“You are wrong.” Zane fought against the vampires that held him, his face twisted in rage. “If she is taken, I swear to God. I swear to God…” He repeated as they wrestled him to the door. “I’ll kill you!” He shouted as they pulled him from the room. “You will fucking die!” he screamed from down the hall.
Brant pulled Tanya into his arms. She shook as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
“It’s going to be okay.” He rubbed her back trying to still the shaking of her shoulders as she sobbed.
“Did he mean it?” Tanya finally lifted her tear soaked face.
“He couldn’t kill me if he tried.”
A sad sounding giggle ended on a hiccup. “No. Did he mean it about the alpha coming for me?”
Brant pulled in a deep breath. “Zane was only speculating, but it is possible.”
“Oh god.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.” She buried her face into his chest. Her little hands fisted the shirt at his back. Brant needed to protect his human at all costs.
“I’m so sorry.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. He took a crisp, folded hanky from his pocket, it was embroidered in gold with his family crest.
“Hey.” He cupped her chin once she finished wiping her nose. She refused to meet his gaze. “What do you have to be sorry about?”
“I had sex with Zane.” Tanya ended the sentence on a sob. Fresh tears ran down her cheeks. Brant had to work to stop himself from breaking something just to make himself feel better. Seeing her like this destroyed him.
He sighed using the pad of his thumb to wipe away the tears. “I should apologize. I didn’t explain Mate’s Lore to you properly. The truth is, I couldn’t stand the thought of Zane…touching you. I had every reason to believe that he had killed his chosen and was afraid of losing you. I guess I also have a possessive streak a mile long…when it comes to you that is.”
She shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t have had sex with him. It’s not right…”
“Cenwein”—he brushed a wayward strand from her face—“it’s perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable. We are to share you until the new moon. That means in every way.” He cupped her chin forcing her to look at him. Her big fearful eyes almost brought him to his knees.
“….But you almost went crazy when you smelled him on me.”
“I had selfishly hoped that you would rebuff Zane. I was wrong to have wanted it. You have nothing to be guilty about. I’m a weak asshole. I’m so sorry I made you feel this way. I’m even sorrier that I couldn’t keep it together when I scented Zane on you.” The thought of the arrogant bastard touching his female rubbed him the wrong way. He had hoped that he would have been able to deal with being confronted with the inevitable, but he had been wrong. Even now, her underlying scent was still intermingled with that of Zane’s.
He needed to put some distance between them because the need to take her again rode him hard. More than just that, he wanted to mark her body with his semen like an animal. To drink from her and to request that she do the same from him. His little human was not ready for such a big step though. He was also still a little concerned that he might hurt her. Even though he had told her that he wouldn’t, he knew he may accidentally do just that. He still didn’t fully trust himself.
“You’re apologizing to me. This whole situation isn’t right.” She shook her head.
“We have both chosen you and it is normal that you feel attracted to both of us. Does he treat you well? Does he care about your…needs?” Brant forced himself to relax his hold on her. Tanya needed to come first in everything. He had made her feel this way and he would be damned if he allowed her to have any more discomfort because he was a selfish idiot.
“Oh my God. Are you asking me if he…”
“Yes. Does he treat you right both in and out of bed? I need to know.”
Tanya smiled as she recalled her time with Zane. Brant was sure she didn’t even know she was doing it. It made his chest tighten.
“He’s a big, fat jerk. The man is unbelievably bossy. Zane can be hard, he is ruthless.”
Brant couldn’t help himself, he growled. Tanya put her hand on his wrist. “But there is a softer side to him. He has feelings and emotions and he does care, even if he pretends that he doesn’t.”
Brant touched the fresh marks on her neck and she winced even though there would be no pain. “I know he drank from you and that he rutted with you.” Her lashes fluttered as her eyes looked down.
The thought almost sent him into a rage but he put a sharp rein on his emotions. Tanya came first. “I told you that you have nothing to be ashamed about, Cenwein. Now tell me, Zane seems to …care about your wellbeing. Has he been good to you and put your needs first?”
Chapter 15
How could she tell Brant that the sex had been explosive, that they had taken what they needed from each other like animals? Rutting was the right word to describe their coming together.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Good.” He strode away from her towards the door. “I need to meet with my guard. We must prepare…” He paused at her sharp intake of breath. His eyes softened. “As a precaution only. I would rather that we be over prepared than be taken by surprise.”
She nodded trying not to shudder as she recalled how the wolf had looked at her. At the time she had thought that he was sizing her up to make a meal out of her. After hearing Zane’s views, maybe he was looking at her with a different kind of hunger. Tanya tucked the thought firmly into the back of her mind. It wouldn’t help if she worried about something she could do nothing about, she trusted Brant to keep her safe.
