Zed's Dishonest Mate by Sydney Lain Read Free Book Online Page B

looked directly at him. He stared into his mate’s eyes for a few seconds, making sure he had Luka’s complete attention. “Who did this to you?” Zed demanded.
    Luka tried to pull his head back, but Zed reached behind him and held his head steady. Whoever hurt his mate didn’t touch the small elf’s head. They wanted to cause pain, not permanent damage.
    “Listen, I can still prove my worth. I might need a little time, but I will show you. Don’t worry. After the doctor heals me, my body will be ready to work. I won’t complain. Just let me stay here. Please don’t send me back because of this,” Luka pleaded.
    The desperation tore at his heart. The words he had spoken earlier came back to him. He told his mate that if things didn’t work out he’d return him. The fear now made sense. Zed leaned in, touching their foreheads. “I can see you’ve not been cared for, but you’re now mine. No one will ever touch you like this again. You’re my mate.”
    “I can stay?” Fear resonated within the question.
    “You’re staying.” The statement held no room for argument. He let the words sink in. “Now, Luka, tell me the name of the person that hurt you.” Zed released his hold on Luka, and gently rubbed his chin.
    Luka looked down. “It was the elf king.”
    “Your father did this?” Zed stood. He couldn’t hold back his anger. “Why?” he demanded. He cursed when his mate flinched back. “I’m sorry.” He leaned in to soothe Luka. “I don’t like seeing you hurt and thinking that someone hurt you makes me angry. But I’m not angry at you. Do you understand?”
    Luka nodded. “Do we have to talk about it?” Luka asked. He wrapped his arms tighter around the remnants of the shirt.
    “No, we don’t have to talk about it now. The conversation can wait until later. We will talk about it later. This is not something that can be ignored.”
    “Okay,” Luka said in a soft voice. “Can I have a blanket? It’s a little cold without my shirt.” His mate tried to bend his knee, but the leg barely moved. “I’m okay if you don’t want me to have one. I probably seem ungrateful and spoiled to ask for something.” He shook his head. “Forget it. I don’t really need one. I’m okay.” He trembled as he said the words.
    Zed moved to the closet and grabbed a blanket. He walked over and helped his mate onto his back. He covered the smaller man’s body with the heavy quilt. “Are you in pain?”
    “No, not really.”
    From the way Luka tried to position his back onto the bed, he was uncomfortable. Zed wanted complete honesty from his mate, but right now he’d let the small lie slide. “I’m sending Bishop to the supermarket to pick up food. You can’t drink blood like us. How about we make a list while we wait for the doctor?”
    Luka looked at him. “I can pick my own food.” The shock on the elf’s face was priceless and a little sad.
    “Of course, what type of food do you like?” Zed asked.
    “Well, I don’t eat meat. I love fruit. Bananas and strawberries are my favorite, but it’s okay. I don’t really need to eat them.” Luka looked away. “Zed, do you think that maybe you could like me a little bit?”
    Zed felt like he’d been slapped. “Of course,” he said.
    “I’m an elf. Vampires hate elves. Besides, there’s something about me that people don’t like. The elf king hurts me and even my mate doesn’t like my personality.”
    “You’re not just an elf. You’re my elf. As for me not liking your personality, you were right. I should get to know you before I jump to conclusions.”
    “Yes, you should get to know someone before you jump to conclusions,” Luka said, nodding his head in agreement. His mate was adorable, something he wouldn’t think about before.
    “Also, the current animosity didn’t exist a few decades ago. Vampires and elves got along,” Zed added. He wanted Luka to know that the two races could be friends and they had been in the past. He’d