by Brenda Trim
Rivaled Warrior
Dark Warrior Alliance Book 16
Brenda Trim
Tami Julka
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Afterword
OTHER WORKS BY TRIM AND JULKA
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Copyright © May 2018 by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
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Editor: Amanda Fitzpatrick
Cover Art by Trish (PickyMe Covers)
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
The heart wants what the heart wants, no matter the consequences!
1
Humming, Brianne shuffled down the hall of Zeum. Her aching body sighed its relief. She’d spent the past few weeks fulfilling the sexual need of a transitioning male, and she needed to sleep for a week to recover from the interlude. Her assignment was complete, and it was time for her to return home, yet she was reluctant to leave.
She was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked Tristan. He was young, powerful, good-looking, and fun to be around. He possessed many of the qualities she searched for in a male, and she would’ve considered seeing him again if it weren’t for his impertinence. There were moments she considered breaking her agreement when his cockiness reared its ugly head. The young male needed to learn humility, and fast, but she didn’t have the patience, or desire, to teach him.
There was always someone more powerful waiting to knock you down. Life and experience taught her it was best to keep your head on straight so you came out alive, with as few scars as possible.
Strangely, it wasn’t her time with Tristan causing her hesitation. It was something more, and she couldn’t put her finger to what it was. Maybe it was the atmosphere within the home that kept her there longer than necessary. Tristan gained control of his lust days ago, but she stayed anyway. Zeum exuded warmth and family unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and it was a soothing balm to her reckless temperament.
Harpies weren’t exactly a nurturing lot. They isolated their male children, valuing only females. Most species ruled by females were a loving, welcoming group, but not her kind. That was the demonic half of their ancestry. Harpies were ruthless, governed by their obsessive nature.
Brianne halted her trek to admire a console adorned with silver figurines. The shiny fairies called to her, and she couldn’t resist tucking a few in her bag. Glancing around to ensure no one witnessed the theft, Brianne winced at the knowledge she’d likely stolen little Izzy’s treasures. Unfortunately, the guilt wasn’t enough to make her put them back where they belonged. Aside from Red Vines (her favorite sweet treat), shiny silver objects were her primary weakness, and she made a mental note to send the Vampire Princess a present in lieu of taking her pretties.
The little female had been through Hell and back, yet managed to maintain her infectious smile and happy demeanor. Brianne didn’t know Izzy before she’d been kidnapped, but Tristan assured her the child was far more somber and subdued since her Guardian Angel, Ramiel, rescued her from the demons and returned the Vampire Princess to her loving family.
Thinking about family reminded Brianne she’d be thrown back into the rotation at the nest as soon as she returned home. Maybe that was the source of her reluctance, but that didn’t make sense, either. It wasn’t an everyday occurrence that harpies delivered evil-doers to the Erinyes. Her leader, Aurora, bartered a deal with the infernal goddesses that got them out of the task ninety percent of the time, but someone had to be on rotation in case the Fates managed to break through the Harpies’ magic.
As Brianne reached the central landing of the dual staircase, her instincts surged, and she went alert. Her head swiveled as she searched for the cause. Momentarily she considered ducking into a nearby room to don her armor. It had been nice to wear loose clothing for the past weeks, but she felt vulnerable without her protective metal suit.
She scanned the open area but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Her sensitive ears honed in on the noises of the house. Nothing but the voices of a few inhabitants of the large compound. Zeum had enough spells and protections around the property to guard an entire realm, she amended. She was overreacting and decided to wait until she was closer to her nest to don the heavy gear that chafed the skin beneath her boobs.
Brianne shook her head and laughed as she heard Zander, the Vampire King, teasing his mate, Elsie, in the nearby kitchen. The Dark Warriors and their mates were an odd group, but she couldn’t deny her envy over the love and loyalty amongst the lucky inhabitants of the home.
What the fuck was Cade thinking? Cael mused as he stepped from the kitchen, shoveling a bowl filled with delicious red beans and rice into his mouth. Everyone knew that you didn’t mess around with Fated Mates, yet his brother had been playing with fire for weeks. He was lucky Jace didn’t beat the ever-loving shit out of him because that’s exactly what he would’ve done if his brother was hitting on his mate. Luckily, no harm was done, and Cael and Cade were still welcome members of Zeum’s household.
It was a relief that Cade’s flirtation with Cailyn hadn’t prompted Zander to order them to leave. It took close to a year for Cael to consider the Seattle compound home, and now that he did, the last thing he wanted was for their Vampire King to demand they move out. His brother better pull his head out of his ass and stay the fuck away from Jace’s mate.
