserable when he was gone, and her heart gave a little jolt when he came home late afternoon or early evening. They slept in the same bed, but on opposite sides.
Her weaker, side missed being with him, talking to him, and having sex. She didn’t let her mind think about sex. Her panties became drenched if she even thought about how good it would feel to have him inside of her, kissing her, and caressing her. Damn, she missed it. They hadn’t had sex in over a week and she was craving him like a drug. But she wouldn’t give in first. She had to stand her ground, especially since she was showing signs of pregnancy. Every morning when she woke up, alone, she had to lay in bed feeling nauseated for what felt like hours. Afterward, when the feeling subsided, she was ravenous. Her breakfast and lunch always included meat, cooked rare or medium rare. She couldn’t get enough of it. Her breasts were also heavier, fuller, and they hurt. She had to be extra gentle when putting on her bra.
She needed to get a pregnancy test, but how when she was six feet under and there were guards stationed at the door who escorted her everywhere she went? Would a regular human pregnancy test even work on her? It should; she was part human.
The loneliness was getting to her. She’d seen other females when she walked through the halls. They all gave her indifferent, cool looks. No one tried to start a conversation with her or even looked at her. Why? She was here against her will, as some plan against her father’s brotherhood. She also had the dubious honor of being the heir-apparent mate. Could that be the reason why she was shunned or at least felt like it? The males were respectful toward her. They either gave her a nod or few gallant ones gave her bows. But they were also distant as well. She would have to speak to Khafil about it. He was the only person she knew and their relationship was tense.
Khafil sat in the meeting, aware of his father watching him. Instead of returning his gaze and assuring him everything was okay, he ignored him. If he had disregarded his father’s advice, he wouldn’t be in this situation. He was irritable because he hadn’t been sleeping well. Since his mate wasn’t in a state of rest, he couldn’t fully submerge in his resting state. He was also extremely horny. He hadn’t had sex in over a week-ever since the incident with Sarim.
And he didn’t know how to bridge the gap with Victoria. He could solve one of his problems and offer what more than one willing female had been willing to give him, but the mate in him rejected the thought of being intimate with another female. He wanted Victoria, and she hated him, plain and simple, so his chances of getting satisfaction were slim to none.
“Khafil, what do you think of Malik’s plan?”
Khafil rose his head to see all of the council members watching him keenly. Khafil glanced at his father, who frowned at him. Damn, he’d been preoccupied with Victoria again. He was going to have to do something tonight.