“I have doubled the guard within the manor walls and have men doing perimeter patrols. You can spend some time with Stephany. Xavier must accompany you though.” Brant pulled a sheathed knife from a drawer in the large mahogany desk. It was small. With one easy motion he slid the blade clear. It looked sharp. “A silver dagger, the hilt is made from bone. Silver is deadly to non-humans. Make sure that you go for the throat.” Brant’s words made her feel a little feint, but after her ordeals the previous day she made sure that she took note. “It may be necessary to stab into the abdomen to bring down the enemy first. The throat is where you need to aim if you are forced to kill though. Another kill zone, but I would avoid this one, is the heart. It can be difficult to get to because of the ribs. You would need to stab from below angling your blade like this.” He demonstrated bringing the knife up in an arc. “The blade is small but do not be fooled, it is capable of doing major damage. I need you to promise me that you will keep it close at all times and that you will use it if need be.”
She nodded as she took the knife from him. Brant covered her hand with his much bigger one. “Do not hesitate. If you are in danger use the blade.” He released her.
They walked side by side to the main living area. Stephany’s face lit up as they approached. Brant kissed her forehead and headed to the waiting men at the entrance.
The moment the men left the manor house, at least all but Xavier and York, Stephany turned to her, her cobalt eyes blazing. “Out with it. Don’t leave out one single detail.”
There were just too many emotions coursing through her, she didn’t know how she felt about everything that had taken place. Although Tanya needed to confide in someone, she just couldn’t right this second. “I really need a shower.”
At first Stephany looked disappointed, then she smiled broadly “And you must be hungry?”
She had already eaten but she nodded anyway. “Yeah, I am.” Anything to buy a bit of time alone.
Stephany walked with her. When she tried to enter the suite that had been allocated to her, Stephany gestured towards the door that lead to Brant’s bedroom. “Your things have been moved. The King’s orders.” They walked in, Tanya deposited her bag on the bed.
“Make yourself at home, I’ll be back in a little while with something to eat.” The female vampire smil
ed at Tanya as she closed the door behind her.
She walked further into the room. Plush carpet beneath her feet, a crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling above the king sized bed, a gold guild mirror took residence on the far wall. The room was certainly fit for a king. Tanya removed her tattered sweater, and the rest of her clothes trying not to recall how they got that way. She made for the bathroom.
After a hot shower, she opened the big dressers that lined one side of the suite. The first two were filled with men’s clothes. Brant’s things. The next two were full of women’s clothes. Hers. The ones Stephany had bought for her, except there seemed to be more now.
What she really felt like wearing at the moment was her old worn out Harley Davidson T-shirt and sweatpants, but those were still at her old apartment. She’d have to talk to Brant about having her things brought to the manor. Then again, maybe she should wait to find out where she ended up living in the end. Back to that irritating indecision. She brought her fingers to her temple and massaged. One of the kings was going to end up losing. No heir, no future, extinction of their coven. The massive weight of her choice settled more firmly onto her. She needed to talk about it, but Stephany was far from objective since she would want Tanya to choose Brant.
She grabbed a pair of boxers that she’d seen in Brant’s closet, one of the plain white t-shirts, and some comfortable cotton underwear. She planned on staying behind these four walls for a little while for some much needed peace. Tanya dug in her overnight bag and pulled out her cell phone.
Her best friend answered after the first ring, “Why has it taken you so long to call?”
“Nice hello.” Her mouth pulled into an involuntary smile and already she could feel some of the weight lift.
“So what’s it like to shag a vampire?” Becky would have seen the whole choosing debacle on the local news station. By now everyone in Sweetwater would know, little old Tanya Milan had been one of the human females chosen. Becky had been so pissed that she wasn’t permitted to attend the ceremony. Her feisty little friend would have loved to have had a chance at one of the kings. One of her kings.
“Confusing.”
“What’s confusing about it? Do they do it in some other kind of way?” It felt so good to hear her friend’s voice. The stress seemed to melt away from her.
“No.” She couldn’t help but giggle.
“Please, oh please just tell me the sex is good.” There was an expectant pause at the other end of the line.
Tanya couldn’t help but recall how Brant had thrust into her while Zane had toyed with her clit. She groaned, “Mind blowing.”
Becky screamed directly into the mouthpiece so that Tanya had to hold the phone away for a few beats. “I knew it, I just knew it. Why do you sound so glum?”
Tanya filled her in on the events of the last few days, having to hold the phone away from her ear every so often.
“You are shitting me. They are going to bounce you between them for the next nine days? You get to have sex with both men till the new moon?”
“Yeah.”
Another scream.
“Stop that, you’re giving me a headache. It’s not as great as what it sounds. I need to choose at the end of the nine days and one of them will end up with no heirs. There won’t be a future king and that coven will be doomed.” Tanya sighed.
“I take it you like both kings?”
Tanya paused. She had been so sure that Brant was the one and if she was forced to choose right now she would go with him, but Zane was quickly creeping under her skin. He might be a big bully and a jerk, but he had a vulnerability that brought out the protector in her.
“Yeah, I guess I do.”
“If they’re sharing you now, why not indefinitely? You could have both of them. Problem solved.” For a half a beat, Becky’s suggestion made complete sense. She even felt her heart pick up a beat at the prospect of not having to choose. Then reality came crashing back.
