AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I watch Nealon retreat the way he came, my eyes drifting across the amphitheatre. Male spectators filter out from the stands, eager to visit the blood bank. The females are kept separate in a self-contained balcony flanked by more guards. Lorcan’s velvet chair sits central, giving a perfect view of the action if he’d bothered to make an appearance. Instead, his assistant Nova stands alone, unprotected, with a clipboard in hand to take notes. No one would dare make a move on Nova… if they wish to keep their heads, that is.
“The lengths we go to for a night off training,” Chase jokes, slapping me hard on the back. His eyeline follows mine, a chuckle leaving his lips. “She’s not here, Torst. I’ve been checking for her scent, but she will be.”
“How can you be so sure?” Jaxon steps forward, crossing his arms over his chest. Again, his shirt is a distant memory, rivets of blood running the length of his body.
“She has no idea what she is or what she wants. We can give her those answers; if not, we can at least show her a good time.” Chase punches our shoulders playfully, and we repay him with a bundle attack. Chase’s ribs crack beneath mine and Jaxon’s assault, our bulk pinning him to the ground amongst the river of blood we’ve previously chased. No amount of beating can break the stupid smile on Chase’s face, so we leave him with a few last kicks to the gut. Cheery asshole.
The knot of worry over Aspen hasn’t lessened, so I lift my face to the night sky through the arena’s open top and gaze upon the clouds, hoping for a glimpse of tonight’s moon—anything to soothe the usual hitch to my heartbeat.
The moon controls every species on the planet, whether they acknowledge it or not. The vampires are ruled by the crescent moon, due by the week's end. On that night, we will all be extra horny since it’s the only night of the month vampire conceptions could take place – if we were to be so blessed. Pregnancies amongst our species have diminished at such a worrying rate - for all we know, we’re the only Vamps left.
In an instant, my thoughts turn sour. A war is taking place between my head and my heart, and I don’t have the luxury of indulging it. As with all female pairings, my king has ordered me to participate in the Moon Bound Trials. It’s my duty to continue our species, but my desire is to explore my connection to Aspen. Should I lose, I’m destined to watch her mate with another.
I sigh as I stroll toward the modernized locker room. Vines climb the crumbling walls and disappear into every crevice they can as if they alone were holding the building together. Passing beneath a stone archway, I head inside to find a clean set of clothes and a towel folded neatly within my designated locker. I slam the metallic door shut and promptly smash my own head against it. Stupid fucking thoughts, all coiled within my father’s voice to prove myself. Be the best or disgrace his reputation. Ultimately, his high title doesn’t mean shit when he died at the hands of humans. No one breathes his name now, and he was certain I would be the downfall in our bloodline.
Peeling off my clothes, I step under the searing stream of water and let out a hiss as unexpected pain stings various parts of my body. Fuck, some of this blood coating my body may actually be mine. I'd been so caught up in the excitement of the fight I hadn't felt much else. I stand under the water, watching the red liquid swirling around my feet before disappearing into the drain.
I’m careful not to rub down the silver residue stuck to my skin from the knuckle dusters some pussy opponent opted to wear over his training gloves. I get it – considering the fight was never going to be fair, and a lesser vampire would need to play dirty to be in with a shot at winning, but if even one of my tattoos is marred after this, he’ll have hell to pay. Vamps are allergic to silver; it slows our healing process and is the highest cause of death amongst our kind. Thankfully, I can already feel my skin itch, stitching itself back together again.
Pumping the shower gel on the wall, I go about washing myself. Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I stand under the spray with my eyes closed, braced by my fists on the tile. I’d hoped tonight’s win would bring me a sense of relief. I’m one step closer to being allowed to court Aspen. But now I’ve met her, now I’ve seen home much my best friends want to win too, a dull sense of dread is becoming rooted in my soul. She’s incredible and deserves a male who can care for and challenge her daily. But am I prepared to destroy my own brothers to prove I’m the male for the job? I swear, just thinking of us conjures her vanilla and raspberry scent, filling my mind with silly notions until I open my eyes.
“Finish what you started,” Aspen states and I startle. Between my tense arms pressed against the tile, there she is. Fully dressed, standing between the spray with her attention rooted on my face. My cock jumps in response, a groan disguised within my throat. The white t-shirt she’s wearing dips low into her cleavage, her filthy jeans quickly becoming sodden. But it’s her eyes that capture my attention. Fierce, wild, the navy shade appearing so bright, they are practically electric blue.
“Where have you been?” Is all I can ask. Everything about her expression, from the stern set of her jaw to the dare she’s presenting me, is out of character from the timid and hungry female we initially captured. Don’t get me wrong, Aspen’s a force to be reckoned with. But with each passing day in our presence, I see her walls crumbling and glimpses of the scared girl underneath who is desperate to be accepted.
“Unimportant,” Aspen guts her chin out. “You were going to kiss me in the gallery. Finish it.” Pursing her lips, my gaze is drawn back to the heavy rise and fall of her wet chest. Pert nipples push against the white fabric which has quickly turned see through.
