“Me neither.” Tanya said as she slid off the side of the bed.
“You need to stay in that bed.” Becky narrowed her eyes at Tanya and put her hands on her hips. She even went so far as to cock her head to the side. “You”—she pointed at Tanya with a perfectly manicured nail—“stay put. I’m going to find out what the hell is going on.”
Now that she was on her feet, Tanya could feel her bladder really straining. She felt like she just might burst at any second. To try and alleviate the pressure, she sat back down on the bed, putting a hand on the bottom curve of her belly. “I really need to pee, so hurry up. I’m giving you one minute and then I’m out of here.”
Becky rolled her eyes. “Use a bed pan.”
Tanya looked around the room expectantly. There was no way she was squatting over a bedpan unless she absolutely had no other choice. “I don’t see one.” Somehow she knew that knowing there was a plan b close by would make her feel a little better.
Becky threw her a mischievous grin. “Improvise, darling girl.” She gestured to a vase of flowers.
“I’m so not peeing in that, so hurry please.” To show how desperate she was, Tanya closed her hand over her girly bits and pulled what she hoped was a pained face.
“Alright already. I’ll be back in a sec.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Selina asked.
Becky shook her head. “You stay here with, her royal highness.” She giggled at her own joke as she left the room. The noises outside were much worse now. It sounded like…screams. The door banged shut, closing off the sounds.
Screams.
She would be really worried at this point. Only, they weren’t the type of screams that evoked fear. What the hell was going on?
Selina made a disapproving noise and even shook her head.
“You know what’s going on, don’t you?” Tanya asked. The vampire female had much better hearing.
“Just stay right where you are, my queen. In my limited experience, you humans are”—she paused—“different from vampires. You don’t look at things the same way. Your cultures differ greatly at times from ours. You are easily offended.”
“Cut the cryptic bullshit and tell me what’s going on.” Realizing that she’d been a bit harsh, she added, “Please.”
Becky slammed the door behind her and actually leaned back against it. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. She was breathing heavily. “Selina.” Becky locked eyes with the vampire female. “Get rid of those flowers. Girlfriend,”—Becky took a deep breath as she locked eyes with Tanya—“you do not want to go out there. Do yourself and all of us a favor and pee in that vase.” She pointed to the object in question.
Although Becky looked antsy and upset, she didn’t look afraid. “Just tell me one thing.” Tanya asked. “Are Zane and Brant okay?”
“Are they okay?” Now Becky looked pissed. “Are they freaking okay you ask?” She tapped her foot. “I’d say they’re a damn site better than just okay. More like fantastic…along with every other guy in the castle.” She snorted, shaking her head. “I’m so going to wash out Ross’ eyeballs with chili sauce…no make that acid.” She smiled, looking anything but happy. “I’ll burn out his eyes and he can regenerate new ones. Virgin ones. The set he has in right now are freaking ruined.”
“Female,” Selina’s voice was sharp. “There is no need for such behavior. You are going to upset the queen.”
Becky’s eyes flashed to Tanya’s stomach and she puffed out a lungful of air. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “It’s just that…well…vampire women suck. I hate them. No offense to you.” Her friend looked Selina’s way.
The old vampire chuckled. “None taken. They are only following our traditions though. The kings are considered celebrities in these parts and an opportunity to still warm their beds is not to be missed.”
“This all has to do with that stupid lore?” Realization dawned on Tanya. “Where are Zane and Brant? What’s happening out there?” Her guys loved her. There was no cause for concern. None whatsoever.
None dammit! She’d keep telling herself that and would keep believing it.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see them.” Becky sounded defeated. “This place is crawling with women. Super-fucking-models.” Now she sounded pissed. “There are hordes of them outside. They’re being held back by the guards. It’s not pretty.”
“We can’t just sit here, Becky.” Tanya rubbed her stomach, feeling the light thumps and squirms beneath her skin. Her baby came first. “I might need that medication.”
