Not the other way around.
What the hell was he doing marking anybody, anyway? The only people who marked their mates were the Kayrs family, and that’s because they ruled the vampires and had since the beginning of time. The marking was unique to them, and the burn included a K for their surname. What was Zane doing branding her with a Z?
Just one of many questions pummeling through her head.
Was it possible he’d mated her on purpose? To gain her gifts and preclude her mating anybody else? A part of her scoffed at the idea, but a kernel of insecurity still irritated her like popcorn caught between two teeth. He’d seemed as overtaken as she had been the previous night, but it had been her first time, so what did she know?
Still, a dangerous tingle of happiness threatened to destroy her anger. Zane as her mate. A dream she’d had since she was too little to understand what mating meant. He’d always had her heart, and now she had a chance at his. She’d seen love overcome fate and destiny, and in order to mate, Zane had to love her—at least a little.
She shook her head. Again, she felt the twin bite marks in her neck. A slow shiver wandered down her body. Zane.
He’d better show up and provide some answers.
Standing, she glanced again at the brief note he’d left. They needed to talk? Oh, hell yeah.
The air shimmered by the fireplace. She jumped up and fetched a worn, cast-iron skillet from the stove. If Zane didn’t talk, she was going to brain him. With a lurch of sound, two bodies dropped onto the wooden floor.
She gasped and stepped back, reaching for a knife.
Slowly, the men stood. Green eyes, black hair, familiar features. One was bleeding out all over the rug.
The one with darker eyes smiled. “Hi, Janie, I’m Sam. This is Logan, and we’re Zane’s brothers.”
Janie tightened her hold on the handle. “Where is Zane?”
Logan coughed out, “Meeting with the king of the Realm. Um, do you have a Band-Aid I could borrow?” He groaned and fell onto a chair.
Janie swallowed and studied him. His eyes were lighter and his jaw more square than Zane’s, but there was no doubt they were siblings. The kid looked to be about twenty—Garrett’s age. She plopped the pan onto the table and slid into big-sister mode. She couldn’t allow Zane’s little brother to bleed to death, nor would she let the kid sit there in such pain. At one point, Zane had saved her brother. Now it was time for her to help Logan. “Yes. Let me help.”
“Thanks,” Logan said.
As she reached for the first-aid kit, she stilled. “Zane went to meet my family?”
“Yep,” Logan muttered, shaking his head.
Oh God. They’d be able to scent her on him and might even figure out about the mating. She bit her lip, her stomach clenching.
They’d kill him.
Zane landed right outside the main lodge of Realm headquarters. Nicely manicured lawns spread out in every direction in front of stately homes, while the cedar-walled building before him stood proudly against the rolling Pacific Ocean. A sense of foreboding rode the breeze, and he promptly set his mother behind him.
Soldiers came out of nowhere to surround them, guns pointing and ready to shoot.
He lifted his leather-gloved hands in the air.
As usual, no weapons had teleported with him, which might be a good thing.
Although he’d give his right nut to have a knife to protect his mother if necessary. The vampires surrounding them remained still, but his gut still ached with the danger of a twitchy finger. It only took one.
The king strode from the main building, followed by his brothers—all dressed for battle. Zane knew each one of them from dossiers he’d studied. When Dage had nearly reached him, he lifted a pistol to point between his eyes. “Where is Janie?”
Felicity hustled around Zane. “Really, King. Put down the weapon.”
Zane grabbed her arm and tried to push her behind him again. She struggled—a determined female in harmless white pants and shirt. The idea of blood marring her silk prompted Zane to try harder.
The king watched the interplay with no expression on his face.
Finally, Zane stopped fighting. “King Kayrs, may I introduce my mother, Felicity Kyllwood of the demon ruling family.” He edged her closer to him so he could jump in front of any bullet fired before it hit her. “Mother, this is Dage Kayrs, King of the Realm.”
