#3 Chosen by the Vampire Kings: BBW Romance (Part 3: Love & War) Read online

  Love & War

  Chosen by the Vampire Kings

  Part 3

  By

  Charlene Hartnady

  Copyright and Disclaimer

  Copyright ©October 2014, Charlene Hartnady

  Cover Art by Melody Simmons

  Copy Edited by Kimberly Reichmann

  Produced in South Africa

  Published by Charlene Hartnady

  PO BOX 456, Melrose Arch,

  Johannesburg, South Africa, 2176

  [email protected]

  Love & War is a work of fiction and characters, events and dialogue found within are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews no part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without prior consent in writing from the author

  Dedication:

  To my dearest mommy. I will always be grateful that heaven didn’t need another angel that day. I hope your eyeballs don’t pop out when you read this serial. This one is for you…

  Part 3

  Chapter 13

  Xavier paused as he leaned forward to open the door to the SUV. His nostrils flared right before his whole body tightened. By now she knew vampires well enough to know that he could scent Zane on her. He would know that they had recently had sex even though she had showered before leaving.

  The big vampire shook his head slowly as he opened the door.

  Tanya slid in praying that she wouldn’t have to explain herself to Brant’s head guard. To Brant’s brother. It was bad enough that she’d soon have to face Brant. She was so screwed. She buckled up, letting her face fall into her hands as they pulled away. Another vampire sat in the seat next to Xavier. There were two vehicles ahead of them and another three behind them.

  “You do know that I’ve been assigned to your wellbeing?” Xavier kept his eyes on the dirt track as he negotiated the trail.

  “Yes,” she paused trying not to sigh. “I know.”

  “You’re making it difficult to keep you safe. You do realize that don’t you?” his eyes never left the rode as he spoke.

  “How is it my fault that the elves and the wolves are after me?” What a complete jerk.

  Xavier gave a humourless chuckle. “It’s not the other species that I’m afraid of.”

  They turned up a sharp, twisting incline. Xavier handled the vehicle with practiced ease. Tanya waited for a few beats once the track straightened but much to her frustration, Xavier didn’t elaborate further.

  “Is there another enemy I’m not aware of?”

  Another humourless chuckle. “You have no idea. Really?” He hauled the vehicle sharply to the left, more sharply than what was required. The seatbelt tightened across her chest and she was yanked to the side.

  “You rutted with my brother’s birth enemy.”

  Tanya cringed. To make matters worse Xavier sniffed at the air. “From the scent of your essence I would say he drank from you too.”

  She gasped. “You can tell all that from the way I smell.”

  “What? Had you hoped to keep it a secret?”

  “No.” Her cheeks heated. “I would never lie about something as important as that. Brant will understand. He would never hurt me.”

  Xavier sighed heavily. “I’ve never seen my brother besotted before. He talked about you the entire time you were gone. He missed you damn it.” Xavier hit the wheel. The manor house loomed ahead. “He has started work on your little store. Upgrades to the book section and a whole coffee shop. I realize that Zane invoked Mate’s Lore, but I had hoped you would’ve had some sense of loyalty.”

  She gasped using her hand to stifle the sound. What had she done? Brant had trusted her. A mere twenty-four hours away from him and she’d fucked another man. Not just any other man, but his enemy.

  “Brant wouldn’t hurt me,” she repeated because what Xavier was implying was too crazy for words. He might never forgive her but he would never hurt her. No way.

  “Not on purpose but when he gets a nose full of Zane,” Xavier shook his head. “You reek of him.” They pulled up to the manor house and Xavier shut off the engine, his gaze still facing ahead. “He might just lose his mind. He won’t know what he’s doing. I will do my best to keep you safe.” He turned dark eyes on her and she shivered. Just when she was sure he must hate her, his eyes softened. “I know it’s not really your fault. I’m thankful I haven’t had the urge to mate. I’ll never go down that road if I can help it.”

  ****

  Brant could scent Tanya on his birth enemy. It made him want to gouge Zane’s eyes from his skull. Made him want to tear off his arms and beat him with them but that would only worsen the situation. Zane was here to discuss their female’s safety. His female’s safety. Just because he scented Tanya didn’t mean they had…he mentally shook his head. It wasn’t the right time for that train of thought and with Tanya on the way he would soon have his answers. It wasn’t fair of him to expect her fidelity. At least she was safe, that was what was most important.

  Brant paced across the Persian rug at the foot of his desk. His office was spacious with dark mahogany. A space he always enjoyed. Most likely because it was his and his alone. A sanctuary he could go to if he needed to think, work, plan. It irked him that Zane was in his space but it was the best place for a private conversation. “You’re sure the two species are working together.” He glanced at Zane who stood with his arms folded across his chest.

  “My men saw the elf king astride the alpha. They have had more than one opportunity to kill the female…”

  Brant couldn’t help it, he snarled at the thought of losing Tanya and snarled at the vampire that would’ve been responsible for her death.

  Zane unclasped his arms, his hands falling into tight fists. It wasn’t lost on Brant how the vampire king had widened his stance. “I am here because I want to keep her safe. The female’s wellbeing is of just as much importance to me as it is to you.”

