Brant grunted. Tanya glanced over feeling a bit like a voyeur. Legs set apart, ass pinched, arm moving back and forward in a rhythm that had her mouth turning dry. That familiar need resonated from between her thighs, but she was just too sore to be able to act on it.
“Think of our female’s tight sheath,” Zane threw at Brant.
“Shut it,” Brant bit back.
“Think of her lush tits against your chest, of her little pants and moans as she’s about to cum.”
“I said to…” He grunted, his ass jerking as his hand pumped harder.
“I know. Impossible not to cum isn’t it?”
Brant finished up. He used a bottle of water to wash his hands. “I can fantasize about Tanya without your help.”
Zane chuckled, he trailed his finger along her arm. She was tempted to drift back to sleep but pulled herself up instead. She glanced at Zane. “Tell me about growing up. Where are your parents?”
Zane tensed. “I think we can save that for another time.” He looked at Brant like he expected the other male to say something. Brant put on some pants and took up his position on his haunches at the wall.
“I might be pregnant with your child. I need to know more about both of you if we are to make this work.”
“Female,” he paused. “It is done whether any of us likes it or not. In eight days we will officially mate, hopefully your womb will quicken before then. It must work between us.” Zane pulled away rising to a sitting position.
“I want to know more Zane.” She sat in front of him, putting a hand on his chest. Feeling the warmth of the skin somewhere in the vicinity of his heart. Again he glanced at Brant. Maybe she should’ve brought this up when they were alone, but at the same time they were in this together. All three of them. She didn’t want to have to go back and forth for the rest of her life.
His dark eyes settled on her. “My mother was not technically my father’s first choice. He wanted a female that he couldn’t end up having and chose another at the ceremony. It didn’t work out,” he paused. “Although he chose my mother, she always knew his heart had been set on another. She could never come to terms with that.” Tanya wanted to know more about why he couldn’t have the female he really wanted but didn’t want to interrupt. His eyes clouded for a second. “She was never happy. A fragile, timid human. My father tried hard to please her, but by the time I was born they had drifted apart and had even taken up separate rooms.” His mouth became a thin white line. He seemed to be composing himself. Tanya wrapped her hand in his.
He squeezed. “She wasn’t a very good mother. Thankfully there were many females at the coven to take care of me. She would spend days in her room. She cried often. I can only ever remember her hugging me once. I fell and skinned my knee. Even though it healed almost immediately, I cried. She comforted me while telling me that life was unfair. It was the first and the last time it ever happened. I saw her less and less and when I did, she had a vacant faraway look. On my sixth birthday I was told that she had died.”
Tanya gasped, “On your birthday?”
Zane smiled humorlessly. “I only found out much later that she had taken her own life. Cut her wrists in the bath. How cliché. Couldn’t even wait one more day.”
She could see how much he hurt. “Look, Zane. I realize that by some sick twist of fate that I also am not your first choice. I’m really sorry that she died the way she did, and that your first choice died. That they both died…” Shit. She was babbling, she took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry about…”
Zane cupped her chin. “Be still, Ysnaar. You are nothing like those humans.”
Brant cleared his throat about to say something it seemed. Tanya was just turning toward him when Zane’s hand tightened on her chin. He moved forward and kissed her. It wasn’t fumbly like before. His soft lips caressed hers for a brief second before he slanted his head in the opposite direction. She made a sound of frustration as he pulled away altogether.
“I thought you liked to kiss, sweetness.” Zane whispered.
“I do, but there’s more to it than that.”
He looked confused. “Kissing is the touching of lips. Have I missed something?”
She couldn’t help but to smile. “Kissing me like you just did was really great.”
“I don’t see the problem then…” His eyebrows had drawn together.
“Let’s use sex as an example.” She said watching his delectable lips form a sexy, half smile. “A quick brush of the lips is great. It’s similar to rubbing your dick along my slit. Feels good right?” His eyes turned a little hooded and he nodded. “But not as good as thrusting into my pussy.”
He rolled his eyes and covered his ridged shaft with his hand like he was about to shoot off at any moment. “Careful, sweetness, I don’t have much control at the moment and you’re still sore.”
“Yes, I am. So no ideas.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re—”
She leaned in cutting his sentence off with her lips and tongue, which she swiped across his lips. Thankfully he caught the hint and opened. He was a quick learner and it wasn’t long before he took the lead groaning as their tongues swirled together.
Zane was panting when they finally broke apart. “Another human concept that I really like and want to do often.” She was about to kiss him again when Zane tensed up pulling her behind him. Brant jumped to his feet grabbing one of the swords that Zane had discarded earlier.
Then she heard the sound of footfalls. “It’s me.” The sound of Xavier’s voice punctured the room. Two arrows jutted from his back and his face and torso were covered in blood.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
“Do not be alarmed, my queen. They are merely flesh wounds.” Xavier must’ve seen the look of confusion on her face. “The arrow tips are not poisoned,” he added.
Zane stood, donning a pair of pants. “Casualties?” he barked.
