A Mate for Kai (The Program #6)

by Charlene Hartnady

  Kai took back her mouth in a frantic kiss that had her toes curling and her nails digging into his back. There was a tightening inside.

  When he sank his fangs into her and growled, all hell broke loose inside her. She came so hard that her muscles hurt from spasming. Her back hurt from bowing. Her jaw hurt from gritting her teeth. Her clit hurt from throbbing. Ecstasy tore through her.

  Kai roared. He jerked against her, his thrusts still strong and true. He buried his face into her neck. He was breathing so hard. They were both shaking.

  Kai’s whole body seemed to vibrate. She was in his arms and had been for some time. “Put me down.” She finally whispered, when he stopped moving.

  He shook his head. “You’re right where I want you, sweetness.” His breathing evened out and the shaking slowed down.

  “I’m too heavy.”

  “You’re not. Not anymore. Your blood has changed me…I’m stronger.”

  Ruby smiled. “I had noticed. There are a couple of things that have changed.” She giggled.

  “Oh yeah?” He kissed her, pulling away with a smile on his face.

  “What, you thought I wouldn’t notice?” She smiled again. “If it makes you feel any better, you measure up now.” She had to laugh. Males and their competitiveness.

  Kai chuckled. “Hold on to me.”

  She did as he said.

  Kai began to walk. There was no straining or grunting. “I told you, I’m a confidant male. It didn’t bug me…not at all.”

  Sure.

  Ruby could feel the extra swag in his step.

  “I felt like biting you just now.” She said, hearing the uncertainty in her voice.

  “You did?” There was an edge of excitement in his voice.

  Ruby nodded. “It lasted for a second or two. My mouth felt dry and my teeth ached, wanting to erupt. I wanted to bite you and to…” She felt her stomach roll. “Drink from you.”

  “You should try it.”

  He carried her the whole way to the bedroom and gently lay her on the bed. “I might hurt you.”

  “Not a fuck. I’m stronger, Ruby.” He covered her with his body. “I can hold my own against your brother.”

  “No…”

  He kissed her softly. “Yes, I’m going to make love to you now.” Another kiss. Kai circled the tip of his finger around her clit and she groaned.

  Oh god. How did she make Kai understand that he didn’t stand a chance against Blaze? If Blaze stayed in his human form there was a slight chance but in his dragon form…forget about it. If Blaze wanted to kill Kai, then Kai would die.

  Ruby swallowed thickly. Kai slid down her body, she moaned when his tongue breached her channel. She cried out when he licked at her clit. She groaned when he sucked on her clit.

  Her stomach remained tightly wound. Even after he made her come with his mouth, even after he made slow, sweet love to her. Even as he lay sleeping peacefully, his leg over her thigh and his arms locked around her.

  She had to come up with some kind of plan. Kai had saved her once, it was her turn to repay the favor. He had no idea what Blaze was capable of.

  Chapter 21

  The moon looked like it was hung low in the sky. Big and bright. A wolf shifter’s wet dream. There were very few stars visible. Like most vampires, Kai preferred the new moon. The very dark nights. Especially when they were cloudless and the stars were out in their millions. He needed to take Ruby stargazing during the next full moon. They could have a midnight picnic and make love. There were many things he planned on doing with this female. First, he needed to survive this confrontation.

  He clutched Ruby’s hand tighter. “It’s going to be okay.” He spoke with a conviction he didn’t quite feel. The dragon shifters were a bunch of fuckers. At least the royal males were. Unfortunately, they were strong motherfuckers. He didn’t give a fuck. Blaze had treated his own sister like a commodity. Like a stock or bond he could trade. It was bullshit. The male was still trying to run her life…their life. Kai wasn’t having any of it.

  When he and Ruby mated, it would be on their own terms. It was going to happen and soon. Before the birth of his son, if he had anything to say about it, but not because this asshole said so. He hadn’t lied to Ruby when he had told her he didn’t want either of them to feel like they had been forced. If he was honest with himself, it was also because he didn’t want to give the fucker the satisfaction. His days of ordering his sister around like she was a pet dog were over. Kai prayed he survived the coming meeting.

