Mated to the Vampire Kings (14 page)

There
was a loud bang at the door. Followed by a shout. “Let me in!”

Brant.

Oh
God
!
There was a part of her that didn’t want to know and a much bigger part that
needed to know. She tried to scramble up from behind the bed Griffin had used
as a makeshift barricade.

The
male in question put a hand on her arm, holding her back. Griffin shook his
head. “Stay here,” he growled. “Stay down.”

Once
he moved away, she stood up. She needed to see.

Please
God.

Please.

It
took a half a minute to move the furniture away from the door. Tables, chairs,
the coffee table.

Hurry
up.

Finally,
finally, he pulled the door open. Her heart leapt when she saw Brant carrying
Zane. He was naked, bloody, a total mess but at this moment he had never looked
more beautiful. Make that handsome… He wouldn’t be happy if he heard her call
him beautiful.

He
was alive.

She
gasped, then shrieked and almost fell as she skirted the bed and ran in her
haste to get to them.

“Miss
me?” Zane could barely lift his head.

“Oh
my god...yes.” She threw her arms around him, around them both.

Zane
groaned. “Easy, sweetness. A little banged up here.”

“I
thought you were dead. I thought you had left me. Don’t do that again.” Looking
at him sternly, she put her hands on her hips and then burst into tears. “Don’t
you ever do that again.” She threw her hands around them a second time.

“He’s
getting a little heavy, Cenwein.” Brant said from between clenched teeth.

“Weakling,”
Zane croaked.

“Heavy
fuck,” Brant growled.

Tanya
had to giggle through her tears, moving to let them pass. Her stomach felt
tight and her back was sore. The stress of the last few hours was catching up
to her.

“Take
me to the shower.” Zane said, his face and body were crusted in dirt, sweat and
more blood than she’d ever seen. It was crazy to think about how he had
survived.

The
dull ache in her lower back seemed to spike up her spinal column.
Time to
lie down.
She maneuvered her way back around the bed and overturned
furniture. Sighing as her back hit the soft mattress. Lazarus was still keeping
watch outside so they had nothing to worry about. The shower sputtered to life.
She could hear Zane grunting and groaning and Brant growling. They continued to
give each other shit.
Unbelievable.

“You
missed a spot,” Zane said.

“You
must’ve seriously hit your head if you think I’m going anywhere near your
cock.”

Zane
chuckled, the noise sounding more like a series of grunts. “I wish you could
just admit that you really like this particular part of my anatomy. Like what I
can do with it.”

“Fuck!
You!”

Another
chuckle. “At least admit that you enjoy watching me when I use it to fuck our
mate.”

Brant
let out a loud growl. “No.”

“Just
admit it already.”

There
was a loud sigh. “I love watching our mate. Love. It. Especially when she’s
receiving pleasure.”

Right
now she was loving her supersonic hearing. Loving that she was privy to this
conversation.

“That
you happen to be attached to the cock giving her the pleasure is of no
importance.”

Zane
made a snorting noise. “Yeah right.” There was a long pause. Just the sound of
running water to fill the space. “So if any other male was balls deep inside of
her, you wouldn’t mind?”

Brant
snarled.

“Thought
so. You fucking love me. Just admit it.”

A
low growl was Brant’s only response.

“Love
you too, bro. I owe you. You saved my life.” The words sounded a little choked.
Oh God, they were having a moment. She clutched her hand to her chest because
the pain there was more insistent than the ache in her lower back.

“You
don’t owe me. It was nothing.”

“Bullshit!
That chopper could’ve exploded at any time and you know it.”

Another
long pause. “I know you would have done the same for me.” Brant’s normally deep
voice was a little high pitched. They were definitely having a moment.

There
was a knock at the front door and it pulled her away from the bathroom
conversation.

“It’s
York.”

Griffin
looked down at her, he sucked in a breath getting ready to talk.

“Yeah,
yeah. I’ll stay down here.” She held up a hand to him, turning to face the
other way. Trying to get comfortable. Failing dismally.

