Damn resisters, the stubborn little female.
After what seemed like decades, Tavish got the entire drink into her; he continued to sit beside her. She lay unmoving. Periodically, he sent terror-filled, evil, panicked, fretful glances to the doctor. Caine just remained seated, filling out paperwork on Mercy. All of Tavish’s humans had records. Who they bred with, their weight, height, freckles, identifying marks. Caine was beyond meticulous. He cared for each human in a loving and professional manner.
“You really found a prize this time,” Caine said. “She’s young and healthy. She will be ovulating soon if you want to prepare her to pick out two men. She shouldn’t need more. And I’ve been experimenting with a drug that may produce two viable egg releases. Soon we should have all the women here giving birth to twins. Maybe even triplets.”
“Is that dangerous?” Tavish rose to his feet and began pacing while wringing his hands. He noted the doctor’s raised eyes. “I like the birth of twins as well as the next vampire, but not if it will harm the woman. A baby won’t have a baby for years. You know I prefer to breed the females after they’re done with their teen years. It’s safer and healthier for both mother and child. A full-grown, ovulating female is better to have than two motherless children.”
Caine sighed. “True. We can use it on only mothers who have proved fertile and watch them closely. With each birth there’s a better chance of a multiple birth occurring. There would be no shortage of blood supply then. We could also wait three years instead of two giving the females more recovery time. More blood is always a good thing.”
“It could prove to be not unlike the synthetic blood you made,” Tavish said sarcastically.
Caine had the decency to look sheepish, he shrugged. “It serves its purpose. It won’t kill you. I didn’t say it was palatable.”
“Hmm, also not unlike the cough medicine you made for the humans who complain of it.”
Mercy began to stir. Tavish went and sat beside her. Caine approached as well. Tavish scowled and Caine bullied his way past him.
“My patient,” he declared wide-eyed and cheekily.
Mercy blinked. She looked up at Caine without fear. It never ceased to amaze Tavish that humans just seemed to know Caine was there to help them. It was the way he looked. The clean cut, dark-haired, blue-eyed Adonis. Since Caine loved both males and females equally he was a natural at putting both sexes at ease.
“Mercy, my name is Caine. If you are ever injured or feel pain just call my name out loud and I will come to you. Never fear me. I only want to help. I’m called a doctor, a healer who helps the injured. Do you understand, sweetheart?” She nodded dutifully and continued to gaze up at him while he smiled at her.
Caine placed a hand on her forehead then cocked his head and Tavish knew he was listening to her heartbeat. It was steady and growing stronger. Caine studied her eyes, then the elasticity of her skin for hydration. Finally he smiled, and Tavish breathed a sigh of relief. Tavish fluffed the pillows behind her head and with a direct look sent Caine from the room. Mercy’s eyes followed Caine as he left. Tavish didn’t know whether to be annoyed or amused. She looked like she had been run over by a truck and enjoyed it.
“How are you feeling?” Tavish asked anxiously.
Mercy stretched like a cat and sat up. “Wonderful,” she purred. “My body has never had so many feelings. Touching, tasting, wanting, and giving. Is that loving?”
Relieved, Tavish smiled. “Yes, that was loving, little cub.”
“Will we do it again soon?”
“Not yet. You need to rest and eat. The other humans are anxious to get a peek at you. Especially the men.”
“Will you really share me?”
“I won’t share you at all. I will breed you, but not now,” he replied and was surprised her words frustrated him.
“What’s the difference?”
Her wide curious stare was so innocent Tavish was tempted to lay her back and show her. “You are mine. The men may breed with you, but they can’t have you.”
Mercy’s eyes widened and Tavish saw she didn’t see the difference at all. She would learn. Tavish was leader here. The human males respected him, feared him. Most were in awe of him. He had watched each one be born, imprinted with each one seconds after they breathed life. Each child born to him knew his eyes, his commanding stare, even before their mothers held them. It was law.