Becky’s eyes clouded for a second. She nodded. “I doubt it, but…” She sighed. “Yeah you might.”
“I for one am not going to let a bunch of horny, vampire females stand in the way of my baby’s health. I also really need some answers about this stupid lore. Are there guards posted outside?”
Becky nodded. “York and a really huge guy…like ridiculously big.”
“Bigger than York?” She smiled. “Has to be Lazarus.” At least they had the two strongest males at their service. “Let’s go. I want to go back to my own space. My own room, my own bed. I’m not holing up in here for the rest of the day because a bunch of hussies want my men…mine. It’s not happening and I’m not worried.” There was a slight tremor to her voice but she ignored it because she believed every single word she had just said. It didn’t matter that Brant and Zane were missing. She trusted them to do right by her dammit.
“Let’s stay here instead, honey, you don’t want to go out there.” Becky chewed on her bottom lip. “Go and lie back down while I empty that vase.”
“Would they hurt me?” Tanya turned to Selina.
The vampire female shook her head. “No. It is nothing personal towards you. In fact, the opposite is true. They believe that they are doing you a great honor by serving your mate…in this case mates…while you are unable to.”
“How do they know I can’t do it? I only just freaking found out myself.” Tanya’s voice shook with anger. “They have no right.”
“As vampires, they have every right, just as our kings are well within their rights to accept.”
“That’s the biggest crock of shit I have ever heard.” Becky actually stomped her foot. Her face had turned bright red. If she was any angrier, smoke would billow out of her ears.
Selina shrugged. “Like I said earlier, some of our cultural differences are pretty glaring. It is not considered correct that such virile, dominant males like the kings should go any length of time with limited sex. No sex at all would be deemed completely unacceptable.”
“It’s a couple of weeks. Maybe a few on the other side to recover.” Becky made a disgusted noise. “Come on! They won’t freaking die. They’re grown ass men.”
Selina shook her head. “They are not men, young Becky. They are non human males in their prime with needs that way supersede any mere human’s. It is borderline cruelty to ask them to abstain for any length of time.”
“I cannot believe that I am actually listening to this crap. I am so never freaking having children,” Becky mumbled the last. “Don’t listen, Tanya.”
Selina walked over to Tanya. The elderly female took ahold of her hands. Her eyes were filled with kindness. “I am not trying to hurt you, my lady. Just stating the facts. Choose one or two females…” Tanya tried to pull her hands away but Selina held on tight. “Take control of the situation and all of this mess will go away. The rest of the unmated females will soon realize that they are wasting their time.” She was talking quickly. “It will be difficult for you but it is for the best. You wouldn’t need to worry, you could just relax and take it easy for the sake of the royal heir. Let another female have the honor of filling in for you. You would be greatly respected in the eyes of the vampire people, for your sacrifice. Your males would love you more.”
“When I mated with Zane and Brant, I agreed to give them everything and to never leave them. In return they swore that it would only be me, that they would never st
ray. I intend to hold them to their promise.”
Selina shook her head, looking sad. “I have tried hard to make you understand our way, but I see that I have failed. You are a human. A vampire female would struggle to keep two males such as our kings happy, let alone a weak, pregnant human…”
Tanya threw the old cow a dirty look. Selina’s eyes widened and she quickly added. “I mean no disrespect, my lady. You need to understand that the kings will never hold out. You are setting them up for inevitable failure and it can only end badly in the long run.” Selina finally released her hands. The old female’s eyes burned with disappointment. “They are vampires and you are trying to hold them to human rules.”
Anger rose up in Tanya. “Brant went months without having sex before choosing me at the ceremony. I agree with Becky, it’s all bullshit excuses so that they can fool around. I can’t believe you vampire women buy it.”
“That was before he was mated. He will burn for you now, my queen. Burn and burn and burn without being able to have you. It will drive both him and Zane mad…It would be like the worst torture to ask them to abstain.” Selina looked distraught.