“I
kept one of them alive,” York growled. “The fucker is out here. Send Brant.”
There was a pause. “And Zane if he is up for it. I can’t believe he survived
that crash…” He sounded incredulous. “We vampires are fucking awesome.”

“Who
did it? I can only scent…” Griffin sounded confused. She could scent them too.
The faint whiff of human. It was coming off of York’s clothing.

“Yeah...”
York cut him off. “Insane isn’t it? A bunch of humans did this. The bozo
outside isn’t talking.” York let out an evil chuckle that made goose bumps pop
out all over her. “At least not yet anyway. The fucker will squawk like a birdy
when Brant gets ahold of him.”

The
door banged shut just as Brant arrived carrying Zane. “You seriously need to
eat less.” He said between clenched teeth before depositing Zane next to her on
the mattress.

This
was it.

She
heard Griffin relay the information to Brant. “I’ll be back.” He said as he
left.

Knowing
there was nothing she could do about what was going on outside, she turned on
her side to face Zane. She should’ve apologized last night. Should not have
acted as she did in the first place. No matter how fast her heart was racing,
how freaking scared she was. There was no way she was backing out.

Lip
firmly between her teeth, she carefully inched over to him and gasped. “You
look like shit.” Black and freaking blue with gashes, scratches and burns
covering most of his body.

“Good
to see you too.” Zane kept his eyes on the ceiling.

“That
came out wrong. It all did.” She swiped a hand over her face.

“Are
you talking about my looking like shit? Or the part where you accused me of rutting
with another female?” His eyes were still on the ceiling.

“Mainly
that part,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot. A complete and
utter fool. I can’t believe I said those things.” When she started talking she
couldn’t stop. Verbal freaking diarrhea was her middle name right now. “Should
never have done it. You’ve never lied to me. Not once. I know you love me. That
you find me attractive… God…” She huffed, looking down at herself. “Even now...looking
like this.”

“Stop
with the
even now
bullshit. It’s that kind of thinking that put these
crazy ideas in your head in the first place.”

“Um…
No…” Tanya squeezed her eyes shut. “Those ideas came from that crazy lore.”

“That’s
where you are wrong, Tanya.” He turned to face her. His dark, amazing eyes
completely on her. Zane grimaced as he lifted an arm so that he could cup her
face in his warm hand. “If you had a little more faith in yourself… in me at
the very least…you would never have let a lore like that get to you.”

“You’re
right. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything to make it up to you. Name it.”

Zane
made a growling noise. “You don’t have to do anything. I understand where those
feelings stem from. I just wish you would let me kick ex-dickhead’s ass for
him.”

Tanya
had to giggle. “You would kill him.”

“And
the problem is?” Zane smiled.

She
shook her head. “He isn’t worth it. Not even one tiny bit.”

“It
would make me feel better.” Zane looked completely serious and that’s when she
realized that he meant it.

“No
it wouldn’t.” She said, moving closer to him. “But I bet this would.” She
slanted her lips across his. Warm, soft, so delicious. Keeping the kiss short
and sweet, she pulled back. He was still hurting after his ordeal not five
hours ago.

Tanya
looked him over, just to make sure that everything continued to heal. “What the
hell is that? Burned and all torn up and you still manage to get it up.” Tanya
snorted while pointing at his hard member.

“The
only bone in my body that I didn’t break.” Zane bobbed his eyebrows. “If it
weren’t for your bed rest I’d be game right now, sweetness. Your scent is
unbelievable. Fucking delicious.”

She
shook her head. Tanya doubted he was in any position to be able to have sex
right now but she humored him. “If it weren’t for the bed rest and this killer
backache, I would let you.” It was beginning to worry her because the pain was
coming and going. Just like…just like…labor…
no way.

“Um…Griffin?”

“Yes,
my lady.” He answered, from his position at the door.

“Did
you manage to get ahold of Becky. Is she coming?” Tanya tried to keep the panic
from her voice.

“No,
my lady. York sent for reinforcements by vehicle, but a decision was made not
to put the healers in danger. We don’t know what else these humans are
planning.”

“Um…okay.”