Xavier blinked several times. It was as if he raged an internal war. “Only four when we were taken by surprise. None of your men, although Lance is badly wounded.” Xavier hung his head. “He may not make it.”
“What the fuck happened?”
“Back the fuck off.” Brant turned glowing eyes on Zane.
“What happened?” She asked also needing to know.
“Stephany was taken.” Xavier said, head still facing the ground.
“What the fuck happened? Who took her? I’ll fucking kill them!” Brant raged.
Tanya clasped his arm trying to give him a measure of comfort, but he brushed her off.
“They took Stephany, my lord. Lance was nearly killed trying to save her. As for the rest of us, we had to choose between you”—He turned his head to look them each in the eye. His teeth clenched as they landed on Zane—“or her. I would choose the same way again if given the opportunity.”
“You did the right thing,” Zane said.
“Oh my God. How can you say that? Poor Stephany.” Tanya felt tears cascade down her cheeks. She’d never cried so often in her whole life. Zane wrapped an arm around her.
“We’ll send a party after them right now,” Brant growled.
“Already done. Vampires from both sides.” Xavier looked at them both in turn.
“Good. If I leave right now,” Brant said taking a deep breath. “I’ll be able to catch up to them.”
“No, my lord. You need to stay with the queen.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Zane can take care of her, I will find Stephany.” Brant strode down the tunnel and within seconds it was too dark to see his retreating back.
Tanya buried her head into Zane’s chest and cried. She felt guilty because although most of her tears were for her vampire friend, some of them were for herself. Zane thread his fingers into her hair.
“Why did they take her?” she gasped. “You don’t think the alpha will mate with Stephany do you?”
“Stephany is already mated, so I highly doubt it.”
“It�
“That is true,” his deep voice rumbled through her.
“How would the alpha even know that she was mated?”
“He would scent it. Then again, Lance has not left his mark on her in many years.”
She sobbed even harder.
“It would be unwise to speculate. Wolves and vampires do not mix anyways, so I am sure he has not taken her for that reason. We will soon know his intentions though. Brant may just get her back before the wolf makes it back to the rest of the pack and into shifter territory. Problem is, the bastards are fast and really good at hiding their trail. Brant might get lucky though.”
At the mention of Brant’s name, she clutched onto Zane hiccupping as her tears came down faster.
“He will get over himself.”
“No, he won’t.”
“Sweetness…” he caressed her back. “Look at me.”
She shook her head, unable to stop the tears.
“Tanya.”
The use if her real name had her pulling back. Red nose, snot and all.
“He will get over himself. This is a big adjustment.”
“How is it that you don’t mind? Don’t you care either way? Is this all about heirs to you?”
His eyes softened turning to melted, rich chocolate. “I care, Ysnaar. For whatever reason, I don’t mind as much I thought I would. I enjoyed watching him rut with you.”
She gasped, “Really?”
Zane nodded. “Yeah, really. Problem is that Brant doesn’t feel the same, so we’ll need to keep things separate…It will work out in the end,” he shrugged.
It made her feel hot remembering their earlier encounter. Especially now that she knew Zane had enjoyed watching. A shiver raced through her and her pussy gave a little throb of both need and soreness.
Zane chuckled, the sound coming much easier than the first time he had laughed for her. He sniffed in her direction. “You amaze me, female.”
She giggled stopping as soon as she thought of Brant. “He can’t even look at me right now, let alone…” She sniffed and bit her lip trying to hold back another wave of tears.
“Like I said, he’ll get over it and if not then it’s his loss.”
She tried to smile even though half her heart felt like it was raw and bleeding.
Chapter 3
Brant strapped the last of the weapons to his back. A long samurai sword capable of doing much damage. He pulled on a leather jacket and started running in the direction that Stephany had been taken. He could scent the group of both covens’ best warriors on her trail.
It was indeed a wolf that had her. Damn it to hell. He could smell its musty animal scent. Wolves were much faster than elves. He picked up the pace some more. Xavier’s breaths came in ragged pants next to him.
“Are you sure you are sufficiently healed brother?” he glanced in Xavier’s direction.
“Yes, my lord. Yet, I think I should stay and protect your female. Hells, I think you should stay with your female for far more important reasons.”
“We have had this conversation.”
“She is in heat, my lord.”
“I had noticed. Zane will stay with her.” It almost physically hurt to say the words.
“It increases his chances of impregnating her each time they rut.”
“I know that,” Brant ground out.
“For the future of our coven, you should return.”
“She can’t take it.”
“Tanya is a strong human.” Xavier didn’t turn his head when he spoke.
“She is an unmated human female. Next time will be different. Right now one of us is too much for her. Let alone both.”
“There may not be a next time, my lord.”
“If she has Zane’s child,” he paused trying to compose himself. Brant shook his head, “You know what? I do not believe that she will fall pregnant. Human women are more fertile, yet it can still take months. If by some small chance she is pregnant and the child is Zane’s”—It killed him to say the words—“I will make sure that I impregnate her as soon as she is fertile again.”
“That could be years.”