“Over exaggerate much?…Sheesh, woman! Enough all ready.” Becky was fuming. Her jaw worked and she sucked in a lungful of air. “Moving onto more sane conversation. Let’s get out of here, but like I said earlier…it’s really ugly out there.”
****
Ugly was so the wrong word.
Wrong!
So wrong!
So very wrong!
They had left the room and encountered sounds of screaming, shouting and nervous chatter. On second thought, shouting was the wrong description, it was more like chanting. A whole hoard of women were chanting Zane and Brant’s names. It was so freaking crazy.
“Stay inside,” York growled. “Kings’ orders.”
Becky shook her head. “Our queen needs to use the ladies room.”
Lazarus cursed. York clenched his jaw. “Dammit.”
“Also, we need to get her highness to her own room. It would be more comfortable for her there. I need to get back to Sweetwater.” She went on to explain about the medication.
York shook his head. “Use the bathroom down the hall and get back in there…please. You are free to go.” He pointedly looked at Becky before turning his eyes back on Tanya. “But, I’m not permitted to let you out, my lady.”
“Why the hell not?” Tanya asked. “I know all about the stupid lore. A bunch of vampire hussies are surrounding the castle…so what? I don’t particularly care.”
Big fat lie.
The male frowned. “You don’t? Brant was very worried that they would upset you. He said he would kill me if that happened.” His blue eyes turned stormy. “I kind of have stuff to live for, my lady. Stuff I would hate to miss out on because I was dead or at the very least, missing my dick.” He squirmed, looking pained at the thought. “Brant’s threats aside, I would also hate to see you upset by all of this.”
“Listen up.” Tanya used the most authoritative, queenly voice she could muster. “I am going to the bathroom and then one of you can escort me to the north tower, while the other takes Becky to her car. Am I clear?”
“But…” York’s huge muscles bunched, making him look even bigger. If she weren’t used to being around vampire men, it would be scary as shit.
“No freaking buts, mister…” Becky was much shorter than Tanya, but she craned her neck and poked York in the chest all the same. “Your queen has spoken and you will obey.”
York pushed out a heavy sigh as his gaze moved to Tanya. “Do you promise not to get upset?”
Becky turned fearful eyes on her. “Yeah,” she said. “Do you promise not to get upset?”
“I would never let such a silly lore and a bunch of hussies make me upset. No way, no how. Not happening. I trust my mates.”
Oh god, there was a part of her that had been hoping that she wouldn’t get her way. A part of her that didn’t want to see what was going on out there. If it had shaken Becky, then it had to be pretty bad.
York made a strangled noise. “I don’t like it but if it is my queen’s wish then I am yours to command.”
“Thank you, now excuse me please.” Tanya made for the bathroom using small steps to try and stop herself from leaking urine, which was a distinct possibility at this point. Wouldn’t want to leak. Vampires would be able to tell. Their sense of smell was too good.
Somehow she managed to make it. On a deep sigh, she sat down, the trickle was over in a handful of seconds but the relief was awesome. After washing her hands, she joined the others and they made for the main lounge and dining area which led to the staircase to her wing of the castle.
“Would you like me to carry you, my queen?” Lazarus asked as they made their way down the long hallway. His voice was rough.
Tanya shook her head. “I’ll manage. It isn’t all that far.” There was a small flight of stairs at the end of the hall which would lead them up from the basement. After the short climb, Tanya stopped dead as they exited from the healer’s quarters and into the main area.
Tanya sucked in a ragged breath. “Sweet mother of…No freaking way.”
Ugly.
There was nothing in the least bit ugly about the sight that met her. Except for maybe the thoughts that ran through her brain. Ones that included her mates surrounded by these vampire women, straddled by them. She shook her head to dispel the image.
Not going there, thank you very much.
Sure, she’d seen vampire females around the castle, had even seen a group together on a regular basis. Tanya had always thought they were exquisite, every last one of them but she had learned to deal. Had finally accepted that her guys found her irresistible. Little old plain Jane her. Totally irresistible. Despite the fact that their own kind were supermodels.
