In one fluid motion, she caught the long foil strip while never once taking her soft chestnut eyes from his. The condoms didn’t look right in her hand. His future mate should never have a need for them.

His female wore a short, thin robe. The blue silk barely covered the top part of her thighs only just managing to conceal her sex. The fact that the robe was spattered with blood had his heart racing. He clenched his fists at his sides, unused to the emotions that coursed through him. She was, after all, the future of his coven and if anything happened to her his species would be in ruin. That must be why he felt this way. It was the only logical reason he could come up with.

The female scented strongly of Brant, telling him that she had most likely rutted with his enemy recently.

Enemy. Shaking his head, he couldn’t help but to think of the implications of what he was encouraging to happen. If things worked out, he would have to try and think of Brant in different terms. He had to admit, even though Brant could be a bit of a…pain in the ass, he’d never truly hated the male. It was his birth obligation to do so. What amazed him the most though was that he wasn’t offended by the scent of the other male on his female.

Watching this enticing human take her pleasure from Brant had almost made him lose his load straight into the tight confines of his pants like a juvenile youngster. Especially hearing the female’s scream as she was dragged over the edge with his fingers on her clit. She was some female, so soft, yet hard in all the right places. So tight that his dick twitched just thinking about it.

His eyes dropped to her breasts, jutting points stabbed at the soft robe. One pull on the tie and she would be all his. He took a step towards her just as she threw the condoms onto the ground.

“Good choice, sweetness.” He unsnapped the first button on his pants. Brant growled low and deep, a definite warning. Zane kept his eyes on the female.

“I’m not having sex with a cheating bastard.” She laughed but the sound held no humor. “Been there done that. I even have the t-shirt.” A sharp pungent scent rolled off her, it hit him square on. It radiated off his female. The sour aroma of pain.

The need to draw blood hit him and adrenaline surged. Zane was on Brant in a second. It was only the sound of the female screaming that kept him from pummelling the other male. Instead he gripped Brant by the throat. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

Small, useless taps rained on his back. “Let go of him you brute.” The human insisted on punching him even though it would be hurting her more than him.

“You have three seconds to get your hands off of me.” Brant’s eyes had narrowed. They were glowing.

He heard his female grunt as her little foot connected with his calf. Zane decided to let go of Brant before the human did herself damage.

“Not him you idiot!” she shrieked.

Zane took a step back so that he could see the female as well as keep Brant in his line of vision.

“Don’t do that again,” Brant spoke through clenched teeth.

“Who hurt you?” Zane kept his eyes on his birth enemy even though he was addressing his female. Their two covens needed this union, but he didn’t necessarily need to like the male in front of him. They just needed to get along enough to make this work.

“You hurt me you bastard!” the female spat at him.

Confusion clouded his thoughts for a few beats.

The human made a sound of frustration and pulled the robe more firmly around herself, crossing her arms over her chest. He couldn’t help it when his eyes dropped to the deep cleavage the motion had created.

“Don’t you dare look at me like that. Especially since you already had your fill of the females at your coven. I’m sure Charlotte was in your bed the moment I left. The spot barely cold.” Her eyes blazed, her lips pouted, her cheeks flushed.

She was jealous as hell. Zane barely managed to keep himself from grinning. So she was quite happy to go from one king to the other, yet didn’t want him rutting with any other female in her absence. Zane shook his head. “I told you that only once we are mated will I agree to a monogamous relationship.”

She stomped her foot and her hands flew to her hips. “I won’t have it. You can turn and leave right now. I might be a little bit plump and just a human but I deserve some sort of respect, and I won’t have the other vampire women laughing behind my back because you can’t keep your dick in your pants.” She stomped again. “If I walk in on you with one of them I swear to God…” A tear tracked down her cheek. It felt like someone fisted his heart making it hard to breath, to think.

“Look what you did.” Brant took a step toward her but Zane shoved the other male to the side.

Zane picked her up even though she kicked at him. “Stop, Ysnaar.” He pulled her flush against him, their faces separated by mere inches. She struggled in his arms still kicking at him. “Stop. I haven’t been with another female.”

