Mate's Lore 1(3)

“You,” his gruff, smoky voice was a low vibration. He pointed somewhere behind Tanya.

An equally big, equally mean looking man came onto the platform from the side. King Zane didn’t take his eyes off the female he had set his sights on the entire time he spoke to what had to be his head guard. All of the surrounding men were dressed in full leather. Though, this one wore a silver family crest on his chest.

Tanya shivered, thankful she hadn’t been chosen by the likes of him.

Zane continued to shout orders. The head guard, flanked by two vampires, stepped off the platform and stalked through the crowd. Tanya shifted to the side as they approached. They were big bastards. The women surged forward. One dared to touch. The king’s head guard paused, without turning to face the culprit, he growled. His top lip curled revealing sharp fangs. The air caught in her lungs. Her pulse quickened.

They were so close, Tanya could smell a musky male scent, could almost feel heat radiate off their huge bodies as they passed.

“You,” a deep growl sounded through the crowd.

“No,” a feminine wail responded. “Let go of me!”

Tanya was too afraid to turn. So close to the action, she was fearful of being noticed.

Another wail, louder this time.

“Put me down!” the woman shrieked. It seemed Tanya was not the only one there that didn’t want to be chosen.

Tanya moved with the crowd as the guards passed, the woman was slung over the shoulder of the head guard. She kicked and screamed. The big vampire didn’t seem to notice though. Tanya caught the look of sheer terror on the young woman’s face.

This wasn’t right.

How could this be allowed to happen? Tanya looked around her at the multitude of willing ladies. Women that were practically throwing themselves at the vampire kings. Why did the SOB have to go and pick one of the few that wasn’t interested?

Tanya took a few steps in the direction of the platform. Not happening. She stopped. She didn’t want to get involved. Couldn’t afford to. She didn’t even know the girl. It wasn’t like she could change the situation even if she tried. This ritual had been going on for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years.

A large group of women at the front screamed to Zane that he pick them instead. One of the young ladies even lifted her top.

The king didn’t take his eyes off his chosen woman the entire time that his guard maneuvered through the crowd. They narrowed though as they got closer. The girl screamed louder.

“Please don’t do this. Please, I beg you.” The screams had turned to sobs at this point.

Tanya couldn’t bear to hear them. Each word struck a nerve.

Zane nodded in the direction of the waiting SUVs.

“Oh god, please no,” she was sobbing in earnest.

The nerve quickly rubbed raw until Tanya couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop!” She marched in the direction of the vampire king. “Stop that at once. Let her go.”

Neither king took any notice. Maybe some of the others in the crowd were feeling the same way as she did because the women parted to let her through. “What you are doing is nothing short of barbaric.”

The crowd hushed.

“She doesn’t want to go with you. Let her go right now.” Tanya projected, sounding more confident than she felt.

Zane glanced her way before turning in the direction of the waiting vehicles.

“This is a sexist, disgusting tradition that needs to be put to an end. Why can’t you choose someone that’s actually interested in going with you? Why does it have to be her?”

He turned back, his dark eyes zoning in on her. Her breathing hitched. Her heart rate increased, a whole damn lot. I just had to get involved. Couldn’t leave it alone.

“This woman has been chosen as my mate. What is done cannot be undone.” He turned and made for the waiting vehicles. Like that was a reasonable explanation. So not.

“Bastard! Leave her alone!” She must have completely lost her mind because she walked after him and straight into the massive chest of one of the guards. There was only one thing to do in a situation like this, she beat against the chest in her way while screaming obscenities at the retreating back of the bastard king.

“Easy,” a low rumble that had her insides vibrating.

Tanya looked up into a set of dark, penetrating eyes. She froze. It was Brant. The second vampire king.

“What would you like me to do with her?” asked a voice to the right of the king.

His eyes stayed on hers. His nostrils flared and his body tightened. It was then that she realized that her hands were flattened on his chest. She snatched them away.

“Lord Brant?” the voice enquired.

“She’s coming with me.” He took her hand and strode towards the remaining vehicles. She wanted to pull away, to dig her heels in the ground, but her traitorous feet kept on moving in time with his. It was only when they reached the waiting SUV and Brant opened the door and gestured for her to enter, that she finally snapped out of it. Part of her didn’t want to believe this was happening. As ridiculous as it seemed, King Brant had chosen her.