Chasing His Mate
By Marie Medina
4/5
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About this ebook
Stryker has been looking forward to finding his fated mate for decades, but from the start, nothing goes as he’d dreamed. His mate refuses to even meet him, denying the mate bond without giving him a chance and actually running away to avoid hearing the vampire’s pleas.
Joseph sees humans who throw themselves at vampires as weak and stupid, and he has no intention of giving up his free will simply because a vampire orders him to. His heart has been through enough without being forced to pretend he loves someone, so he flees. He wants true love and sees no logic in trusting fate to simply drop the real thing right into his lap.
But Stryker refuses to give up and pursues his mate, prepared to do anything to make Joseph see what he’s really running away from.
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Chasing His Mate - Marie Medina
Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Marie Medina
ISBN: 978-1-77233-014-4
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To everyone who’s still enjoying this journey.
CHASING HIS MATE
The Year of Moons, 1
Marie Medina
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Valladora
3153, The Year of Moons
Joseph continued brushing the horse much longer than necessary and let his mind wander as he watched two finches hopping around on a nearby beam. When the mare turned and eyed him curiously, he put the brush aside and began to groom its mane with a large comb. He glanced at the name written in chalk on the side of the stall.
Sorry, Lucky,
he said to the sorrel mare, though I can’t think why you would mind.
She’s used to her routine. She’s probably wondering why you’re slower than I am.
Joseph turned to see his cousin Victoria come into the barn. She grinned at him as she made her way toward him, touching things in the barn in a soft, sentimental way.
I was just thinking. It’s relaxing out here with the horses.
Victoria fed Lucky something from her pocket and patted her gently. Well, you have something new to think about, something that will take your mind off what brought you here.
Joseph frowned. Nothing else has worked so far, but I’ll try anything.
Heartache and disappointment had made him leave his home, and he’d started to feel that only time could do anything to make those feelings fade.
Lord Thanos and his mate are here to see you.
Joseph paused in what he was doing. He shook his head and resumed combing, picking a few bits of hay from Lucky’s hair. Why would your lord want to see me?
He has news for you.
Her tone told him she already knew what the news was.
Joseph set the comb down and turned to face Victoria. What news could he have for someone like me?
She continued to smile at him but shook her head. Come see for yourself.
Though she seemed happy, the secrecy made him wary. I’d prefer to know what I’m walking into, please.
She rolled her eyes. Fine.
She glanced around and leaned in. Lord Ian sent them a letter. You need to return home right away.
Joseph took a step forward in alarm. He could think of no reason his lord should even give him a thought, let alone summon him home. What has happened?
Nothing bad.
Just tell me!
he said, not meaning to snap but unable to control his anxiety.
All right, sorry.
She cleared her throat. You’re a vampire’s mate, and you’re supposed to return to Lord Ian’s castle to meet him. He would’ve come himself, but he had a summons from the king that couldn’t be ignored, it seems.
What?
Joseph stood there baffled, not understanding how this fact had been discovered and hardly processing anything past the first few words. He’d fled to get away from the memories of one relationship and did not want to be trapped in a new one.
One of Lord Ian’s brothers. Lord Stryker. He drank your blood from the steward’s supply. You’re his mate. They want you to return to confirm this.
Stryker. What an unfortunate name. Thoughts of Edward surfaced, but he pushed them back. Odd name,
he said.
I like it. It’s different.
Victoria obviously didn’t make the connection.
Yes, it would have suited Edward well.
Realization spread over Victoria’s face. Oh, by the gods, I’m an idiot. I wasn’t thinking.
She took Joseph’s hand and began to pull at him. Please come in. His lordship’s been so kind, and you’ve said Lord Ian is a good man. Surely his brother is as well.
Joseph let her lead him. I won’t disrespect your lord, but I’m not going home.
Victoria halted. I know it hasn’t been long, but you must move on. Vampires cherish their mates. You’ll never be abused or mistreated. If you tell Lord Stryker what Edward did to you, he might even—
Joseph cut her off. I can fight my own battles. I paid Edward back for what he did to me. I only wish I’d been the one to kill him.
He shook his head. He’d said as much to Victoria many times, but did he mean it? Part of him still wondered. The other man doesn’t matter. Edward deceived him just as he deceived me. I daresay he was happy Edward died, given the number of bruises and marks I saw on him that night.
Victoria touched his shoulder, as if to comfort him, and eventually said, Come in and talk to them. Try to think of happy things. I won’t bring it up again.
For roughly a week now, Victoria had been trying to cheer him up and help him forget. He did feel better in a new place, away from so many memories, but it had only been three months since the betrayal. Edward had been killed in a bar brawl less than a month ago. Though Joseph’s physical wounds had long ago healed, all the emotional wounds continued to ache. He still felt weak for being saddened, however briefly, when he’d heard of Edward’s death. It had irked him that even a drop of love had remained in his heart.
Joseph shook his head and nodded to the house. I’ll try. But I make no promises.
He paused when they entered the mudroom. Just let me wash up. I’ll be right there.
Victoria kissed his temple and went inside, her musical voice traveling out to him. The two men who replied had deep voices, but one man sounded very jovial while the other seemed more serious. Joseph felt anxious, as he didn’t know how to politely tell the lord of the land that he had no desire to be a vampire’s mate. Had Lord Thanos brought his mate along to persuade Joseph? Victoria had said her lord hadn’t been mated long. He knew turning a vampire down carried a great stigma, but he imagined the burden would be lighter than the one Edward had once chained to his heart. He sighed and began to wash his face, trying to clear his mind of the bad memories.
****
Lord Stryker stopped pacing the tiles when he heard his brother sigh. Sorry,
he said, turning to Ian. I assumed he’d already be here after I returned from the king’s court. I should’ve made my apologies to the king and gone to find him myself.
I didn’t expect you to return so soon. However did you get away from the king? Even simple matters tend to keep you there a week, typically,
Ian said.
Stryker smirked and licked his lips. Running his hands through his short blond hair to get it off his forehead, he said, I stayed out of his bed this time. I told him I’d found my mate.
Was he disappointed?
Ian asked, his tone bland. Ian had always thought Stryker both too promiscuous and too open about said promiscuity. He never came out and said it, but Stryker knew his brother disapproved.
He and the queen both, though they found younger and more willing diversions easily.
Stryker began to pace again. I’ll be faithful to my mate. I promise you that.
Ian shifted, his expression softening. I frown on certain behaviors out of concern. I’ve no doubt you’ll be faithful once you’re with your mate. My concern for you and Braden has always come from the desire not to see either of you hurt.
Stryker halted. You’ve never put it that way before.
Ian frowned. You’ve never asked, simply made fun of me for being a prude. Which I am not, by the way.
Stryker started to protest but stopped himself. Ian was less comfortable with his sexuality than anyone else Stryker had ever known, but with luck, one day Ian’s fated mate would change that. Rubbing his lower lip, Stryker asked, You’re sure you’ve never met him?
"No, I don’t recall ever meeting Joseph. Do you know every single person in your dominion?" Ian asked as he