The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  “No idea. Unmated females are not permitted to wear underwear.”

  “Fucking barbaric.” Tanya couldn’t help the anger that coursed through her veins. She would take it upon herself as queen of the freaking vampires to change some things around here. She would also make it her mission to talk to their species allegiance partners about some of the outdated, sexist practices that were still normal to them and carried out. “I will have Charlotte come and measure you. You’ll get underwear, dresses and blue jeans. I’ll talk to my males about the whole dating thing. They won’t like it, but they’ll like it even less when I withhold sex, so don’t worry your sweet little head.”

  Esral nodded. “Thank you, Tanya.”

  “We’ll chat later.” She slid off the bed. She turned just as her hand touched the door. “Get out a bit. It might take a few days for my boys to agree to the dating thing. It’s not good for you to be stuck in here though. Xavier will look after you.”

  “He’s the one that I’m supposed to mate with.”

  “I told you, you don’t have to mate with anyone. He’ll keep you safe though.” She turned the knob just a fraction.

  Esral’s eyes narrowed, stopping her from leaving. “The kings want me to mate him.”

  “Look, Esral, he is royalty so your father’s wishes would be granted if you chose to mate with Xavier. It would still be your choice in the end though.”

  “Good, because I don’t think he likes me very much.”

  “He likes you just fine.”

  “He refused the mating.” She put her hands on her tiny hips.

  “Just like you don’t like being told who you can and can’t mate, neither does he. He was just a bit shocked. Don’t let it concern you. He happens to think that you are very pretty.” A tight piece of ass. “He was very jealous when he heard that Griffin has the hots for you.”

  “Who is Griffin?”

  “He was one of the vampires in the front of the SUV that day you arrived with Zane.”

  Esral laughed. “The one who saw my breasts in the mirror? I was a bit worried that he would crash the car.”

  Tanya laughed. “That’s him. We’ll talk later.”

  Esral nodded, “Okay. Thank you.”

  Tanya nodded and left the room. The lock turned as soon as the door closed. She felt that Xavier and Esral still had a chance. Xavier was definitely interested, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

  “And?” Brant crossed his arms across his chest.

  Xavier didn’t say anything, but she noticed how his eyes tracked her closely.

  “Firstly, she doesn’t eat meat. Have them send her fruits and vegetables. Also, I must get a hold of Charlotte so that she can be measured for a wardrobe.”

  “Pity. Silk looks good on her,” Xavier cleared his throat. “I am a male, I did notice her legs under the short robe.”

  Tanya smiled. “I’ll bet. She will still wear her robes but would also like to try some of our clothes. She especially mentioned blue jeans. Anyway, she also mentioned that she wants to go out on a date.” She didn’t mention the fact that Esral didn’t seem too keen on Xavier, or that it sounded like the princess wanted to play the field a bit.

  Xavier made a frustrated sound and ran a hand through his hair. “Seriously?”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Date?” Xavier spat out the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “I don’t date.”

  “Fine. If Esral leaves the room then you follow her.”

  Xavier raised his brows before replying, “Yes, my lady.”

  Tanya purposefully squared her shoulders and strode down the hallway. Brant was soon in stride beside her. “You gave up too easily,” he whispered. “What are you planning?”

  “Your brother can be an ass.”

  Brant chuckled. “He has always maintained that he does not want to mate. Hates the thought of being tied down to one female. The whole species thing is also an issue for him, but yeah he can also be an ass.”

  “What’s with the whole – it has to be a vampire female – thing?” Tanya asked.

  “I’ve told you that my father wasn’t permitted to drink from our mother. She was only ninety six when she died…so really very young. My father—”

  Tanya held up a hand. “Ninety six is considered young?…She was human wasn’t she?”

  Brant nodded.

  “Ninety six is not young for a human.”

