Tavish stroked Mercy’s arm. “Are you ready, little cub?”
“Yes.”
She looked up at Tate. He was a large man. All breeder males were powerful. Mercy knew him to be sweet and gentle but soon he would be in possession of awesome strength. Tavish could hear her heartbeat. Sweat beaded her temples. She was afraid, but not overmuch.
“Please don’t hurt me, Tate,” Mercy whispered.
Tate cupped her chin. “Because of you, I get a gift,” he said. “I’d die before I hurt you.”
Tavish hoped so. It took only a second to rip out a delicate female throat. The only reason he was allowing Mercy to do this was because she wanted it so badly, and the fact there was no one faster than Tavish. There was no way in hell Tate would be able to hurt her. Tavish would kill him first.
Tavish stripped off his clothes. Mercy was settled onto her knees. Earlier Tavish had searched Tate’s memories. He had known him since birth and knew he had never harmed anyone, but it was a precaution. The worst thing the man had ever done was make a virgin cry her first time. He had felt awful remorse, and strove after that to never hurt a woman again. It was why he was picked so often. Tavish felt Tate’s love for him. He felt his pride in being chosen. Tate would die for him. Tate was loyal. Tavish felt he was adding an asset to his vampire coven.
Tate was already kissing Mercy. He was anxious to begin. Tavish rubbed at her back with oil he had to relax her. His fingers slipped around her into her warm heat where he stroked his fingers enjoying the feel of her velvety smoothness. Tate massaged a breast then he too slipped his finger into her. He was careful, and Tavish let him arouse her. Mercy groaned when Tavish dipped his finger deeply into her behind. He worked his cock into her slowly knowing he had better begin. Once Tate started, there would be no stopping. The man had, after all, been conditioned for sex.
Tavish knew the exact moment Tate entered her. She cried out and clung to Tate’s shoulders. Both men whispered soothing words as she gasped and whimpered. She felt so tight and Tavish moved easily within her with his powerful strokes. Tate had gripped her hair and was kissing her, ravaging her mouth. The man aroused easily. Tavish could hear Tate’s heart pounding. He was about to feel an orgasm, their meeting, the meaning of it, had overexcited him. Tavish moved quicker. Mercy was moaning. Her fingers dug into Tate’s shoulders. She was pressed hard between them both, and Tavish could hear her heart now pounding.
“You’re all right, you’ll be fine, Mercy,” Tate gasped and Tavish knew it was something he said to his chosen females. Tate knew he could be overwhelming and he wanted to please and soothe fears.
Mercy was crying out. She lowered her hand and gripped Tavish’s hard while he kneaded her breast. Tate had her head now cupped to his chest as he rocked furiously against her. Mercy came before the men. She screamed her release and Tate’s heart almost exploded with his orgasm. Tavish bit him. Tavish came the second Tate’s blood flowed into him. The blood moved down Tavish’s throat so fast he gasped and sucked in air while trying to swallow.
Tate was groaning and gurgling and still pumping hard. Tavish was surprised when Tate came again. Tavish sucked his throat harder. It was a heady feeling. Tate’s head hung, Tavish had both Tate and Mercy wrapped within his arms to keep them upright. Tavish listened and in that vital moment he knew when Tate’s heart stopped, he drizzled a fine line of his fluid’s immortality and blood that flowed with Tate’s own into his mouth from his wrist. One beat from Tate’s heart sounded; he gasped.
When Tate lifted his face, his eyes were snowy white. For only a second, confusion and then awe washed over his features. New power surged from him. Tavish exposed Mercy’s throat to him. A gift of a sire’s love, a token, and in return for life blood, Tate would give his loyalty forever. Tate’s fangs grew and he buried them into Mercy, accepting the gift, his eyes still locked on Tavish. Tavish broke the connection between Tate and himself, he too drank from Mercy. Her body shuddered. She came again and both men were treated to the sweetest of tastes.
Tavish could feel her confusion as each man bombarded her with memories. The memory of her being beaten for sexual innocent interest enraged Tate, Tavish could feel it. Good, he was still capable of compassion. Tate had never raised his hand to a woman. No one had ever raised their hand to Tate. For him, the idea alone was unfathomable. It would be to anyone in Tavish’s coven. Tavish searched for another of Mercy’s memories as she began to slip into unconsciousness. She was standing vulnerable before Tate, before he had been turned.
