Zed's Dishonest Mate by Sydney Lain Page A

won’t tell them until they ask.”
    Roman nodded. “Agreed. The past can’t be changed.” Roman stared at Zed. “Why tell us now?”
    Zed looked at the two brothers. “Mason thought it was time. He wanted to tell you since discovering Toby was Thomas’s mate. The dragon recognized the power inside of the truth examiner. He guarded the power for hundreds of years, so he instantly recognized it within him.”
    “This has something to do with the drugs?” Thomas concluded.
    “Carlson and Kane tried to create a drug to counteract the magic. Micah could order them to do whatever he wants and Sage can…” Zed paused. No, he wouldn’t say it. Even Sage didn’t know what he could do. “That’s not important.”
    “Are they still after the magic? Can it be taken from our mates?” Thomas demanded.
    “The magic is now a part of them. I don’t know if it can be removed, but if it is, they will die.”
    Roman closed his eyes. “So they will be coming after them.”
    Zed shrugged. “I don’t know if the magic is still in their plans. Zane and Carlson are mere puppets. The person in charge remains hidden in the shadows.”
    Roman glared. “That’s why you never mentioned this. You thought I might be involved in the conspiracy.”
    He couldn’t hide his real thoughts. “There are lots of traitors. I wouldn’t jeopardize my sons. Being wrong would put a large bull’s-eye on Jacob and Sage’s chests.”
    “Oh, that’s big of you,” Thomas spat out.
    “Enough.” Roman looked at Thomas. “If things were reversed, we would’ve done the same thing.” Roman turned to Zed. “How many are affected by the Magic?”
    Zed closed his eyes. “At least two more. Possibly three. It depends how the magic split.”
    “So we have to find the others and keep them safe,” Thomas said.
    “Basically, yes.” Suddenly Zed felt hot under the demon’s angry stare. He’d let it go. After all, he did keep important information from them.

Chapter Seven
     
    Luka moved to the side of the bed. He stretched his arms out as his legs dangled over the edge. He looked down at his feet which hung inches from the floor and wiggled his toes. Maybe Zed would buy him a stepstool. He’d ask nicely, but no one ever bought him anything. Asking might be perceived as a complaint. Zed showed little tolerance to extras. A stool was as unessential as color in a room. He shook his head and decided to suck it up. No need to ask for trouble.
    A few days ago, he might have demanded a stool to see his mate’s reaction, but he was going to play nice. Zed was his mate and he took care of him. Luka was beginning to trust that Zed wouldn’t physically hurt him. Emotionally and mentally was different. That type of trust would take time.
    He looked behind him, narrowing his eyes to see into the dark corners. Zed had a way of spying on him, approaching quietly and watching from the shadows. It was strangely comforting to know that if he called out someone would come and perhaps even come before asking, another thing that had never happened.
    Slowly, he lowered his legs down, putting more pressure on the good leg than the bad leg. The doctor ordered him to stay off of his bad knee, but enough was enough. He was bored out of his mind. Besides, that was a week ago and after Zed’s tender bites he felt a lot better.
    That was another new thing, feeling like someone cared. Zed brought him food, helped him bathe, and wrapped him in heavy blankets. He was being treated like a fragile piece of glass that had to be cared for. The first few days he had needed it, craved it. The raw emotion forced through all of his blocks, pushing out. One minute he was a rabid dog trying to bite heads off and the next minute a kitten purring for attention. Now, he was ready to be a person.
    The vampire had showed an extreme amount of patience, meeting every verbal attack with a gentleness that surprised him. Zed took care of everything, and followed the doctor’s orders by