  “If you continue to drink vampire blood, then you will age much slower. All mated couples drink from each other, it strengthens the bond. I’ve told you before that my father suffered greatly because my mother refused to share this with him. He had to watch her wither away.” Brant’s shoulders slumped. “He loved her very much and she loved him too but being that she wasn’t a vampire, she never could accept blood drinking. Unlike you…” He pulled her towards him slanting a quick, hot kiss across her lips.

  “What if I don’t like drinking after the baby is born?” Her lips began to feel dry just thinking about blood. She was sure she could hear Brant’s heartbeat, she could definitely smell his delicious scent.

  “You enjoy it too much, Cenwein. I don’t have much knowledge of humans, but I can safely say that you are nothing like my mother was. I remember how she struggled to take blood even when she was heavily pregnant with Xavier. It used to make her gag.” He slid his arms around her waist. “My father would beg her to take from him after she had Xavier and I could see that she really wanted to drink from him, but she just couldn’t. That is why I think Xavier fears being tied to someone who is not a vampire.”

  “Oh shit, Esral doesn’t eat meat, is disgusted by it. She probably wouldn’t be able to take blood.” Her eyes dropped to his neck and she licked her lips.

  “You never know. It is always a toss-up as to whether the thirst will hit. There has never been a vampire elven mating so who knows what would happen there. Or, how it would work out in the end. Try to understand my brother’s fear though.”

  “He likes her.”

  “He wants to rut with her, there’s a difference. My eyes are up here, Cenwein. Since when did I become a blood bank to you? You’ll hurt my feelings.”

  She laughed, tearing her eyes away from his neck to look him in the face. “You became a blood bank after impregnating me. I’m thirsty.” Her canines had sharpened up into little fangs. Drinking would have to wait a few more minutes though. “Esral wants to date.”

  “I’m sure Xavier will come around. He can take her out.” His hands were splayed on her back, rubbing her in easy strokes.

  “I have my doubts that he will. It’s risky, but I think we should have Griffin ask her out. Let the two of them go out on a date.”

  Brant tensed. He put his hands on her hips. “Oh, no. Griffin is a horny young buck, his dick is still bigger than his brain. Xavier might kill him if he so much as laid a single finger on the princess.”

  She narrowed her eyes in a suggestive manner allowing a sly smile to form on her lips.

  Brant choked out a laugh. “Little minx. You want to make Xavier jealous.”

  She waggled her eyebrows. “Right now, even though he is interested, there isn’t enough of an incentive for him to go after her. I plan on giving him one. We need to get the princess a new, really sexy wardrobe and then let her go on a date with Griffin. Xavier won’t be able to think straight I assure you.”

  Brant’s eyes narrowed in thought. “The only problem I have with this plan is that Griffin might end up rutting with Esral. We can be a persuasive species.”

  Tanya took her lip between her teeth, squealing when her sharp fang broke the skin. Brant laughed. He kissed her all better but as he did, his eyes sprang open, and they were wide and glowing. He broke the kiss. His body hardened and he pulled further away.

  “Are you okay?” He didn’t respond. “Brant?”

  After taking a deep breath, his eyes dimmed somewhat. “Sorry, Cenwein. You just taste really good. Control is still a big issue
around you. Even more so now that you are pregnant. I look forward to the new moon.” His face clouded taking on a familiar scowl, one that meant he was thinking of Zane.

  “I can’t wait either.” She moved back into him.

  “I’ve been thinking, Cenwein. I don’t want to mate you with Zane in the room. I’ll take you and then he can have you. We need to keep it separate.” Brant released her hips completely.

  “Or, Zane can mate me first.”

  His fists clenched and his jaw cracked as he ground his teeth. “Do you want him first?”

  “It’s not about who goes first but that’s just it, it will become an issue if we keep things separate. I am mating the two of you, Brant. As Zane has pointed out before, we are in this together. The three of us.”

  “I want our mating to be special. I want to make love to you, Cenwein. I don’t want him watching.” He cast his eyes to the floor. Emotion evident on his face.