“Please don’t hurt me, Tate,” she was whispering. Tavish felt her fear and hoped Tate did.
Tate slowly slipped his fangs from her neck. He was fighting for control; blood lust was a formidable foe. Tavish could hear his ragged deep breaths. Tate licked the blood that flowed from her neck, but he had stopped on his own. Tavish pulled his fangs from her too. Tavish stared deeply into Tate’s eyes. Both men wore the snowy white coloring.
“This female is mine,” Tavish warned.
Tate moved back, slipping from inside of her and he nodded. Tavish could see he was feeling very full of himself. He gave Tavish a cocky grin. “How do I look?”
“Put your fangs away and sheath your snowy eyes. It scares the shit out of her.”
Tavish pulled from her and held her on his lap when Caine came from the foliage with a flask in his hands. He took Mercy from Tavish as the men dressed and tipped the liquid to her mouth. She drank it down slowly. When Tavish approached, Caine was smiling.
Caine cocked his head and looked up at Tavish. “Nicely done, Daddy.”
Tavish squatted before them. “It worked?”
“Hear for yourself.”
Tavish pressed his head to Mercy’s belly. He knew immediately she carried life. It was the feeling of another presence. A grin spilt his face. He pulled Mercy into his arms and held her until she stirred. Caine and Laken took Tate away to begin teaching him his duties. Tavish laughed when Tate walked away with his fangs down, then up, then down, playing with them. The young were always so cute.
Chapter 12
Mercy was sitting quietly under a tree reading Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Tavish had sat her down one day and helped her to understand the intricate play with words and Mercy enjoyed a challenge. Her reading improved daily. She had been somewhat uncomfortable to be wearing only a loin cloth with her breasts bared, but in the shade and alone, she found it comfortable.
At only a month along, she was receiving her fair share of attention. Everyone fawned and fussed over her. It was almost impossible to find a quiet place. The area she chose was close to the fence. The other humans were too afraid to get as close. Tavish would still hear her if she called. It was her favorite time of the day. The sun wasn’t blazing too hot and she had an hour before dinner.
Mercy wasn’t showing yet, but Tavish loved to settle his hand on her belly and listen to their child’s heartbeat. Tate was the doting uncle already. His newfound freedom was met with eager excitement and a good dose of humility. Mercy was teaching him to read; the other vampires tested his strength. The women were a bit wary around him until he showed them the same courtesy he had when he was human.
A noise in the treetop caught Mercy’s attention and she giggled. Before long a dark finger was playing with the strands in her hair. Mercy stopped reading and a hard grunt sounded from above, urging her to continue.
“I’ll keep reading, if you mind your manners, Lucile,” she said.
The answering grunt made her chuckle and soon the great ape was seated pressed close to her side. A gentle, large finger traced her belly with exquisite tenderness. Mercy knew the great ape was aware she was carrying. Tavish told her Lucile could hear the heartbeat. The beast was very careful around her and at first Mercy had been wary when Lucile had climbed the wall to join her while she read; she soon realized she had nothing to fear. Lucile was curious and doting. She gazed at Mercy with the same adoring eyes she gazed at Tavish with.
Mercy picke
d up her story. Before long, a sound to her right caught her attention. It was Druid. Mercy didn’t know how Tavish would feel about Druid being so close. This was the closest he had come yet. Mercy eyed him with some unease. He huffed out a few breaths; he kept his eyes their normal color and his fangs hadn’t grown longer.
“You may stay as long as you keep your eyes their natural scary yellow, but not white.” The tiger growled low in his throat then stretched himself out.
Once again Mercy started reading. Next came Lovel. His panting breath ruffled Mercy’s hair and she shoved him away and told him to sit. Rhino was snuffling in the bush and didn’t bother with her. That was fine with Mercy, the boar was less sociable. She knew the Anivamps just liked to listen to the stories she read aloud. Mercy felt they understood what she was reading to an extent. When everyone was settled, Mercy began again.
