THE BLOOD MATE

CHAPTER 5 - NIGHT RUN

Cloaked in darkness, we leave my mansion around midnight after the servants have retired for the night. I don't want anyone to know of our plans or that we have left until it is too late for them to track us. Hopefully by the time they realize what has happened, we will be long gone. I can only pray to the Moon Goddess that Lazarus won't blame my sisters or my servants for our disappearance. When he questions them, they will be telling the truth about not knowing of our intentions or whereabouts. My mansion sits on five hectares of sculptured gardens and luscious fields before succumbing to the wild natural forests. Nate and I cling to the shadows, slipping as quickly as possible through the prestigious gardens, lit with solar lights and decorated with water fountains, without so much as a sound. The fields are dark, with only the moon and stars to light our way. We don't stop our mad dash across its expansion, eager to be in the next town by daybreak. I feel greatly relieved upon entering the ancient forests, the tall trees having stood for centuries. We glide through the dense flora, flying over fallen trees and jagged boulders. Nate is breathing heavier now. Being omega might appear 'superhuman' from a human point of view but in comparison to a highborn, we would seem like gods. Omega's tire almost as quickly as humans, making it impossible to reach the city of Masura without Nate resting. I leap over another fallen giant when a startled cry wrenches through the silent forest. Perhaps it is my error expecting to disappear into the night without notice. Perhaps I am too arrogant in my own trust of my abilities but I did not see them hiding in wait for us. Nate is sprawling in the dirt, legs tangled by a bolas, as men in unidentifiable armour close in. Nate is trying to untangle his legs, when I decide that running is no longer an option. I met the first man with a fist to his jaw, stunning him long enough to slip a knife from my combat suit and plunge it in his heart. The knife has only just left his flesh when I'm sending it flying through the air, straight into the arm of the man reaching for Nate. Nate is on his feet now, standing beside me, ready to fight for our freedom. I take a hit to my ribs, deflecting a blow. I stumble back, gasping for air when a kick to the stomach has me flat on my back.

"Bela!" Nate shouts, turning his attention for a split second, earning him a punch straight in the gut and a second to his face.

A snarl leaves my lips as I push up, ready to join the fight again when a tall muscular figure, clothed in black and hooded, steps into my line of sight. I release another dagger, swinging it upwards in an arch, when he catches me by the wrist and twists. A grunt of pain has me clenching my teeth and dropping the dagger just before the hooded man hits me in the throat. I'm reeling, falling back onto my back, coughing and gasping to get air into my lungs. I hold a hand to my offended throat when the hooded man crouches arrogantly beside me. I dare say he is stupid or brave to get so close to me when one of the attacking men lay dead nearby. Drawing the hood back with a gloved hand, I am greeted with a smirking Lazarus.

I groan to his amusement, "I had a feeling that you would try to run." He tells me as I stare up at him in horror, "After all, it was pretty obvious that your sisters wouldn't start a war for you, and your omega most certainly couldn't beat me in a battle. What other options did you have?"

"Just let us go." I rasp, my vocal cords bruised.

Lazarus c***s his head to the side, his blonde locks falling. "Now why would I do that?" He says, voice filled with amusement.

I realize my biggest mistake at this moment, watching the curve of his lips and the sparkle of mischief in his eyes. I feel the weight of that realization like a ton of bricks sitting on my chest. His eyes search my face with great interest, watching the show of emotions run across it. I have made this a game for him. It's more than the fact that I'm his mate, it's more than the fact that I already have a bonded mate. It's about winning. I fix my gaze on his - crystal blue eyes like the sea meeting hazel green and brown like the autumn.

I shake my head. "Whatever this is to you… this is my whole life."

He seems annoyed by my words, "Come quietly Belavina."

I shake my head, more frantically now, an edge of desperation taking hold, "I'm begging you. I'll give you anything, anything you want to let us go." I promise, digging my fingernails into the dirt.

He seems to toil with the idea, as he sits crouching, "And if I said the price would be a night with me?"

How could I say yes to something like this? How could I ever let another man touch me when I had Nate? I want to scream at him. I want to tell him that the very thought of his cursed hands touching my skin makes me want to throw up. But I can't bring myself to protect my pride when Nate's life is hanging in the balance. I won't have Nate much longer if I don't do something.

My voice is barely above a whisper, terrified that Nate will hear me, "As long as one night with you, gives me the rest of my life with Nate. But you have to promise that you will never come back, that I will never hear from you again. Ever."

His lips curl into a sneer at my words. Reaching his full 6'4 length, Lazarus extends his large gloved hand out for me, "Come."

I swallow, fitting my dirty fingers into his gloved hand, feeling the leather beneath my fingertips. He pulls me to my feet with a curl of his forearm, as if I weigh nothing. Suddenly gripping my bare upper arm, and not kindly, Lazarus begins to drag me back to wherever he came from.

"Bela!" Nate dares to call, as he struggles hopelessly against the men holding him.

"Nate! It's okay, it's going to be okay." I call back, trying to see him through the warriors blocking my view.