  He could hear her heart beating. He could feel how she clutched the living shit out of his hand. “Hey.” He pulled her into his arms and stopped walking. “It’ll be fine.”

  Ruby shook her head. “Let’s just agree to mating one another. I don’t care…I can’t see you hurt.”

  “No. We need to stand up to him. He’s not going to kill the father of his own sister’s baby.” He was counting on it.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure. He’s ruthless. You’re taking a huge gamble.” Her eyes were red rimmed from lack of sleep.

  Kai had stayed with her the last few nights. It felt so right. There was a part of him that was tempted to give in and to just agree to mate Ruby, but he needed to stand up against this bastard. He might be one of the dragon shifter kings. The most powerful dragon shifter king, but that didn’t give him the right to dictate another person’s life. Certainly not if that other person happened to be the female that Kai loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  “I’ve got this.” He kissed her and she clutched his hand tightly.

  “I hope so.” She whispered as he pulled away.

  “So little faith.” He nipped her lower lip.

  Ruby pulled in a big breath. She nodded once. “Let’s do this.”

  The dragons had arrived half an hour ago. Three of them this time. Blaze had insisted they meet outdoors. In the open area behind the castle. Was it because he didn’t want to ruin the castle carpets and wallpaper with blood stains? It was most likely because they found the castle to be cramped.

  By the noise, he could hear a large group had gathered. There amongst the crowd were Zane and Brant, as well as, about twenty royal guard.

  “I thought we had decided to wait until the…hatching.” Zane folded his arms.

  “You decided that. I never agreed. I gave Ruby a month to mate…” The shifter’s cool gaze landed on Ruby. “There you are, dear sister.” The male ignored Kai, which pissed him the fuck off. “I just heard some disturbing news.” He finally had the good grace to glance Kai’s way. “I hear the two of you are not mated.”

  “It is a situation that can quickly be rectified,” Brant said.

  Kai squeezed Ruby’s hand. “No, we are not going to mate just because you say we have to.” There was a growly edge to his voice. It couldn’t be helped. “Ruby and I will mate when we are good and ready to do so, and not a second sooner. That is, if both of us…and I mean both of us, decide it is what we want.”

  “Like hell,” Blaze snarled. “I thought I made myself very clear.” He continued, although his voice was once again calm, his eyes glowed ever so slightly. They were slits and no longer looked human. “You lay with my sister, you got her with child and therefore you must mate her. Against my best wishes, I gave you time to come to terms with it. My patience has now run out.”

  “Please, Blaze.” Ruby stepped forward. “Don’t do this. Leave us alone.”

  “Let’s talk about this,” Zane said.

  “There is nothing to discuss.” Blaze glanced at Zane before looking back at Kai.

  “Please.” Ruby tried again.

  It angered Kai that his female had to beg her brother for the basic right of deciding her own future. It was utter bullshit.

  Kai moved in next to Ruby, he put his arm around her. “There are too many people here to be able to say the things that I would like to say to you.” He paused.

  “Don’t,” Ruby pleaded. Her lip quivered.

&n
bsp; “I have to speak up about this, Ruby.” He gave her, what he hoped was a reassuring nod. Then he looked at Blaze. “Your sister is not some bargaining chip. She is not an item you can sell or swap.”

  Ruby sucked in a breath.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Blaze narrowed his eyes.

  “I know how you wanted to use her for your own gain and it’s not right. There’s got to be some moral conscience inside you.”

  “Moral conscience?” He made a sound of disgust. “My moral conscience has got nothing to do with it. I would never do anything for my own gain. Everything I do is for the good of my people. I expected the same of Ruby, but I was mistaken.” Blaze spoke calmly.

  “Ruby cares more about your people than you think. If you actually listened to her, you would know that.”

  “I’ve listened plenty.” There was an irritated edge to his voice.

  Kai could see that the male was full of crap. A driver type personality, he only heard what he wanted to hear. He was a my-way or no-way-at-all kind of a guy. The male may have stood silently while Ruby spoke but he never actually listened, never heard what it was she was saying.

