The Siren Series 3: Brandon (A Siren Novel) (10 page)

“Nova, this is Rachel and Holly,” Aubree introduces me to two chicks who look as though they could be sisters.

Actually, we all look creepily alike. Rachel is tallish, probably five eight, with long black hair and very blue eyes. She's slim but curvy. Or was—she looks about ready to pop at the moment.

Can anyone say baby factory?

“Hi,” I say, and they say
hi
back.

Holly, the youngest one—if she's twenty, I'm a man—is tiny, and her protruding belly makes her look off-kilter.

Her hair is also dark, though deep brown is more accurate. I'm twenty-four, so I think I'm between the two in age.

Baby Gabriella is asleep in her cushy crib, looking adorable. She’s all dark fluffy hair and chubby fist stuffed in her mouth. She sucks her thumb as she dreams.

Something super-weird occurs to me, Brandon's sister is way younger than him. I turn to his “mom.” She looks to be in her late twenties. More weirdness. I shake it off.

“So how are you Brandon's mom?” I ask.

Aubree, who I already think never gets embarrassed by anything, bites her lip and casts her eyes to the floor.

Holly answers for her. “See, there was this hunky Mer stud named Madden—”

“Holly!” Aubree says.

“Ah—no!” I wag my finger at her with a laugh. “You need to dish the deets. Here's the thing, your son dragged me here for my safety, I had a druid priest rapist try to pop my cherry while I supposedly ʽrestedʼ.” I drop my airquoting fingers. “And then I find out I need to screw three Druid blood guys to have permanent protection from the psycho Druid priests?”

A beat of silence drums between us.

“Yup,” Holly says with a Cheshire Cat smile.

“Has anyone told you you're sort of a dim bulb?” I ask then immediately regret the sting in my words.

She frowns. “Not in those words, but I'm the queen and Zach digs me, so my intellect isn’t a big thing.” She blinks gorgeous sea-colored eyes at me, and her grin grows wider.

Goddess.

Aubree gives an indulgent smile. “Listen, we're all pure-blood Druids—”

“One hundred percent?” I ask.

“Enough to breed,” Rachel speaks for the first time.

I give her a speculative look. How much blood does it take to have babies with the Reaper-Druids?

I glance at sleeping Gaby again.

“Anyway,” Aubree continues in a faintly irritated tone, “unity is important. Like I said earlier, I'm sorry I was harsh with you. I just heard you and Bran arguing, and I got in the middle of it.”

I sigh and admit, “I hate my life.”

Rachel, Holly, and Aubree stare. Maybe that was too much sharing.

“I mean, my grammy raised me because I never knew my parents. She's the one who told me I'm Druid and started me on my training.”

“What training?” Holly asks, stroking her big belly.

“We're Druid.”

She rolls her eyes.

Wow.
“That means we're witches.” I lift my eyebrows, waiting for a sentient being to spring forth.

“So?” she asks.

“I guess for you, being nice is enough.”

Rachel smirks. “Listen, Holly's super-sweet—
and
my half-sister.” She taps her lip. “And Aubree is really tough.”

Aubree lifts a palm, flicking her gaze toward her sleeping daughter in the corner then looking at me. “Not going to deny it.”

I cross my arms, giving her all the disbelief and suspicion I hold in my gaze. “And what are you?” I ask Rachel.

“In a word—happy.”

Hmm.
“And you guys?”

“I'm queen,” Holly says.

“You mentioned that.”

“I
am
happy. Doesn't every woman dream, as a little girl, that they'll wind up marrying Prince Charming and having babies?” Rachel asks.

“Guys,” I say, holding up a palm, “here's the thing. I don't know if being ʽmatedʼ to vampires is exactly what the fairy tales were talking about.”

“A small variance.” Rachel waves a hand back and forth with a wink.

I throw up my hands in semi-defeat. “There's no winning with you.”

Aubree puts a hand on my arm. “Nova, we're Druid women. We're designed to mate and procreate with Reapers of Druid descent or full Druid vampires.”

My hands land on my hips. “It gets them daywalkers. You guys are having a bunch of fanged babies. Get a visual on breastfeeding.”

Holly shivers. “I'm having twins.”

“Nice. Twice the fang time.”

She pouts.

“Druid babies don't get their fangs until they're over one.”

I shake my head. “I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Yesterday I was pushing beer.”

