Six days in bed. It was enough to kill a girl. Oops, she probably shouldn’t say that out loud. Zane and Brant would react badly, they’d probably insist that she stay tucked up for an extra few days just to be sure. Charlotte and Stephany would become even more annoying. They’d make her eat more, drink more, sleep more, dress warmer…she sighed to herself. One more day and her bed rest would be over.

There was a knock on the door. Before she could answer, Zane put his head around the jamb. “Are you decent?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

“Yes.”

“Dammit. I really have to try and time it better.” He closed the door. “I can’t wait to see all your silky skin…make that lick every inch of your body. Slow and careful. I’m going to make you scream and beg.” His eyes smoldered as they moved down her sheet clad body. Underneath the sheet, she wore flannels, hardly sexy. “You’ve been through an ordeal, but there’s nothing wrong with your vocal cords is there?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I’ve missed you so much, Ysnaar. Just thinking about your tight, wet little p—”

“Stop…” Her breathing had hitched. “I’m still not convinced that this is going to work.” Any more talk of what he would do to her and she might just beg him to take her here and now. Maybe she should take Becks up on her offer and have her friend bring her a really large vibrator. Once she got the all clear from the doctor tomorrow, it was going to be difficult not to just fall back into bed with her vampire males. Until they convinced her that they were going to put their dominance aside and work together though she couldn’t allow herself to be swayed. 

He pulled in a deep breath and his nostrils flared. “Your scent drives me insane.” Ever since she’d started to scent of the baby, both males had mentioned on more than one occasion how it drove them crazy with need for her. She needed this to be more than just about being shared between them though, she wanted a partnership involving all three of them.

A vampire sandwich.

Becky wasn’t far off. The thought of making love together, drinking together and hell even sleeping together had her toes curling. Tanya sighed. “I take it that one of you conceded and that you are ready to convince me that there will be no more fighting to the death?”

“Our…relationship is much improved.”

“I need guarantees that I won’t have to watch you kill each other in a”—she shrugged—“month…a year.”

“You know I can’t make such a promise.” She could give them one thing, and that was that they were honest to a fault even if it was to their detriment.

There was another knock and Brant opened the door. “I’ll come back later,” he said when his eyes landed on Zane.

“No”—the bed dipped as Zane sat next to Tanya—“come in.”

Brant moved to the opposite side of the bed. He kissed her cheek, his eyes dipping to her lips as he pulled away.

“It seems that we still have some convincing to do,” Zane said, his eyes on Brant.

“Once the doctor gives the all clear.”

“No,” she said a little too harshly, only because her body had decided it was all in. Her nipples had pebbled and had turned ultra-sensitive under her cotton pajamas. Her clit throbbed. She knew they would be able to scent her arousal and it irritated her.

“Until you two can prove that there won’t be any fighting in the future, I’m afraid I can’t agree to anything.”

“You know we can’t promise that. Give us another chance. We promise to try and not kill each other. I am optimistic that we will succeed,” Brant cocked an eyebrow.

“Optimistic,”—she paused—“just as I thought,” she huffed. “You promise to try,” she made a sound of frustration. “First you take me away from my life, make me fall in love with both of you”—she looked from one male to the other—“You impregnate me. Make me go through a mating ceremony in which I bonded myself to both of you. Then you wanted to freaking kill each other while expecting me to carry on with the survivor. It’s insane.” She ran her hands over her face covering her eyes. “But you’re optimistic that you won’t kill each other in the future and that’s supposed to make it all better,” she mumbled into her hands.

Silence.

When she finally uncovered her face, both males looked to be in a state of shock, complete with gaping mouths, pale skin and wide eyes.

“What?” she asked tentatively.

“You love us?” Brant asked. “You love us,” he stated while grinning.

“Say it again,” Zane slid his hand onto her belly, shifting closer.

Holy shit. She’d just told them that she freaking loved them.

“No,” she shook her head. “That’s not the point”—she stopped there because she realized that she was wrong in saying that—“okay, maybe it is the point. I do love you both. Do you really think I want to watch either of you die though? Especially at the hand of the other?” She fixed the pillows behind her head so that she could sit more upright.

Brant cupped her cheeks with both of his big hands. “I just have to say that I—”

“Don’t you dare say it.” She hit her hand on the bed covers with a light thump, needing to drive the point home.

“—but it is important that you know that I—”

“I said, no. Weren’t you listening? Love doesn’t change the situation. I don’t want to hear it.” The last came out sounding a little panicked. Her resolve would crumple if she listened to them…listened to Brant swear his undying love to her.