She stopped kicking but tears still coursed down her face. “You lie.” She sniffed, “You’re just saying that because you want to fuck me.”

“He’s telling the truth,” Brant grunted. “I don’t scent another female on him.”

The female let out a sigh, her eyes fluttering closed. She let him pull her closer and he buried his head in her soft hair. “Thank you,” he said in Brant’s direction.

“Let’s get something clear, I didn’t set the record straight for you. I did it for her.”

“Fair enough.” Zane pulled back while narrowing his eyes on hers, they were red rimmed. “What’s this about being plump and human? If Brant didn’t hurt you, then who did?” Zane couldn’t keep the growl from his voice.

The female sniffed a few times. She drew back and used her hand to wipe her face. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter,” Brant said.

“It was nothing. Nobody.”

“Bullshit.” Zane set her down. “Tell me…us.” He added the last while trying to keep the irritation from his voice at having to include Brant.

“My ex-boyfriend cheated on me. I walked in on them. Like I said it was nothing.”

Zane heard Brant’s teeth crack as he ground his jaw just before letting out a low growl of his own. “An idiot,” he said, his eyes firmly on his female. “What happened?”

“Troy said it was my own fault. I put on a few pounds after meeting him and just couldn’t shake them. I like cupcakes far too much.” A stain of pink crept up from her collar. “He said that my thighs were too thick, that I”—she swallowed hard—“had cellulite and that my breasts were”—her lip quivered—“too big.”

“Bull fucking shit,” Brant snarled. “I will find this human and rip his—”

His female giggled through her tears, she put up a hand. “No, don’t bother I don’t even remember what I even liked about him to begin with. To think I wanted to have them made smaller.” She cupped her lush curves making his cock harden behind his zipper.

Zane made a strangled groan, he couldn’t help himself. “Make them smaller? Too big?…No fucking way. The human must have been brain damaged. I couldn’t bring myself to touch another female. Not after having you.” His eyes roamed over her body, moving over each and every curve. “I am going to rut with you now female. Would you like me to use a condom?”

“I’m not ready to be a mom.”

“We’ll keep you safe from the alpha, no need to rush into anything.” Brant said, and Zane could hear that the male was trying to keep his voice even as he spoke.

“Bull, we are here to cement a partnership that will lead to a mating in eight days and the joining of the covens. Should one of us impregnate our human now, it would seal the deal. No way to back out before the new moon. That bastard wolf would be forced to retreat. They’re already on the losing end.” Zane pointed up to the battle that was taking place above them.

“I am not a means to seal a deal. If they’re already on the losing end, you won’t need to…impregnate me. Just a few days ago I was single and now I have…well”—she turned from him to Brant and back again—“two of you and I don’t know if I could deal with a baby to add to it all…I kind of think we need to get used to this first. Try and see if it’ll work between us.”

Zane could see the internal battle raging in Brant. The male pursed his lips together in a thin white line, though a low rumble still managed to escape. As much as he hated it, his respect for Brant grew. This whole thing was torture on the other king. The whole possessive number he had pulled yesterday meant that he already viewed the human as his mate as well.

“It’s simple,” Zane said. “The covens come first. That means the three of us together is happening whether we like it or not. Do you want us both sweetness, or would you prefer to choose come the new moon?”

 

****

 

Two sets of dark eyes bore into her. She swallowed hard, not really wanting to answer. Earlier today she had been so sure yet when faced with reality, she wasn’t so sure any more. “I don’t want the two of you fighting over me. I don’t want to watch either one of you die at the hand of the other. I also don’t want to be forced into mating a wolf. In addition, I don’t know if I’m ready to be a mom.”

“What do you want Tanya?” Brant took a step towards her, his eyes softened as he spoke. “For the record. You would be pregnant for twelve months and wouldn’t show for the first six. Pregnancies are rare and it normally takes an average of four years for a vampire female to conceive. Humans have had a much better success rate, although we don’t have much to go on since it is only the kings that have been permitted to take humans as mates.”

“Twelve months?”

“This is the same for vampire females,” Zane added.

