Chapter Thirteen

N aked and sweaty, Key lay on the bed, his chest heaving. Kelvin was no better as he lay next to him. They’d been having sex all day, and if this was what he had to look forward to being mated, then Key would need to start working out. Or not. The sex alone was a workout.

In between rounds of sex, they’d talked about anything and everything, and Key had learned that Kelvin was over one hundred years old. How? The man looked like he was in his twenties and he was over a century old? And Key would benefit from that longevity too, now that they were mated. The only downside was Charles. His dad would continue to age and would at some point notice that Key wasn’t.

Kelvin had told him several times that he couldn’t tell Charles the truth, but fuck that. Charles was his dad and Key was telling him, damn the consequences. He wasn’t going to have any secrets from Charles. He deserved to know the truth about his son and the man he was going to be spending the rest of his very long life with.

Key suspected Kelvin knew what he would do, but had given up attempting to convince him otherwise. They had that weird mind connection going on, so Kelvin would know the very second Key told Charles the truth. Speaking of connections…

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Key screamed and sat up, staring down at Kelvin. “How long have you been listening in?”

“It’s not like I do it all the time. I don’t get my diary out and pencil in ‘at two I must listen to Key’s thoughts’.”

“Fuck off.” Key struggled to hide his smile, so he stood instead and pulled his boxer briefs on. It was a good comeback, and now Kelvin knew what he thought.

“No, I don’t.”

Key burst out laughing and flipped Kelvin off, who reacted by laughing himself. “Beer?”

“Would be nice after I’ve been to the bathroom to, er, clean-up.”

“Yeah, clean-up’s a pain in the ass.” Key grinned as Kelvin moaned.

“No, that wasn’t funny.”

“What do you mean? I’m a funny guy.” He didn’t hear anything other than the bathroom door shutting. Grabbing two beers out of the fridge, Key turned and screamed. Only nothing came out. One second he was in his living room, and the next he was in some dark, dank cell being thrown against the wall. “So much for all the security they installed,” he grumbled as he lay slumped on the floor.

A man, or vampire going by the fangs, crouched next to him and stared. Key swallowed hard. “Er, hi?”

He grabbed Key’s hair and dragged him up, causing Key to grab the man’s wrist. Fuck, it hurt. The man slammed him against the wall and leaned in so close their noses almost touched.

“So you’re his mate.” Key watched the man’s nostrils flare as he inhaled. “And now you’re mine.”

“Maxim?”

“Jax. Now we know each other. I’m going to torture you until you tell me everything you know.”

“I don’t know anything!” Fuck, torture? No. Just no. “He mated me against my will. I said no, and he did it anyway.”

“You’re covered in his scent, so I know you’re lying to me.” Maxim grinned, his eyes glowing red. “I’m going to have so much fun breaking you.”

“Gee, that sounds great, but I’m gonna have to pass.”

Key grunted as the air rushed out of him. He fell to the floor, his arms wrapping around his waist where Maxim had punched him. He lay there for a few seconds until Maxim grabbed him by the hair again and dragged him up.

“Who runs their security?”

“I only know of someone called Gray.”

“Hmm, I know him very well. Who else?”

“I guess Kelvin?” Kelvin. Oh! Mind linky thing.

Oh! You! Get out of the bathroom and rescue me!

Rescue you from what? My dick?

Haha not funny. Maxim has me and has threatened to torture me. I mean it Kelvin. You need to fucking save me.

Shit! Where are you?

I don’t know. It’s dark and smelly.

“Who else works with them?”

“I don’t know anyone else. I’m new to this whole vampire world.”

“And now you’re lying to me.” Maxim hissed then bit Key’s neck. Hard. Key cried out, the pain almost too much. When Kelvin bit him, it felt good, really good, but this felt like being stabbed with hot pokers. Maxim threw him to the ground and glared at him as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Your blood tastes like shit.”

“Sorry?” Key clamped his lips shut when Maxim dragged him up again, then backhanded him across the face, knocking Key back to the ground.

The left side of his face erupted in pain and he gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out. He wasn’t going to give Maxim the satisfaction of hearing his cries.

Hurry up. He’s beating the shit out of me.

Gray’s zeroing in on your location now. He’s been watching Maxim and his group since he made an appearance a few days ago. Stay strong. We’ll be there soon.

Key closed his eyes and held back his whimper. He hurt, and he knew Maxim would enjoy hearing it. The look on Maxim’s face said as much. The leer he had as he stared at Key, who was practically naked. He only had on boxer briefs, so Maxim could easily see what he wanted to, and that was Key’s fear.

He was almost naked, so there would hardly be a fight if Maxim wanted to do more than hit him and throw him around.

Curling up, Key stayed still, watching Maxim pace the floor, muttering words Key didn’t understand. Not that he was sure he wanted to. Maxim could be discussing all the ways he would torture and kill him, and who wanted to know that? Key didn’t, that was for sure.

Gotcha.

Key somehow kept his face blank. That was quick. Not that I’m being ungrateful, but I thought it would take longer.