“I am a patient man.” He pumped his fists, willing his legs to go faster.
“You love her.”
“I don’t know, maybe.”
“You fucking love her.”
Brant rolled his eyes, “Yes. I do.”
“Fucking kill me if I ever fall in love.”
Brant turned to face his brother, slowing down for a few beats. “I will.” He laughed. “It isn’t what I thought it would be. Not at all what I expected.”
“Three’s a crowd and all that.”
“Yeah. It’s weird though. I hate Zane, yet I am turned on when I have to watch them fuck even though I detest that another male is touching my female. It’s a nightmare.”
“Too much information brother.” Xavier held up a hand.
“I need help with this. I don’t have much experience in this type of situation.”
“Fine.”
“He’s not as bad as what I thought. I think he really cares for Tanya. Might even love her.”
Xavier tripped. “You’re shitting me.”
Brant slowed down while his brother regained his footing. “I hate sharing her. It kills me, but at the same time I am turned on by watching them. What the hell is wrong with me?”
“I don’t have the answer. I have shared a few females before but none I felt strongly about. If it helps any, I enjoyed watching them being fucked too. It is an erotic sight, like a live action porno. One of the biggest perks about going second is a fully lubed pussy.”
Brant choked out a laugh. “Really? Who’s giving too much information now?” They jogged in silence for a few beats. “You’ve never felt anything more for a female?”
“No. I’ve liked a few and lusted after many, but nothing a good rut wouldn’t cure.” Xavier turned his grey eyes on him.
“You’re lucky brother. Love sucks.” He sighed. They continued along the trail, the scent of their comrades growing stronger with each footfall.
Damn it all to hell, he may’ve been turned on watching them rut but he had hated watching them kiss. The sight had been enough to bring his blood to a boiling point. If Xavier hadn’t arrived when he had, Brant would’ve intervened and would only have been satisfied once Zane’s lips were smashed to a bloody pulp.
Even though his fists still itched to punch the bastard, he felt a pang of guilt at not setting the record straight about Zane wanting to choose Tanya at the ceremony. He had been about to rectify the situation when their female had started the whole kissing thing.
Their female.
The need to hit something returned, so he picked up the pace.
Right now he had to focus on the task at hand. There was no doubt in his mind that Stephany would survive this, but the sooner he had her back the better. He had grown up with the female, she was an important part of his royal staff and Tanya had grown to like her. By blood, he considered her to be a close friend.
Brant spotted the team of males converged ahead at the banks of Sweetwater River. As he ran towards them a ridiculous image hit him, so out of place at that moment that it had him stumbling for a micro second. He pictured Zane and Tanya rutting. Not being there drove him insane, he used the image to push himself faster and to fuel his resolve to bring Stephany back.
****
“I thought that you said you wouldn’t leave me again.” Tanya knew she sounded like a whining child, but she couldn’t help herself. Stephany was gone God only knew where. Brant had left, putting himself in the line of fire and now Zane wanted to leave her too. She was scared, confused, really upset and didn’t want to add lonely to the list.
Zane put a hand to the small of her back, pulling her against him. “You will be safe. York and Griffin have been assigned to protect you. I need to check on Lance and the rest of the wounded. I also want to check in with the hunting party.”
“Brant,” even saying his name brought fresh tears to her eyes.
“Yeah.” He took a hold of her chin. “I told you it would work out, at least we won’t have to fight to the death anymore.”
“It could still happen.”
Zane pursed his lips, causing her heart to skip several beats. “Charlotte will be here soon. She can keep you company.” He chuckled when he caught the look on her face. “Don’t tell me you’re still mad at her for offering to rut with me.”
“Why the hell is that funny?” She found herself smiling which irritated her even more because the thought of half-naked Charlotte made her want to hit something. “She’s so freaking sexy and one of the biggest hussies alive.”
Zane tensed, his eyes narrowed and his face took on a stern edge. “You are sexy.” His eyes tracked the length of her body heating with every second. “With hips made for holding. Legs designed to straddle a male’s hips.” He made a strangled noise “Breasts that fill my hands, and I have big hands.” His eyes darkened. “That makes them just right. Not too big. Just right.” He rumbled, his voice heating her from the inside. “Your mouth is soft, your teeth blunt…”
“Wait a minute…” She held up a hand. “You find my blunt teeth sexy?”
Zane gave her a goofy grin. She would’ve bet cold hard cash a few days ago that she’d never see the like grace his face. Her heart clenched at the thought that she had put the smile there.
He leaned in a little closer, “Your blunt teeth felt so good against my shaft when you did that thing with your mouth.”
“It’s called a blowjob and if you stay…” She put her hand on his crotch finding a huge erection.
Zane hissed and moved away from her touch. “Don’t tempt me female. I can’t. Your mouth would not be enough, I would need more.” His eyes hooded. “Because the best part of all is that your pussy is so tight.” He all out growled, so low and deep that her insides did a flip flop. “I don’t know if it’s a human thing.” He advanced on her, pushing her up against the wall, caging her in with his big body. “It almost hurts to be inside of you.”
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