She’d heard that pregnancy was hard on a woman. One of her regulars at the store was a farmer’s wife, Sandy. She devoured books and with a limited budget, could only afford reused ones. Tanya had a whole section in her store dedicated to second hand. She still remembered the day that Sandy had skipped into the store and announced her pregnancy. She’d been so excited, smiling from ear to ear. Not long after, she came in looking a lighter shade of green due to morning sickness, except Sandy complained that hers lasted all day long. The sickness soon evolved into back pain and headaches, not being able to sleep at night and the need to pee all the time.

Sandy had visited less and less often as her pregnancy progressed. Tanya could clearly remember the day Sandy had brought the baby to the store after she had given birth. She had never seen someone look at something with such love and adoration before. Sandy had said that being a mother was worth it in the end. Tanya had felt a little broody looking at the little one’s chubby cheeks and tiny little hands that had clasped her automatically when she had put her finger close. When she’d brought up the subject with Troy, he had shot her down immediately. It would be different with the vampire kings though.

Brant had said that he wanted to be a father. Zane seemed to only want heirs and was treating this whole thing like a business arrangement. The thought of carrying another life, of raising a child scared the hell out of her. It also sent a jolt of excitement through her. All of this was so unexpected.

“What do you want?” Zane mirrored Brant’s question. “I know that you are compatible with both of us and that you wanted to rut with both of us yesterday.”

She scrunched her eyes shut. “You didn’t just say that?”

“We need to be honest and rational about this. Admit it.” Those dark eyes stayed with her.

She held Brant’s gaze, it had turned hard. He nodded. “Be honest, Cenwein.”

“It was a little embarrassing at first, but I’ll admit that I enjoyed it.” She looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. “I liked both of your hands on me.” She felt her cheeks heat.

“You want us both,” Zane said. It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You want both of us to mate you come the new moon.”

“Yes,” another whisper.

“I’m going to have you now.” Zane tore at his pants, removing them quickly while somehow managing to advance on her at the same time. He picked up the condoms at her feet tossing them distastefully to the other side of the room. With one light tug, her robe fell in a blue arc at her feet. He touched his hand to her belly. “I cannot wait for your womb to quicken with my seed.” Brant snarled but stayed where he was. Zane’s lips twitched. “Fine,” he sighed. “With royal seed. That alpha won’t get you, but this will be the best way to ensure your safety. More importantly we need this to secure our union with no means for escape.” His eyes softened. “You will make a good mother.” He glanced Brant’s way and her eyes tracked his.

Brant looked like he was barely managing to keep a handle on his emotions. His jaw worked. He eventually nodded once. “It would be for the best, Cenwein.” He tried to smile. “I look forward to seeing your belly swollen with our child.”

“Cenwein,” Zane said, his eyes tracked her naked flesh. “I can see why you call our female that…”

“Don’t you dare think of calling her that—” Brant’s eyes were so dark that they looked black.

“Relax…” Zane held up a hand. “I prefer Ysnaar myself.”

“She does tend to want to claw your eyes out a lot of the time,” Brant smiled. It was tight and didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“You should see her when my dick’s inside of her.”

Tanya gasped. Brant snarled, taking a step towards Zane but somehow managing to hold back. “Watch your dirty mouth.”

“Stop being so freaking uptight. There’s nothing like a bit of dirty talk to liven up the party.” Zane bobbed his eyebrows up and down. His cock jutted from his body.

“What does it mean? Cenwein?” she asked trying to defuse the situation. Also, it was something she had been meaning to ask.

Brant’s eyes softened. “It is a type of flower. Exquisitely rare and beautiful, yet very delicate. One touch and the flower dies.”

“I’m hardly delicate.” She laughed ending on a snort.

Zane wrapped his hand around her waist. “Oh, yes you are. The funny thing is that although we use the term Ysnaar to describe a feisty individual, it is also a type of flower. Strikingly beautiful, just as delicate only full of deadly barbs. You do have bite to you and I like that in a female. I have found it to be rare in a human.”

“Oh happy days, you at least like something about me.”

“I do like that trait. There are other things I like too though.” He paused, his eyes dipping to her chest. “Now the time for talk is over.” He sniffed the air. “The scent of your heat grows stronger.” This time he nuzzled into her neck and Brant rocked from one foot to the other, his fists were clenched at his sides.