“Cocktail waitress?” Aubree guesses.

“Yeah.”

“And that's the great life you've been deliberating about retiring from?”

I shake my head. “I told you I hated my life.”

“You can have food, shelter, protection, and great sex
here
. Why would you want to leave?” Holly asks.

My eyes narrow. “How great of sex?”

A fine rosy pink sweeps across Holly's cheekbones. “How do you think I got knocked up with twins?”

I don’t even know what to ask.

Not that it matters—Holly’s all about TMI.

“Josiah, Andrew, and Elias impregnated me.”

I don't even try to hide my shock. “But her king is... who did you say?” I'm confused by the names of all the men.
So shoot me.
At least getting to know the Druid harem seems reasonable. I laugh.

They frown at my unshared humor.

“Zach,” Holly says. “He took my virginity, but the three bred
me after I became his mate.”

“Oh—wow. Three guys, two babies.” I hear my voice from far away. I think I feel myself swaying.

Rachel's face puckers. “You look like a ghost floated over your grave. Sit down.” Rachel takes my elbow and guides me from my vigil near the sliding glass doors to the kitchen stools.

I stumble onto it, sitting down hard, and fight to keep my head from going between my knees. “I can't accept this.”

“Whatever,” Holly says dismissively. “But it was the best, most mind-blowing sex I've ever had. And I'm going to have two beautiful babies. It's really normal to have sex with three Reapers the first time you cycle, Nova. I felt freaked out too at first, and Zach didn't really want to share me—duh, he's a Reaper—but sacrifices have to be made. There's a buttload of
them
and hardly any of
us
.”

“Holly's right. I got lucky with Cole because I'm not a queen,” Rachel states.

I look up hopefully. “I'm not either.”

Aubree shakes her head. “Even though there are way more vampires than Druid females to pass around, you've still got that Kellan creep lurking around,” she reminds.

“Yeah, what are you going to do about that?”

Holly doesn't give me a second to answer before saying, “I say do the Reaper trio so you don’t have to worry about Kellan. Or leave the safety of our kiss and hope that Harborer dude can bring it.” She shrugs.

“Holly,” Rachel says in a warning voice, “I don't think you're making Nova feel any better.”

You think?

Holly shrugs. “I can't say it more simply. You love being mated to Cole. I love Zach. He's been good to me—great.” Her face washes with color again, and I can't help but be a little curious about what “good” means exactly.

Aubree finally answers my earlier question.  “I was cycling, and a Mer warrior, a full-blood male, kissed me while magic rode us. It had a sort of echo effect, and I conceived Brandon near the exposure of that magic. So his childhood was compressed. When you put out the call to him, he left our coven to seek you. You're obviously important to him. Necessary.”

“You changed the subject,” I accuse. Also, I don't think I called anyone. I briefly consider the dreams. At least, I didn’t consciously call him.

Aubree nods. “You bet I did. This little convo was becoming circular, and you were getting overwhelmed.”

She's right.
“Is that why Brandon's so...” I don't know how to say it nicely.

“A pain in the ass?” Aubree says.

The air leaks out of me, and I laugh. “Yes. I mean, he's gorgeous and I think he's a good defender, but as a human being, he's so bossy.”

“He's a Druid vampire with a kick of Mermaid, sweetheart,” Rachel explains in a droll voice. “Not human.”

“Yeah.”

I wait for more explanation.

“And technically, he's only been alive about six years,” Rachael adds.

“He doesn't love you yet. Brandon just knows you're his. Even if he's not sure how to show it, and you blow him off.” Aubree gives me steady eyes.

I feel a pang of guilt.

“I'm not ready to screw guys I don't know. Hell”—I jump off the stool—“I'm not even ready to be with Brandon, and I can actually feel the pull we have.”

I make a fist and place it over my heart, fighting tears. “Grammy told me there'd be one Druid for me in the future and to wait for him—not a football team. I'm sorry, but I'm not some kind of vampire answer to sunlight-conditioned spawn.”

“You have a way of making everything sound so impossible,” Rachel notes.

“Yeah, negative much?” Holly says.

I look at everyone who seems to have caught pregnancy like a cold and back away. “I think I need to take a shower, sponge some clothes off one of you, and grab some grub. Then maybe I can address some of this weirdness.”