  “I don’t have to give you any explanations.” He sneered, looking down on Kai like he was a piece of filth. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but I believe in traditions and in my lores.” He slapped his chest as he spoke. “Things like respect and honor are important to us. You need to honor Ruby. You need to respect me as her brother and leader. You need to mate my sister or die. It’s simple and I’m done talking.”

  “You speak of honor and respect.” Kai kept his eyes locked with that of the male’s. “It is you that needs to honor and respect your sister. Respect her enough to listen to what she has to say and to what she wants for her own future. You need to honor her wishes.” Blaze moved with a speed that startled him.

  One second he was fifteen feet away and the next he had Kai’s throat in a vice-like grip. “Decide now, vampire, are you going to mate with my sister or am I going to finish you?”

  “No!” Ruby screamed. “Don’t.” The word was drawn out and agonized.

  It was clear that the male expected no retaliation. The arrogant idiot was greatly mistaken. Kai kneed the fucker in his groin using every ounce of strength he possessed. The male made a grunting noise and released his grip on Kai’s throat.

  Kai punched him full on in the face and Blaze staggered backwards. He heard the satisfying crunch of bone. “That’s for Ruby.” He managed to grunt. To his satisfaction blood blossomed immediately. Blaze looked shocked. His victory was short lived. The shock morphed into white hot anger. Blaze roared. It was a terrifying noise accompanied by the cracking of bone as he shifted. What a pussy. The male couldn’t even fight him in a one on one basis.

  He was fucked. It was an unfair fight. At least he took solace in the fact that he’d gotten two hits in. It wasn’t over yet, if he had anything to say about it he was going to get in the third. Maybe even a fourth.

  On a loud snarl, Blaze came at him.

  Kai snarled right back, his claws erupted, as did his fangs. He was momentarily taken aback when smoke plumed from his mouth and nostrils. It made his eyes water. What the fuck?

  Blaze must have seen it too, because he faltered in his approach.

  Kai had been so focused on the other male he hadn’t heard or seen Ruby shift as well. He recognized her sleek, beautiful dragon as she appeared at his side. Gone was the soft sweet female from before. Gone was the calm beast. Her eyes were filled with rage, she tore out chunks of earth with her talons as she reared up. She growled a warning at her brother.

  Just as the male was bigger than his sister in human form, he too was much larger than her in dragon form. Blaze snarled back. His eyes were still focused on Kai. Blaze took a step towards him.

  Ruby jumped in front of Kai, blocking Blaze as he tried to advance. She growled a second time, sounding even more menacing. Ruby pounced on her brother, going at him with fang and claw. They looked like rabid dogs at each other’s throats. Kai could see it was a lot of fanfare with very little actual contact being made.

  Blaze gave her a mighty shove. For just a second it looked like she was going to be hurtled backwards but with a gentle flap of her wings she halted in midair.

  It gave Blaze enough time to shift. “I’m not here to fight you. Or to argue.”

  Thank fuck. There was nothing Kai could have done to help.

  Blaze looked up at Ruby who was still in dragon form. “All I ask is that the male”—he pointed a finger at Kai— “do what’s right.”

  Ruby returned to the ground. She pulled her wings in and shifted. It was quick and looked easy. Her skin was pale against the moonlight. Kai pulled off his shirt and tugged it over her head. She glanced his way and gave him a sad smile. Her eyes filled with tears, she blinked them away before turning back to face her brother. “For once, Blaze, I would like you to listen. It was all me. I orchestrated this whole thing. You know this. Kai is not to blame and he should definitely not be forced into doing something he does not want to do. It would be wrong.”

  Kai took a step forward, he sucked in a deep breath wanting to set the record straight. “Ruby, I—”

  Ruby blustered on. “Kai is right, you never once asked me how I feel about this. Well, if it means anything to you, I don’t love this male. Yes, he is the father of my baby. I do wish for him to be involved in the child’s life. I like Kai very much and have come to see him as a friend. There is nothing more between us and it’s as simple as that. Don’t force me to accept a male I do not want. I choose a life of solitude. I will raise my child and that is all I need.”

