Blood Prince [Wolf Creek Pack 4] (9 page)

“Hey,” said a voice from behind him, making Zacarius jump, “are you okay? Do you need some help?”

Zacarius swung around to see a young, sandy blond-haired man standing behind him. He backed away slowly, not sure of what danger he might be. He sniffed at the air, but his sense of smell diminished with the rest of his senses.

“My name’s Ethan,” the young said, “Ethan Brown. Can I help you?”

Zacarius shook his head.

“You don’t look very good. Do you want to sit down? Do you need some water or something?” With each word, Ethan slowly moved closer until he stood almost right in front of Zacarius.

“I’m a vampire.” Zacarius expected the young man to be frightened or to at least step back from him. He didn’t. He smiled and held out his hand.

“That’s cool,” Ethan said. “I’m a werewolf.”

Zacarius frowned. Ethan wasn’t reacting the way he thought a werewolf would act. He wasn’t cowering in fear. He wasn’t shifting, growling and snarling. He wasn’t even running and screaming that a vampire was in the valley.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to sit down and have some water?” Ethan asked. “You look like you’re about to fall down on your feet.”

“No, no, I need to go,” Zacarius said as he backed away from the Ethan again. “I need to get home.” He turned and started walking. He needed to get away from this guy before he did something really stupid. He knew he was going down. He didn’t want to take anyone with him.

Ethan wasn’t having it though. Zacarius groaned as the guy fell in to step beside him, his hands shoved in his pockets.

“So, where’s home?” Ethan asked.

“A long ways from here.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured that one,” Ethan said. “What with you being a vampire and all.”

Zacarius couldn’t help but chuckle. The guy seemed to be unflappable.

“I’m not from around here either,” Ethan said. “Just moved here in fact.”

Zacarius didn’t say anything. If he kept quiet, maybe the guy would get the hint and go away. When ignoring Ethan didn’t work, Zacarius stopped and turned to stare at him.

“Are you going to stop following me?”

Ethan frowned. “Did you want me to?”

Okay, add world’s biggest heel to his list of offenses. “No, I guess not. I’m just not sure hanging out with me will endear you to the neighbors.”

Ethan snorted. “Like I care about impressing the neighbors. Like I said, I just moved here. I don’t know anyone except my old alpha, Reece, his mate, Keeley, and Devlin.”

Zacarius’s breath caught in his throat. “You know Devlin?”

“Sure, he was the beta of my old pack,” Ethan said. “We needed to move here when a bunch of people in our pack got killed.” He shrugged. “It’s okay, but I miss home.”

Ethan was one of Devlin’s old pack mates. He had to be. Which made Zacarius’s sister responsible for Ethan having to move.

“You do remember that I’m a vampire, right?”

Ethan nodded.

“And you’re not afraid of me?”

“Are you going to hurt me?” Ethan asked.

“Not on purpose, but you need to know that the woman that killed most of your pack was my sister.” Zacarius peered closely at Ethan. “Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Well,” Ethan said, “I figure if you didn’t kill me on sight then you’re not going to. As for your sister killing the members of my pack, that was her, not you. No one should be held responsible for the actions of others.”

Zacarius gaped. “Are you always this understanding?”

Ethan shrugged. “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because no one thinks like you do.”

“Maybe they should,” Ethan responded. “No one should be held accountable for the actions of others. We can’t control what others do. We can only be responsible for our own actions.”

Zacarius felt like he was talking to someone far older than himself. Ethan’s words were those of a very wise man and they made Zacarius feel three years old. It also made him feel lower than dirt because his actions thus far were far from honorable.

Not only did he set out to seduce Devlin from the very beginning, he made sure the man didn’t have a choice. Once he found out they were mates, he still hadn’t given Devlin a choice.

What did that say about him and his actions? True, he hadn’t forced Devlin, but Zacarius made damn sure he agreed. He hadn’t taken into account any objections Devlin might have. He simply hadn’t cared. He saw, he wanted, he took.

He was a jackass!

Suddenly, arms wrapped around him and Ethan helped him over to a small wooden bench. “You’re not looking so good there, my friend.”

“I’m not feeling so good.”

Ethan dropped his hands and sat back in the bench a little. “Want to talk about it,” he asked. “I’m a great listener.”

