A Mate for Lazarus

by Charlene Hartnady

  Lance laughed. He fucking laughed.

  “Stay the fuck away from her,” Lazarus growled. He knew that the male was goading him. That this was exactly the reaction the dickhead was looking for, but he couldn’t help it. Feelings of possession welled up inside of him. Fuck!

  “You!” Griffin yelled beside him, his attention on Lance. “Don’t say a fucking word, or so help me, I will let him go.” He made a strained noise as Lazarus tried to break free. “Outside.” Griffin growled and the three males jostled to the door. They dragged Lazarus with them.

  He had to crane his neck as they moved but he kept his attention on Lance who smirked and folded his arms across his chest. The fucker planned to do it. Lazarus could see it in his eyes. He was going after Alexandra. Lazarus growled, it would be the last fucking thing Lance ever did so help him.

  They were all breathing hard by the time they got all the way outside. Once Lazarus could no longer see the other male, his anger diminished to controllable levels. “You can let me go now.” He tried to yank one of his arms free but Griffin held tight.

  “Stop your shit,” Griffin growled. Lazarus forced himself to relax.

  “You’re not going to go charging back in there?” Griffin asked, the male was breathing hard.

  Lazarus shook his head. “No.” He shook himself free and rolled his shoulders to try and relieve some of the remaining tension. It didn’t help for fuck.

  The other two males moved off. Griffin stayed right where he was in front of Lazarus. “That was stupid.” The younger male shook his head.

  “He’s too fucking much,” Lazarus growled.

  “All you managed to do was piss him off and alert him to the fact that you have feelings for that new human. She went from being interesting to a target.”

  Everything in Lazarus tightened. “I’ll fucking kill him if he-”

  Griffin took a step towards him as he spoke. “That’ll work really well. We both know you won’t actually kill the male but you might end up hurting him enough to get yourself in the dungeon or worse yet expelled from The Program. You’ll be exactly where he wants you. Out of the way so that he can pursue that female.”

  “Why the fuck is he even in The Program in the first place?” Lazarus growled, frustration ate at him. “The last thing that male is looking for is a mate. After all the shit he pulled, I can’t believe he was even allowed to enter in the first place.”

  Lance had only decided that he actually wanted his estranged mate, Stephany, when she fell in love with a shifter. The deluded male had gone after the shifter and had tried to kill him in front of Stephanie while she clutched her newborn son. It didn’t get too much more fucked up than that. There was a small part of Lazarus that had felt sorry for the male. Past tense. Now, he was liable to kill him.

  Griffin shrugged. “You need to learn to deal with it. You forget that he almost died trying to save Stephany as well. That he is a master with a sword and a loyal friend to our king.”

  Lazarus nodded. All of those things were true. “He has not been the same since Stephany left. That male is a little bit fucked in the head and if he goes anywhere near Alexandra, I swear to God I will kill him.”

  “You only just met this female today right?” Griffin smiled.

  “Yeah…what of it?” Lazarus narrowed his eyes at the other male.

  “It’s just that you seem pretty into her already.”

  Lazarus shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

  Griffin choked out a laugh. He shook his head. “You need to keep in mind that she is a human. They do not possess our senses. They like to use common sense when it comes to matters of the heart. They like to do things slowly and methodically.”

  Lazarus shoved his hands into his pockets. “I know all of this.” He looked around for a moment before speaking again in an attempt to change the subject.

  “Have you found anyone?”

  Griffin shook his head and smiled. “All the females are taken. I will try again the next round.”

  Lazarus frowned. “How can that be? There are twenty-five females, make that twenty-six since Alexandra arrived, and only ten of us.”

  “Lance has rutted most of them. There were one or two that drew my interest early on but I’m not into sloppy seconds. Not where a mate is concerned anyway.”

  Lazarus rolled his eyes. “What is it that females like about him so much? I don’t get it. None of them stand a chance of getting him to mate them. I don’t know why they are wasting their time.”