A woman sneers at me, her contempt obvious but she doesn't matter. Let these warriors think whatever they would like. They can all rot in hell for all I care. Once I have Nate safely away from all of this, nothing would matter anymore. Lazarus stops his relentless march when we come upon seven karlmann kings. The sleek vehicles earn an appreciative look before I'm shoved into the back of one. I glance out the tinted window just in time to see Nate being hauled past, fighting with more courage than I've ever seen him show. Lazarus slides in next to me, giving the driver permission to go. We are just leaving the woods when Lazarus's hand, free from its glove, perches on my leg. Soft instrumental music fills the quiet car while I watch the hand of the prince with disgust, feeling his gaze. He is testing me. Oh, how I hate this man! His hand begins to rise, traveling up the inside of my inner thigh.

Slapping my legs close, I hiss angrily, "What are you doing?"

I can practically see the red haze of anger clouding my judgement as I fix a hard gaze on the prince.

"Already so uncooperative." He leans towards me, breathing into my ear, strangely spending tingles into the pities of my stomach, "If a night is all I get, then let it start now."

I want to scream no. To tell him I've changed my mind. Instead I managed a weak reply.

"Here?" I whisper back horrified, my eyes snapping to the unsuspecting driver.

He chuckles, "It's very simple Belavina, do you want your freedom or not?" He asks, trailing his fingers higher and higher.

My heartbeat is pounding, my breath becoming more rapid as he reaches the zip to my pants. I close my eyes trying to shut out the betrayal I feel clawing at my heart.

"Just say the word and it'll end." Lazarus breathes against my neck, before laying a kiss against my pulse.

My wolf howls in anger but I don't stop him as his fingers slip through the gap created by the open zip. I bite my lip as his fingers begin to work through the thin material separating him from my sensitive skin, rubbing a spot that has my blood heating.

"Don't make a sound." Lazarus whispers his command against my ear when I take a particularly ragged breath.

His fingers have my eyes rolling back in my head, pleasure building in my core. I bite my lip, throwing my head back, as my body reacts to him on its own. Even my wolf seems to pause, looking at this supposed second mate with a new interest. I reach out, digging my nails into his thick muscular leg. I hear him hum in my ear, the sound edging me on. He doesn't mind the pain, he enjoys it. My lips part, my breath hitching as he pushes me higher and higher and I could almost forget just who is doing this to me and where exactly we are. Then he sticks his tongue out, running it along my throat and it's my undoing. I shiver, my legs clutching together as I throw a hand over my mouth.

***

I couldn't even look at him as the tears made their way down my cheeks. Disgraceful! Dirty! Nate would never forgive me. He will feel this betrayal even if he doesn't fully understand what he is feeling. The thought has sobs catching in my throat.

"Belavina." Lazarus says my name in such a way that my wolf perks up with interest, but I know it's a command for my attention.

When I turn, he is scolding as he leans an arm against the car door. "Can you please stop that." he growls, displeasure lacing his words. But his words only made me want to cry more.

He sighs loudly, pressing two fingers to his temple. "The only reason you are so dismayed with yourself is because you loved every second of what I was doing to your body."

He is dangerously close now, "You don't want to admit that I give you the same kind of hopeless desire that your bonded mate gives you and even worse, I do it better."

His blonde hair curls around his ears and tops of his neck, ending over smooth golden skin. I cannot help but stare at his gorgeous face, even if I hate the sight of it.

"Do you want to know why Belavina?" he asks, grabbing my face between his biting fingers and forcing my eyes to focus on him.

His grip is tight, threatening to bruise my skin, "Because a female highborn wants her mate to dominate and that boy doesn't understand the term."

He releases my burning face but I refuse to rub my offend cheeks in front of him. "It's not his fault, it's yours. You should have rejected him."

"No, you are wrong. I am happy."

"If that were true, you wouldn't have offered me such a deal. You would have happily died in those woods than give yourself over to me."

"That's not true." I say in a small voice, "I am trying to protect him."

He chuckles cruelly, "It is. You wanted an excuse to know what it's like to be with someone who has the power to break you, someone you cannot overpower." He gives me a dark smile, "You can blame the mate bond if you would like, but the fact is you wouldn't have given that offer to just anyone."

I sob, wondering if he knows my mind better than I do, "No, you are wrong. I just want to save Nate." He is messing with my mind. Trying to use my guilt and self-loathing to confuse me.

Lazarus laughs, "Because poor Nate cannot save himself. He will always be reliant on you to protect him and shelter him when it is his responsibility to be your provider."

"I made my peace with that a long time ago." I tell him, hating every stupid word coming out of his mouth.

"Because you didn't know that you had another option."

I grit my teeth, replying bitterly, "I do not need a psychology session from you. We have a deal and that's all that this is. Come daybreak, you will let Nate and myself leave to live our lives together. Free of you."

We don't speak to each other again, both too angry at the other, as we pull up at the Meeting Hall. Of course, it made sense that he would be staying here. Lazarus doesn't force me from the car as I expect, instead he leaves me to climb out by myself. Nobody else moves from the other vehicles as if there had been an order for everyone to remain where they were. I know Nate is watching me when I follow Lazarus up the front patio stairs. I try to be brave, but the ache in my chest just won't go away. We are heading for the guest suites when a servant from my sisters pack appears - hurrying down the passageway.

I grab hold of her arm as she passes, her frightened eyes snapping to me instantly and then calming as she recognizes my face.

I can only hope she can hear me because I am whispering so softly when I say, "Find the Sigma."