Gray’s just that good and Maxim is just that stupid. He’s taken you to an abandoned manor house, and I bet you’re in the basement.

Why yes, I am, so poof your butt over here and save me.

Five minutes then the team will be in place.

Okay. I can hold out for five more minutes.

Maxim frowned and grabbed his phone, growling when he stared at the screen. Oh, this was not good. It wasn’t good at all. “How?” he screamed at Key. “How did the mother fucker find you so quickly?”

“How should I know? It’s not like I have a hotline to everything they do? I’m new here.”

Maxim screamed up to the ceiling, then grabbed Key by the hair again and dragged him out of the room. Key tried to get up onto his feet, but Maxim saw and kicked him in the side. Grunting, Key gritted his teeth, wincing as Maxim somehow managed to hit him with every object as he dragged Key along.

He knows you’re here.

Figured he would. We’re inside now.

Why didn’t you just poof inside?

Don’t know the layout.

Oh, okay. That did make sense. Wouldn’t want to poof inside a wall or a chair.

Suddenly Maxim released him and disappeared, and a split second later, the door Maxim had been dragging Key towards banged open. Key held his hands up, lowering his head, shouting, “Don’t shoot or bite me or whatever you do to people you hate!”

“Key.”

Key looked up to see Kelvin coming towards him, and slumped to the floor. “Fuck.”

Kelvin hauled him up, holding him so tightly Key thought the vampire would crack his ribs. “Key.”

“I’m good. A bit battered, but fine.”

“Where is he?”

“He poofed away before you came in.”

“Poofed? Interesting way of putting transportation.”

Key looked over at who had spoken, recognizing Gray, and realized he was in a room with several people he didn’t know. Kelvin slowly released him and gently touched his face. Key winced, knowing he was going to be several lovely shades in no time. Fucker could hit hard.

“This is your human mate.”

Key felt Kelvin’s body still and held his breath, waiting. “He is.” Kelvin moved Key behind him as he faced the vampire who’d spoken. “He’s mine.”

“You have broken one of our most important laws.”

“I have.”

The one speaking looked at Key, who was peeking over Kelvin’s shoulder. His dark eyes narrowed. “You and your mate will be punished.”

“I request an audience with the council.”

Dark eyes arched an eyebrow. “You do, do you?” he murmured. He shook his head, his long, thick blond hair flowing around him. “And you think they’ll grant it?”

“They will.” Gray walked over and stood next to Kelvin. “The laws worked when we needed them, but we’ve moved past those times now. We’re not those vampires anymore.”

“No, we’re not, but they weren’t put in place for our benefit, as you are aware.”

“I know. My grandfather was one of the original vampires who created the laws and he would also be one of the first ones to agree all laws need to be re-examined as times change.”

“You may be correct, but for now, Kelvin has broken the law and must face his punishment.”

Key shrank back behind Kelvin. What’s going on?

I’m trying to speak to the council direct so I can put my case across to them and hopefully have them examine our laws. Gray is right. We needed the laws back then, but things are different now.

Will you still be punished and what about me?

I’m going to see what I can do about that, but if they want to punish us, I’ll ask that they don’t do anything to you. You never asked for this and shouldn’t be penalized because of something I did.

What happens to you then?

I don’t know. Guess we’ll see what the council has to say.

You know I’m kinda scared

Me too.

Key found Kelvin’s hand and squeezed it, finding some small relief when Kelvin squeezed his in return. They were in trouble, and Key didn’t want to know exactly how much trouble they were in, but he could easily guess from what Kelvin had said previously. Something he’d tried unsuccessfully to block from his mind.

Death.

Yeah, death, and Key didn’t want to get to know death just yet. He was young and had plenty of years ahead of him, and once this was over and done with, he was going to remind Kelvin how much he’d fucked up.

After they’d had sex.

Priorities.

“Some laws are meant to be broken,” Gray argued. “Some laws served us well then, but only hinder us now. How many of our kind have walked away from their mate because of the laws we have in place? How many have suffered in silence? How many have taken their own lives rather than watch their mate move on with theirs? Is this who we have become as a species? One that forces its own to wither away and die inside because we adhered to the laws set in place decades before we were born?”

“I understand where you’re coming from, but for now, the laws stand, and Kelvin has broken one of our most important ones.” Gray appeared to want to argue, but nodded instead. Key wanted him to argue more. It was his neck on the chopping block. “Arrest them.” The way the blond spoke those two words sounded tired to Key, and a little spark of hope came to light inside.

“Can my mate dress? As you can see, Maxim took him in his underwear.”

“We’ll find something to cover him.” Blond waved at two other vampires in the room, a male and female who came over to them. Kelvin held his arms out, and he was quickly cuffed.

Key took a step back, but the female vampire gave him a soft smile. “I won’t put them on too tight.”

Key looked at Kelvin, who nodded and raised his hands, grimacing when the cold metal touched his skin. The woman, the female—as Key had been informed to call them—smiled again and stepped back.

“Let’s go and see what the council has to say.”