“I’ll show you instead.” Brant kissed her. Lips warm, tongue seeking. She couldn’t help but to whimper as he deepened the kiss, plundering her mouth. She really shouldn’t be allowing this, but how could she refuse him? It was a scorching, smoldering, toe curling, heat inducing kiss. Slow, tender, loving.

Brant pulled away and she found herself following him as he moved back. More please, her whole body cried. Zane’s hand hooked around her waist, he pulled her so that she faced him.

His dark eyes seemed to look straight into her soul. “I need to show you too, sweetness. I wish I could really show you just how much.” His eyes dropped to her mouth a second before he kissed her. Oh wow. Her back arched as their tongues clashed. Her breasts mashed against his hard chest. Freaking hell, for a newbie kisser he was damned good at it. Slanting his face left then right. Suckling on her bottom lip before plunging into her mouth with his hot tongue. Her nipples rubbed against him. She dug her fingers into his biceps. Hard, hot male. Where Brant had been tender and soft, Zane plundered.

Both kisses left her breathless. “How did you become so good at that?” She asked as he ended the kiss, then she narrowed her eyes at him in what she hoped was a death stare. “Who have you been kissing?”

“No one.” He threw her a half smile. “You told me kissing with tongues was like sex, so I kissed you in the same way I would fuck you right now if I could”—he cleared his throat—“I wouldn’t take you slowly, Ysnaar, but I also wouldn’t rush. I’d sink deep into your sweet pussy keeping you on the edge until you begged me to make you come.” His voice had dropped to a low rumble.

His words had her womb clenching. “So…so,” she stammered. “You haven’t kissed anyone else?” Flip, she hated that she was still so insecure.

“Neither of us is even remotely interested in anyone other than you. We need you back.” Brant cuddled up behind her, his breath on the back of her neck as he talked.

She stiffened. They might not be having sex with other females, but they were drinking from someone else and neither male would divulge who that someone was. They refused to take from her, stating that she wasn’t strong enough yet.

“What is it?” Zane asked looking at her with such tenderness.

“Who are you drinking from?”

Zane looked panicked for a split second before schooling his thoughts. Brant moved away from her and climbed off the bed. “It’s not something you need to concern yourself with,” he said. “You need to trust that we are doing right by you.”

“Just tell me. I need to know.”

“Trust us,” Zane said, his eyes wide. He climbed off the bed as well and proceeded to pace.

Tanya folded her arms across her chest. “Out with it. Right now.” She looked from one male to the other. Zane stopped his walking and turned to face her. His brow heavily creased.

“It’s embarrassing.” Brant looked down at his shoes.

“Embarrassing for whom?” she narrowed her eyes at them. “Is there something I should know? Once this gets out, will I be the brunt of all the jokes? Is everyone going to laugh at me…did you know the covens are taking bets on who—”

“We are drinking from each other,” Zane growled, his hands fisted at his sides. “If it gets out, then we will be the laughing stock of both covens. Hell, not just the covens, of all the species.”

Tanya giggled into her hand and immediately regretted it.

Brant made a sound of frustration. “It’s not funny, Cenwein. Males do not normally drink from one another. We did it for you.”

“Yeah, we knew that you would not want us drinking from any of the females.” Zane shrugged. “It was the best solution.”

She bit down on her lip until she regained some control. It was hard to imagine the two of them…together. “Thank you. I appreciate it. It could not have been easy.” Her lip twitched but she managed to keep herself from cracking a smile.

“More like freaking torture,” Zane grumbled.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Brant growled.

Zane grinned. “I didn’t realize that you enjoyed it so much. You’d better not ask me to start stroking your dick while you drink.”

Brant grit his teeth. “You always have to take things too far. It wasn’t ranked as one of the best experiences of my life, but torture…really? My female will stroke my dick and I’ll be drinking from her from here on out.”

“Our female.”

Brant took a deep breath, his chest heaved. “Our female,” he conceded. Tanya noticed that it took some effort.

Zane glanced at his watch. “Katar will be here any minute. We had best go and prepare. Did you have a talk with Xavier?”

A look of regret crossed Brant’s face. “He will do what is expected of him.”

Zane sighed and nodded once. “Good. I’ll do my best to convince the old king, but…” instead of finishing his sentence he raised his eyebrows.

“What’s going on?” Tanya asked, although she could guess.

