Page 74 of Rejected Mate

“Sir, I don’t think—” the driver started, but Ares cut him off.

“Pull over.” The command in his voice was undeniable.

The driver complied, pulling the limo over on the side of the tree-lined road. The headlights sliced through the dark until they angled toward a line of trees and the road ahead. There was nothing but forest on either side. I glanced at Ares with a confused expression on my face.

“Would you be so kind as to step outside for me? I’d like to get some fresh air.”

My brow furrowed further. “You need fresh air? Roll down the window.”

He shook his head. “I needthatfresh air.” The gray dawn light gave me just enough light to see by. He pointed at a clearing just beyond a line of trees.

I started to ask more questions, or even protest, but something made me stop. Ares didn’t do silly or ridiculous things. He certainly didn’t stop right before sunrise for a walk through the daisies for no reason.

Nodding, I followed him out of the limo and off the beaten path.

We walked quietly, both of us cutting through the wet grass without making a sound. At least we had that in common, if nothing else—we could move with stealth.

When we were through the trees and standing in the field about twenty yards from the limo, he turned to me.

“We’ll need to whisper. The driver is a vampire, albeit a low-ranking one. He might still be able to hear us if we talk too loud.”

“He’d listen to our conversation?” I asked.

Ares nodded. “He’s one of William’s spies.”

“Spies?” My heart began to pound.

“William has a network of vampires working for him. It’s one of the ways he controls those around him. Even if he’s not here, William is everywhere.” Ares gritted his teeth at the words.

I reminded myself that Ares might be as much a prisoner in all this as I was.He had insinuated as much before.

“Why would William want to spy on us?” I asked, feeling I already knew the answer, but wanting to hear it from him, nonetheless.

Ares clasped his hands at his waist as if he was buying time to find the right words. “Keep this between us, okay?”

I nodded.

“William wants to control everything. Every vamp. Every move. Even the shifters. That’s part of why he set this all up. He can’t have packs like yours interfering with his plan.”

“And what’s his plan?”

“He wants to save our species, which is noble, I guess, but his reasoning is not. He thinks if he can save us, he can rule not only our region but all vampires because he’ll be regarded as a savior.”

My eyebrows shot up. “He wants to be a… vampire king?”

Ares sighed. “Essentially, yes.”

“So, what does that mean for us?”

“It means that if William thinks you are the best match for me, he’ll approve of our match. If he doesn’t…”

“I’m out.”

He nodded. “But I’m done playing his game.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”

Ares took a step forward and grabbed my hand. The movement was sudden. It caught me off guard and sent my heart pounding, my anger cracking.

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