The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] (14 page)

Tavish wanted her to find an activity she would
enjoy.
Something that would make her happy.
Mercy took
full advantage of her newfound freedom. She had noticed the discreet looks from
vampires and breeder males, but they left her alone, she was Tavish’s. He was
never far away and he had informed her that his hearing was acute. If she
called him from anywhere on the site he would hear her. And if he had to be
away she was to call Caine or Laken, who were attentive and sweet to a fault.

The forty vampires in Tavish’s coven each had
their own story to tell and Mercy loved to listen to all of them. Ryker had
been a Viking warrior. Mercy had no idea what Viking berserker was and Ryker
had regaled her with hair-raising, nail-biting stories she found fascinating.
Caine was a doctor. He had been a healer for five thousand years and Mercy felt
safe with him. Laken was almost as old as Tavish; the idea was mind boggling. A
few of the vampires were roguish. Rhett was an insatiable flirt who Mercy tried
to keep her distance from. He didn’t scare her; it was Tanya who made a fuss
when Mercy went near him.

Tavish had vampires from all eras. He had a man
who had served under Caesar and claimed to have made love to Cleopatra. A
warrior from one of the crusades came from medieval times. Mercy loved their
tales and it helped when Tavish took her to their time with his memories. She
thought nothing could surprise her anymore. She was wrong.

It had been a huge surprise coming across
Jarrod. He looked smaller without all the fur coverings but there he stood,
only feet from her. She gaped at him with her mouth open. Jarrod wore the
standard loincloth all the human men in Tavish’s coven wore. It appeared Tavish
had chosen Jarrod as a breeder. Jarrod was big, not as big as Tavish but close
enough. Tavish was more muscular whereas Jarrod’s extra pounds made him look
beefy. Jarrod had dark chestnut hair that reached his shoulders; his natural
highlights caught the sunrays. His dark brown eyes flashed with disapproval. He
looked furious. His powerful arms were crossed over his large bare chest.

“Nudity is an act of treason.” His words came
out in a hiss through his barred teeth.

Mercy felt her face burn with embarrassment.
The encampment was full of scantily dressed humans and she had gotten used to
the arrangement until she had all but forgotten about it. The coven was
situated in a warm environment in a country Tavish said was at one time named
South America. Even then, only a small portion of the country closest to the
equator was unaffected by the ice age that Tavish told her ravaged the earth.

She was wearing a light blue teddy. The garment
was standard issue to all women of breeding age. The bottom fastens remained
closed. Tavish was in no hurry to breed her he had told her. She thought he
just liked the way the silky fabric clung to her tits and ass. Jarrod obviously
didn’t share Tavish’s appreciation. Mercy had always thought Jarrod was a
handsome man—except right now. The open, vile disgust on his face made him look
ugly.

“Do you think I have a choice? Do you?” she
replied with some anger.

“You should have fought harder,” he snapped.

“Against a vampire?
Look at you. You’re
more than twice my size. You’re almost nude. Why didn’t you fight harder?”

He at least had the decency to blush. “I will
not breed. I’m still clean. Can you say the same? Have you lain with the beast?
You disgrace your father.
Traitor
.”

Mercy screamed when Jarrod was suddenly smashed
against the side of the large brick home Tavish had created. The house was all
one level and housed everyone. Off the main hall were dozens of hallways
leading to over a hundred rooms. Each vampire had his own room. Humans were
placed accordingly.

“You were not here when my first warning was
issued, and so you will be allowed to live—this time,” Tavish hissed through
his long fangs. His white eyes were glowing. Tavish was in the air, Jarrod
dangling helplessly with a forearm against his throat. “No male is allowed near
my female without my permission. Do you understand?” He growled and gave Jarrod
a hard shake. Mercy heard his teeth click together.

Jarrod looked terrified. “Yes.”

“All females in my coven are to be treated with
the utmost respect and gentleness. You will not use your strength or negative
words with any, or punishment is severe and swift,” Tavish continued. “You may
have been chosen as a breeder, but your life is worth nothing compared to a
human breeder female.”

