But Brant clearly had no such honor, Ross’ head snapped back on the next punch. Rushe heard something crack. By now the male’s face was a bloody mess.
Zane stepped up to Brant. “Stop!” He snarled. Rushe could see that the male didn’t plan on letting up any time soon.
“This isn’t right,” Rushe growled while putting himself in front of Ross.
“Move, wolf.” Brant had death in his eyes.
“No,” Rushe’s voice came out in a deep rumble. He had to work hard to keep a rein on his wolf. If the beast broke free, he would turn into a deadly killing machine. Potentially capable of slaughtering a dominant male, even such as the one in front of him. Rushe had never fully tested his beast so was unsure of its full capabilities. One thing he knew for sure though, if he somehow seriously harmed the vampire king he would cause untold shit for his kind.
“One last chance.” Brant swung as he spoke, showing himself for the dickhead he was. Rushe deflected the punch, itching to hit back.
“Stop!” Rushe shouted. “Hear him out.”
Brant swung again. Even though Rushe tried to avoid the blow, it still caught him high on the jaw. The male could hit. His ear immediately started ringing and the area of impact flared with pain. He didn’t allow it to detract from his focus. When Brant swung again, he ducked. Unfortunately the male took the opportunity to knee him in the face. The unexpected force from the collision had him reeling and he fell to one knee, feeling dazed. He so longed to let his wolf loose on this son of a bitch but he somehow managed to hold back.
A sound of confusion escaped him when the vampire male, Ross, moved in front of him. Putting himself back in the line of fire as he pleaded, “Please, my lord.”
Brant pulled back, his fist intent on thrashing the male again but Zane finally stepped in and grabbed his arm. “I gave you plenty of opportunity to find control.”
Brant tried to pull his arm free. “Let go,” he bit out. “This male needs to be taught a lesson.”
“Stop for just a second and listen to me.” Zane sounded calm, yet deadly at the same time. This was a male Rushe would think twice about facing.
Brant let out a deep breath. “Talk quick and then either you deliver the punishment or I will. This type of behavior will be the downfall of our coven.”
“I gave Ross permission to seek out the human.”
Brant cursed. A whole string of expletives, many of them new to Rushe.
“Are you finished?” Zane asked.
Brant laughed. The sound, cold and empty. “This just means that you can go on the pole next to Ross. Ten cuts for giving him permission. Another ten for doing so behind my back. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Let’s have this conversation in private.” Zane clenched his jaw.
Brant was breathing hard, his chest heaved from the exertion. The male looked seriously pissed. For a second, Rushe was sure he would launch himself at Ross. Finally, some of the tension drained from him. “Fine.” He turned to York and the other male. “Take these two to the dungeon.”
“Is that really necessary?” Zane asked.
“Yes,” Brant growled. “If it were up to me, you would join them.”
Zane chuckled, causing Brant to tense back up.
“Thank fuck it’s not up to you then.” Zane said, still smiling.
“Don’t push me, Zane. You’re walking a fine line.”
The guards walked up to them. “Do I need to restrain you?” York asked while clasping Rushe’s shoulder.
Rushe shook his head.
“Let’s go.” York gestured in the direction of the castle.
“Since these two are clearly rutting the same female, and love each other so much”—Brant looked Rushe and then Ross in the eye—“you can put them in the same cell.” Brant glanced at York as he gave the command. His mouth was set in a grim line.
As they turned and walked towards the castle, Rushe heard Zane speaking to Brant. “Let’s go and talk about this. It’ll give you a chance to calm down. Then, I would suggest that you act in a fair manner.”
“This is fucking unacceptable. Fair would mean fifty lashes with silver infused leather.”
“It could kill Ross.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Brant snarled.
“He had my permission,” Zane growled. “I won’t allow you to lash him.”
“This is your fucking fault. You do realize that we need to contact the alpha?”
The great castle doors closed behind him, drowning out the rest of the conversation. Rushe squeezed his eyes shut for a second or two. Ward was going to be pissed. They were trying to keep their interactions with human females a secret. Judging by how they had treated one of their own, the vampire kings would not approve. This could cause major shit.
Chapter 2
Becky parked alongside the castle. Tall stone walls loomed. The four towers were not all visible from this angle. This included the north tower.
There was a light tap on her window. A large, hulking vampire leaned down staring at her through the glass. “Please step out of the vehicle.”
She held up a hand. He could freaking wait. It was dangerous to phone and drive, so Becky had waited until she got there to call Tanya. She had seen numerous accidents caused by cell phone use while operating a moving vehicle.
Becky quickly dialed her best friend.
“Tell me all about it, slut,” Tanya said. “I am all alone right now and all ears.”
“I’m outside.”
“What?” Tanya’s voice turned high pitched.
“I’m outside your vampire freaking castle. Please get your pampered ass down here…oh shit…” She looked around her.
“What’s wrong?”
“There are about five vampire beefcakes now surrounding my car and I arrived not one minute ago.” Becky tried hard to keep her voice even.
Becky could hear that her friend was already moving since the phone sounded like it was being jostled and her breathing picked up. “I’m on my way. Tell them that you are my guest. Give me a few minutes.” She disconnected the call.