Her eyes were drawn around the cluttered room and to the scene outside. There were droves of dressed-to-the-nines vampire babes. A line of guards were preventing the large gathering from entering the already overflowing castle.
It was a sight to behold. They were so stunningly beautiful that it took her breath away and had acid filling her veins. Their hair wasn’t merely red or blond, it was flaming red, like the depths of a raging fire or rich honey blond that shimmered in long, thick waves.
They were wearing even less than normal. Dresses and skirts so short that some of them would be very definitely flashing their girly bits, left, right and center. She made a groaning noise when she realized that most of the outfits were see through. With jiggly, wriggly, wiggly bits everywhere. Except vampire bodies didn’t jiggle or wriggle…they just were…in all their glory. Their boobs were too damned perky to jiggle and their asses far too tight to wriggle.
A girl in shorter than short, shorts walked by. She gasped and even held a hand to her perky chest. “My queen.” She gave a small curtsy. “I am so hoping to be able to honor you...to be of service to your mates.” The nitwit said, eyes shining. “If only I could find the kings. It would be great if you could point me in the right direction.”
Her breath froze in her lungs. How the hell did she even answer?
“Fuck off.” Becky said in a no nonsense voice.
The female made a confused noise and strode away, a frown marred her otherwise flawless face. Tanya groaned again watching her perfect butt cheeks move up and down…no bouncing…as she strutted away.
A pair of red heels caught her attention next, as did toned legs that went on for miles. Just great! This female wore a tight sheath dress. It was made from delicate lace, showcasing another set of…you guessed it… perky boobs.
Tanya’s eyes began to fill with tears. How was she supposed to compete with this? It was impossible. Then a crazy thought hit her. Why the hell were vampire nipples so hard? All the time? It was a wonder the men of the species didn’t get their eyes poked out on a regular basis. When she lifted her gaze, she was met with a cold stare that turned distinctly pompous.
Re
cognition hit.
Alexandra. Brant’s old squeeze. Fuckity fuck. It was not the best timing for this. Not when she was on the verge of a complete meltdown. The last thing she needed was a run in with bitch city and this female was a first-class, A-grade bitch of note.
“Oh lookie who it is.” Her nemesis arched an eyebrow before cocking a narrow hip. “It’s the little human plaything who I like to refer to as the incubator. Pregnancy has not been kind.” She grimaced as she sized Tanya up.
Swallowing hard, Tanya had to work to keep her emotions under control. Right now, she felt like curling herself up into the fetal position and crying her eyes out. She really needed to speak with Brant and Zane. They needed to put her mind at rest. Things had changed since she spoke with them yesterday about the lore. Changed in a big way. She could only hope that Selina was over exaggerating on the whole they won’t make it speech.
Alexandra gave a little snort of laughter, managing to sound sexy all the same. “What? Nothing to say? I see that you’re still timid. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a puny human.”
That did it. Tanya squared her shoulders. “Oh look…it’s the ex sippie cup. I wouldn’t expect anything less from leftovers. Jealous much?” Tanya was so thankful when her voice came out sounding confident.
“Of being an incubator?” She gave a distasteful snort. “Never. I came to watch Brant evoke the lore because I know you won’t be able to satisfy them both for much longer.”
“If you think you stand a chance of getting him back, then you can think again. Not that you ever really had him.” Her voice had turned cold and hard. Brant would have nothing to do with this woman. If nothing else, she knew this to be true. Unfortunately though, there was a history between the two of them which burned her deep in her gut. Tanya reminded herself that the only reason Alexandra was acting like this was because she was jealous as all hell. She clung to that knowledge with white knuckles.
The vampire bitch rolled her eyes. “I came to watch you suffer. A silly human like you will not be able to cope knowing that your mate is fucking all—”
Mated to the Vampire Kings Page 7