  “You want heirs.”

  “As do you.”

  “I want more than just offspring. I want to share my life. I want her to be happy.” Brant felt frustration rise within. Zane was not capable of any type of emotion let alone love. He would never be able to give Tanya what she needed, what she deserved.

  “Write a god damned love song. We’re here to discuss her safety or there will be no heirs for either of us.”

  Brant grit his teeth to try and stop himself from retorting. The other vampire was right, but he didn’t have to like it.

  “The alpha still needs a mate. I think that he plans on taking her for himself.”

  Brant took in a deep breath letting it out slowly. The thought of a beast laying a single claw on Tanya made his blood sizzle, his veins burn. His skin grew tight. “Destroy our people and take our queen? He can’t fucking have her.”

  “I feel the same. We are very much on the back foot. Neither of us can mate with her until the new moon. Nine whole days. The alpha doesn’t have that problem.”

  “Why did you invoke Mate’s Lore in the first place?” Brant fisted Zane’s shirt grinding his teeth so hard he was sure they would crack.

  “Get your hands off me,” a low growl.

  Brant held on for a second longer. “If it weren’t for Tanya, I’d take your head.”

  “You would try.”

&n
bsp; That’s where Zane was wrong, it wouldn’t be easy but he would win in the end. Brant had a reputation of being the ‘just’ king, the ‘honorable’ leader, he was also greatly underestimated which suited him just fine. “You should have left us alone. Tanya and I would’ve been mated. The future of our people guaranteed.”

  “What? Your little coven against two species? I think not.”

  Zane was right. The elves and the wolves would’ve attacked regardless of whether Tanya had mated one of them or not. They saw an opportunity and had taken it. He would do anything to ensure that Tanya did not become collateral damage.

  “Just for the record, I wanted the female from the start.” Zane locked his jaw for a second, looking to the left of Brant. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. Zane turned his gaze back on Brant.

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what Zane had to say.

  “I didn’t want a repeat of what happened to our fathers. I knew you had your sights set on the female so I chose another.”

  His heart stopped beating for a second even though blood rushed in his ears. Zane had wanted Tanya from the start.

  “It’s why I chose the way I did. I wanted to avoid another war.” Zane’s eyes narrowed.

  “Bull fucking shit.”

  “Listen up asshole, I didn’t have to explain this to you but you asked why I invoked Mate’s Lore and so I’m telling you. I wanted the human from the start. I should have fought you for her then.”

  “The only reason you invoked the lore is because you killed your human.”

  Zane took a step towards Brant, his whole body had tightened like a coiled spring. Brant secretly hoped Zane would come at him. The longer he spent in the same room as the bastard, the more he wanted to feel his bones crack beneath his fists.

  “Someone is spreading untruths about me. The human took her own life. It had nothing to do with anything I did or didn’t do.”

  “It seems human females are in a habit of offing themselves on your side of the fence. Can’t say I blame them.”

  It was a low blow with the expected results except Zane moved quicker than he anticipated and managed to plant him straight in the jaw. Thankfully the blow wasn’t direct as he was moving away, so although it hurt like a bitch, his jaw remained intact. Brant kneed his enemy in the stomach enjoying the grunt Zane made and the way he hunched over for a split second.

  ****

  Tanya took in the familiar decadent décor. Her mind going at a thousand miles a minutes. So much for not letting her out of his sight ever again. After they had fucked, Zane took her back to his tower. After a light supper she had fallen asleep, exhausted from the day’s events only to have woken alone in his bed. She hated the disappointment. Hated that she felt it in the first place. Zane hadn’t so much as said goodbye to her when she’d left. Tanya had pretty much thrown away her future with Brant and for what, a roll in the hay with one times dickhead.

  “Are you okay?” Stephany smiled at her, concern in her eyes. They had said their hellos. Tanya had noticed how the blond vamp’s nostrils had flared just before they embraced. Everyone in this whole damned coven would know her and Zane had slept together.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Stephany asked as they made their way into the living room. “I take it you got along well with Zane?” The blonde gave her a mischievous smile. Tanya realized that she’d missed her easy companionship.

  “Don’t joke, Brant is going to go nuts when he finds out. Where is he anyway?”

  “It’s Mate’s Lore, he may not like it but he will need to deal. He’s just in a meeting, he’ll be out…”

  Confusion set in. What did Mate’s Lore have to do with her indiscretion? There was a crash as something toppled over followed by a loud grunt. A heavy bashing noise and another muffled crash.

  “Nothing to be concerned with.” Stephany had plastered a fake smile onto her face.

  “Who’s Brant meeting with?” Panic rose in her. Zane hadn’t been there to say good bye and Brant wasn’t there to greet her. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know where the kings were and that they weren’t getting along.

  “Stay out of it human.” Xavier tried to take a hold of her arm, but Stephany swatted his hand out of the way.

  “Leave her alone. They need to sort this out and like it or not she’s involved.”

  “I have been assigned to keep her in one piece. Getting between the kings is no place for a puny human.”