“I
will heal, Cenwein. I look ten times better than I did earlier. By tomorrow I
will be back to normal. I may need a bone or two reset but that is nothing.” He
tried to shrug but she could see how his eyes clouded in pain and his face
pulled into a grimace.

Tanya
plastered a smile on her face. “That’s a relief.” It was reassuring to hear
that he was well and truly on the mend. Not that she had doubted it for a
second. She could see the burns healing and the gashes slowly closing over.
Internally, his bones would be knitting and any internal damage healing.

There
was no way she was putting Becky at risk for nothing. Maybe she was wrong about
being in labor. The pain was probably nothing. Just her body telling her to get
some rest.

Lazarus
patrolled the perimeter of the cabin. The male stopped every so often to survey
the horizon and to sniff the air. No one was getting past his keen senses.
Definitely not a bunch of weak, fucking humans.

Just
up ahead, one of the captured humans was on his knees, his hands clasped behind
his neck. York and Scott stood on either side of him. The male didn’t look in
the least bit afraid, he even smirked as Brant approached.

“I’ll
be damned if it isn’t the
other
bloodsucker king.” He spat on the ground
at Brant’s feet.

York
kneed the human in his back, eliciting a loud groan for his efforts. The
human’s face scrunched up in momentary pain.

“I
thought you vamps were big and bad.” His eyes rolled in York’s direction. “Even
a bitch could kick harder than that.”

York
shook his head, he knew better than to retaliate.

Brant
narrowed his eyes at the male on the ground. “I’m not going to mess around and
waste my time with you. Who are you? Why did you shoot that helicopter down and
who are your friends? Start fucking talking.” He kept his voice even. His
facial expressions neutral.

The
male burst out laughing. “Like fuck I’m going to tell you…okay wait…I’ll tell
you why we did it.” His eyes turned hard. “There is no way in hell that we will
allow a bunch of bloodsuckers to take our women. To produce half breed
children. It’s an abomination. I hope this little exercise serves as a warning
to all of you.”

Brant
folded his arms across his chest to prevent himself from laying into the
fucker. One well aimed punch and the male would be dead.

“You
said,
we
, who exactly are you referring to?” Brant asked.

The
human chuckled. “Fuck you, bloodsucker. I’m not talking to you and I refuse to
talk to the authorities when they get here either. You can suck my dick.”

“York,
do you still keep that knife sheathed at your ankle?” He asked while locking
eyes with the head of his elite team.

York
nodded, his eyes flashed with amusement. “Yeah, I do.”

“Please,
can I borrow it?” Brant asked.

York
leaned down, retrieving the blade. “You need to be very careful, it’s really
sharp. It cuts flesh like a hot knife through butter.”

“Good”—Brant
growled—“it sounds perfect for what I have in mind.”

The
human made a whimpering noise. “You can’t use that on me. The cops will know.”
His eyes were wild, his face suddenly pale. “You have no jurisdiction over me,
you vampire fuck.”

Brant
looked around. There were trees as far as the eye could see. He turned back to
the human. “We haven’t called the authorities.”

“Why
the fuck not?” The male was suddenly scared. Brant could scent the acrid stench
of it. It was bitter on his tongue. “Call them!” he screamed.

Brant
shook his head.

“Call
them now! You have no right to hold me, or to even question me.” Sweat beaded
on his brow. “You will get into major trouble for this.”

It
was Brant’s turn to laugh. He allowed the sound to grow from deep within his
belly so the asshole on the ground knew he meant business. “Look around you,
human. I can do whatever the fuck I want to you and no one will ever know about
it. Your body will never be found.”

Another
whimper, louder this time. The bitter stench of fear continued to permeate the
air. So thick, Brant had to breathe through his mouth to get away from it.

“You
c-can’t d-do that,” he stammered. “My friends know I’m here, they’ll tell the
authorities about this and you’ll be in deep shit.” His voice became stronger
as he went on.