Tavish made a point of watching each male child as he grew. He knew which ones would be chosen for breeding and which ones would be chosen for other areas. Only the men chosen for breeding had any chance at being turned, they were the best physically and mentally. Even then, the chance was slim. It was a difficult time to think of turning more for his coven until the human supply grew. That would take some time. Supplying forty vampires with enough human blood had chosen to be difficult in the beginning. As leader and sire, it was up to Tavish to keep his coven safe. Many vampires had been killed by other covens, many by Tavish and his coven. Survival of the fittest. It was a bloodthirsty war for power. With that thought in mind, Tavish knew it was time to put an end to Remo’s coven.
In the beginning stage of the ice age, Tavish and his men battled like the humans battled to survive the changing world. So many humans had perished. Each time Tavish had found a body it hurt him. Humans were starving to death. The elements were killing them. They were killing each other. It was anarchy. They were so incredibly vulnerable—humans and vampires alike. Only the small piece of paradise he created had given the vampires hope.
The beginning years on his utopia were dangerous. The humans were angry, vicious, terrified and a threat to his coven and each other. But necessary. Laws were explained, humans were basically left to their own devices. They couldn’t hurt his vamps; that was most important. More often than not, the females were hurt by the human males when they were bred. The men thought it their right if they were refused because breeding was law. They were smug about it. Rape was rampant. Females committed suicide. It was infuriating. It had to stop. He couldn’t have the women horrified. The law was flawed. Humans couldn’t be left to their own devices.
Tavish had given each female a vampire to call their own for protection. Then the human men were injured when a vampire covetous of his female grew enraged. The females were angry at the men and wanted to get back at them. If the human males looked at them sideways the woman smugly howled rape. He couldn’t blame them, their anger was justified, but his law was turned into a joke. It was maddening. Tavish had to change his tactics again. He realized there was more to his utopia than just expecting everyone to do as they were told. If the women were too afraid to breed, it would never work.
They were watched and guarded closely when bred. But they complained they felt like animals. Again things had to change. Times had been so different. It had taken years to breed out the fight and suspicion. Many humans had opposed his ways. But like anything worthwhile, you needed to work with it, change, grow. Adapt. With the new crop of humans, it grew a little easier. The older humans were censored, some basically muzzled or disposed of. They were kept away from the young and the children were taught by the vampires. Younger males were taught how to please a female. The chosen males were taught never to harm a female, it was law. It was a good law. Females were taught breeding was a rite of passage and they were far more important when they became of age.
The new generation of humans was happy. Tavish’s law was the only thing they knew. There was no rape, there was no brutality. They were encouraged to love, to touch, to care for one another. His vampires were happy. Outsiders were introduced once the laws were explained. Failure to comply was met with harsh disciplinary action. It seemed the humans were changing in the outside world as well. Global annihilation was easier to control if they too left their children innocent. When Tavish got them, all he needed was to show them a better, warmer life. Many ached to be held. It hadn’t been difficult.
Over time Tavish had changed his humans, the new
and the old. Mind control was easy enough for some, but for the others who were fearful, a gentle coaxing hand worked better than threats. If they were already afraid why scare them further? Tavish had changed with the humans. He liked it better when the females flirted and smiled. Seeing their scared faces made him try harder. In the end he had prevailed. Every human under his command was happy.
“Tavish?” Mercy was looking at him curiously.
“Come with me, little cub,” Tavish said.
He pulled Mercy to her feet and steadied her in his arms. Her hands trailed over his bare chest. His little cub looked happy. Tavish knew the memories he had shared made her more comfortable to be around him. Tavish wore pants and he had pulled his shoes back on, Mercy was nude. Tavish held out her pink teddy.
“You need to wear something at dinner or you may start a riot,” he said.
“Am I really that pretty?” she asked with skepticism.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
“I wonder what my child will look like.”
Tavish fingered her white-blond hair. All of his men had dark black hair like him. All of his human males chosen to breed had dark black hair—just like Galf and Tavish’s mother. A child of Mercy’s would definitely be interesting. No doubt male or female, the baby would be stunning. Tavish had already decided he would make certain the two males chosen would be the best he had. Or perhaps just one to begin with. And certainly not now.