  Griffin shrugged and pulled a face. “I heard some of the females talking. They say that he is pretty…”

  Lazarus choked out a laugh. “Pretty?…You have got to be kidding me. They think that fucker is pretty?”

  The other male nodded. “Yup…he apparently looks like some movie star. Only bigger and better looking…” Griffin held up his hands. “I’m using their words not mine.”

  Lazarus laughed.

  “He projects this whole wounded, broken vibe. The females know that he is fucking around with more than one of them and yet each of those females is convinced that she can tame him. That she will be the one that captures his attention and heart.”

  “It’s not going to fucking happen. They do realize that deep down don’t they?” One thing was for sure, Lazarus did not understand human females. Not one bit.

  Griffin shrugged. “I think it is all part of the allure. I don’t understand it.” He huffed out a breath. “Let’s see what happens in the next heat. I’m not choosing anyone to go to the next round. You? Are you going to choose that cute, little human?”

  Lazarus felt himself growl. He didn’t like that Griffin was talking about Alexandra. Hated that he had called her cute. He was so fucked.

  Griffin laughed. “You have it bad. Really bad. I never thought I would say this, but I’m actually glad I’m not you.”

  “She fires my blood…that is for fucking sure, but”—Lazarus shook his head—“until I know for sure what her intentions are…” He let the sentence die. It was weird. Alexandra had seemed almost desperate to become a part of The Program. Surely that meant that she wanted to be with a vampire. The fact that she was willing to enter into this whole agreement in the first place should mean that she was into him. Yet, it hadn’t seemed that way at all.

  Their kiss had been as explosive as fuck, yet she seemed shocked about the whole thing. Shocked at her reaction to him. It didn’t make any sense whatsoever. She wanted him but didn’t seem to like the fact.

  Two more days until the next round. Lazarus planned on getting to know her but he also planned on pushing her. Testing her. She needed to convince him that she really wanted to be here. Now Lance planned on fucking up his plans.

  Griffin frowned. “What do you mean? What her intentions are?”

  “With fuckers like Lance behind every corner…I need to be sure. That’s all.”

  Griffin nodded. Although what he just said was true, there was more to this. He just couldn’t quite put his finger on what that was. Lazarus wasn’t about to let himself just fall for this female blindly. He only hoped in the end that he had a choice in the matter.

  Chapter 6

  “So you’re the new girl.” A blonde woman with bright blue eyes walked up to her. “Someone mentioned earlier that someone new had arrived.” She smiled. “I’m Sarah.” She put out her hand and Alex shook it.

  “It’s good to meet you. I’m hoping to meet a few more of the ladies within The Program.”

  Sarah frowned. “Well, I’m glad I got to you first. We’re not really on friendly terms. It’s clicky and competitive. There are only ten vampires and twenty-six of us. Don’t be surprised if you get a couple of bitchy comments.”

  “Seriously?” Alex paused for a few beats. “I would’ve thought that us humans would stick together.”

  Sarah laughed. “Like hell. Some of these women would kill their own mother for a chance at marrying a vampire. They see other women within The Program as major competition
.”

  “The competition part I get but is it so bad that they would kill their own mother…really? I mean, besides the fact that the vampires are seriously good looking. What do they really have to offer us?” She needed some insights from the women that chose to put themselves out there and join The Program. Alex only wished she could write this down. She would need to do so as soon as she got back to her room.

  “Aside from being big and beautiful, they’re amazing in bed. I mean hectic good. At least, I’ve heard they’re hectic good. If I end up sleeping with one of them and get sent home, I’m going to be in trouble. I’ve heard that sex will never be the same again for those lucky women. Maybe it’s better that I haven’t had my way with one of them.” She shook her head, looking wistful. “Another reason to consider is that they mate for life. Did you get any training before coming through?”

  Alex needed to tread carefully but this was an opportunity to find out more. “I received a crash course. It wasn’t the proper in-depth training that you guys had. I would appreciate it if you could help me out and fill me in on a few things?”