Cael took another bite of the spicy meal and groaned his approval. Damn, Elsie could cook. It was one of the perks of living at Zeum. The Vampire Queen’s Cajun dishes rivaled those from his hometown of New Orleans, and that was saying a lot. Having her prepare his favorite recipes made the transition from Les Augres Manor to Zeum much easier.
Another benefit of living at Zeum was the close brotherhood of the Dark Warriors. In fact, it was the main reason he and his twin brother wanted to be a part of the highly esteemed group. Dark Warriors were a family no matter where they were stationed, but the feel in Seattle was very different than NOLA. Cael chalked it up to the lack of females at Les Augres. It was vastly different when a group of males was solely responsible for the food and upkeep of a home. They didn’t do a lousy job, but there was a distinct lack of warmth and nurture.
Cael chuckled as he imagined a scenario where he would offer to cook another warrior’s favorite dish after a particularly shitty night on patrol. Not in a million years. Take a bullet or get stabbed for him, sure. Even die for him. But, cook a special meal? Nope. Not gonna happen. Most nights, the NOLA Dark Warriors made their way down Bourbon Street and stopped in one of their favorite haunts, grabbing food to go.
Cael admitted that he missed Jax and the other warriors at Les Augres, but he loved living in Washington. There was no oppressive heat or suffocating humidity. The colder weather of the northern city was nothing short of perfection. He didn’t even mind the constant rain compared to the brutal temperatures of Louisiana.
As he made his way up the stairs, Cael came to a screeching halt when a magnificent creature came into view. His heart stuttered, and his blood surged at the female before him. Eyes blacker than coal penetrated him on a cellular level. He forced his gaze to her onyx wings when they bristled at her back. The red feathers at the tip of her wings reminded him harpies were deadly creatures, but he couldn’t deny his attraction. Silky black hair cascaded to her shoulders, caressing her café au lait flesh. His mouth watered as he imagined kissing every inch of her flawless skin.
His gaze returned to meet hers, and beautiful dark depths raked him from head to toe, making his cock harden from the appreciative glint that glittered behind her orbs.
Whoever this female was, she was stunningly beautiful, and her presence left him speechless.
A hand went to her sensual hip as she cocked her head and purred, “Santo Dios. Vente pa ca papi chulo. You are a delicious treat. Almost as tempting as Red Vines.”
Her sexy accent flowed through his system, spiking his arousal another ten million notches. She probably called him a drooling jackass, but in Spanish, it sounded like a declaration of love. His cock jerked happily in his pants, begging for more.
“Whatever you said, my answer is yes. And, just so you know, I’m thicker and juicier than a Red Vine, baby,” Cael replied as he took the stairs two at a time to join her on the landing.
She threw her head back and laughed. The simple act brought an answering smile to his lips. Her seductive demeanor set his world on fire. This close, he smelled the scent of sex. And Tristan.
This must be Brianne, he concluded. She was the female brought to Zeum to assist Tristan with his transition. The young male’s situation wasn’t typical. Usually, the transition occurred in the family home with the parents making the arrangements regarding the stripling’s sexual partner.
Cael briefly wondered if it was wrong for him to hit on the female right after she’d been with Tristan. He shook off his concerns. Brianne was there to help Tristan through the transition, nothing more. It was apparent no relationship developed between them, or she wouldn’t be standing there flirting with him.
“As much as I’d like to taste your Red Vine, whatever you have in that bowl has my attention right now. Care to share that goodness? I’m starving, and it smells delicious. Spicy and sabrosa, like me,” Brianne murmured.
She shifted her weight, pressing her hip along Cael’s length as she looked up at him with fuck me eyes. Something clicked inside, telling him there was no way he could walk away from her now.
“You can have anything of mine you want,” he countered as he handed her the bowl then wrapped his arm around her waist. His arm brushed along her wings, making her gasp and he felt goosebumps skirt along her soft skin. “You must be Brianne. I’m Cael.”
“Very nice to meet you, Claro. I’m Brianne Castro. I can’t believe this but…,” she trailed off and chewed on her lower lip. He wanted a bite, too, and his gums tingled in agreement.
“But what?” Cael murmured as his hand roamed her backside.
Cael had no idea why he couldn’t keep his hands off her, but his hands itched to explore her curvaceous figure. Truthfully, he wanted to strip her bare and fuck her on the staircase. The scent of sweet citrus washed over him, and his world became a haze of lust and desire.
“You have somehow managed the impossible. After the past few weeks with Tristan, my body was screaming for a break. Now, all I can think about is you taking me to your room and giving me your juicy red vine,” she purred, making him smile.
“Oh, I’ll give it to you, alright. In fact, you’ll forget other males exist after I’m through with you,” he promised.
