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 t
ightened 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.
“Mother fuck.” Brant ground out while moving towards her, he tried to touch her but she flinched away, her eyes on his bloodied hands.
Her mate actually looked guilty for a half a beat before he disappeared into the bathroom. When he returned, he walked in the opposite direction while raking a hand through his hair. “It’s too dangerous to fly Becky in. Too dangerous for her to be anywhere near here.”
“Selina then,” she said between hoarse pants. “We can call Becky. She can advise us on what to do. The medication….”
Brant turned and paced back towards them. “No, it’s too damned dangerous. We didn’t get all of the humans that did this. York and Scott have gone back out there. The fucker with the bazooka is still missing. Nothing goes in or out of here until my troops have done a thorough sweep of the surrounding hills.” He swallowed hard, his eyes roved around the room, so deep in thought that he looked at nothing. “It’s going to take hours. We’re alone until then. Fuck!”
“Calm down,” Zane growled. “We can do this. Call Becky.”
Brant nodded, his jaw was tense and his eyes were hard. The pain at last thankfully subsided, giving her a short reprieve but soon started up again.
Too freaking soon.
It was a doozy, making her groan. “It’s bad.” She was panting, trying hard to remember everything she’d learned and read. Her mind was coming up with blanks. The pain was just so bad. “Oh God! This can’t be normal.” She groaned and panted and groaned some more. “It’s happening too quickly.”
Brant had the cell phone against his ear. He was speaking loudly and gesturing with his hands. “She’s in labor.” He snarled but she wasn’t sure of anything else he said. The momentary jabs of slicing pain were just too much.
Zane was trying to get up. His teeth were clenched and his muscles were corded, but his body wasn’t cooperating. She knew the feeling. The tightness slowly abated taking with it the hurt. Problem was, she knew the reprieve wouldn’t last long.
Brant was on his knees next to her shoving pills into her mouth and holding water to her lips. “You need to take the drugs. We need to try and stop this. Swallow.”
She did as he said. A sheen of sweat was on his brow and his hair was all over the place. Brant gently cupped her cheek. “We’re going to get through this,” he growled before putting the phone back to his ear.
“I need you to check if her water has broken… If anything is happening… down there.” She heard Becky say.
Brant nodded putting the phone down so that he could pull her sweatpants down. That was when another one hit, she could feel the pull, the burn, as her uterus began to seize up all over again. She groaned, unable to stop herself. “It’s too soon,” she ground out between rugged pants.
“Is she having another one?” She heard Becky ask. “That’s less than two minutes between contractions.”
“What does that mean?” Brant asked in a booming voice.
There was no reply, at least she didn’t think there was. The pain was so bad that she struggled to focus on anything else but each breath that she sucked in and pushed back out in quick succession and on the all consuming agony that gripped her midsection.
“She’s bleeding.” Brant was between her legs. When had he moved there? He had the phone cradled between his ear and shoulder. “No, not badly,” he answered.
“Is everything okay?” She asked, still breathing hard. Something trickled down her cheek so she put a hand to her brow. It came away wet. She was sweating up a freaking storm.
Another sharp pain lanced through her.
Please baby.
No.
You have to stop this. You can’t come now.
Her womb contracted, pulling tighter and tighter. The pain wrapping itself around her. Something gushed between her legs.
“Oh god,” she moaned, loudly. “Please no.”
Zane was still squeezing her hand. “What is it? I can’t stand being such a fucking invalid.”
“My water just broke.” She put a hand between her legs and felt another gush hit her fingers.
Brant went pale, his eyes widened even further in his skull. “Her water just broke.” He shouted into the phone. “What the hell must I do? Your pills aren’t working, dammit.”
“Stop shouting.” Tanya looked him in the eye.
“I’m sorry.” He said both into th
e mouth piece as well as to her.
“Put Tanya on,” Becky said. Brant put the phone to Tanya’s ear, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Hi.” She said, taking her lip between her teeth.
“Don’t panic. Whatever you do, you need to try and stay calm, breathe.” Becky’s voice was reassuring. Totally in control, something that was sorely lacking in the cabin.
“Um…Okay.” Her cheeks were wet and she realized that she was crying. “He can’t come yet. It’s too soon.”
“Tanya…stay strong. Don’t think about that right now.”
“How do I stop this? What if he’s too small…what if?” Her voice wavered.
“Listen to me…I’m on my way. You sit tight, I’m coming.” There was a loud growling noise in the background. One of her mates didn’t like the idea. “You’re doing great.”
“No, I’m not.” She sobbed, feeling another contraction. “My baby is coming. I’m trying to stop this but I can’t.” She moaned between clenched teeth trying to will the contractions away. It didn’t work. Tanya even tried to cross her legs. This baby was not coming. She wouldn’t let him.
Brant took the phone from her, she could see that he had been listening in on the conversation. Once again, the pain became too severe to be able to listen in properly. Brant was growling and shouting. Zane was throwing out questions from his vantage point on the bed next to her.
Breathe.
“What the fuck is precipitous labor?” Brant snarled before listening for a few beats. “Speak English for god sakes.”
“Very fast labor.” She heard Becky say. “I’m leaving right now, Rushe and Ross will accompany me.”
“It’s too dangerous. Fuck!” Brant snarled, sounding torn. He pulled his hand through his hair.
“I’m coming. You can’t stop me. We’ll take every precaution and we will be about an hour. I may be in and out of cellphone signal.”
Sweat dripped down her face as Tanya struggled with her pain while trying to listen to what Becky was saying. She knew she should tell Brant to stop her friend but the truth was that she needed her. Didn’t think she could stop Becky even if she tried anyways. If that woman made a decision it was happening like it or not.
Mated to the Vampire Kings Page 13