“Katar is here to visit Esral. He won’t be happy when he finds out that she is not mated,” Zane said clasping his hands in front of his body.

“And the whole Xavier will do what is expected part?” She narrowed her eyes at Brant.

“Don’t look at me like that, Tanya. Xavier will mate with Esral.” She tried to interject, but he stopped her. “Please, Cenwein. It is something that needs to happen for the good of both species. Try to understand.”

“Well, I don’t. Esral wants a chance to choose. I think that the two of them will end up together in the long run. A forced mating won’t work though, they’ll end up miserable.”

“It can’t wait. They will have to learn to deal. It is their duty. I…we will try and convince Katar to give them more time but should we fail, tomorrow is the new moon…” Brant’s eyes were dark and pleading. “I will do my best, but Katar is very traditional in his thinking so I do not hold out much hope.”

“Let me talk with him.” It was worth a shot. Tanya held her breath. The males exchanged glances.

“You need to stay in bed.” Zane caught her gaze. “We do not want you to exert yourself. Please do not worry. Xavier and Esral may not be thrilled with the news but they have both resigned themselves to the inevitable. As you said, there is an attraction there.”

“Yeah, but they shouldn’t be forced. Let me speak with him.”

Brant shook his head. “Don’t worry. We will take care of everything. It’ll all work out.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“You need to take care of yourself, Ysnaar, and our baby.” Zane crouched over the bed. He pulled down her sheet and kissed her belly, nuzzling into the fabric of her pajamas.

Brant threw her a wicked smile before kissing her lips. He nudged his tongue into her mouth and nipped on her bottom lip.

Zane moved down and buried his head into the juncture at her thighs, he sniffed making a strangled noise. The sudden friction sent desire coursing through her whole body. Brant swallowed her moan while swirling his tongue with hers.

By the time he broke the kiss, she was panting. Her breasts felt heavy, her skin tight. She needed that vibrator or she would end up begging. Having both males touch her like that at the same time was more than she could handle. What she really needed to do was to start enforcing that no touching rule.

“Rest.” Brant touched his lips to hers one last time before kissing her nose. He stood and moved to the door.

“Don’t worry.” Zane moved back up. He kissed her neck and his nostrils flared when he lifted. “Oh female, I can’t wait…” He kissed her quick and deep before touching his forehead to hers. “Tell me…us again.”

“Tell you what?” she felt her brow crease.

“That you love us.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t change things. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Have we still not convinced you?”

“No, and my loving both of you doesn’t change things. It is in your nature to be dominant.”

Zane’s eyes clouded.

“I’m sorry,” Brant said.

“We’re sorry, Ysnaar,” Zane let out a deep breath. “We will find a way.”

“We’ll talk more later. Get some rest,” Brant said as he opened the door.

Once the door closed behind them, she reached for her phone and dialed Stephany.

“Are you okay?” Her friend’s familiar voice sounded over the device.

“Is that any way to answer a phone?”

A sigh. “Sorry, it’s just that I couldn’t help but to notice that both Zane and Brant were in your room. I didn’t hear any fighting or…other loud noises. I was just worried…you know…just worried. How is the baby?”

“We’re fine. Zane and Brant are getting along. It’s weird.”

“Enjoy it. Don’t complain.” Stephany sounded incredulous.

“It won’t last. I can’t risk it.” She heard Stephany take a deep breath, preparing to argue no doubt. “That’s not why I’m calling. I need you to do something for me,” Tanya said.

“Anything. Name it.”

 

****

 

Katar entered the boardroom first followed by Keto. The elven king smiled broadly making a greeting in his own language.

As a sign of respect, Brant and Zane returned the greeting using elven tongue. Xavier stepped in beside them and did the same.

Keto remained silent. His eyes were hard, his jaw tense. What was the male’s problem? Zane had mentioned that the king had aged greatly, yet Brant was still shocked by his lined face and greying hair.

A look of confusion crossed Katar’s face for a brief moment. “Where is your mate? I had hoped that my daughter would be here to greet me. I take it that all is well with Esral?” The old man smiled.

“Esral is well,” Zane answered. “Your daughter is slowly becoming accustomed to the ways of our people.”

“Have you found her to be a good mate? She is in many ways much like her mother and will serve you well.”

Zane cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.

Brant stepped forward. “Let’s be seated. Can I offer you some refreshments?” He gestured to the table which was laden with fruits and pastries. After talking with Esral, Stephany had advised him that elves had a sweet tooth. “Would you like a glass of juice? Wine perhaps?” He motioned to a pitcher of deep red liquid.