“Female,” it was the same vampire that addressed her earlier. “Please get out of the vehicle.”
“I recognize her.” It was one of the others. “This is the queen’s friend.” He frowned. “She does not have permission to be here.” He glanced at the male that had knocked on her window. “Do you know anything about this?”
“No, but I did just overhear her conversation with the queen who is on her way as we speak.” He looked at Becky. “I will escort you to the entrance hall.”
Becky stepped out of the vehicle. The closest male’s nostrils flared. “You rutted a vampire”—his eyes narrowed—“and a wolf.” He added the last while grimacing.
All of the remaining males closed the distance to her in quick lithe strides, all of them made sniffing noises. One of the males actually bent down, taking a deep inhalation.
“Excuse me.” She tried to keep her voice even. “Stop that! Please.” She added when the same male leaned a little close to her private parts for a second deep sniff.
The male growled. “The vampire had her recently, they rutted more than once and she enjoyed it greatly.” His eyes heated while landing on her breasts.
“It’s none of your business.” Becky spoke with authority that she didn’t feel. “Tanya…your queen is waiting to see me.”
That seemed to bring them back. The males moved out of her personal space.
“Did you get permission to rut with non-humans?” The male to her left asked, a grin on his face. “Are we permitted to rut you, human? I would be very interested in—”
“Stop!” She held up a hand. “No freaking way. Not happening.” She reminded herself that these males were still primal, they still acted mostly on instinct. “Your kings would have your balls if you laid even a pinky finger on me.”
He pulled a face looking irritated, even shook his head while sighing. “Pity. I will have to seek p
Becky let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Next time”—another male said as he fell in beside her—“contact our queen before you come through to the castle. It would be safer that way.”
“It’s not like you guys would have hurt me.”
The male kept his eyes straight ahead and didn’t say anything.
“Would you?” She added sounding a little afraid.
“It is our duty to keep the castle safe and with the queen being pregnant we are on high alert.” He glanced her way, his jaw set. “Your scent is alluring and you recently rutted a vampire male and a wolf. It could be misinterpreted.”
“I understand...I think.” Becky took a deep breath, trying hard to fight the panic growing inside her. “You wouldn’t know anything about a wolf would you?”
His eyes narrowed as they flashed her way. “What do you know about the wolf?”
“The wolf…so he is here?”
The big male nodded once. “Yes.”
She bit down on her lip. “Please tell me he’s okay and that he didn’t do anything foolish.” There was a part of her that was concerned for Ross as well, yet she didn’t really believe that Rushe would be able to hurt the vampire. Not on his own territory. She doubted the vampires would allow it. No, Rushe was who she feared for in this moment.
The big male shrugged. “I don’t know what happened, we were sent away. The wolf was demanding to speak with…one of us…” It seemed like he wanted to add something but he stopped, thinking better of it.
“Ross,” she whispered under her breath.
“Yes. What do you know of it?” His voice deepened.
“What happened?” She tried not to sound too desperate.
The male shrugged. “Zane sent us away when he called for Ross. There is more that you are not telling me. Is Ross the vampire you rutted?” He grinned, telling her that he knew the answer already.
He looked up the stairs to the large double doors.
“Becky.” Her friend said from the castle entrance. Becky raced up the stairs and flew into Tanya’s arms, feeling the soft curve of her pregnant belly.
“You’re showing.”
Tanya beamed, rubbing a hand over her slightly distended stomach. “I haven’t felt the baby kick yet though.”
“It shouldn’t be long now.”
Her friend smiled. “I hope not. I’ve never been the most patient person.”
“Tell me about it.” Becky rolled her eyes at Tanya.
Her friend took her hands. “Now, I’m really happy to see you but what are you doing here? I get the feeling that this is more than a friendly visit with your BFF.”
Becky chewed on her lip.
“Let’s go inside.” Tanya pulled her through the grandiose, double doors that led into the castle.
Becky gasped as she entered the entrance hall.
“I know.” Tanya shook her head. “Brant has spent a lot of time redecorating what he used to refer to as this shithole. We’re supposed to be building a neutral castle since this is technically Zane’s but so far all that has happened is this.
Becky looked around the opulent space. Rich fabrics, plush woolen carpets, gleaming wooden floors and crystal chandeliers. She had to force herself to shut her mouth. It had been livable before, now it was just plain extravagant.
“What’s going on?” Tanya squeezed her hand. “I can scent that you recently had sex.”
Becky rolled her eyes. “Not you too.”
Tanya laughed. “I am a little bit vampire after mating Brant and Zane so yeah, I can scent that you had sex not so long ago. Based on our conversation I’m sure it was with Ross, but my sense of smell is not strong enough to be able to tell.”
“Based on how clueless you are sounding at this moment, I’m going to assume that you don’t know anything about Rushe being on vampire territory.”
Tanya’s eyes widened. “The wolf is here?”
Becky nodded. “He said he was coming to fight Ross for me. He is apparently claiming me.” She had to fight not to roll her eyes. “So freaking stupid.” Fear coursed through her and she hugged her arms around herself. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to him.
