by Ginna Moran
“So what the hell with the Blood Vow?” Jameson asks, turning to Bronx. “We agreed that we would not propose such a thing.”
“I’m sorry, brothers,” Bronx says, meeting each of their gazes. “They needed a good reason as to why I didn’t just hand Gwen over and be done with it. They had to know that I don’t consider her just a possession.”
“It better not have been one based on love,” Mikkalo mutters, his shoulders tense.
Bronx shakes his head. “Loyalty. The actions of the Barons and the Blood Rebels made her loyalty easy to prove. She chose us. It was enough.”
“And what about the fact that she can’t transform?” Everett asks, keeping his voice low.
Bronx sighs. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Later,” Mikkalo says. “We have to go. The board will arrive in the lobby soon.”
Bronx picks me up, and the five of us head to the lobby in silence. Murmurs sound through the air only to silence under our arrival. Not even a few seconds later, the rest of the board materializes in front of us.
Viorica wastes no time, straightening her back and calling the crowd’s attention. “We’d like to announce that we’ve found no evidence to support the accusations of Mr. Corona Anderson.”
Corona growls. “It’s Mr. Royale.”
Zara steps forward. “Due to the lack of loyalty and the obvious ulterior motives, we’ve voted to annul the union between the Andersons and Royales.”
Corona flashes his fangs and glares at me. “You better tell the board you want to keep me in your coven. You don’t want me to share your secret now, do you?”
My heart stalls before picking up in overdrive.
“What secret?” someone in the crowd asks.
Freeport materializes behind Corona, and he stiffens, his eyes widening. The scent of his bitter blood trickles to me, my sense of smell now stronger than ever. I don’t have to see it to know that Freeport stabs a knife into Corona’s back in warning.
I clear my throat. “That I’m pregnant.”
“Something that the board is aware of,” Viorica says. “And none of your concern. Mr. Royale granted Ms. Royale’s request for an heir before her Blood Vow.” It’s a flat out lie, but the words are enough to settle the crowd.
Whatever Freeport does is also enough to stop Corona from continuing to speak up.
“Now, if we may continue with no further interruptions,” Mr. Goldman says.
Viorica nods at him. “After looking into recent events occurring in the Royale Region, we have decided to do a complete re-evaluation of the city heads.”
Gasps and growls sound through the air, setting off my human rationale like crazy. Bronx holds me tighter, rubbing his big hand up and down my back to suppress my out of control nerves.
“Based on what?” a guy asks, standing from his seat.
“Outsider influence.” Viorica meets Freeport’s gaze. “Because you did not trust your region leader and have purposely tried to jeopardize his position on the board, Donor Life Corp has convicted all Royale Region city heads with treason. You will be executed immediately.”
Outrage bursts through the room, people pulling out all sorts of weapons. Bronx spins me toward a wall, and my guys surround me protectively.
“I’d like to motion for an appeal.” Freeport’s deep voice sounds through the air, silencing the angry crowd. “I’d like to remind the board that it is the leaders of the region’s cities’ right to make decisions that best protect their donor populations. None of the city heads have acted out against Mr. Royale but were doing what they thought necessary to protect their cities.”
“Against you!” I yell.
“Me?” Freeport raises an eyebrow. “No, that is untrue. I have proof that all recent attacks were caused by Blood Rebels. Mr. Royale has done nothing of the situation and has even allowed many rebels to go freely without the proper consequence.”
Bronx stiffens, tightening his hold on me. “What proof?”
“Videos, witnesses, even some of the rebels,” he says. “And due to the severity of the situation and because I am the new head of Sky Canyon, I demand the board allow me to contest Mr. Royale’s position as board member to apply for the position myself.”
The board remains expressionless.
“Or do you not follow and uphold the very laws you’ve created?” Freeport asks. “How will your own city heads trust you?”
Viorica and the board look to each other in silent conversation for a moment, and then Viorica turns to Bronx. “I’m sorry, Mr. Royale. I’m afraid we’re going to have to grant him the ability to apply.”
Bronx tightens his jaw. “I understand.”
“Do you want to challenge his request to maintain your position?” Viorica asks.
“I do,” Bronx says, looking to his brothers. “The region is mine.”
“Very well. We will meet again in thirty days to settle the future of the Royale Region,” Viorica says. “This meeting is adjourned.”
With her words, the crowd disappears. Bronx runs at a vampire’s speed, relocating me to his suite. Mikkalo, Jameson, and Everett surround us, and they all try to speak at once.
“Stop,” Bronx says, raising his hand. “I’ve made my decision. I can’t let the region go. It’s more important now than ever. For Gwen’s sake.”
“But to challenge that asshole? He’s from before the uprising, Bronx,” Jameson says, throwing his hands up.
“It means nothing,” Bronx snaps.
“Are you kidding me? We can’t risk losing you,” Mikkalo says, smacking him on the back.
My blood chills, my mouth going dry. “What? What does he mean by losing you?”
Bronx groans and links his fingers behind his head without responding to me. Mikkalo and Everett turn their gazes away, not wanting to tell me either. Snatching Jameson’s hand, I force him to look at me.
“What does he mean, Jamie?” I ask, staring into his green eyes.
Jameson’s eyes glass over for a second before he composes himself. “A challenge is a fight for power. It’s a fight to the death.”
To be continued...
Thank you so much for reading Rebel Match! Don’t forget to check out Rebel Heir, the fourth book in The Royale Vampire Heirs series.
If you love the Vampire Heirs world and haven’t checked out The Divine Vampire Heirs and Academy of Vampire Heirs, you can check them out below.
Meet the Divines.
Enroll in the Academy of Vampire Heirs today.
If you love werewolves, check out The She-Wolf Games, the first book in The Pack Mates of Lunar Crest. Let the games begin!
Other Series by Ginna Moran
REVERSE HAREM
The Divine Vampire Heirs Series
The Royale Vampire Heirs Series
Academy of Vampire Heirs Series
The Pack Mates of Lunar Crest Series
YOUNG ADULT PARANORMAL
Call of the Ocean Series
Demon Watcher Series
Demon Within Series
Destined for Dreams Series
Finding Nate Series
Going Ghostly Series
Spark of Life Series
The Merman’s Spark Series
When Souls Collide Series
YOUNG ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Falling into Fame Series
Life After Lila
About Ginna Moran
GINNA MORAN IS a writer from sunny Southern California. She started writing poetry as a teenager in a spiral notebook that she still has tucked away on her desk today. Her love of writing grew after she graduated high school, and she completed her first unpublished manuscript at age eighteen.
When she realized her love of writing was her life’s passion, she studied literature at Mira Costa College in Northern San Diego. Besides writing novels, she was senior editor, content manager, and image coordinator for Crescent House Publishing Inc. for four years.
Aside from Ginna’s professional life, she enj
oys binge watching television shows, playing pretend with her daughter, and cuddling with her dogs. Some of her favorite things include chocolate, anything that glitters, cheesy jokes, and organizing her bookshelf.
Ginna Moran loves to hear from her readers so visit her online at www.GinnaMoran.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To stay up-to-date on new releases, sign up to her newsletter. You’ll not only get exclusive access to extra stories, but you’ll be able to participate in monthly giveaways!