Brant
shook his head. “I thought you didn’t want to talk to the authorities”—a
cunning smile appearing on his face—“Besides, your friends orchestrated an
attack on a vampire king. The pilot of that chopper is dead. This little game
you human dickheads have been playing could mean the electric chair. Your
friends aren’t reporting anything to anyone. I would bet millions on that.”
Brant sucked in a deep breath. “Though I truly am a betting male, I only make
bets that I know I will win. This is a sure thing. Care to place a wager?”

The
human’s eyes grew larger and his breathing turned erratic as he processed all
that Brant had said. The male even looked around him. Thousands upon thousands
of acres of countryside. Trees as far as the eye could see. Mountains, valleys
and ridges made the scene even more picturesque, Brant could see why Zane had chosen
this spot. Remote and deeply beautiful.

“You
can’t do this,” he sputtered. “It isn’t right!”

Right.

This
little fucker was so not trying to preach to him about right and wrong.

Brant
clenched his teeth so hard that he heard a crack. Thank the gods for advanced
healing or he would’ve lost his molars many years ago.

Only
once he managed to get himself under control, did he step up closer to the
human. “You are going to tell me what I need to know and you are going to do it
now.” He kept his voice low and calm even though he was losing his patience.
Not that he had much to begin with.

“Fuck
you!” The human screamed and spittle flew from his mouth.

Using
a flat hand, Brant slapped the male and he landed in a moaning heap on the
ground. He held out his hand to York who handed him the knife. Reaching down,
Brant ripped off the male’s shirt. Still half dazed from the slap, the human
whimpered while rolling to his stomach. Hands extended in front of him, he
halfheartedly clawed at the ground in an attempt to get away.

“You
are going to regret the day that you fucked with me and mine.” He slashed the
male across the back, ensuring that he didn’t put too much pressure on the
blade. His skin split open, clean and neat. For a second nothing happened, then
blood began to first blossom and then trickle from the mostly superficial
wound.

The
human was a yellow bellied coward. He and his friends had chosen to sneak
around, to use ammunition to take down that chopper. They had run, like
sniveling pussies. Even after he was caught, this male had decided to try and
hide behind his human authorities and badges. There was no remorse, no wanting
to make amends even though his life hung in the balance.

White
hot rage churned just below the surface as he thought of Zane burned, broken
and almost dead. How terrified his female had looked…

 There
would be no absolution for this male. No honor or respect shown to him. He
didn’t deserve it.

The
human shrieked.

Using
both his hands, Brant pushed down on the fresh wound extracting another loud
scream.

He
pulled back, ignoring his bloodied hands. “Who are you? Who is this,
we,
you are referring to?”

The
male turned to his side. “We are your worst fucking nightmare.” He was crying
openly now. Tears streamed down his dirty face. “My blood brothers are going to
hunt you down. We will kill you…” Snot ran from his nose and his lip trembled.
“Call the authorities. I’ll say that I fell or something. Please…” For a second
there Brant had thought the male had grown a pair, he had been wrong.

“Please…don’t
kill me.” He turned onto his back. Sweat ran down his face. “Please…” Fresh
tears streaked down his dirty face.

Brant
hated begging. Fucking hated it. If this asshole thought for one second that
his tears would help his situation, he was delusional.

Brant
shook his head. “Tell me what I want to know.”

“Will
you let me go?” More tears fell.

Brant
had to clench his jaw. Fucking pathetic. “Tell me or fucking die right this
second.” To prove a point, Brant slashed the male across his chest, sure to
stick to his ribcage in case he accidentally stabbed too deep.

There
was more pathetic wailing and crying. More blood. More stench as the male peed
himself. Disgusting.

“My
brothers will come for you, you vampire cunt!” He screamed, spittle had
gathered around the edges of his mouth. “One king down and one to go. That
human bitch of yours is next. Gary is going to first show her what a real man
feels like…then all the guys will get to have a go. She won’t fucking even
remember—”

There
was a sickening crunch as Brant gripped the fucker’s windpipe. He had only
meant to silence the male. It wasn’t his fucking fault that humans were so
damned soft. The male fell back, his eyes wide and vacant.