Mercy’s light voice went on and on as she became engrossed in the story. Druid’s head was on his paws listening with rapt attention. Lovel had cocked his head. Lucile made short, groaning grunts. At a particularly intriguing spot, Mercy’s voice rose. It grew in pitch as the scene escalated. Her hand settled against her breast, her eyes widened. Lovel was on his feet, his head now lowered in his wary hunting stance. Lucile pounded with one fist on her chest, squirming in anticipation. Her other great arm scooped Mercy closer to her side. Rhino ran round and round in tight circles.
“Oh my, it gets worse,” Mercy whispered, and paused for dramatic effect, right before she yelled out a few words from the story for effect.
Druid roared, Lovel howled. Rhino stopped and snorted and pawed the ground. A bellowing, unearthly yell made Mercy scream in sheer terror. Her book fell to the ground when Lucile grabbed her and took to the treetops. They were moving like lightning. Mercy clung to Lucile for dear life, terrified. She slammed her eyes closed when they went high. Lucile finally stopped. She felt the great ape stiffen in panic. That alone almost made Mercy’s heart stop. Who or what on Earth could scare a great ape vampire? She peeked her eyes open and screamed again when a vampire was before them, white-eyed and fangs glistening. He looked enraged. Mercy started crying.
“Tavish, you scared me half to death.”
“Give her to me,” Tavish growled. Mercy had never heard him sound so menacing.
Lucile handed her over like she would a baby. With a series of grunts, “Ooh, Oohs” followed. The ape ducked her head in deference and slowly descended. Tavish crushed Mercy to his chest. Within moments they were on the ground surrounded by vampires. Tavish’s chest was heaving. He refused to set Mercy on her feet. He looked white. Tate looked even whiter. He was running a hand through his hair and bouncing from foot to foot.
“Is she all right?” Caine asked.
“I think so,” Tavish replied.
“Tavish, what’s wrong?” Mercy asked. She wiped at her eyes.
“I heard Tate yell for me. The last time he called me so fearfully, he had been trapped in a tree and fallen and gotten stuck in a branch. He was eight years old. I knew it had something to do with you when he called this time. I’m sorry, Mercy, the Anivamps should never have climbed the wall. I don’t know what got into them. You must have been terrified. Why didn’t you call to me?”
Mercy struggled from his arms. “Tavish, I was reading to them,” Mercy complained. “Not scared speechless.”
She could see all four of the creatures with their backs pressed to the fence wall cowering from the enraged vampire coven. Mercy went to Lucile and hugged her. When Mercy turned, every vampire that had come when Tavish had were now standing mouths agape. Mercy ruffled up Lovel’s fur and even patted Druid on his high back. Rhino tossed his head and she scratched gently under his chin.
“Reading to them?” Tavish said.
Mercy felt sorry for him. From the look on his face, she just knew if he could he would have had a heart attack. She walked back over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She looked up at him and was glad he was wearing his blue eyes now.
“You won’t let me read to the humans. The animals are enjoying Macbeth as much as I am. Please don’t be mad. I never sent them away. I didn’t see any harm,” Mercy said.
“I thought they—”
“You said it yourself; this fence doesn’t keep them out. Maybe they’re lonely.”
“I’ll have to think about that,” Tavish said. “The other humans are terrified of them.”
“I’m not. Please let me read to them. They always go back over the wall when I’m done.”
“Never a dull moment,” Laken said and flew off.
Tavish handed her the book, but he wouldn’t leave them alone. Both he and Tate sat quietly while everyone settled themselves and Mercy read the story.
Later that night, after dinner, Tavish laid Mercy back in the sheets. When their lips met, it was sweet and tender.
“I love you so much, Mercy. I can’t stand the thought of losing you.”
“You won’t lose me,” she said. She lifted her hand to gently brush hair from his eyes. “I love you too much to ever be away from you.”
“You mean that?”
Mercy cocked her head at him. There was something he wasn’t telling her. He smiled and ignored her curious gaze. Tavish lazily searched the insides of her mouth with his tongue. He then kissed her cheeks, her chin, her throat. Mercy’s loincloth dropped to the floor. She was eager for him and when he entered her heat, she moved with him. His hips rolled against hers as he made sweet love to her. Afterwards Mercy fell asleep in his arms.