Wide-eyed, Jarrod nodded his agreement, having
little choice. Mercy had come to realize the value at which Tavish placed on
human female life. Even female children were prized higher than his breeding
males. Mercy understood his reasoning when Tavish had explained one male could
impregnate twenty or more women. But the more females, the more life would be
created.

Tavish slowly settled the man onto his bare
feet. For just a fleeting moment, Jarrod turned his face and scowled. Mercy was
shocked. It seemed Jarrod was also a resister. It made sense to her seeing as Jarrod
was her cousin. Perhaps it was the way of their blood line. Once released,
Jarrod took off like a rabbit, shaking with fear and embarrassment. Mercy felt
a pang of remorse. Jarrod was a proud man, a good hunter. He had been reduced
to nothing more than a breeding vessel. She was then struck with a brighter
thought.

Mercy went to Tavish. “Were there others from
my ice cave?” she asked excitedly.
“More of my family?”

“No, I’m sorry. There had been two other women,
but I was told they both met with unfortunate accidents.”

“Were they killed by the vampires?”

“No,” Tavish said, his look brooding. “One fell
down a gorge. She slipped. The other wandered off. By the time they found her,
she had frozen to death. From what the others say, it wasn’t suicide.
Just unfortunate accidents.”

“Oh, how awful,” Mercy said, she could feel her
eyes fill with tears. “At least I have Jarrod. Please let us talk. He’s angry
and afraid. Maybe I can help him.”

“Not right now,” Tavish said. “Wait until he’s
convinced his pecker won’t fall off if he uses it for something other than to
piss from.”

“That may take awhile,” Mercy said and frowned.
“He was a true follower of my father’s. Daddy’s word was law. Jarrod is thirty
and has never been with a woman.”

“Has he been with a man?”

“Huh?” she asked astounded.

Tavish chuckled. “A man can’t get pregnant.
Maybe your father’s law didn’t include male partners, if they were discreet.”

“But how would he… How would they? Where would
they?” Mercy felt a blush heat her face.
“Oh…
Oh
.”

“Don’t look so surprised, little cub. Men have
always found ways to satisfy their needs and are very adept on how to do it,
laws or no laws.”

Mercy leaned in close and motioned him lower so
she could whisper in his ear. “Do men really do that? I mean to each other?
There?
”

Tavish smiled at her. “Yes. I have vampires who
aren’t opposed to taking a man. Men on my compound who are not chosen to breed
take other men. I don’t care if they satisfy their needs, as long as it’s not
with chosen females. Some women aren’t opposed to the idea either.”

“Really?” she was fascinated. “Who would have
thought our body parts had so many other uses. From one place alone I can pee,
have sex and have a baby!”

Tavish roared with laughter. “Not exactly,
little cub, but I understand your meaning.”

“I think a vagina is up inside because it’s a
hidden treasure,” Mercy said marveling at the idea.

“Now that I agree
with.”

“Will Jarrod be sitting at the mating table
tonight?” Mercy asked. Though their reunion was less than stellar she was
anxious to see family again.

“Yes. You may speak with him tonight, but if he
starts any talk on forbidden areas, he will be reprimanded.”

The warning was stern. Mercy hoped her
outspoken cousin would behave himself. A vampire’s wrath wouldn’t be pleasant.
Besides, she didn’t want to hear talk of how she was being unfaithful or
committing acts of treason. She liked joining with Tavish. She liked the way he
shared his memories. Perhaps she could change Jarrod’s mind. Mercy thought if
he had just one taste of a sexual encounter, he would be hooked. At least she
hoped so. There was no doubt in her mind Tavish would kill him if Jarrod tried
to stir up trouble. This was Tavish’s coven. No male human would disturb his
utopia.

* * * *

Tavish stood watching Mercy as she conversed
with Jarrod at the mating table. He had learned they were second cousins. Jarrod
was speaking in a soft tone, obviously hoping his words were for Mercy alone.
Tavish noted Tanya was hanging off his every word and smirking. The man could
prove to be a trouble maker. A human female resister was easier to control but
not always. Also, Tavish wouldn’t kill any female of breeding years no matter
what. That would be the equivalent of killing numerous offspring she could have
birthed. Jarrod was another matter entirely.