“It’s time to eat, little cub.”
Tavish led Mercy to the eating hall. Everyone quieted when she entered. All twenty of his breeding males sat at a table with the ten females who Tavish was having impregnated. He felt it helped them to bond. The pregnant females sat at a different table where everything they ate was monitored. Nothing suspicious was to be anywhere near their table. Not an ounce of mold, nothing turning with age. It was the same for the children’s table. Health was a big issue, all of his humans were perfectly healthy and Tavish wanted it to stay that way. He had been witness to his share of plagues. One illness could destroy them all. All outsider humans were checked over carefully by Caine. Even Mercy had been subject to his scrutiny while unconscious. Though it would have saddened Tavish to do so, he would have disposed of the beauty if she had been diseased.
Women who had given birth sat at the children’s table with their youngsters unless they were ready to breed again when the child turned two. Six women were nursing. All the others, those males not chosen to breed, or the few older women who were past breeding but still desirable, and the very few older humans sat at the farthest table.
The farthest table was the quietest when Tavish entered. A female of about fifty sat smiling at him. An older male near her was more solemn. On a whim, Tavish could end their lives. Tavish had no whims. They were a loyal group. He wouldn’t feed them forever, though; he needed the food for the children and the strong healthier humans. When the time came they couldn’t hold their own, they would be dispatched, mercifully. Tavish took their lives. He had promised each human at birth he would care for them until the end; he meant it. They all slipped away quietly in his arms while they shared memories of their lives. Tavish showed them their births and how grateful he was for their existence. He thanked them. He loved them. All were handled with the utmost gentle care. Afterwards, their bodies would be given to his Anivamps beyond the walls. There were no graves in his coven’s area. All loyal were fed.
For a moment, everyone in the hall held their breath to see where this new female would sit. Tavish wanted her well treated, but he didn’t want the human males to think she was available yet. Tavish led her to the breeding table. He placed both hands onto Mercy’s shoulders.
“This woman is mine,” he began. He stood behind Mercy so she wouldn’t see his white eyes glowing and his fangs descend. “She isn’t to be touched or approached without my permission by any male human.” His glare settled onto each of the males who lowered their heads once given the warning. No one would dare touch her.
Tavish sat Mercy down beside Perrin’s mother who still cowered from him. The woman, in his opinion, reminded him of a mouse. Tiny, skittish, cute, harmless. Tavish thought Perrin was delightful, a sweet little imp like her mother. He looked forward to seeing the woman’s next child. She had been paired with two men known for creating females. Tavish was hopeful of another.
“Kia,” Tavish said to the woman. “Will you please tell my female about the food? Since you have been here a month, you will have a better understanding of what an ice dweller would like. And, Tate, will you introduce her to everyone at the table? Make her feel welcome.”
Tate looked thrilled. Tate was a man Tavish would consider changing if times were different. He was built like Tavish; he resembled Tavish in the way all of his men did, dark-haired, blue-eyed, tall, muscular. A very attractive man. The man was easy-going, wouldn’t hurt a bunny. Tate was fiercely loyal. He was careful with his chosen females. Tate was still young, at twenty-six, Tavish felt he had a few more years to ponder the dilemma of turning him. Tate had sired a number of offspring, though. Thankfully, two men were chosen so neither was absolutely certain if the child sired was really theirs. Tavish wouldn’t want Tate to ask to turn a child when it came of age. It had been over a thousand years since Tavish had turned anyone. Ryker had been the last.
Ryker had been a father and a husband but had lost his family to a plague. When Tavish had come across him, Ryker hadn’t resisted, even though he was a resister. Ryker had been a warrior, the last of the Viking berserkers. His ways were dying. He had wanted Odin to take his life and send him to Valhalla. Ryker had thought Tavish was Odin.
