Page 4 of Little Mate

“Si.”

My eyes narrow. Something isn’t adding up. “What aren’t you telling me? Why not bring her with you?”

“Because it’s not time yet.”

“Time for what?” I hiss out, my fangs dropping in a show of annoyance. Riddles and half-truths are the wrong approach when asking me for a favor. “Be honest, or get out.”

“My Gabriella is too smart for that, Theodore. Bringing her here or involving her in any way will be a death sentence.”

“You’re not making sense.”

“I know.” He leans over, begging me with his eyes to take his hand. To trust him. “Leonora and I have chosen to protect them the only way we can, Theodore. Our three children have different routes they must take, all separate from the other, and you are Gabriella’s. You’ll understand why when destiny places her in your path. She will be of great importance to your kingdom: her place is here.”

“And her power?” His offer can be lucrative for me. Presents a very delicious opportunity.

“She will comply. I’ve left instructions in the letter atop your desk with my seal.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to save yourself?” A small part of me does feel bad for the man. To know your end is near—see it—can’t be an easy pill to swallow. I’ve also known him for a long time. I consider him a man of honor and an ally. “Fate is what you make it.”

“There is no other choice.”

“Okay.” Taking his hand, I give it a firm squeeze. “I’ll protect her, Paolo.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. My intentions aren’t completely innocent.”

“They’re not, but you’ll know soon enough that fate is unavoidable. She will surprise you.”

2

THEODORE ASTOR

VAMPIRE KING

“Where is she?” I snarl a few weeks later, fangs breaking through the skin of my bottom lip while each man inside my throne room freezes, eyes downcast. They tremble, my ire infiltrating every inch of my castle and the scurry of feet—each person under my employ leaving the grounds—can be heard as if it were a herd of wild animals escaping the jaws of a predator.

Because I am a beast. A demon.

Their fear is heady. A delicious tease to my senses, and I almost smile at the way each general—two men who are nearly as bloodthirsty as I am—flinch back when I lean forward in my seat. Neither speaks. No one does, while those closest to the back release a low hissing sound of distress.

They’re also the first to drop down to one knee in a show of fidelity while placing a closed fist on their chests. The entire room moves in synchronization, a gesture I appreciate, but at the moment, is quite useless.

I made a promise. I will find you, Gabriella Moore.

The few beads of drawn blood have begun to dry, and I catch them with a rough slide of my tongue across the now sealed wound. Each drop is small but potent, and the scent of my last meal remains on my skin.

Not that I savor them these days.

Each body I drain is a means to an end. Like the human husband of a witch brought to me by General Veltross, who’s the older of the two and a bit pompous but knows his place and is ruthless on the battlefield. The offering, though, was meant to lead me to my prize, but instead, I’m tasked with the destruction of yet another worthless coven.

She’s one of the sects Warlock Moore spoke of. The dark revolution is brewing in their world, a group of power-thirsty entities who wish to overthrow their monarchy before moving on to the next...

Witch.

Werewolf.

Fae.

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