“I shouldn’t, but why not? It is a celebration after all. The union of our species.” Katar looked thoughtful for a second before smiling.

This was going to be more difficult than they’d thought.

Brant poured a glass and reached for a second. “Keto?”

The elven prince narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “I am fine”—he ground his teeth—“Thank you.” He said the words like they were a curse.

Katar took a long drink from his glass.

“This is Prince Xavier, my brother,” Brant stated.

Katar inclined his head while maintaining eye contact with Xavier.

Brant tried not to shift in his seat. “I am glad that you called this meeting today—”

“Meeting?” Katar shook his head. “Think of it more as a family get together.”

It was time to suck it up. The longer they dragged this out, the worse it would be in the end. “Zane did not mate your daughter.” Brant had to work hard to keep himself from cringing. He definitely could’ve worded that better.

Katar’s brow knitted. “That means that my daughter has mated with you, Brant son of Taine. It was my understanding that you had taken a mate already.”

“Your information was correct. I have not mated your daughter either.”

Katar exploded in a spray of wine scented spittle. “What is the meaning of this? I put my beloved daughter’s life and reputation in your hands and you disrespect me like this?” He took a deep breath. “When do you plan on mating her?” he turned to address Zane.

“I too am already promised to another, and tomorrow we fulfil the mating come the new moon.”

Keto bashed the table with a closed fist, his blond hair flew about his face. “The honor of my sister is at stake. Filthy—”

“Silence!” Katar shouted, his face was bright red. His nostrils flared and his knuckles had turned white on the glass. Brant was worried that it would shatter under the pressure. If the old man cut his hand open on the shards it would flame his anger.  Katar didn’t seem to realize that he was still holding it.

“By slighting my Esral, you have slighted me. My people.” He swallowed hard. “My daughter”—his eyes grew glassy. Katar shook his head, his lips a thin white line—“my beloved Esral will be seen as defective, forced to live a life of solitude. My beautiful, innocent, sun filled child. So full of potential.” His shoulders had sagged while he spoke, his eyes drifted to the table.

“We have welcomed her to live among us as one of our own,” Brant said hoping that Katar would be appeased.

“What?” Keto snorted. “So that her innocence can be taken by any commoner? Rutted in some back alley like a piece of trash?” His eyes were blazing, his face set in a deep scowl. With a loud scrape, Keto pushed his chair back but did not make to stand. “Fucking unacceptable.” Although he glanced Brant’s way, he noticed that most of the prince’s animosity was directed at Zane. It wasn’t the time to think on it.

Katar grunted. “The agreement was that my daughter would mate vampire royalty, anything less would be taken as an insult.” His eyes grew hard as he squared his shoulders. “I had not wished to bring war to my people, but you will force my hand.”

How should he proceed? Should he inform the king of his daughter’s wishes to date and to choose her own mate? The elven king would have little understanding for her desires. Glancing at his brother, he noticed how grim and ashen his expression had become, like he was about to be put to death. Xavier briefly inclined his head in acceptance, his respect grew for his brother. Brant ran a hand through his hair. He suppressed the urge to sigh. “Xavier is royalty, he will mate your daughter but it will happen in due course. It would be preferable if they could have some time to—”

“No,” low and evenly delivered. The elven king’s eyes narrowed. “Tomorrow is the new moon, the prince will mate her or I will declare war on the vampire species.”

“That would not be wise Katar, many would die,” Zane stated.

Katar locked his jaw.

“Your species would be hardest hit,” Brant added. “It is not our wish to slaughter the elven kind, do not force our hand.”

“It is you that forces my hand.” He turned to Xavier and locked eyes with him. “Mate my daughter.” His voice had a hard commanding edge. For a moment he looked like the man Brant remembered, then his shoulders sagged again and he seemed to age before Brant’s eyes. “You have wronged me, both of you.” He shook his head.

“We will make this right, Katar, you have my word,” Brant said. They could not enter into another bloody war. He did not wish to decimate a species. His female must be rubbing off on him because he wanted what was best for the elven princess as well. She may not realize it, but having Xavier as a mate would be for the best in the long run. Brant knew that his brother would do right by Esral, even if it killed him.

Xavier reached for a jug of wine, he filled the glass in front of him and downed the contents. The buzz from the alcohol would be over in a few minutes, hardly worth the effort. Yet, if he was in his brother’s shoes, he would probably do the same.