Frostmire, ATRYA
KIERAN
"Today, the humans arrive," I said to my brothers.
"Finally. I'm tired of tasting the same blood repeatedly," my elder brother, Alaric said from where he was perched on the windowsill.
"You say that every year," Rex, the oldest of the three of us said without taking his eyes off the book he was reading.
"It's not my fault our lineage got cursed."
That's right. We were cursed. It all stemmed from our ancestor raping a witch who in turn cursed our lineage in rage.
We had an unquenchable thirst for blood more than the normal vampire did, but along with the curse came a blessing; we could walk under the sun without our skin burning off because the witch's blood was mixed into our lineage when she bore a son. It also gave us extra powers that made us the three strongest vampires.
As a pact between vampires and humans so we didn't drink from just anyone, the humans brought us thirty women to feed on each year. It was an endless cycle I was tired of, but I had no choice. It was the only way I could survive.
We remained quiet for a while, each vampire to his thoughts until there was a knock on the door, and Braxton, our prime minister, strolled in.
"The women are here," he announced.
"Great. Bring them in here," Alaric said, the air around him crackling with excitement.
A few minutes later, the door was thrown open, and about thirty filthy-looking humans filed in.
"You two make your pick. I'll take what's left," Rex said, absentmindedly, his eyes still glued to his book.
If I hadn't been looking, I'd have missed the subtle curl of her lips a woman made in disgust. Whoever she was, she was either stupid or brave to do that in front of us. I was willing to put all my gold coins on the former.
"You with the cloak," I called out.
She froze because she knew she was the only one who had a cloak on even though the weather was fairly warm.
She raised her gaze from the floor, looking me dead in my eyes. I raised a brow at her and she raised one back at me, looking genuinely curious.
"How dare you look the king in the eye?" A guard stepped forward, striking her across her left cheek. "Show some respect."
"He called out to me first," she said through gritted teeth.
"You dare talk back to a royal guard? I see you weren't taught manners. You shall learn to respect your superiors after your punishment."
Alaric opened his mouth, probably to tell the guard off, but I shook my head at him, silencing him. Rex's attention was no longer on his book, but on the scene unfolding before us.
She wasn't begging for mercy like I expected her to. Instead, she let her hatred for the guard show through her eyes.
"Forgive me, your highnesses. I shall see to her punishment," the guard said. He grabbed her arm, dragging her towards the door, but I stopped him.
"Have her kneel outside the castle build until I say otherwise," I said.
"Yes, your highness."
I wanted to see how long she kept her tough facade up. That would get her nowhere, but it would be fun to watch her break.
***
ALARIC
"She is a tough one," I mused, standing atop the castle, staring at the woman who didn't look to be terrified in the slightest even as lightning struck and heavy rain poured on her. Her knees had to be killing her, but she still didn't beg for mercy.
"She's stubborn, that one. Braxton said she took her mother's place during the selection. Other people run at the thought of our names, and she freely thrust herself right into our arms," Kieran said, shaking his head.
"What's your obsession with the human? We've been standing here for three hours now. The rain is soaking us, but you don't seem to care," Rex said, raising a brow at me at the change in my behavior.
I was usually nonchalant about things like this, so it was no surprise that he was surprised by my actions.
"We should be asking Kieran that question," I said.
Rex shrugged. "You know Kieran. He loves breaking things. She challenges that trait in him, and she's going to wish she never did because we both know how relentless our brother is."
"Are you trying to say she doesn't trigger anything in you?" I asked, raising a brow at him.
This wasn't only about Kieran. He had to be intrigued by her. He wouldn't be here otherwise.
Rex mulled on it for a second before shrugging. "So what if she does?"
A moment of silence passed between us, each one of us weighing the meaning of our words.
"Bring her in, Kieran," Rex said when she jolted after a thunderstruck. It was subtle, but we all saw it.
"No. If she's going to be here, it has to be on our terms. We're not bending the rules just because you want to stick your dick in her," he replied.
I rolled my eyes at him even though he couldn't see me. "You're interested in her, too. Stop acting like it's only Rex or me."
"So what happens? How do we resolve things?" Rex asked.
"The way we've always done. We share her."
That was the only way we all got to have her. I didn't know about the others, but I wasn't giving up on the chance to have her. She looked far too delectable.