“How did you know I was coming into heat?”

“Like I said earlier, I ran into Stephany outside the entrance to this place. She was the one who gave me the condoms. Told me where I could find you. She must’ve scented it on you earlier.”

Fantastic. Stephany had orchestrated the whole damn thing. She held Brant’s eyes. “You really need to have a little talk with her.”

His lips twitched, but didn’t break into a smile. Zane bent down, he picked up his discarded shirt and a bottle of water. He opened the water and poured some onto the shirt. Using careful strokes, he cleaned the blood from her neck and hands. Reapplying the water to his shirt at regular intervals. Once he seemed satisfied with his work, he used the dry side to mop up any remaining water on her skin.

“You weren’t hurt,” again a statement.

She shook her head. It was times like these that she glimpsed a different side to him, one that gave her hope, one that told her he cared and that this was more than just the future of his coven to him. It was also about his future too. One with her. Hopefully one in which he would be happy. Maybe he could even grow to love her. She hoped the same for Brant and prayed that she wasn’t alienating him by wanting this.

When Zane was done, he threw the shirt down and set the water on the ground to the right of them. He stood, towering over her and put his hands on her hips almost waiting for an invitation, which was strange because Zane had always come across as a male that took.

“Tanya,” Brant’s pained voice cut into her like a knife. She looked up and saw the stricken look on his face. Every muscle was roped and bulging. Especially the ones on his neck. They were corded and strained.

She couldn’t hurt him like this. She pulled away from Zane’s embrace and stumbled in her haste to get to Brant, thankfully he was there to catch her. Brant wrapped her in his arms. “I’m sorry, it’s okay,” he whispered for her ears only.

“No, it’s not. You don’t want this.”

“It doesn’t matter. At least this way I get to keep you even if I can’t ever have all of you. You’ll be happy. It’s all I need.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. It is for the best.” His tender eyes held hers. Why did this have to be so difficult?

“Okay.” Her eyes pricked. Before she could think on it, there was suddenly heat and then hard male behind her. One part in particular. It hardened up a whole lot as it made contact with her lower back. Zane put his hands on her hips rubbing up and down her upper thighs.

“We’ll make this work, sweetness,” his deep baritone voice caressed her. One of Zane’s large hands rounded her belly, dipping down and immediately zoning in on her clit. God, but the man was good. She had to suppress a moan since she was still in Brant’s arms. Her breathing must’ve changed because he tensed taking a step back. Her hands stayed on his shoulders. Brant glanced down and when his eyes lifted they were hard, narrowed. His jaw tensed and locked. Tanya wanted to say something, but what could she do or say to help him through this?

He moved to the far wall. Taking up a stance that reminded her of a marble statue. His eyes followed them as Zane ushered her to the bed. She couldn’t take her eyes off him either. Even while Zane’s hand remained on the bundle of nerves between her legs, or even as he picked her up and positioned her on all fours.

Crouching over her, Zane slipped a finger inside her while his thumb stayed on her clit. Tanya had to work hard to suppress a moan as she tried to concentrate on Brant’s face. His eyes were glowing, his body so tense that she was sure he would sprain something. Her orgasm built inside her with a speed that surprised her considering the situation. When Zane inserted a second finger, she couldn’t help the whimper that escaped. Brant growled, low and deadly but he didn’t move so much as a muscle.

As hard as she tried to resist, it was useless, Zane was just too good at zoning in on all of her sweet spots. He knew exactly how to touch her and went about the task with relentless precision. Using his other hand, he palmed her breast squeezing almost to the point of pain. It felt so damned good.

“Fucking sexy.” His words surprised her, he wasn’t the type to dish out compliments lightly. Or possibly ever. Zane nipped at her shoulder, continuing his ministrations on both her pussy and her breast. “Come for me, sweetness,” a rough growl that sent her over the edge.

Eyes squeezed shut, she rode his hand trying to hold back a cry and failing dismally. Rough hands grasped her hips. Zane thrust himself inside her balls deep in one motion. She cried out, her pussy still clenching from the orgasm. Not giving her time to catch her breath, he continued to ram himself into her. No sooner had she rode out the rest of her orgasm, did the build of her next one begin.