  Sarah was really sweet. She smiled. “Yes of course. How come you’re only getting here now? What happened?”

  Alex rolled her eyes. “They forgot to inform me that The Program was starting and then assumed because I didn’t turn up for training that I wasn’t interested anymore and brought in my replacement.”

  “Sucks. What do you want to know?”

  “You were just saying that they mate for life and you have given me a couple of reasons why some of these women would sell their souls for an opportunity to marry one of them.” Alex swallowed hard as her mind wandered to one certain vampire. “Aside from the really awesome sex that is.”

  “When they mate someone, they can’t get enough of them and will do anything for them. I want that. I want it so badly it hurts.” Sarah sighed, seeming lost in her own thoughts for a few beats, then her eyes widened and she did a twirl on one leg. “Look around you. They are also super rich. Children are considered a major blessing. Vampires make wonderful dads. The whole community chips in and helps out. So in short, if a woman is successful within The Program, she gets a gorgeous man who loves her with everything that he has. She gets to be pampered and looked after for the rest of her life as well. Who wouldn’t want that?”

  Alex had to frown. “She also gets to have blood sucked out of her veins and invariably has to become a baby making machine.” She muttered the last more to herself, unable to keep quiet.

  “Oh my word.” Sarah sounded excited. “I can tell that you haven’t…then again I suppose you are new.” She gasped. “You totally haven’t, have you?”

  What the hell was this chick smoking? “What are you talking about? I haven’t what?”

  “Shit!” She grabbed Alex by the arm. “You are in for a treat. At least…” She sighed. “From what I have heard, you are in for a treat.”

  “Spit it out already.” Alex could hear the frustration in her own voice. “What treat?”

  “I am the only woman that hasn’t been with one of the guys. From what I’ve been told or overheard, all the worries about blood drinking are totally unwarranted. I’ve been told that it is amazing. It doesn’t hurt one bit. In fact, the opposite is true. I for one am going to try and make it happen. You need to try it too.” Sarah was gushing. Her eyes were bright and sparkling. Her hand clutched Alex’s arm tighter. “I overheard that it’s especially good”—she looked around the room to make sure that no one else was paying any attention to their conversation—“during sex. Like not just good…mind blowing. I just have one favor to ask though.”

  Alex ignored the part about the favor. “I’m not letting anyone drink blood from me.”

  “You can’t mate with a vampire and not let him drink from you. It just doesn’t happen that way. None of them will choose you to go into the next round.” Sarah shook her head. “You have nothing to be afraid of. You should have been told that in the training and I have seen it firsthand.”

  Alex had to grit her teeth to keep herself from saying anything more. It wasn’t happening but she wasn’t about to argue with Sarah about it. These women were here for a whole different set of reasons than she was. She had to pretend that she was one of them though. “I guess I’m just a little nervous.”

  “I’m also really nervous.” Sarah smiled. “Everyone was nervous to begin with.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a few beats. “Trust me when I tell you that they are not nervous any more. Were you by any chance invited to go picnicking this afternoon?”

  Alex nodded. “Yes, I was.”

  “You didn’t happen to see Lance, did you?” Her cheeks turned red.

  “Who? Sorry, the only people I’ve met so far are King Brant, his PA Allison and Lazarus.”

  Sarah pulled a face. “Lazarus, as in the seriously big guy with the hundreds of weapons hanging all over him? The one that growls and grunts so much that it’s hard to hear what he is saying?”

  “That sounds like him, yes, except he only has a couple of weapons…hardly hundreds.” For whatever reason, Alex felt defensive of Lazarus. “He growls and grunts quite a bit as well, but…” She shrugged. “It’s pretty easy to hear what he’s saying.” Most of the time. He had a gruff way about him which she thought was pretty sexy…stop Alex.

  “Oh my god…did you go to the picnic with him?” Sarah raised her brows. “No, you couldn’t have. Did you…go with Lazarus?”

  Sarah was really nice, and really sweet, she was also seriously irritating. “I did.” Alex left it at that, not wanting to open any cans.