  “Go.” Stephany blocked Xavier. Tanya rushed in the direction of the noises. The grunts and thuds growing louder as she made her way to a large oval door. She pushed down the wrought iron handle and opened it. Brant and Zane had each other in a lock. Brant pushed Zane and his back collided with the wall. A picture frame crashed as it hit the ground.

  “Stop!” She knew she should be afraid, but watching the two of them kill each other was not how this was going to end. She moved in as close as she dared.

  “You shouldn’t be around humans,” Brant growled as Zane pushed back until the back of Brant’s legs connected with a large desk in the center of the room.

  “Like it or not. She’s just as much mine as she is yours.” Zane snarled, he head butted Brant with a sickening crunch.

  “No!” She screamed not giving a damn if they hurt her. She inserted herself between them, her back against Brant. “Stop this.” Zane had a bloody gash in his forehead.

  The room reeked of blood, sweat and testosterone. Heavy breathing turned to loud sniffing. “You fucked him.”

  Her eyes were locked with Zane’s, whose irises turned dark and stormy.

  “Oh shit,” said Zane.

  “You rutted with my female.” Brant’s body turned to stone behind her. He lunged for Zane knocking Tanya to the side as he did. She fell to her knees landing hard. Thankfully she was wearing jeans or her knees would be a mess. She scrambled further out of the way as Brant took a second swing at Zane’s head. Brant had lost his mind and it was all her fault. Why couldn’t she have kept her panties on?

  Zane tackled Brant knocking him to the ground and flat on his back. “It’s Mate’s Lore.” He punched Brant twice using his arms and body to hold him down. “We are required to rut. You know that.”

  “I know,” Brant growled. “Don’t have to like it though. I can’t stand your sent on her. It’s making me…” He snarled, his eyes were glowing. “I can’t take it.”

  “Calm down. You need to put your own scent on her.”

  It seemed that Brant was allowing himself to be restrained by Zane. He had to be since they were pretty evenly matched, or they had been when she had first walked in the room.

  Zane looked her way. “Take your clothes off.”

  “What? No—”

  “He needs to rut with you, needs his scent on you to calm down.” Zane swallowed hard. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his biceps bulged with the exertion of keeping Brant restrained.

  Brant bucked underneath him managing to pull an arm free. He fisted Zane’s shirt pulling him almost nose to nose. “Get the fuck out.”

  “Like hell.” Zane shoved Brant back down. “You might hurt her.”

  “I would never—”

  “Do you think I want to watch you fuck her?” His face was contorted in rage. “I will stay. Female”—Zane kept his eyes on Brant’s—“take your clothes off right now.”

  Shit. This wasn’t happening.

  “Do it,” Brant’s voice was tense.

  Shit. This was happening. Had everyone in the room lost their minds?

  “I can’t possibly. You can’t expect me to…”

  Xavier burst in through the partially opened door followed by Stephany and Lance.

  “Get out,” Zane growled.

  “You heard him,” Brant’s voice held that same level of authority.

  “But—” Xavier started to argue.

  “Out!” Both kings said simultaneously. Xavier stopped mid-sentence. Lance dropped his eyes and nodded tersely. Stephany had the aud
acity to smile. She freaking looked at each of the kings and then at Tanya, a wide grin appearing on her face. The bitch. Lance put a hand to her back as he ushered her out of the room. Was it her imagination or did Stephany stiffen under his touch? There was no time to think on it because both kings turned to look at her as the door closed.

  “I’m so sorry, Tanya. Please understand.” Brant panted like it was difficult for him to speak normally. “I need you to take your clothes off and you need to do it right now.” Brant was apologizing to her when she was the one that had caused all of this in the first place. She shook her head preparing to argue.

  “He would never forgive himself if he accidentally hurt you. He’s not in full control and needs to get his own scent on you so that he can calm down enough to think rationally.” As if in answer, Brant growled low and deep. Not the kind of growl that aroused, but rather the kind that caused fear to spike inside her. “Please, sweetness. I’ll talk you through it. Neither of us wants to see you hurt.” Zane kept his eyes on her.

  “I’m sorry, Cenwein…” Brant said between clenched teeth. “Zane’s right. You need to do as he says.”

  “I’m right…where is a recorder when you need one?”

  “Fuck you.” Brant broke a hand free and punched Zane, who laughed. Brant’s fist connected with Zane’s nose in a spray of blood that quickly subsided.

  “Blood. I like the look on you.” Brant pulled his fist back to punch Zane again but the other vamp was too quick and blocked the blow pushing Brant back down with a hand to the chest.

  “Try to stay calm. I won’t bait you again.”

  “My need to kill you is beginning to override my need to remove your scent from my female.” Brant spat the words at Zane, his big body growing tenser by the second.

  “Wait. Please don’t kill each other. Stop!” The thought of the two warriors coming to blows and possibly injuring each other, or worse, had her forgetting all about her modesty. She pulled off her shoes and unzipped her jeans, which she shoved down her hips. After a moment’s hesitation, this wasn’t happening, she pulled down her panties. The ones that she’d painstakingly dried the day before. Her cheeks heated as both vampires stared her way.