“You should have let your father end your life.
You committed an act of treason,” Jarrod was whispering.

Laken shot Tavish a look, his eyebrows raised.
Tavish glanced about as though he were clueless. He saw Jarrod look over at
him. Tavish smiled at him, Jarrod smiled back.

“Just look at the evil bastard,” Jarrod said
scathingly.

“Please, Jarrod, you need to stop,” Mercy was
pleading. “Don’t say or do anything foolish. You are the last family I have.”

And that’s the only
reason he still lives.
Tavish was getting angrier by the second.

“I’m told you need to cut their hearts out,”
Jarrod continued, oblivious of the danger he was in as more vampires tuned in to
their conversation.

Tanya stopped smirking and grew pale, even she
now looked frightened. Mercy looked angry.

“Tavish isn’t evil,” Mercy insisted making
Tavish smile. “He feeds everyone and keeps us safe from other vampires. I’m
sorry the others were cruel to you. But Tavish saved my life. You don’t seem
opposed to stuffing your face with his food.”

Jarrod stopped chewing and went beet red. “You
shouldn’t even be alive. If we can kill them you can redeem yourself. We can
take over this place,” Jarrod whispered.

“And do what?” Mercy snapped angrily. “Other
vampires would come. What do you suggest we do? Kill the children and babies
here?
Pregnant women?
Clothe us all from head to toe
in the sweltering heat for your vanity.”

“Treason, it’s all treason you speak,” he
snapped and glared at her.

“You’re a fool,” Mercy said, not bothering to
lower her voice. She rose from the table, not having eaten anything. She
marched from the hall, her back ramrod straight and turned down the hallway
towards Tavish’s room.

The entire main hall was quiet, no one else
dared move. They were all frozen to their seats. Only Jarrod seemed not to notice.
His face was screwed into a mask of fury and he looked ready to go after Mercy.
Tavish approached him. Jarrod was startled when Tavish was before him in a
matter of seconds.

“Making friends?” Tavish asked him.

Jarrod looked at the others. None were eating,
talking, or moving. A few of the women were shaking. Kia was quietly sobbing.
Tavish heard her whimper for Ryker under her breath. Tavish motioned for Ryker
to come and get her before she ended up on the floor in a quivering mass. On
their way out, Ryker scooped up Perrin, the other mothers and their children
followed at his command as well as the pregnant females. They looked relieved
to leave.

Jarrod slowly settled his gaze onto Tavish. His
face had gone pale and he was obviously realizing too late Tavish and the
others had heard every word he had said. Every vampire that remained had their
eyes locked on him. Some were glowing white.

It was subtle, but Tavish saw Jarrod shudder.
Tavish smiled. “Come take a walk with me, Jarrod.”

“No,” he whispered. There was a collective gasp
from the remaining humans.

“Jarrod, do as he says,” Tate snapped urgently.

“I don’t want to,” Jarrod whispered, although
Tavish thought his words were closer to a frightened, petulant whimper.

“My word here is law, Jarrod,” Tavish said
quietly. He could have whispered the sentence and it still would have sounded
like a canon blast in the room.

Jarrod rose to his feet. The two men were
almost the same height. Tavish understood the look on Jarrod’s face. They would
have been equally matched had Tavish been human. But Tavish wasn’t human; as
far as he knew, he was the oldest living vampire on Earth. Other vampires
respected his power. Jarrod was about to learn to.

Human and vampire left the quiet room. They
walked outside into the dusk. Tavish took a deep breath. This was his favorite
time of the day. He chuckled at all the myths surrounding his kind. Tavish ate
what he wanted occasionally, he even liked garlic. Although mostly the food was
saved for his humans, he only tested certain new things. With his evolved taste
buds, Tavish could detect poisonous foods. Food wouldn’t sustain him, though;
he did need the blood above all else.