  Tanya took a tentative step towards him. “Oh, Brant. She clasped his jaw. We can make love. We will make love.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I will go first and I will take my time, that bastard can wait.”

  “Here we go again.” She rolled her eyes. “And all along I thought Zane was bad with his dictating ways.”

  “Please don’t compare me to him.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry.” She put her hands in his. “This is new to me too. We will figure something out.”

  Brant nodded. “I still think it is a mistake to have us all together on that night.”

  “We are together whether we like it or not. Trying to separate the mating would end in the two of you in a fight.”

  “Put the three of us in the same room during the new moon and we may end up fighting anyway.” His eyes bore into hers.

  “Not if I’m naked, plus there’s the baby to consider. It would be dangerous if I ended up in the crossfire.”

  His body remained tense.

  Tanya pressed herself up against him. “Promise me that you’ll at least try to make it work.”

  His eyes softened. “I’ll try, Cenwein.”

  “I’m so freaking thirsty.” She nuzzled into his neck lapping at the spot where his pulse was strongest, but Brant pulled away.

  He surveyed the hall looking in one direction and then the other. “I need to warn you that drinking in public is on the same level as walking around naked or rutting.”

  She gasped. “Oh my gosh, really? I thought that there was nothing intimate about drinking.”

  “It can be intimate and when you drink from me it will be, but it doesn’t have to be. Changing into your pajamas is not considered an intimate act either, yet it is not something you would do in public.”

  She giggled. “I guess not. It just strikes me as weird that you fornicate at will. Drink like mad from one another. The females walk around half naked, yet drinking in public is seen as taboo.”

  Brant shrugged his big shoulders. “Are you sure you can’t wait until we get back?”

  She shook her head unable to take her eyes off of his neck. God he smelled so good to her. Tanya let go of his hands and clasped his biceps. So big.

  Brant chuckled, he picked her up and carried her to the nearest door. After knocking once, Brant entered. It was a lounge alcove and it was thankfully empty. He turned and propped her up against the closed door. “Don’t want any interruptions.” His voice held a gravely tone that cranked up her need.

  Tanya closed her legs around his hips and buried her face into the base of his throat. Her fangs throbbed as she sank them into his smooth skin. She drank her fill, sighing as she released him. Brant’s jaw was locked, his eyes glowing softly. His rock hard cock pressed against her belly.

  “Are you okay?”

  “You do crazy things to me.” He kissed her ever so softly, and she could see that his fangs had extended. Huge, deadly looking things. “Maybe it is best that Zane be there during the mating. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to keep it together.” He shook his head looking defeated. “So much for making sweet love to you on the night.”

  “Don’t be silly. We have many years ahead. Many long nights.”

  Brant smiled. “I can’t wait.” His dick twitched between their bodies.

  “It looks like someone wants to start right now.”

  Shaking his head, he lowered her. “There’s time for that later. Let’s get going.”

  She giggled, “Drinking makes me hot.”

  “Makes me hot too, but I have something special planned remember?”

  “Where did you say you were taking me?” she asked on a sigh.

  “I didn’t,” he grinned. “It’s a surprise.”

  Chapter 25

  Tanya’s hair cascaded around her shoulders. The beautiful dress she wore was the color of the ocean. It hugged her body in all the right places, pulling tight around her breasts which seemed to have swelled in the last few days. So drool worthy, he’d have to work hard to keep from ripping the material from her body once they were behind closed doors.

  Her cheeks were flushed and her chestnut eyes were bright with excitement. She squealed as she exited the vehicle throwing herself in his arms for an embrace that had his cock swelling all over again.

  Since finding out about the child, he had felt even more drawn to her, more attracted and all the more possessive. Brant pulled her tighter against him, enjoying her scent.

  Tanya pulled away rubbing at the tears that ran down her cheeks. “I can’t believe you did this. I had forgotten all about the mention Xavier made of it. Oh, thank you.” She sniffed reaching up to kiss him. No female would ever taste as good. He pulled her back in for a second scorching slant of the lips, this time deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.

