Chosen by the Vampire Kings 3
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…”
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…”