Free Zed's Dishonest Mate by Sydney Lain Page A

awake.
    “You don’t think so?” Zed asked.
    Luka didn’t like the confusion on Zed’s face. He needed to be clearer. “Um, I’ll eat anything you provide. I won’t be picky.”
    “Mate, don’t second guess yourself. A lot of things revolve around your wants and needs.”
    “Zed, I never pick my own meals. Everything I ate arrived at set meal times. I’m not sure what to eat or what to ask for.” There, he was finally honest.
    “I see. I’ll help you until you can decide what you like or hate. Now get some sleep. After lunch is prepared, I’ll wake you up.”
    Luka nodded. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

Chapter Six
     
    Zed waited in the room until Luka fell asleep. He wanted to ask more questions, but he wouldn’t get truthful answers. His mate used lies to hide his fear. After years of abuse, Luka didn’t know how to be honest. Maybe Luka couldn’t be honest. Zed would help him work through that. Honesty was too important in a relationship. His mate hid a lot of things and someday they needed to talk about those things.
    His tiny mate lived a life full of lies. Zed wasn’t sure he’d be able to change that, but he refused to fall to Luka’s level. Understanding and accepting were two different things.
    Had he already fallen to Luka’s level? No one had ever lied to him as often. If they had, Zed would have shown them the door. He thought about that. Lies destroyed people. His brother was hurt by the lies told by his former lover. He growled. Kane had used Ned and his little brother never got over it. Ned, Nathanial Ellington Darth, trusted everyone. Zed raised Ned to believe in others. Then Kane hurt him and now Ned trusted no one. His brother believed everyone had an agenda. That’s not what Zed wanted for his brother. Ned lived alone, a recluse up in a mountain or deep in the woods in a cabin. His little brother never stayed in one place long enough to make it a home.
    He shook the thoughts away. Priorities changed and his top priority was keeping Luka safe. That meant keeping Kane away. Kane was like a bad itch that never went away. He’d be back and as demanding as ever. The challenge of protecting Luka loomed over him, but one thing was certain, Kane wouldn’t hurt another member of his family.
    He walked to the outer room. Bishop finished putting away more groceries. “Well?” Zed asked.
    “It’s been a while since I needed to shop for food. After Jacob and Sage moved out, there’s been no need. Now the refrigerator is stuffed full. I don’t know if the little guy is going to eat it all.” Bishop laughed. “How’s your mate?”
    Zed looked at the older vampire. The man served his family even before Zed was born. Bishop was not only a trusted confidant, but family. “He’s been abused most of his life.”
    Bishop nodded to show his understanding. “Well, he’s going to need time to adjust and a gentle, loving touch.”
    Zed pushed his hair back. Luka needed love, but it might not be enough. “He lies. A lot.”
    “I see,” Bishop said. “Does he do it for personal gain?”
    “Yes and no. He tells me what I want to hear. He’s afraid that the wrong words will make me so angry that I’ll beat him up.” He paused, trying to make sense of the situation. “Then he tries to push me to hit him.”
    Bishop nodded. “He’s trying to trust you. That’s why he’s pushing so hard. If you hit him, then it’s all over.”
    “I would never touch him like that.”
    “Of course not, but Luka doesn’t know that. Until he trusts you, he can’t be completely honest. It’s going to take time. A lot of it.”
    Zed needed time to think. He’d given Luka no reason not to trust him, but the small elf might not know how to trust. “I need to meet with Roman. Mason is pushing me to tell Roman what happened twenty-five years ago.”
    “It’s time. Now that Theodore and Kane revealed their hands, the others need to know.”
    “There’s more going on.” Zed rubbed a hand