Read Haven 5: Invincible for Free Online

just need me because I’m your mate?” Was there a distinction between the two? He didn’t know, but he felt like it was important.
    “I definitely want you with me.”
    That didn’t sound right, though. The night before, Torren had called him a distraction. Now he wanted him? Aslan knew he wasn’t the brightest crayon in the proverbial box, but he definitely wasn’t stupid. “Don’t lie to me,” he growled, jerking away from Torren and taking a step backward.
    “I’m not lying.”
    “You said I was a distraction.”
    “You are.” Torren sounded so calm and matter-of-fact. It did little to appease Aslan’s anger.
    “Then you can’t want me. Why are you lying to me?”
    “They always lie. He wants to use you. Then he’ll discard you just like everyone else.”
    “I’m not lying,” Torren repeated. “You are a distraction for me. I think about you, worry about you constantly. You make me…weak.”
    “He lies,” the cruel voice hissed. “He only thinks of himself.”
    “Shut up.”
    Torren narrowed his eyes, studying him intently before he continued talking. “When I’m near you, I forget everything else, all the reasons that people depend on me. It’s not safe for us to be apart anymore, though.” He stepped closer, holding his hand out with the palm up. “Let me help you. Let me take care of you.” Aslan didn’t need a keeper, though. “I’m not some animal in the fucking zoo! I don’t need you to take care of me!”
    “That’s right. You can stand alone. No one gives you enough credit.”
    “Shut up!” Aslan knocked his fist against the side of his head. He was so mad, but he didn’t know why or what had caused it. Torren hadn’t really said anything that warranted his overemotional reaction.
    He just needed to think, and he needed quiet to do it.
    “Your friends never put you first. Why should your mate? They all have each other and their own mates. They don’t need you anymore. No one needs you.”
    “Shut up!” he screamed, rapping his knuckles against his temple as if he could beat the voice out of his brain. “I hate you. I hate this. Just leave me alone!” His head started to throb and pressure built behind his eyes until his vision dimmed around the edges.
    “I can make it stop.” Torren knelt in front of him and grabbed his face in both hands. “I can show you how to make it stop. Please, caro .”
    It was the worry in his eyes and the concern in his tone that finally broke Aslan. Sure, Torren could possibly be faking the look, but Aslan didn’t think so. What other options did he have? He was supposed to stand beside his mate. Besides, he really, really wanted those people out of his head.
    Nodding slowly, he reached out and placed his hand in Torren’s, lacing their fingers together. “Okay.”
    “No!”
    Pain exploded in Aslan’s temples, and he felt himself jerked backward as though there was an invisible rope tied around his midsection. His foot caught the edge of the bedframe, sending him tumbling to the floor with nothing to break his fall.
    The back of his head connected with something hard and unyielding, causing him more sickening pain. He thought he heard someone call his name, but it sounded far away and hollow like in a dream. Aslan welcomed the darkness that enveloped him in its warm embrace, drowning out all noise, all sights, and all of his pain.

Chapter Four

    Head wounds bleed. A lot.
    Torren had to keep reminding himself of that as he performed a healing spell on his mate to seal the gash in the back of his head from where he’d hit it on the corner of the nightstand. It really didn’t help to calm him, though. His hands were shaking, his heart was trying to punch through his chest, and his stomach rolled uncomfortably.
    The blood soaking into the beige carpet looked like an extraordinary amount. How could such a tiny person bleed so much?
    Aslan looked pale, and he didn’t even twitch as Torren held him to his chest and rocked him back