Kings and Queens

Wearing a wide grin, Callan had strutted out of the room, leaving her at the mercy of a now fuming vampire lord. He stalked forward, eyeing her with disdain and displeasure.

“Have you now retorted to throwing yourself an any man that crosses your path?”

She frowned in annoyance, “What?! Do I fucking look like a slut to you?”

He grinned wickedly, liking the fact that he got to her like he'd hoped to. Deriving pleasure from her annoyance, the expression on her face and her gritted teeth evidence of her patience hanging on by a thread.

“You seem comfortable talking to another man.”

“Not my fault you don't know how to hold a sensible conversation.”

He held her gaze, his eyes holding an unfathomable expression he closed the distance between them in a swift, lifting her off the ground to the desk settling at the end of the room she gasped, hitting at his chest.

“Let me go!”

He laughed, crimson bleeding into his irises and his fangs glinting with delight. Wrapping her legs around himself he cupped her ass that peeked from under the shorts she had on, licking at her ear, purring.

“Did you like my present?”

Nyx scowled, pushing hard at his chest, hating the way her breath hitched in her throat from his touch, hating the little gasps that left her lips from the tingles she felt when his hands continued to graze her skin.

“The flimsy clothes or the fact that you just turned me a feeder?”

“Both. I thought you'd appreciate my gifts.”

Managing to hone some control, she tried to push whatever he made her feel to the back of her mind, focusing only on how she would have loved to sever his neck from his body for making her go through torment.

“Give me the antidote,”

Draven cocked a brow, almost laughing at her pinced expression. Slowly bringing his face closer to hers, their lips merely inches apart he spoke,

“Beg for it,”

“You promised! You said you would give it to me!”

“I didn't say when, did I? Maybe if you try to be a good little girl, I might as well be generous and offer you the cure you so desperately seek.”

Something about the way he said 'the cure' somehow made her feel all hot and bothered, he also hadn't missed her heartbeat rise at his remarks. Of course he wasn't making reference to any antidote, the only antidote and cure to his dilemma would be burying himself deep inside of her till he'd satiated her wants and needs.

It was a cure they both couldn't deny. Every force of nature intensifying their touch, the urgent need to be close, the air heady with sexual sizzle, the sparks electrifying.

She fought down an hasty response, deciding it best to adhere to Zurie's warnings, “Please,” she swallowed hard, “Don't send me to the barn,”

“Too bad. I don't take back my words.”

Nyx snapped angrily, pushing at him and dropping of the table. This man right in front of her had lost all sense of reasoning, talking to him was no different to talking to a wall.

“I didn't ask to be here, you should have just killed me from the start if that had been your intent!”she yelled, feeling the sting of tears.

“I told you, love. Death is a punishment far too easy.”

“I'd rather die than become a blood bag to some bunch of sadistic vampires.”

Draven could hear the determination in her voice. She paused, trembling where she stood before storming out of the room, leaving him behind in a turmoil of emotion.

He let out a sigh, his eyes settling to their usual color and his fangs retracting. He'd made a terrible decision in the throes of passion and he knew it, but he wasn't one to go back on his words.

He'd thought he'd be fine with others touching her but seeing her with Callan earlier made his blood boil with murderous intent. She belonged to him only, to torture and to torment, she was his to do with as he saw fit. Letting other men have a glimpse or taste of his she' had never been part of the plan.

As if the day could get anymore worse, his brother had to make an appearance in the midst of it all.

The door to the large hall pulled open and Zurie strutted in, her gaze lingering on his a little longer before she curtsied.

“My lord, the court seeks your presence.”

Replying with a brusque nod, he hesitated at first, before following suit. They proceeded in silence while she kept her distance, he could tell she had something to say to him but was hesitant.

He pushed the massive doors that stood over the court room open, exhaling when he walked in, wondering why the court had gathered for such an impromptu meeting.

“Who called for this court gathering?” he inquired when he settled himself into the large chair that was at the head of the table while Zurie tucked herself silently behind him.

The door swung open an Callan leisurely walked in, twirling an apple in his grasp with a smirk Draven found equally infuriating and annoying at the same time.

Rage flashed through his eyes momentarily, his body bristling, he growled when his feral side surged forward.

“Why would you, an outsider call a meeting in my house?”

“This is as much my father's house as it is yours, Draven.” he mused, unfazed by his brother's show of anger.

One of the high ranking lord in the court rose to his feet in an attempt to intervene and stop the brothers from turning their staring contest into a full blown fight.

“Lord Draven, Lord Callan, please sit and let's review this like civilized people. I'm sure you brought whatever matter it is to court because you sought our opinion, am I wrong?”

They both hummed while Callan bit into his fruit with reckless abandon before finding an empty seat beside a voluptuous strawberry blonde woman who eyed him seductively.

“Alright. We're seated, we're calm, Callan, state your intent.”

He smirked, “My intent is simple. I want the throne.”

Draven threw his head back in laughter, repulse dancing wild in his gaze. When he'd managed to gather himself together, he fiddled with the ring on his knuckle.

“And you plan to do this, how? You forget this isn't a competition. I am king already. So indulge me, brother. In your schemes to take the throne like you say.”

Callan's calm demeanor remained even through Draven's theatrics, he knew the pros and cons to being king. He was no fool and no stranger to the power tussle.

“I told you my plans is simple. Don't fool yourself brother, you're no king yet. We all know law and tradition requires a king to have a she' and you don't.”

Draven tensed, baring his fangs in a snarl, watching his brother's eyes shift colours, “I have a she' and you know it.”

“That useless human? No court is going to accept a human queen. You want to be king, show me your queen. A full blooded one. Of royal descent.”

He stared at the court who in turn looked at him with expectant eyes, passing each other several glance of mockery. They didn't think he was fit to be king, his wish to rule now depended entirely on who his she' was. Draven felt a sharp sting ripple through him at Callan's words

He'd somehow gotten attached to the human in such a short period of time, he'd wanted her. The need to claim and own her greater than his will to ruin her.

“What will the court decide?” he asked exhaustedly, surrendering to fate.

After a few whispering here and there, not that Draven couldn't hear from where he sat, he scoffed when the elder lord rose to his feet, sighing before coming to a conclusion, “This is our unanimous decision; if either of you wishes to be king, provide a valid candidate to be queen per tradition demands. Before the next full moon.”

A satisfied growl eluded Callan's lips he smiled wickedly, “Don't hate me little brother, I'm only taking back what's rightfully mine.”

“What makes you think you'd find a bloodline queen in such a short span of time? There aren't many left and you know it.” He spoke in a frigid manner.

“Worry about yourself. I have no she yet, finding a queen would be just as easy as taking the throne. But, can you really stay without your she? Knowing fully well she's alive and breathing, right under your roof. Pity, she really is such a beauty.”