Selected for the Vampire King (The Vampire King Chronicles Book 8)

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  Selected for the Vampire King

  A Paranormal Romance

  By: T.S. Ryder

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One – Tindra

  Chapter Two – Rollon

  Chapter Three – Tindra

  Chapter Four – Rollon

  Chapter Five – Tindra

  Chapter Six – Rollon

  Chapter Seven – Tindra

  Chapter Eight – Rollon

  Chapter Nine – Tindra

  Chapter Ten – Rollon

  Chapter Eleven – Tindra

  Chapter Twelve – