#3 Chosen by the Vampire Kings: BBW Romance (Part 3: Love & War) (5 page)

“It is the first and very important test on
whether you would make a good pair. I hope that you enjoyed Brant more.”

“Oh God…” She let her head drop into her
hands.

“Oh no, does that mean you didn’t? I had
heard that Brant is an attentive lover, that he—”

Tanya made a sound of disgust and put her
hand up to stop the vampire. “No stop. I don’t want to hear about Brant with
other women.”

“Does it make you feel jealous?” Stephany
had perked up significantly.

“You know it does. Remember Alexandra?”
Oh
shit
. She’d forgotten all about the female. “Please tell me Brant didn’t
drink from her while I was away?”

Stephany smiled broadly and shook her head.
“No, Alexandra has moved out and is no longer in Brant’s service. He was very
angry that she nearly struck you and that she used the fact that he drank from
her to goad you.”

The news improved her mood somewhat, yet
the nagging thought that Zane was probably with one of the other female
vampires of his coven ate her up from the inside. She knew she had no right to
ask for his fidelity. She doubted very much that he would give it to her
anyways. Knowing Zane, he would go out of his way to sleep with someone while
she was gone just out of principle. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered how intently
he had watched Brant fuck her. Zane was so going to have sex with someone else.

“Why the glum face? Alexandra leaving is
good news.” Stephany cocked her head, her eyes brimming with concern.

“It’s Zane,” she mumbled.

“What of Zane?”

“Brant has sworn to be faithful, but…” She
couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

Stephany chuckled. “Don’t be so worried.
Zane might rut with others in your absence, but he wants you.”

“No, he needs me. There’s a big
difference.” It irked her that Stephany was so indifferent about Zane’s
promiscuity.

Stephany looked thoughtful. “I haven’t had
much interaction with Brant’s birth enemy but for what it’s worth, I’ve never
seen him act out like he did. I think that he does have feelings for you. The
sex must have been good.”

“It’s not all about sex.”

“No, but he is a male so it is very
important especially early on. Zane is as red blooded as they come. I am
certain he will bed another female, but I can also assure you without a doubt
that he would prefer to have you.”

It didn’t make her feel any better. She was
going to give him a big piece of her mind when she saw him again. If he thought
she was going to end up choosing a cheating son of a bitch, he had another
thing coming. If he had so much as put a finger on another female, she would
tell him what to do with himself.

The memory of finding her ex in bed with
another woman still stung. The wound was just too fresh. Troy still had the
audacity to blame her. She had put on too much weight, she was too flabby. He
had needs that she wasn’t fulfilling and he was forced to look elsewhere. If
she lost some weight, toned up a bit then he wouldn’t have to look at other
women. He’d even talked about her getting a breast reduction and some lipo. No
freaking way. She wasn’t changing and she would demand fidelity. She hadn’t
asked for any of this.

“I see that the thought does not make you
happy.”

“I don’t want either of them drinking or
having sex with other women. I don’t want to have to choose either,” she
whispered the last sentence.

“I am sure you will make the right choice
when the time comes. I am afraid that they will fight regardless of the
outcome.”

“They said they would only fight if I
didn’t choose.” She felt her panic levels rise.

“There is too much at stake. Neither will
walk away.”

“Why can’t I just have both? I’ll have
heirs for both covens and there will be no need for anyone to lose.” She felt a
tickle on her cheek and her hand came away wet when she wiped at it. Damn, she
was crying and couldn’t seem to stop. “Surely we could make it work somehow. I
can’t choose between them and I don’t want to see either man die by the hand of
the other.”

“Oh my God, you love them both.”

“It’s too soon for that. I care for both of
them and for both covens.”

Stephany laughed, she scooted towards Tanya
and grabbed her into a rib cracking hug. “You are a genius. Brant and Zane are
kings first, their alliance to their covens. All decisions must be in the best
interest of their people. They would have to make it work.” The female vampire
finally released her and she took in a big lungful of air.  Stephany continued
really excited. “This could work. Oh by the Gods, this could be the answer. You
must speak with Brant when he returns.”

“You saw them this morning. How they were
tearing into each other. I can’t see how it—”

“We’ll work something out. You would need
to bare both of their heirs.” She clasped her hand. “It wouldn’t be easy but if
you are willing then”—she smiled warmly—“I know this could work.” She squeezed.
“Now, eat your breakfast and then let’s get you ready. My suggestion would be
to rut with him first. Men are always more agreeable after their needs have
been met.”

Tanya gasped.

“Don’t act all coy, you know I am right.
Brant will be the more difficult of the two to convince. If he agrees, then I
am sure Zane will too.”

“What makes you think that?” Her heart sped
up. Maybe this could work after all.

“Am I right in saying that Zane watched
Brant rut with you?”

“How do you know that?”

Stephany touched her nose.

“You freaking vamps and your damned sense
of smell.” The vamp would’ve smelled that she and Brant had sex.

“The three of you were in the room together
and unless Brant knocked Zane out, it means he would have watched the two of
you…”

Tanya slid a hand over her eyes and wished
she could block her ears as well. It felt weird talking about this.

“I am right about him watching?”

Tanya shrugged.

“Yes or no?” Stephany’s voice took on that
commanding edge that vampires could do so well.

Tanya shrugged, she narrowed her eyes at
the vamp not wanting to answer but she needed Stephany’s help. No one knew
Brant like she did. “He held Brant down because he was freaking out so much.
Brant could smell Zane on me. Zane touched me during…you know.”

“Brant let him?”

“He wasn’t happy about it, but yeah he
did.”