“I thought he was going to find a mate? That he had moved on. Why the change of heart?”
“Look, it’s not like we had a major conversation about it. The short version”—Becky paused—“he has decided that I’m going to be his mate.” She shook her head, reminded of how distraught Rushe had looked. “He could scent that I had just fucked Ross. I hadn’t even taken a shower yet. God, Tan, he was so sweet about it. He said it wasn’t my fault, that I wasn’t bound to him. That I hadn’t made any promises. He essentially said that my jumping straight into the sack with another male was perfectly okay. My slutty behavior might just cost him his life.”
“Okay. You need to know that non-humans view sex differently. Oh no…” Tanya added when Becky felt her lip quiver. Her friend held up a hand. “Don’t cry just yet, let me call Zane and find out what the hell is going on.”
Tanya put her phone to her ear, clasping a hand around Becky’s waist. “Yes, I know you’re in the middle of something…that something wouldn’t happen to be a wolf at the castle would it?”
She paused, listening.
“Becky is here. What is going on please?” Tanya tapped her foot.
Another long silence.
“Why did you have to send them there?” A pause. “Seriously!” She all out laughed. “A vampire and a wolf protecting one another, I never would have thought it possible.”
Tanya turned serious. “Becky wants to see them.” Her friend’s face turned a lighter shade of red and her eyes flashed with anger. “She has every freaking right.” She listened for a few seconds. “I don’t give a flying fuck what Brant says. Tell me this”—she smiled deviously—“what do you think, Zane?”
The smile turned downright wicked. “That’s what I thought…so you think she can see them and Brant says she can’t…that means it becomes my vote and I say yes. The end. Goodbye.”
“Do I even want to know?” Becky asked as Tanya tucked away her phone.
“Your boys are in the dungeon.”
“What?” Why the hell was she so surprised? Those asshole kings were ruthless sons of bitches.
“Thrown in a cell together.” Tanya slid a fingertip into her mouth, her teeth closed over a manicured nail.
“Please tell me that you’re joking.” Becky’s body temperature felt like it had dropped a few degrees. “They can’t be in a cell together.”
Tanya smiled. “I’m not joking. They apparently defended each other against Brant, so I’m sure they won’t be killing each other just yet.” Tanya shook her head, “And to think, I was close to forgiving Brant for being such a dick about Steph and Ward. How can someone be so loving, tender, funny…downright wonderful to me but such a colossal dick to everyone else around him?” She sighed. “I love him so freaking much. He and Zane were getting along so well.” She moaned. “The sex was off the charts. Three is way more fun.”
“I don’t know. I loved being with non-humans but surely three is a crowd?”
Tanya smiled. “You only say that because you’ve never had a guy go down on you while being fucked by another.”
Becky gasped. “They do that? I can’t imagine them doing that. Is it even possible?”
Tanya widened her eyes, which gleamed mischievously. “Oh, yes. There are some things one guy could never get right. It’s such a pity you went and found yourself two males on opposite sides of enemy lines.”
“Look”—she held up her hands—“I don’t want one freaking guy, let alone two of them.”
“Why are you here then?” Tanya put her hands on her hips. “If you don’t care about either of them, then why did you bother making the trip?”
Becky shrugged. “I don’t care.” The words came out far too softly. She cleared her throat. “I don’t want to be wracked with guilt if one of them is hurt by the other though. That’s all this is. It’s not like I want either of them.”
Tanya laughed. “Bullshit.”
“It’s not. I mean it.”
“Okay then, I’ll have one of the guys escort you back to your car. They are fine so you don’t have to worry. You can go.”
“That’s rude. I drove all this way.” She blurted, hating the thought of leaving just yet.
“I don’t know why I bothered fighting so hard to get you in to see them,” Tanya huffed. “Since you don’t give a damn anyway.”
“Stop it! I do want to see them and you know it. I’m not leaving, but that doesn’t mean I automatically want a relationship with either of them. Are we clear?”
Tanya blew her a kiss. “Whatever you say, darling.”
Becky could see that her friend didn’t believe her.
“Just be careful that they don’t start fighting when you show up.” Tanya raised her eyebrows.
“Do you really think they would? Even after standing up for one another?”
“Non-human males are highly dominant, alpha types. If both of them have decided that they want you, they could come to blows. I don’t think this is a casual rutting for either of them. Certainly not for the wolf if he has come here to stake his claim.”
Becky felt herself frown. “I still don’t understand how they can still want me and even be willing to fight for me. Although I didn’t outright cheat on either of them, it’s still not considered…I don’t know…right for me to have slept with both of them in such a short space of time.”
Tanya smiled. “I told you that they are not like humans. You are thinking in human terms. These vampires fuck like bunnies. Your eyes would honestly pop right out of your skull. They consider sex to be a function like eating or breathing. They have sex with whomever they want whenever they want.” Her eyes hardened up. “It’s different for mated couples of course.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, even sex between three or more parties is fine and happens.” Her eyes lit up. “The best thing about the non-human guys is that they seem to be wired to want to please us females, so pairings of two males to one female is more common than the other way around.” She shrugged. “I don’t know much about the wolves, but I’m sure it must be the same or at least similar with them.”
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