  Blaze rolled his eyes. “You and your ideals of love. You get along, you are friends, so what is the problem?” He sighed. “Suit yourself. I don’t have time for this. As much as I would like to kill this male, I can see it would greatly offend you. Although I care nothing for him,” he gestured in Kai’s direction. “Enough with the back and forth. I have more important things to concern myself with. If you don’t want the male then I will not force him to mate you.”

  “You can’t kill him either,” Ruby growled. On any other day, he would have loved the way she was standing up to her bastard of a brother. He would have loved the growl in her voice and the way her hands had curled into fists.

  Right now his heart was pretty much breaking though. She didn’t love him or want him. That couldn’t be true. Could it?

  Blaze pinch the bridge of his nose. “I won’t kill him. I’m glad to hear that the egg is…healthy.”

  “Would you like to see it…him…your nephew?” There was a timid edge to her voice.

  Blaze shook his head.

  Ruby’s lip quivered but she stood tall. “He might not be a pure dragon shifter but he is still family. He is still a royal.”

  Blaze didn’t say anything. Such an asshole.

  Ruby shook her head, she turned and ran. Although Kai called after her, she didn’t turn back.

  “You’re one helluva dickhead.” He growled when she was out of earshot.

  “Don’t push your luck, vampire. My sister is not here to protect you this time,” he spat.

  “No, but we are,” Zane growled. Even Brant folded his arms across his chest and looked at the dragon shifter with narrowed eyes.

  “You and your team of puny warriors? Hardly.” He gave a shake of the head. “I said I won’t kill the male and I meant it. I would, however, like to have a word with him.”

  Zane narrowed his eyes.

  “I won’t hurt him, kill him or maim him. I gave my word to my sister and I am a male of honor.”

  “It’s fine.” Kai said, feeling defeated. “I’ll be fine,” he added. He didn’t feel a threat from the male. Not anymore.

  “What do you need to discuss with this…” It was a large male that spoke. Kai had never seen him before. The asshole clearly thought himself superior, he looked down his nose at Kai. “Vampire?”


  “None of your business, Coal. The two of you can head home.” Blaze pointed to the sky. “I will be five minutes behind you.”

  Kai could see that the male was not happy with the answer. He kept his dark, piercing eyes on Blaze for a few moments longer before shifting and taking to the sky. Inferno was right behind him.

  “You have made Ruby upset.” Blaze turned those eerie green eyes on him. The male did not look happy.

  “Me? What the fuck are you talking about?”

  Blaze got right in his face. “She has feelings for you, you idiot vampire. She fought me…her brother…me…her king…for you. She went against me in front of everyone. Here I was, thinking this whole time that you didn’t want her. I can see I was wrong.” He chuckled while moving away. “You feel the same way about her, don’t you?”

  Kai didn’t respond. It was none of his goddamned business.

  “Go after her.” Blaze’s voice was commanding. “Take her as your mate so that we can all breathe a little easier.”

  “What are you talking about? I thought you said we didn’t have to mate and yet here you are dictating again.”

  Blaze snorted. “Not at all,” he growled. “It couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not commanding anything. I’m simply stating the obvious.”

  Then it dawned on him. “The only reason you commanded that I mate your sister in the first place was because you thought you were doing her a favor. You thought that you were helping her by forcing me into doing what you thought she wanted. That’s so fucked up.” He ran a hand through his hair. “In a sick twisted way, I can see you did it because you care for Ruby. You really shouldn’t meddle in her life like that though. Don’t you get that?”

  “I do care,” he growled. “She is my only sister.” By the way his eyes burned with emotion, Kai could see he meant it.

  “But you care more for your precious kingdom.”

  “The kingdom must always come first.” He paused. “I spoke with all three kings and carefully selected her mate. I truly believed she would’ve been happy with Thunder. That he would have taken good care of her.” Blaze looked thoughtful for a moment. His features tightened. The male looked…sad. “It was not to be. Please take good care of her and the child.”