“This could work. Brant already considers
you to be his mate, his queen. We’ll find a way to convince him. For the sake
of our species we have to.”

Within an hour, Tanya had eaten a good deal
of the tray of food. There were at least a half a dozen dresses strewn over the
bed.

“For the love of blood, this is it.”
Stephany removed a red number from the closet. It had long sleeves and a high
neck with a single pearl button that would clasp at the back of her head.
Judging from the length, it would fall mid-thigh.

“Um, it’s stunning but more for going out
at night.”

“Who cares? I know Brant won’t. Take off
the bra.”

Tanya looked down at her underwear and her
cheeks heated. “I’d rather not.”

“Why so shy? Nothing I haven’t seen before
and anyway I assure you I’m not into females.”

“I didn’t realize vampires swung both
ways.”

Stephany arched her eyebrows. “We may be
non-humans, but we’re similar in a lot more ways than you would think. Time is
a wasting, off with the bra already.”

“Fine.” She reached behind her and unhooked
the clasps letting the cups fall away from her breasts. She had a whole drawer
full of stunning underwear she might never get to wear at this rate. Tanya
picked up the red dress marvelling at the sensual feel of the fine fabric
between her fingertips. This wasn’t an off the rack item, that was for sure.
She caught Stephany gawking at her breasts as she approached the mirror. For a
second she felt the urge to cover up.

“All I can say is, you had better have
twins with a rack like that.” She whistled under her breath. “No wonder the
boys are fighting for your attention.”

To think Tanya had actually considered a
breast reduction for a half a second after she dumped Troy’s ass. “Yeah, yeah,
I’m perfect baby making and feeding material.”

“You are perfect. Those boys won’t be able
to think straight with you anywhere near them. Our rules be damned, all of our
males will be rushing to town to seek human females for themselves.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, have you seen
yourself? You vampire females are stunning.”

Stephany’s face clouded. “My hips are too
narrow. I could never carry a child to term. I have been advised to be
permanently sterilized, but since I don’t rut I’ve decided not to bother. I
would have loved children.” She looked wistful for a second before snapping out
of it. “Put the dress on already.”

Tanya pulled the garment over her head. Stephany
did the button up for her. She swallowed hard when she saw herself in the
mirror. The dress hugged all of her better areas like the swell of her breasts
and the narrowness at her waist. The length hid her upper thighs and showcased
her great lower leg. Silver heels completed the ensemble and Tanya had to admit
she’d never felt sexier.

“You chose this for me, didn’t you?”

Stephany nodded, “I knew it would work
perfectly on you.”

“You know so much about me, yet I feel like
I know nothing about you. Why have you chosen to be celibate?” 

Stephany narrowed her eyes as she put her
hands on her hips. “Nosey human.” She laughed. “It’s quite a boring reason
actually.” She paused seeming to gather her thoughts. “I accidentally mated
with someone twenty one years ago. We couldn’t be together. End of story.”

Tanya felt her eyes widen. “Boring my ass.
Why couldn’t you be together?”

“Let’s just say he was from the wrong side
of the tracks.”

“He was a human wasn’t he?” her voice had
turned high pitched with excitement.

Stephany smiled down at her like a mother
would to her insolent child. “No. Let’s leave it at that shall we?”

“No way. You get to know all about
my…difficult situation. Tell me who he is.” The infuriating vampire pursed her
lips. “Tell me or you’re in the dark from now on.”

“Fine. It was another vampire. Someone from
Zane’s coven.”

“Lance.” Suddenly it all made sense.

“How do you know?” Stephany cocked her
head.

“I saw the two of you this morning. You
reacted to him like I’ve never seen you react to anyone before. Normally you’re
so cool and collected. I noticed how he got to you.”

“Really?” She ran a hand through her short
platinum hair. “I’ll have to work at schooling my emotion more.”

“Do you love him?”

Stephany choked out a negative sound while shaking
her head. “Hardly. I don’t even know him. It was a one night stand gone bad.”

She racked her brain for a moment trying to
recall how the whole mating thing went. Realization dawned. “He drank from you
during…”

The female vampire looked sheepish. A blush
crept up from under her collar.

“Oh my God”—Tanya held her hands over her
mouth—“you drank from him.”

“It was a complete accident. I don’t know
what came over me.” Her hand went through her hair. “The war had only just
ended, things were still very strained between the covens. There was no way
either king would’ve accepted the union. Both of us have high level positions
within the royal staff.”

“So what? You just went your separate ways
and that was that?”

“Pretty much.”

“My word, that’s so romantic.” Tanya
clutched at her chest. “Let me guess, you have never been able to find another
male that does it for you, and you are both pining for one another?”

Stephany rolled her eyes. “Please! I did a
ridiculously stupid thing. I can’t trust myself to be with a man and
technically I am a mated woman. I prefer to stay away. Much less complicated.”
Her eyes narrowed and hardened up. “As to Lance pining after me. If rutting
with anything in a skirt counts as pining then sure thing.”

Tanya rubbed Stephany’s arm. “I’m so sorry.
What a jerk. That sucks. You need to get laid girlfriend. I doubt you would
make the same silly mistake twice.”

Stephany threw her a look that told her she
was full of it. “Not happening sister.”

“I think you’re still hung up on a certain
vampire and that’s why you’re staying away from all males.”

Stephany’s eyes widened. “Wrong. Let’s move
on. I don’t want to continue this conversation.”

“Fine.” She huffed wanting to goad Stephany
some more, but the female had confided in her. Which was something she didn’t
think the other woman did very often. She wanted to be Stephany’s friend,
wanted for them to be able to confide in each other.