A Mate for Lazarus(11)

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.”