Mate's Lore 1(12)

The nostrils flared on the big…vampire at the door as they approached.

He inclined his head, “Stephany.”

“York.” They kissed cheeks.

His gaze settled firmly on Tanya and he visibly sniffed. “I take it this is her. The chosen human.”

“Yup,” Stephany answered.

His nostrils flared again, “Sweet.” He winked at Tanya and unclipped the rope. Complaints erupted from behind them. The big guy growled a warning and they quietened down.

They moved down a long dark corridor. “Please tell me that was slang and he thinks I’m a nice human.”

Stephany laughed. “He was referring to the way you smell.”

“Thought it was a bit strange, but I’m not wearing any perfume.”

“No, silly. Your scent.”

This whole scent thing was starting to get to her.

Stephany whispered in her ear, “Mates choose each other in many ways, scent being one of them.”

Oh happy days, something she actually knew about. “Brant told me.”

“Yeah, well humans smell…good to us vampires. Like I said earlier, it is normally forbidden to mingle with your kind. You’ll be…attractive to our species.”

“What?” Tanya stumbled and Stephany caught her by the elbow. The blonde led her into a quiet corner.

“Relax. Scent is just one part of it. Granted it’s a major part.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like everyone will want to mate you, but they might want to sample you.”

“Sample as in…”

Stephany flashed her fangs.

Tanya felt her blood drain from her face. It was probably trying to run away, sensing the impending danger. “Well they can’t.”

Stephany laughed again, this time she threw her head back in an all-out sides heaving chuckle. The vampire finally managed to pull herself together. “They wouldn’t dare. You are the chosen. Brant would skin them alive. You are his.”

“Hardly.”

“He considers you his even if you don’t. Stay close, we still shouldn’t take any chances.”

The place was packed. Tall, lithe women and big, hard looking men being common place. There was a large glass vat behind the bar. It looked like it had been filled with tomato juice but Tanya knew better. Bloody Marys in a place like this took on a whole new meaning.

The tiles shone like polished crystal. Everything was stainless steel, glass. Big sparkling mirrors on all the walls. The whole club had been put together in clean, elegant lines. The music was a transient beat and not as loud as what would normally be expected in a club like this. Not that she’d ever been in a club quite like this one.

Tanya tried not to notice how people…vampires had started to stare, most in fascination but some in hostility. It was mostly the females whose eyes narrowed, whose fangs flashed in annoyance. Ex bed mates of their king maybe?

Tanya tried not to think about it. She scanned the crowd seeing Brant on the far side of the room. He dominated a balcony area that overlooked the dance floor.

Hordes of giant sized bugs crawled over her skin as she spotted the woman with him.

Alexandra whispered something in his ear. Her hand clasped the bicep closest to her. She wore an impossibly small white dress that show cased her athletic body to perfection. The light stretchy fabric contrasting perfectly with her dark hair and eyes. Brant laughed and the bugs crawled faster. Damn it, she didn’t want this to affect her. She didn’t want to care. In a couple of days he would take blood from the sexy brunette again and she was helpless to stop it. She didn’t know why she even cared, seeing how she was still toying with the idea of escaping and leaving him behind.

“Let’s go get a drink.”

“Brant will be looking for you,” Stephany motioned in his direction.

“I don’t think so. If he is, he can wait.”

“Don’t let her get to you. You also need to remember that Brant has several in his circle that he considers friends. Alexandra is one.”

“Friends with benefits,” Tanya mumbled.

Alexandra whispered something, she pushed her body firmly against the impressive king. As she did this, her eyes locked with Tanya’s. They gleamed in a self-satisfied fashion, it felt like shards of glass were trying to push their way through her veins.

“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you. Men regardless of species do not like clingy, whiny women.”

“I don’t want to even be here, but based on what you’ve told me I don’t really have any choice. I’m supposed to mate and make babies soon, yet I’m also supposed to just accept that another woman is all over him like a bad rash. He can drink from her and I mustn’t show my jealousy or react in any way?”