  The blonde clasped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widened. It took a good couple of seconds for her to compose herself. “No wonder you’re afraid of letting a vampire drink from you. You probably saw him drinking blood. He does that…all the time. Glasses of the stuff.” She pulled a face. “He’s pretty over the top. Don’t let Lazarus scare you. The others are…civilized.”

  “He is a vampire.” Alex snapped back. “It’s what they do.” She could feel that she was frowning. “You just told me to let one of them drink from me.” She had to work not to pull a face herself. It didn’t seem right considering the direction the conversation had taken. “Straight out of the vein is fine, but out of a glass is uncivilized? That’s a double standard.”

  Sarah shrugged. “I suppose you’re right.” She smiled. “My friend Jenna really likes Lazarus.”

  “Oh…” Why did she sound so deflated? “Where is she then?” Hopefully she was…ugly or a really terrible person or something. Not that it mattered. At all. It didn’t. “Are they like toge–…don’t worry about it…” No! She wasn’t doing this. Alex found herself looking around the room anyway. Women were coming and going. Headed to their rooms or to the pool area. Tall, short, some were fair like herself and others had dark skin. Then there were those that were somewhere in-between. The only thing that they all had in common was curves. It looked like boobs, ass and thighs were a vampire thing.

  Sarah frowned. “Are Lazarus and Jenna to…what?” She looked confused for all of two seconds and then she smiled. “Together? Is that what you were going to say?” Sarah shook her head and laughed.

  Alex was appalled to find that she felt relief. What. The. Fuck?

  “No. They’re friends.” A shocked look crossed her face. “I guess he isn’t as…I don’t know…caveman….around her.” She looked up. “Maybe he isn’t as bad as I thought. She hangs out with him a lot. You like him…I can tell.” Sarah narrowed her eyes, pretending to see right through her.

  Alex needed to play it cool. She was one of the girls. Trying to snag herself a vampire. “He’s hot and ridiculously alpha…” She bit down on her bottom lip and then nodded. “Yeah, I guess I like him.”

  Sarah squealed. “You need to meet the others as well.” Her eyes clouded. “Just stay away from Lance…please. It’s all I ask.”

  “Who’s this Lance? Are you guys…an item?” Then she remembere
d that Sarah hadn’t slept with anyone yet. “Do you want to get together with him?”

  Sarah’s face became pinched and her eyes clouded. “I really like him, so I’m hoping…” She shrugged. “He didn’t ask me to the picnic. He seems to be spending time with a lot of different girls.”

  “Just dating though right?”

  Sarah chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head.

  “More than just dating? Is he sleeping with a lot of the girls too?” Alex raised her brows.

  “It’s not like he’s in a relationship with any of them. I’m pretty sure they mentioned in your crash course that vampires are highly sexual. They need to test…compatibility before settling down. That means lots of sex with various different people. I’m pretty sure he’ll stick with one woman when he chooses for the next round. I hope he asks me out soon or it’s going to be too late.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it, Sarah.” Alex took in her forlorn expression. “Are you saying that all the vampires are sleeping around? That this is one big…” May as well say it like it was. “…fuckfest?”

  Sarah shrugged. She didn’t say anything, which spoke volumes. No wonder Lazarus was so forward with her. He was expecting her to just put out like all the rest. The big asshole may have fucked half the women in The Program but he so wasn’t getting her. Her cheeks felt hot and she ground her teeth. Why the hell was she so angry about this anyway?

  Dinner was in two hours, she was going to take a long bath to try and calm down. So what if the vampires were manwhores. So what if Lazarus was a manwhore. She would have to deal. Nothing had changed. If anything, this knowledge would make it easier for her. It would make the no sex rule easy to follow.

  “What are you wearing tonight?” Sarah asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Alex quickly answered. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Thankfully she’d thrown one or two nice dresses into her bag as an afterthought. She didn’t have a clue what to expect when she arrived. She was still in shock that they had actually let her in.