Zacarius shrugged. He wasn’t sure what to say exactly. He had the world’s most precious gift in his grasp and tossed it away because he acted like a pompous ass.

“You know Devlin?”

“Sure.”

“He’s my mate.” Zacarius liked the possessive way those words felt on his lips. It gave him a connection to his mate, even if he would never be able to full realize that connection.

“That’s pretty cool,” Ethan said. “I’m still looking for my mate.”

“You’ll find him.”

“You think?” Ethan sounded hopeful.

“How could you not?” Zacarius chuckled. “Whoever your mate is, he has to be looking for you, too.”

“I’d like to think so,” Ethan replied then he giggled. “I hope he’s hot!”

“Just don’t lie to him, Ethan,” Zacarius said. “It’s a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Is that what happened?” Ethan asked. “Why you’re not with Devlin?”

Zacarius nodded, but it took effort. He could feel himself getting tired. “Yeah, it was stupid. I didn’t really mean to do it, but it happened anyway and now Devlin doesn’t want anything to do with me. Can’t say I blame him. Who wants a mate that lies?”

“Have you tried talking to him? Sometimes communication can go a long way toward righting wrongs.”

Zacarius felt his face redden with just a bit of color. “Devlin and I don’t tend to do a lot of talking when we’re around each other.”

“Maybe you should try,” Ethan encouraged.

Zacarius shook his head before leaning it back against the bench seat. “Doesn’t matter anymore,” he whispered, more fight going out of him until just the tiniest bit remained, the tiny bit that belonged to Devlin.

“Hey, dude,” Ethan said. Zacarius felt someone slap the side of his face, but he felt too tired to care who or why it was done. “Dude, come on, wake up.”

“Just going to sleep for awhile, Ethan,” Zacarius whispered. “Tell…tell Dev I’m sorry.”

“You can tell him yourself, dude,” Ethan said. “Come on, you can have some of my blood. Vampires like werewolf blood, don’t they?” Ethan chuckled. “Of course they do, your sister proved that. Come on, open your mouth.”

Zacarius felt Ethan press his wrist against his mouth. He pushed it away. “Can’t, mated, can only take from Dev now.”

“Well shit!”

Zacarius found that funny. He started to laugh. The whole situation amused him. He survived longer than most vampires only to be brought down by his own stupidity and the one person meant to be his. It just seemed too funny.

“Oh no, dude, no losing your mind here,” Ethan said, laughing just a bit. “One of us going nuts is enough.”

Zacarius rolled his head. Ethan was just too cute. He really hoped he found his mate, and a good one at that. Ethan deserved it.

“Ah, dude,” Ethan whispered. Zacarius cracked open his eyes at the worried tone in Ethan’s voice. “There’s some guys headed this way, and I don’t recognize them. They don’t look very friendly to me.”

Zacarius turned his head to see a rather gruesome looking bunch headed their direction. For the first time in a very long time, fear filled him. They were vampires, just like him. He could sense it. And they weren’t here to ask directions.

“Go, Ethan, get away while you can.”

“I’m not going to leave you here,” Ethan protested. “Besides, they might just be lost or something. You need to stop being so suspicious, dude.”

Zacarius grabbed Ethan’s shirt and gave him a little shake. “They’re vampires, Ethan, and they are not lost. They’re here for me. Now, go.”

Zacarius gathered the last of his waning energy together. He could feel adrenaline giving him an extra push. He needed to distract the vampires long enough for Ethan to get away. After that, they could have him.

He stood to his feet and straightened his jacket lapels, smoothed down his hair, before turning to face the vampires. He purposely placed himself between the vampires no doubt here to kill him and Ethan. He would not be responsible for the sweet young man being injured.

“Find a little furry pet, Zacarius?” the first vampire snarled. Zacarius took him to be the leader of the group of five men.

“I do not recall giving you leave to address me as such,” Zacarius replied in his haughtiest voice. “I am Prince Zacarius to you.”

“Not by the time we’re done with you,” the man replied. The group laughed.

“You’re a prince,” Ethan asked, clearly astonished. “Dude!”

“Ethan, go, now!”

“Oh no, let the little fur ball stay.”

Zacarius glared at the vampire. “You will not touch him. Ethan is under my protection.”

The man held up his hands and shook them. “Oh, I’m so scared. Is the big bad vampire prince going to bite me?”