"She's not a piece of toy, Ric," Kieran snapped.
I didn't reply, because my gaze was still fixated on the unrelenting woman. I'd have to find out more about who she was.
"I'm bringing her in tomorrow morning, like it or not."
Kieran's mouth dropped open. This was the first time I had gone against him, and worse yet, it was over a woman.
Whoever this human was, she had the power to do that, and it was a dangerous one she held.
***
WAVERLY
My knees were numb, and the cold was starting to seep into my bones, but I didn't give in. My eyelids were getting heavy with sleep, but I knew I couldn't give in to the sweet temptation.
It took all the strength in me to keep my flinch at bay every time a clap of thunder boomed, and a lightning bolt crackled in the sky. I hated the rain most especially after what had happened to me once before during my younger years.
I was still surprised by the looks of the vampire kings. I'd expected them to be ugly, but they had looked the exact opposite of that. They were simply stunning and had the same facial structure. It hadn't been hard to figure out they were brothers.
My awe at their beauty had quickly turned into disgust when the one who had his face buried into a book had asked his brothers to pick first like we were toys, not living beings.
I closed my eyes, and the next time I opened them, the sun was peeking through the sky, the heat causing sweat to pop out of my skin. The fur cloak also wasn't helping.
Sucking in a huge breath, I prayed to whoever was listening for more strength. I didn't know how long I could last.
I wondered how my parents were faring right now. They were probably grieving the loss while the neighbors did all they could to console them.
That was the tradition every year a family suffered a loss. Lost in my grief, I didn't notice anyone approaching until a shadow covered me, protecting me from the heat of the sun.
I looked down at the boot-clad feet before slowly trailing my gaze upwards.
Black shoulder-length hair hanging perfectly around a ruggedly handsome face with obsidian eyes that looked like they saw right into your soul.
"What's your name, human?" The deep, silky voice washed over me, sending goosebumps down my arms, but I forced myself to look indifferent.
"I'm Waverly Thornton."
"Waverly Thornton," he repeated, my name rolling smoothly off his tongue. "Do you understand the gravity of the crime you committed yesterday?"
"I'm unaware of the crime I committed by answering to your brother, my lord, but your guard finds fault in it," I answered, getting a raised, perfectly groomed brow from him.
"Stand," he commanded.
There was no way I was going to stand on my own with how weakened my legs were. "Not to show defiance, my lord, but I'm unable to."
"I see."
He lowered the upper part of his body, scooping me into his arms. Immediately, I felt the pins and needles attack my legs as blood rushed through them.
He carried me towards the castle I couldn't help but be in awe of. Seven thin, round towers surrounded the castle in almost a perfect circle, connected by high solid walls made of silver stone.
Wide windows scattered thinly around the walls in an asymmetric pattern, along with crenelations for archers and artillery.
A gargantuan gate made of bronze, and barrels that I suspected contained war materials lined the only passage into the castle built upon a mountain top. It was easy to guess that this was the easy way in and other passages would be futile.
Huge statues of heroes and kings decorated the bridge that led to the castle. A handful of waterfalls flowed into various small rivers and provide farm fields outside the castle with needed water.
The doors of the castle itself were manned by two guards who looked at their king with shock in their eyes. It didn't take much work to figure out they were surprised I was in their king's arms.
As we passed the hallways, several maids paused to stare at the scene, but the king still prowled forward.
"Where are we headed to?" I asked when I couldn't tolerate the stares.
"You'll see," was all he said, not breaking his stride for a second.
A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a door guarded by two men.
"My lord."
They bowed before opening the door to a room that contrasted the look of the dark palace. The walls were painted a shade of cream color and warm gold that complimented each other. The pillows and bed were braided with gold thread. I didn't have to touch the sheets to know they were made from the finest silk.
"Where is this place?" I asked as he led me to another door connected to the room, revealing a breathtaking bathroom.
This was what the humans that lived in Crystalacre were enjoying. The huge tub in the bathroom again had cream and golden color like the room. All of the bathroom did.
He even had a shower. A shower!
Of course, we had heard of it back at Southbay, but we only had shared bathhouses spread across the small city. This was a luxury I never saw myself close to touching in my life.
I was still in awe as the king dropped me on my feet until I heard the next words out of his mouth.
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"Strip."
ns 15.158.61.8da2