“I, um…” my voice lowers as an arrow of lust shoots directly for my cock. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I didn’t ask your opinion. You said you wanted me. Prove it.” Her hand clamps closed around my shaft, and I release the pent-up groan.
“Lorcan would have my head,” I mutter, filled with self-loathing. I was stupid in the gallery. So close to throwing away a lifetime of busting my ass to prove myself worthy. I’m thinking more clearly now, but when she’s goading me, not even I’m vampire enough to deny her.
“Go ahead Torst,” Chase chuckles. The bastard stands a few feet away, blood-soaked and leaning against the tiles. Jaxon also appears, his expression equally as grave as mine. He knows as well as I do that fraternizing with Aspen is a sure-fire way to end my life. But then I look into her demanding navy eyes and wonder if it might be worth it.
“Is that a command, Princess?” I ask, giving myself an out whilst holding Jaxon’s eye. His blue gaze darkens. Aspen’s hand squeezes tighter, stealing my next breath.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” Jaxon warns me. More like he threatens me in a low enough growl that my sensitive ears barely catch it.
“Make me forget my own fucking name,” Aspen quickly counteracts, and I’m a goner. Royalty or not, I wouldn’t leave such a request from Aspen unanswered. Crashing my lips against hers, I grip Aspen’s nape and close the gap between us. Aided by the shower, we slide against each other until I grip her thighs and lift her higher. My naked flesh presses against hers, her sodden clothes rough against my skin as I press her into the tile. She gasps, and I slip my tongue through her lips and groan as I explore Aspen’s sweet mouth. Savouring her taste.
There’s no softness between us but a raging inferno of ragged breaths and greedy tongues. A struggle for dominance that heats my deadened heart and has nothing to do with the scolding spray pounding down on us. The heavy weight of my thick cock rests at her core, throbbing with need.
Knowing Chase and Jaxon are watching only enhances the sin I’m committing, an urge for them to watch me claim her igniting within. I’m not sure why Aspen chose me, considering she’s been nothing but hostile toward me since we met, but I wouldn’t question the gift. I admit that approaching her in the gallery must have been conflicting, it was even for me, but I wanted her to hear me for once. See me. Aside from the cat and mouse, back and forth. Her soul was tormented, and I only sought to soothe it.
I’d never imagined we’d get to this without needing me to win the trials, but I still intend to win. More so, now she’s filled my senses with her soft moans and the rolls of her hips against my shaft. I must prove a point, showing I don’t need Jaxon’s charm or Chase’s cheek to be enough. These males are like my brothers, but there’s only so long I can live in their shadows.
Gripping her thighs, my hold becomes punishing. Desperate. Yet I can’t pull back. My tongue scrapes her fangs, the urge to break the skin and let her taste me all-encompassing. And the worst part is, no one tries to stop me. She welcomes me, opening her body, locking her ankles at my back. My hand travels, one finger stroking the pulse in her neck, drifting downwards to where I twist her t-shirt in my fist. A last-ditch attempt to withhold from ripping the damn thing off and leaving bite marks all over her breasts. My dick jumps in agreement with that image, and I tug on the shirt, the seams snapping music to my ears.
“What the hell is going on in here?” A voice cuts through the world of bliss I’d tumbled into. Time had stood still, and Yarik’s harsh tone brings me crashing back down to earth. Risking a look over my shoulder, I exhale in relief to see the royal guard is seemingly alone. Tugging down the gold cuffs of his uniform, he diverts his eyes as I set Aspen on her feet. Jaxon immediately grabs her wrist, whipping her behind him. A snarl is torn from me on instinct, and Yarik curses. I have no right to show such possession. I’ve screwed up, yet her being torn from my protection is a blow I wasn’t prepared for.
“It’s not what it looks like.” I hedge, unable to turn around as my raging erection will give me away. It’s exactly what it looks like. Pumping more shower gel from the dispenser on the wall, I proceed to re-wash myself, careful to avoid the areas Aspen’s heat pressed against me. “I suppose there’s no use asking you not to report this to the king?” I attempt to ask in a nonchalant tone.
“I have a duty to uphold,” Yark states coldly, his boots stomping away with more vigor than he arrived with. Fucker snuck up on me. Noting Jaxon is guiding Aspen safety from a rear exit, I punch the tile, busting my knuckles.
“Well, that’s not going to help,” Chase tuts. I block him out. Ignoring how he wipes my hand clean, switches off the faucet, and wraps a towel around my waist. I can only stand there, wondering when my control became so weak. It doesn’t matter either way. I’ll be disqualified before the next round. I traded one, albeit incredible, kiss for what could have been a lifetime of happiness.
An onslaught of heartbeats pounds within my ears. Looks like tonight’s casualties have finally roused, the locker room filling with a mass of ripped shirts and scowls aimed in our direction. My grimace is hard-set, and my muscles tense for another round of fights to burn off this remaining steam. Instead, with a modicum of restraint, I pull on the sweatpants supplied and storm through the center of them. I’ve been craving a challenge for centuries. A real purpose. Fuck the trials, I’ll win over Aspen instead. Offer myself and allow her to decide my fate. That’s the only way I’ll know if I ever truly had a shot.