  Someone hooted and shouted for them to get a room. For a second there he had forgotten they were in the town of Sweetwater, surrounded by humans.

  “It’s amazing. Let’s go inside.” Tanya giggled like a teenager, she grabbed his hand and pulled him in the direction of the store.

  When Brant had found out about this little book store, he’d come out to see it for himself. It was easy to see how much it meant to her because her whole demeanour changed every time she talked about it. She’d bought this business with the money that her folks had left her and he wanted her to see her dream of a coffee shop within it realized. More than that, he wanted her not only to keep her little business but to watch it flourish. Since the store was closed in her absence, he’d taken the opportunity to make a few upgrades.

  Once inside, Tanya turned in a slow circle with her mouth in the shape of an “o”. A loud gasp escaped her and she clasped her hands to her mouth. A tear tracked down her cheek.

  “You’re not meant to cry.”

  Her tear soaked eyes flashed to his. “It’s just so perfect. Better than I had ever imagined.”

  Brant had gone with a mix of modern and classic. His little human seemed to like the chandeliers at the manor house, so he’d had two major pieces installed. Bookcases lined the walls from ceiling to floor. There was even one of those ladders that wheeled up and down the wall. He’d have to remember to thank the interior designer. She’d outdone herself.

  The desks and tables were restored antiques but the chairs were retro and bright red. The floors were polished porcelain with Persian rugs to add warmth. The kitchen was small but modern. Fitted with the latest gadgets. Brant had handpicked the cappuccino machine himself.

  Tanya shrieked as she caught sight of the checkout area. “This is amazing.”

  “You seemed to like the one at Aorta.”

  “I love it.” She sighed as she ran a hand over the glass surface. The glass slab was a much smaller replica of the bar at the club. It was the first time he was seeing it in the store and he had to admit, it did look impressive.

  There was another feminine shriek at the front door that had him cringing as pain lanced his eardrums.

  “Becks!” Tanya screamed and Brant had to su
ppress a real urge to cover his ears. The females both ran towards each other, embracing somewhere in the middle.

  They proceeded to call each other names while laughing and hugging happily.

  “You look so good, you skanky little whore,” said the small, human female. She had blond hair that curled softly in kinks halfway down her back. She was smaller than Tanya but just as curvy. Not that he was interested in any way. In fact the human looked far too breakable for his liking.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Becks.” His female gushed. They released one another.

  “Only one call since you left, you brat?”

  “I’ve been busy. Stop bitching for once in your life.” They were both grinning so broadly.

  “Yeah, if cock sucking can be termed busy then yeah you have been.”

  “Bitch.” Tanya put her hands on her hips still smiling broadly.

  “Cow.” Blond curls bounced.

  “Nerd.” They both giggled and threw their arms around each other for a second bouncing on the spot all out hug. “This is Brant.” Tanya turned her eyes on him. “Come over here.” His human motioned for him to join them. Tanya slid her arm around him as soon as he was at her side. “You are the absolute best. This”—Tanya turned in the direction of the small human female—“is my bestie Becky, but you already know that since you invited her.”

  He felt his brow knit in confusion but wasn’t given an opportunity to react since the little human nudged Tanya aside and threw her arms around him. His body stiffened and he kept his hands at his sides. He wasn’t used to this type of show of affection.

  “So good to finally meet you,” she said squeezing him tight. The female finally released him, and she took a step back. “Ooooh, you weren’t lying when you said he was hot. Oh God and big…make that enormous.” Becky gave him the once over, propping her hand on a cocked hip as she did. “Is the other one just as tasty?”

  Brant couldn’t help the low growl that was pulled from him.

  Tanya put her hand into his and squeezed, her eyes remained firmly on her friend. “Don’t be so rude, Becks.” His female eyeballed the other woman.