“That's fine.” Holly's gaze finds mine. “But this won't go away, Nova. You'll have to choose three Reapers—one can be Brandon.”

Right.

“He won't share,” Aubree says definitively.

“Not my issue,” Holly states. “Not hers either. Nova's got the pussy power right now. She's the Druid female. She can have whoever she wants, and they have to deal with it. It's Nova's hoo-hah, so she calls the shots.”

Holly walks over to me. Actually, it's more like an elegant waddle. “Go decontaminate. There'll be clothes waiting for you, then I'll introduce you to everyone. Okay?”

Her hand on my arm feels like a brand of fire. I can't just tell her to screw off. It's a weird situation, but they're trying. I take several deep, calming breaths.

Ren is my Harborer. My old life seems comparatively simple now. I worked sleazy, entry-level bullshit jobs, he got me out of jams, and life went on.

Now I have a new opportunity. Well, that's one way to look at it.

But what would I really be here—a glorified brood mare? I am Druid. I guess I'm also a mermaid chick. Brandon doesn't even know me. His mother admitted he doesn't love me yet. All his instincts are based on me being in Druid “heat” or whatever.

Then there's this jerk-off Kellan, and the girls have indicated he's not the only one.

I don't know what to do. I'm tired, dirty, and hungry.

I'm also horny as hell.

I want to run, but instead I answer Holly.

“Okay.”

I’ll stay for now.

“Okay, so what if she decides she's done?” I ask.

Ren shrugs. “What you need to ask yourself is what you can do to keep her.”

I pace away, blowing out my frustration. “Nova should
want
to stay here. It keeps her safe. It’s logical.” I spread my palms away from my body.

Ren shakes his head. “Not entirely. If you'll remember, she was here when Kellan entered her dreams.”

I move to the slider. The door is still filled with the view of Puget Sound, and the water churns as it did when I spoke with Mother about leaving the coven to find my breeder. Now she's here, but Nova's not really mine. And with the new threat of the Druid priest in hiding, I am supposed to share her to ensure her safety. I'm a Druid male. Every one of us would fuck a breeder.

I just don't want any of them fucking what’s mine.

“It's been explained quite thoroughly, Brandon. If Kellan wasn’t an ongoing threat, you might have time to properly woo Nova. Not that you're proficient at that. As a point of fact—”

“Quiet, Ren.” I don't want to hear his pearls of wisdom.

Ren plants his feet wide, crossing his arms. “No. I think you need to hear it. You seemingly have a long list of things that make Nova instantly out of sorts. Think of it: you're decidedly the male Druid destined for her. You both shared dreams of each other before meeting, she's cycling, you're a breeding male Druid—etc. However, because of the way you've handled things from the onset, Nova's uncertain.”

I hate his hard truths. “I know. I thought it'd be easier. I'd present myself, tell her the facts, she'd be stoked to be my mate, and off we'd sail into the sunset.”

Ren's lips crack into a rueful smile. “Druid females are strong-willed. As are the males.”

My grin flashes. “No shit.”

“No shit,” he returns.

I grunt, my smile fading. “Okay, what do you recommend?”

“It's almost too late. What I'd have recommended yesterday is no longer valid. Kellan is stalking her for a warped magick sacrifice, as all Druid priests want when they get ahold of Druid witches.” He palms his chin. “If you can bear it, and we can convince her, I would say you breed her—then hand her off to two others to be a part of a
ménage à trois
.”

A vein throbs in my forehead. “So I let my fellow warriors fuck my bride?”

“You have the crudest way of putting it. It is not uncommon, Brandon. You must be aware of that. According to Zach, Cole, and some of the others, it is sometimes necessary to assure a breeding that throws true. Especially if the female's blood quantum is borderline.”

My nostrils flare once more. I'm sure of Ren, having scented him when we first met. However, I kept the revelation to myself.

“Does she know?”

It's just us in the room. The ensuing silence holds us prisoner.

His expression changes when he understands my inference. Ren's chin dips to his chest.

“No.”

“It must have been hell for you to be around a Druid female and not tell her the truth or take her for yourself.”

Ren's gaze fastens on mine, his eyes like heated amber shot through with emerald. “It's not been easy. A part of her senses I'm Druid. Blood never lies.”

“But not enough?” I confirm softly.