Tavish had seen the aloneness in the man’s eyes; he had identified with it. Tavish was loath to watch an entire race succumb to extinction. Tavish told Ryker what he was. He explained there was so much for him to see. So much good Ryker could accomplish. He promised him with thirty-nine brothers he would never be alone again. Ryker had agreed. Once turned, Ryker made it his mission to search out the lost and alone. It was a quirk Tavish had allowed him to indulge in, especially in the beginning, when his little strays were highly amusing. Ryker had cared for each of them. With his warrior roguish good looks, he was a favorite with the females.
Tavish left Mercy to talk to the other humans. She looked happy, a little shy. She was irresistible. Tate was fussing over her to the point where his chosen female, Tanya, was bristling, but Tavish found that humorous. Tate’s chosen was a little hellcat. As long as she obeyed Tavish, he didn’t mind her occasional theatrics. Sometimes she flirted with him, becoming an unbearable nuisance, and he would send her back to Tate.
The woman was having trouble conceiving and she irritated his male breeders in excess, so much so they groaned when chosen. Tavish knew she had worked her way through all of his breeders. She had been captured from a different coven, their vampires slain by Tavish’s men. She had been trying to get pregnant for a year—at least, she enjoyed trying—with all males it seemed. Tavish had learned her one and only child with the other coven had been stillborn.
For the moment, Tavish chose to ignore the vicious little look Tanya sent Mercy as Tate continued to fuss over her. Tanya hated any new female. Especially when they were more beautiful than her. She completely ignored Kia in the beginning, until she had brushed her off as not a threat. Hopefully, she would get used to Mercy soon. Tanya had belonged to Tavish, but he had given her to Rhett. Rhett liked females who were a little hotheaded. He had a fondness for taming women. The wilder the better. Even after a year, he still had his work cut out for him; Tanya listened to Rhett, as long as he was within arm’s reach.
Tavish went to stand with Laken and a few others. Ryker was cutting Perrin’s food at the children’s table. When he finished, he too joined the other vampires. The humans knew they were being watched, but so many were used to it they ignored the vampires. There was much laughter and talking. Secrecy was forbidden, it was law.
“How is your ne
w female taking to all this?” Laken asked.
“She’s settling in. Let it be known she’s a resister and your white eyes scare the shit out of her. So no mind games,” Tavish warned.
“She sure is a beauty,” Rhett said with longing. “And a resister. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a resister.” For a long second, his tongue trailed over his fangs.
Tavish could see Tanya had seen her master’s look of desire—not aimed in her direction. Tavish was unconcerned. His vamps wouldn’t hurt Mercy. “She should have been here with her cousins and her mother. There’s an even greater need to round up the stragglers if Remo’s going to slaughter them.”
“Remo has long been a thorn in your side,” Laken said.
“It’s time to remove the thorn,” Tavish replied.
“When?” Ryker asked.
“Give me a week to settle my little cub; I’m keeping this one,” Tavish replied and looked pointedly at Rhett. Rhett smiled and nodded in understanding. “I’ll have Ursus find them. Then we hunt.”
There were nods of agreement from everyone.
Chapter 5
Mercy watched as Tavish approached her. She lay in his bed in his room. Tavish stripped as he walked. Black boots dropped to the wood floor with a thud. Dark socks were rolled and fired off in different directions. His powerful broad chest made her heart flip when he lifted his arms and yanked the garment off over his head and tousled his hair. His wild locks in chaotic disarray made imperfection predatory perfection. His pants, jeans he called them, dropped to his ankles and he stepped out of them as he approached her non-stop. White briefs, underwear, was hooked into his two thumbs and slid down easily. Mercy shuddered. She would like to be a pair of those for a day just to cuddle up to his magnificent cock.
Mercy still struggled with the idea nude flesh was supposed to be forbidden. But looking at him, she decided she would rather die of treason than to never touch him again. She liked gazing upon nude skin; she loved feasting her eyes on his nude skin. Tavish was powerful, compelling. The sight of him alone was enough to make her want him closer. Muscles rippled as he moved. He was so beautiful Mercy just couldn’t believe to look upon him wasn’t right. How couldn’t flawlessness be right?
The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] Page 7