“Weren’t you listening? They’re enemies. Up until a few years ago, they were at war. There’s still a lot I don’t know about their history but you should’ve seen them fighting this morning. I’m talking fists, blood the whole nine yards. I don’t think it would ever work.” Surely if such a solution was even half feasible they would’ve thought of it.
“They were actually physically fighting over you?” her voice was filled with awe.
“It’s not as great as what you would imagine. I’m not talking love taps. If the others hadn’t been there to intervene, they may’ve ended up killing each other.”
“Over you. How romantic.”
Tanya laughed. Right now she wished she had some of Becky’s easy going nature. Her friend took everything in stride. It was one of the reasons they were such good friends. They helped balance one another.
“I still say you should keep them both. Sounds like the perfect solution to me. There are worse things than being the filling in a vampire sandwich.” Becky laughed at her own joke.
“You didn’t just say that?”
“Yeah I did. When are you inviting me? I would love to meet your men.”
“I don’t know Becks, humans are kind of off limits and don’t get invited…ever.” Tanya moved the phone to the other ear. She sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window. Leather clad guards patrolled the surrounding lawns in pairs.
“I promise to keep my hands to myself. Then again, I wouldn’t be able to resist all that muscle. Why are humans off limits?”
“Apparently we break easily.”
A long pause, “Are you telling me you’re in danger?”
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me.” She tried to answer immediately and to keep her answer simple, but obviously something had given her away.
“Don’t give me that, I’m fine bullshit. Out with it.”
“They’re big, seriously strong and drink blood, there is some risk, at least until I’m mated. Then apparently I’ll become stronger or something.”
Her friend huffed. “Mmmm, well come on new moon I say. I’ll seriously have me some vampire steaks if anything happens to you though, and I will be coming to visit soon. They can’t keep you away from your bestie.”
“There are other issues at the moment that would make your visiting difficult. The vampires are kind of at war with the elves and werewolves” She paused deciding not to worry her friend by telling her everything. “It’s a little unstable at the moment.”
“No ways. You’re in danger from all sides. That’s it, I’m coming to fetch you.” Becky was being impulsive as always.
“Calm down, I’m perfectly safe,” she lied. “Brant and Zane will protect me. I’m surrounded by dozens of royal guard. I’m fine.”
“Ooooh, in that case lucky you. Now do yourself a favor and convince your men that a vampire sandwich is the way to go.”
Tanya laughed. She only wished it could be that simple. They said their goodbyes and Tanya promised to call Becky again soon. Next, she called her aunt who didn’t even know that Tanya had been chosen or that she was missing. Once the old lady had been filled in, she reassured her that she was safe and that everything was fine. Aunt Sally invited Tanya and her new boyfriend round for lunch on Sunday and Tanya had to carefully decline. Aunt Sally didn’t seem to fully understand that her niece was about to become a vampire bride. She said her goodbyes promising to call again soon.
Tanya stretched herself out on the huge bed. After ten minutes, she rummaged in her overnight bag and pulled out a book. The latest release from her favorite romance author. One of her guilty pleasures, she loved to read. The problem was that she battled to concentrate on what she was reading and kept having to flip back a page or two to reread the section before. She had too much on her mind at the moment. On the verge of giving up, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Stephany breezed in, a silver tray in her hands covered in everything. Eggs, delicious smelling crispy bacon. There was toast and pancakes w
ith syrup and grated cheese. A pot, of what smelled like, freshly brewed coffee and a tall glass of orange juice. Tanya’s stomach growled.
“Sounds like I am just in time.” Stephany glanced down at Tanya’s tummy before putting the tray on the bedside table. “May I?” She gestured to the spot at the end of the bed.
Tanya nodded and Stephany sat, the bed dipped as she did so.
“I heard that Zane had nothing to do with his human’s death. She took her own life, that had to have been really difficult for Zane considering his past.”
Tanya tried to stop herself from reacting, but a strangled gasp still managed to escape.
“You didn’t know about the suicide?”
“I knew that she had died and that Zane was not responsible, but I wasn’t sure of the exact circumstances. What happened to Zane before I mean?” Tanya suspected his hardened exterior and that vulnerable edge had something to do with it.
“Oh no. You need to speak to him yourself. Like I said, he’s had it tough. I take it you must have gotten along well with him.” Stephany pointed at the tray, “Eat.”
“Just because we had sex doesn’t mean we got along.” Tanya sat up tucking her legs underneath herself. She snagged some bacon.
“Were you compatible?”
Tanya didn’t answer, not sure what the female vamp meant. Stephany must have registered the confusion on her face because she added. “Did you enjoy the sex?”
Tanya almost choked on the piece of bacon she was swallowing but managed to compose herself. “Sheesh, is nothing sacred around here? Why is it so important about how much I enjoyed the sex anyway?”
“It is the first and very important test on whether you would make a good pair. I hope that you enjoyed Brant more.”
#3 Chosen by the Vampire Kings: BBW Romance (Part 3: Love & War) Page 3