He shakes his head. “No. Not enough to breed. Many Harborers possess a drop or two of Druid blood. It allows our magick to assist in the protection of the female, align with their own if they practice their craft. In this case, I would have been derelict in my duties if I had not protected her from this information. Until you came.” His eyes blaze, and I can't read the emotion in them.

“And what do you think?” I ask.

“Of you?”

I nod.

Seconds slip into a full minute under his contemplation. “You are young. But have great capacity to love.”

I smirk, mirroring his stance. “That's not a rousing endorsement.”

“It is all I can make, Druid.”

An idea forms in my mind. It's horrible, yet it just might work. I hate it, but it beats the alternative.

“You could...” I swipe my hand over my head. “You could be with Nova.”

Ren says nothing at first. “I do not wish to be.”

My surprise must show because Ren chuckles. “Not for what you think.”

I peg my hands on my hips. “How do you know what I think?”

“It's plain on your face.”

Swell.
“Oh.”

Ren moves to the slider where I was just standing and leans against the glass with his forearm.

“How would it be if someone allowed you a slice of heaven to revel in then snatched it away?” He grabs empty air and yanks that imaginary glimmer of perfection as though it was hidden inside his fist.

Ren's head rolls on top of his forearm. He blinks slowly at me. “I know what it would be with Nova. She is the answering note to a melody seeking harmony. I would hear the perfect piece of music just once then be left with only the memory, while others hear the song forever.”

“Y’know, you can be kinda poetic.”

Ren straightens with a sad smile. “If you were three hundred years old, you would gain a little insight over the years.”

“Or maybe a lot.” I clap him on the back. “I'm only close with Tarrin and Cole. I can't stand anyone being with Nova, but they're mated. That leaves Elias, Josiah, Andrew... and those new dickheads, Mikhail and Damon.”

Ren snorts at my apt identifiers for the newest Reapers. “I don't like Nova being with Reapers who have not proven themselves. They weren't even aware of the traitor in their midst.”

“They don't have Druid magic,” I say.

Ren taps his nose with a nod. “They should scent the difference.”

“Maybe Kellan used a spell of camouflage?”

Ren waves, apparently dismissing our speculations. “We digress.”

“Yeah, and we're no closer to a resolution for Nova.”

Our gazes lock. I don't back down, and neither does he.

Finally he says what I hope to hear. “I will.”

“You will breed her with me so we can protect her permanently?” I don't want a shit-ton of miscommunication.

“Yes.” He holds up a finger. “A caveat.”

“What?”

“Do you trust me?”

I snort. “Hell, no.”

His solemn expression doesn't break.

“More than most,” I concede.

“Let me choose the male. Our third.”

“What? Why?” My gaze narrows on him like a death beam.

“Because I know Nova's temperament.”

I don't miss a beat. “Only if I have veto power.”

“Agreed,” Ren says, holding out his hand.

I crush his grip in mine, but his strength is a match to my own.

Maybe more Druid than he knows.

Our hands drop.

“One more thing,” I say.

His eyebrows raise in question.

“There's another Druid female.” My guilt over not saying something sooner is acute. Circumstances have been so suckified that I couldn't have anyway. “Her name's Alicia. She fed and fucked me when I was starving. She might be Druid enough to breed.”

His face is neutral. “Did you plant your seed?”

I lift my chin. “Of course.”

“Then she is in danger, youngling.”

I hate being condescended to. I can fight, fuck, and protect with the best of them. I shut off my purring growl of righteous anger though.

Ren scowls at my apparent lack of restraint.

Get used to it.
“I'm aware her scent will be a problem.”

Ren begins to walk away from me.

“Where are you going?” I call.

Ren half-pivots in my direction. “I think whatever Reapers are not chosen should get their collective asses to her dwelling and acquire her, right? We're too busy with Nova to consider anything or anyone else at present, but it doesn't mean she should stay unaddressed.”

“So we pick a Reaper to group fuck Nova and a different batch to acquire Alicia?”

His forehead wrinkles at my wording. “I think you understand the gist of it.”

I hear the smallest noise, and my face jerks toward the doorway. “Oh shit!”

“Nobody is going to be ‘group fuckingʼ me,” Nova says from the doorway. Her eyes are banked emerald fire.

I think I'd be incinerated on the spot if that was part of her skill set.

Goddess damned.
It couldn't get worse if I tried.

Then Mother appears beside her.

Or maybe it can.