“He may not,” growled a deep voice from behind Zacarius. It set the hairs at the nape of his neck on end and made his heart jump up with joy. “But I might.”

Chapter 7

A look of shock covered Zacarius’s face. It was tinged with just a bit of relief and something Devlin wanted to attribute to joy. It made the fear Devlin felt since finding his mate facing off against a band of thugs fade away.

That didn’t mean he didn’t want to put Zacarius over his knee and spank the crap out of him. He had every intention of doing just that the moment he got his mate’s ass out of trouble.

“Ethan, go find Daniel,” Devlin said, without taking his eyes off the men that started to spread out in front of him. “Tell him we need him.”

“I’m right here, Devlin.”

Devlin turned to see Daniel and several other men standing behind him. He recognized some of them as men from the pack, others he did not. Devlin nodded and turned his attention back to his mate.

“Zacarius,” he said, his voice brooking no refusal, “come here.”

Zacarius instantly crossed the ground between them until he stood inches from him. Devlin grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.

He stroked his hand down Zacarius’s face. He still looked too pale for Devlin’s liking. “I need a minute, Daniel,” he said without looking away from the amethyst colored eyes gazing up at him in apprehension.

“Take all the time you need, Devlin,” Daniel replied. “I think I’ll just go have a little chat with our guests.”

Devlin didn’t waste any time. He grabbed Zacarius’s arm and pulled him to the edge of the small clearing. He put himself between his mate and the crowd. What they needed to do was too intimate for others to see.

“You need to drink, Zacarius.”

Zacarius shook his head, dropping his eyes to stare at Devlin’s chest. Devlin lifted his chin, bringing his eyes back up. “For me, my prince?”

Zacarius stared at him for several tense moments. Devlin felt sure he would refuse. “Please?” he whispered again.

Zacarius wrapped an arm around Devlin’s neck and pulled him into a kiss. Devlin shuddered. It seemed like forever since he kissed his prince. He could taste the Zacarius, smell him, feel his mate’s body pressed against his.

The world around them faded away until only Devlin and Zacarius remained. No vampires, no werewolves, no princes or people out to get them, just the two of them, two mates together where they should be.

When sharp teeth sank into his neck, Devlin couldn’t keep from crying out. Each delicious pull of life blood from his body by Zacarius was paradise. Devlin could feel it through every nerve. It felt like every time Zacarius sucked on his neck and took another swallow that he sucked on Devlin’s cock.

Devlin knew he would come any moment. He didn’t care if a bunch of wolves and vampires saw him, heard him. He was going to explode. Devlin growled. He wrapped his arms tight around his mate, his hands landing on the man’s ass and pulling him up against his body.

He didn’t feel Zacarius move until his hand wrapped around his cock, which suddenly seemed to be outside of his pants. One good stroke of his cock, one strong swallow of Zacarius’s lips, and Devlin ignited.

He buried his face in Zacarius’s hair to muzzle his deep groan as he filled his mate’s hand with his release. No matter how many times Zacarius took blood from him, it always seemed pleasurable beyond anything Devlin ever felt.

He couldn’t understand why more people didn’t like donating blood to vampires. It was a mind blowing experience, one Devlin was lucky enough to be able to experience for the rest of his life. Assuming his mate agreed.

Zacarius finally withdrew his teeth and leaned back just enough to bring his hand up, licking Devlin’s spunk from his fingers. Devlin groaned. His eyes half closed as desire licked its way back into his body.

Devlin grabbed Zacarius’s head and pulled him in for another kiss. He could taste himself on Zacarius’s tongue. Mixed with the natural taste of his mate, it was a heady combination. Devlin knew this wasn’t the time or place to renew their relationship, but he could feel Zacarius’s hardness pressing against him.

Devlin kissed his way to Zacarius’s neck, whispering against his skin. “I want to claim you as my mate again, Zac, to know that you belong to me and we’re both aware of what is going on. If you don’t want it, you need to stop me now.”

His heart thundered in his chest when Zacarius tilted his head to the side, giving Devlin clear access to his vulnerable throat. “My beautiful prince,” Devlin whispered then bit into the side of Zacarius’s neck.

Hot, sweet blood splashed across his tongue, filling his mouth. Devlin didn’t want to take too much. Zacarius needed as much as he could get.
 
He just needed to take enough to reassert his claim on Zacarius.