For reasons he didn’t comprehend, Cael wanted to eradicate Tristan from her mind. And, not just him. All males. He needed to prove he was better than any before him, and any that dared to come after. He held Brianne close to his side as he led her up the east stairs to his suite of rooms.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t run into you before I was ensconced with Tristan. I’m not one to go back on my word, but the choice between the two of you would be a no-brainer,” Brianne admitted as they entered his living room.
He slammed the door shut and paused with his back to the wood panel. She looked up at him with ravenous eyes, and he heard her racing heart. His gums throbbed as his fangs descended. The scent of her arousal coursed through his blood, and his heartbeat mirrored hers.
Brianne walked to the nearby dresser and set the bowl on his chest of drawers. Her ass jiggled with her movements and his cock hardened further. He loved females with some meat on them. Skinny bitched did nothing for him. There was nothing sweeter than soft curves to grab onto, and Brianne had them in all the right places. Full bosom, rounded hips and thighs, and ass for days. She was perfection.
“Cael,” she implored, captivating him with her dark chocolate eyes as she closed the distance between them. The sway of her hips was a pendulum, and he was immediately thrown into her trance. He wanted her so bad he felt his heart pound a drumbeat in his aching balls.
When she stood on tiptoes and placed her hand over his chest, he didn’t hesitate to lower his head, meeting her lips. His mouth crashed against hers with a brutal force fueled by his building desire. He could no sooner curtail his kiss as he could stop breathing. His tongue invaded her mouth, and the taste of mango exploded across his palate. Teeth and tongues tangled as he explored her hot cavern.
Swallowing her moan, he picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom. It felt as if they’d been doing this for decades as much as it seemed like his first time with a female. He set her on the plush carpet, and it seemed right and natural when she lifted her leg and wrapped it around his hip, bringing her core in contact with his groin. He cursed her clothing as he shoved the fabric of her pants down.
She toed off her shoes, and he caught sight of her clawed feet. He was surprised that it didn’t deter his desire for her. He knelt and caressed one foot then the other, watching her face contort with pleasure. He noticed her curved toenails were painted neon blue and he smiled at the small glimpse into her feisty personality. She was so incredibly alluring, and his control snapped as his lust skyrocketed.
Cael stood and ripped open her shirt then kissed along her shoulder. The sight of her breasts overflowing the top of her bra distracted him from her mewls and had his breath coming out in pants.
He’d never had sex with a harpy, but was eager to discover what her body craved. He pulled his shirt over his head and kicked his boots to the side before his fingers tangled in her silky hair. His lips explored hers while his free hand roamed her body. His fingers grazed one breast, making her nipple pebble through the sheer fabric of her bra.
Brianne quickly reached down, fumbling with the snap on his jeans. He kept up his exploration, memorizing every inch. His hand was at the apex of her thighs by the time she opened his pants. All he could think about was the feel of her hands shoving down his pants.
His cock sprang free, and he heard her suck in a breath. “Pepito quiere jugar! Someone wants to play. And, that’s definitely a vine that can satisfy,” Brianne murmured as her hot little fingers closed around his hard shaft and stroked his length several times.
“Fuck,” Caell murmured. “You went from a slow cruise to speeding down the runway in two seconds flat. Warning…I’m not stopping until I cross the finish line.”
“Mmmm. Now that’s a race I can get behind…or in front of,” she replied as she turned and dropped her pants to the floor.
Her ass was utter perfection, and the way she glanced over her shoulder made him shudder. His gums ache to sink into the succulent flesh of he
r body.
Cael snarled and tugged Brianne closer. He licked and nipped her lips and swallowed her gasps of pleasure while his tongue slid inside her mouth and danced with hers. The taste of mango sent an explosive bolt of arousal through his body, searing him from head to toe. Her passionate kiss sent a wave of pleasure straight to the tip of his cock, and he ground his hard shaft against her abdomen.
Their combined arousal permeated the air, demolishing any hope of employing restraint with her. Needing to touch her soft skin again, Cael’s finger traveled down her clavicle and over her heated flesh. Unerringly, he found the taut nerves of her waiting nipple. Her bra did little to mask her need or the dark brown nipple beneath.
“Are you ready for me?” he husked.
A secret smile tilted one corner of her mouth as the scent of mango filled his room. His finger traced her mons beneath the silk panties, and she moaned. Brianne was incredibly responsive to him, and he felt her wetness seep through the material.
“The real question is, are ready for me?” she countered.
Cael turned her body to where she faced the wall then unclasped her bra. He lowered his head and scraped his fangs along her shoulder, careful not to pierce her skin. She groaned and nodded her head as his hands traveled down her torso and cupped her sex, drawing her against the hard line of his body. Her rounded ass nestled against his raging erection. His free hand shredded the side of her panties, tearing them from her body.
“I’d be pissed about that if I weren’t so turned on,” Brianne muttered. “You owe me a new pair,” she panted as she rubbed against him.