Brant
cursed softly. He had meant to get names, locations, numbers…all he had was a
worthless sack of shit. He turned to Scott. “Take the body and get rid of it. I
don’t want any of this coming back to bite us.”

“I
would’ve done the same.” York growled, tapping him once on the shoulder.

He
knew that the male meant well but anger at himself whipped through him. He had
allowed a puny human to goad him, to get the better of him. It was
unacceptable. “I didn’t ask for your opinion,” he growled back. “Keep watch
with Lazarus.” He added the last with less venom this time. “We need to keep
Tanya and our heir safe.”

York
nodded, his eyes were sympathetic for just a moment before they hardened with
resolve.

****

Oh
hell
!
Tanya put one hand to her lower back and the other to her abdomen. This wasn’t
nothing. The pain was becoming more insistent. Her belly tightened and her
lower back throbbed.
Fuckity fuck!

She
clenched the hand that cupped her lower belly, trying to will the pain away. A
moan was torn from her.

“What
is it?” Zane asked, sounding instantly alert.

“I
think we should call Becky.” She tried to keep her voice even.

Zane
grunted loudly as he tried to sit up but ended up falling back against the
pillows. “Please tell me that you’re still worried about me.” His big chest
heaved. “That this has nothing to do with the baby.” His dark eyes were on her.
It was the first time she had seen him look panicked.

“If
it will make you feel better, I’ll tell you it’s about you.” She grit her teeth
as her stomach pulled even tighter. “Oooohhh shiiiit!” Tanya tried hard to keep
her voice down.

At
almost the same time, a loud, agonized scream punctured through the cabin wall.
Excellent timing! That would be Brant and the guys torturing one of the
assholes that had hurt Zane. At least, that’s what it sounded like.

Griffin
shuffled at the foot of the bed. “It won’t be long now.” He chuckled, oblivious
to the fact that she was in labor. There was no doubt in her mind anymore. None
whatsoever. Panic seized her, making her breath come in pants. The choppy
breathing may also have had something to do with the pain that lanced through
her.

“Oh
fuck!” Zane growled. “This has nothing to do with me. Your request earlier for
Becky, had nothing to do with me did it?”

“Yes
and no… maybe.” She moaned, much softer this time as the pain slowly subsided.
“I assumed that she was coming for you, but I needed to know for sure when I
felt the pain. I kind of hoped Becky was…um…coming.”

“That
was a half an hour ago.” Zane cursed. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“I
wasn’t sure but I am now.” Her voice hitched. “I’m scared. Please, we need to
get Becky here…now.”

There
was an even louder scream from outside. So gut wrenching that she had to
squeeze her eyes shut until it was over. The person outside, the one that was
feeling all the pain, had been directly involved in what happened to Zane yet
she still couldn’t take the sound of his suffering.

The
door creaked open, and Brant entered. “It was that other pilot, Russell’s
brother that blabbed. He went to a bar last night, got a little wasted and gave
all the details of our location. The only conciliation is that the idiot human
is dead.” Brant ground his teeth. “The cock sucker outside and his buddies had
seen ads in the paper for a psychologist/trainer as well as females for the
initial trials. They had read about the breeding program and were less than
excited about it.” He choked out a laugh. “Safe to say that the fuckers hated
the idea and decided to do something about it.”

When
she looked up, she noticed that his hands were covered in blood. Some was even smeared
on his chin. It astounded her how he could be so soft, sweet and caring yet so
fierce and unforgiving. So downright dangerous.

The
pain started up again. Her contractions…lord up above please help her because
they were definitely contractions, there was no doubt in her mind anymore.

Zane
must’ve felt her tense up because his hand sought hers and squeezed. “We need
to get Becky here fast.”

“Why?”
Brant’s eyes hardened up, his entire body turned to stone. “What’s going on?”
His dark eyes swept to her. “Fuck no.” He growled, the moment they collided
with hers.

Tanya
knew exactly what he would see. She was wide-eyed, probably looked as panicked as
she felt, she clutched her stomach with both her hands fighting hard to keep a
handle on the pain. She grit her teeth until she tasted blood and nodded once in
affirmation.