Brant snarled, his face was contorted in rage but her body didn’t give a damn as it tightened with her pending orgasm. “You feel so good.” Husky, deep, she loved the sound of Zane’s voice.

She didn’t think it was possible, but Zane picked up speed and her core hummed. The first flutters contracted her pussy walls. Zane had her caged underneath him. His hands kept her anchored in place. There was a sharp pinch at the base of her neck followed by an explosion of blinding pleasure. Her back bowed. She screamed as he sucked a second time. Her body shook, her mind blanked, everything in her stopped. Her breath caught in her lungs. All she could do was feel. Zane jerked inside her, grunting as he found his own release.

There was a loud thud and Zane was no longer behind her. She turned her head, feeling dazed. Brant stood behind her with Zane on the floor, his lip split and bloodied. Brant looked pissed. His eyes glowed, flashing red for a second. He snarled, his long, wicked looking fangs gleamed. On the ends of his fingers, sharp looking claws had taken the place of his nails. She had to stop herself from backing away. From telling him to stop. It took every ounce of strength she possessed to stay still as he closed the small distance between them.

Brant pushed her into the mattress, her breasts and the one side of her face pressed firmly down into the soft material. One hand held the back of her neck while the other grabbed her hip. His claws dug into her flesh. They would leave marks for sure. She whimpered but knew instinctively that it would be best to keep still and to remain calm. Brant was still somewhere inside the vampire that clung to her. He might not be himself right now but he would never hurt her.

“Easy,” Zane said. His voice even and calm. At least if Brant did lose it Zane was right there.

“Fuck you,” an inhuman snarl as Brant sank into her. He growled as his balls slapped against her ass. There was a sharp pinch in the same area Zane had bitten her and she orgasmed hard as he sucked. The fact that she was restrained with his dick, unmoving yet deep inside her, had her coming even harder on the second draw. Brant withdrew his fangs and licked her neck. Her groan ended on a cry as he began to move in long, hard thrusts. He grunted with each languid stroke. Not letting up on the grip on her neck and hip. How in the hell was it possible? She physically hurt from the rough sex both vampires had doled out, yet another orgasm started its slow build again.

Brant continued to fuck her hard, yet he didn’t increase his speed. It kept her on the edge. Every muscle clenched in expectation. Her body was slick from the exertion. She was panting and mewling. On the verge of begging when he bit her again. It was like a freight train hit her. Her mouth went slack, her eyes widened before squeezing shut and her pussy clenched so hard that she was sure she would hurt him. Another suck had every muscle in her body contorted under his heavy weight. She felt hot bursts deep inside as Brant came, they urged her to higher limits.

Somewhere in the distance she thought she heard a shout, but blood rushed in her ears making it hard to hear. A meaty thud. Brant ripped both his hands and fangs away from her neck. His whole body seemed to vibrate with a low growl. The spot at her neck throbbed.

“Enough,” Zane’s deep voice finally penetrated her rational mind.

Brant clasped her hips with both hands, his cock was hardening up and he began to rock into her. “No”—she moaned—“I can’t.”

“I said enough. Let our female rest. I’ll let you have her first next time.”

“Generous of you.” Brant continued to thrust. She moaned because it hurt, but damn it somehow it managed to feel good as well.

“She is human and needs to rest.” Zane’s voice had dropped about three octaves. Another deep thrust. There was a loud crack and it was Brant’s turn to hit the floor. Tanya collapsed. She grabbed for the blanket at the foot of the bed as Brant leapt to his feet. The two vampires clashed chests, snarling into each other’s faces. They looked like the non-human version of rabid dogs about to fight. Tanya felt too drained to try and stop them. She wrapped herself in a blanket while moving as far away from the males as possible.

Zane backed down first. “The female will be hurt if we fight.”

Brant moved into the empty space still snarling.

“Tanya will be hurt. You need to stop.” This time the statement seemed to snap Brant out of his crazed state. Weird how just a few hours ago this had seemed like a good idea, right now she felt like she might have made the biggest mistake of her life.