* * * *
Less than four days later Mercy was walking to her favorite spot under the shady tree with a new story when she was intercepted by Tanya. She didn’t particularly care for the women. She was bossy and rude and prone to theatrics. Since Tate had been turned, he didn’t want anything to do with her. He no longer needed to breed with a woman, so he chose women he liked. Tanya wasn’t one of them. Mercy wasn’t fond of swear words, but this woman was bitchy.
“How are you feeling?” Tanya asked Mercy.
Mercy could almost smell the jealousy oozing from the woman. “I’m fine thank you,” Mercy replied politely wishing she would go away.
“You come out here often,” Tanya said.
“Yes.”
“Habits make tracking a person easy.”
Annoyed and now confused Mercy stopped just under the tree. “Is there a point to this conversation? I’d like to read now.” She waved the book in Tanya’s face and resisted the urge to smack her upside the head with it. Mercy was surprised at her thought. Then she remembered Caine said her hormones would be off for a while. It was why vampires didn’t bleed a pregnant woman. Way too much wild unpredictable hormone cell memory spiked at high levels.
“You think you’re so much smarter than the rest of us. Well you’re not. That baby should have been mine,” Tanya snapped. “He even killed a man over you. You think he’ll do anything for you. Well, you won’t get rid of me so easily. Even Tavish wouldn’t kill a woman of childbearing years no matter what she does. Even destroying his precious Mercy.”
Mercy was ready to call to Tavish but she was grabbed from behind. A large hand went over her mouth. Her book dropped to the ground with a thump. She struggled wildly but all she could do was turn her head slightly. The vampire who had her wasn’t one of Tavish’s men. Mercy whimpered; she knew it must be Remo. A loud growl was heard from the treetop and Tanya, looking terrified, opened her mouth in a large O, yet no sound emerged. Lucile landed in front of them so hard the ground shook. She pounded a warning on her chest. Lovel howled from behind them. When Druid appeared, Tanya ran. She was grabbed by another vampire, a woman.
“What the hell, you bitch?” The vampire snarled. “You said she was alone out here.”
“Anivamps,” Tanya whispered. “They’re not allowed over the wall.” Tanya found her voice and screamed when Druid roared.
“Silence her,” Remo hissed through his fangs.
The other vampire s
napped Tanya’s neck. Mercy screamed under Remo’s hand. It was apparent Tanya had been following her but didn’t hear about how the Anivamps loved to listen to her read. Somehow Remo must have had cajoled her into getting the information. Mercy knew he was after payback. Mercy hadn’t realized the extent to which Tanya hated her. But looking at her broken body, Mercy realized these vampires thought they had nothing to lose.
Druid jumped and attacked the vampire who had killed Tanya. Murdering a woman of childbearing years was treason—even the Anivamps knew that, it was law. Rhino clamped his jaws on the vampire’s leg and bit down hard. The vampire was soon screaming as she was ripped to shreds. Remo howled in anguish as the other vampire was mauled.
“Let her go,” Tavish yelled.
Mercy sobbed in relief.
“She dies,” Remo yelled back. “You damned bastard you took my family, I’m taking yours.”
“If you kill her the Anivamps will attack immediately. The only reason they haven’t is because she still lives.”
“I hear your brat in her, Tavish,” Remo said. His words sounded vile and made Mercy’s blood run cold. He sounded like he had nothing to live for. “Part vampire? This should prove entertaining.”
Remo backed up farther, watching as the other vampires gathered. Mercy heard him scream. She was spun around. Ursus was there. She had tracked Remo back to the coven. The bear roared in fury and Mercy knew she smelled the baby. There was no stopping her. A male was attacking not only a female, but a female with a cub.
Remo took to the sky, but Ursus clamped down on his leg and attacked with a vengeance. Tavish was trying to get to her, but Mercy was stuck in the middle. Ursus was slashing her paws at Remo. Remo was a large man and the bear was careful not to touch Mercy. Hers was a controlled hysteria. They moved so quickly, Mercy was out of breath. Remo had no choice but to release her mouth to defend himself.
The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] Page 14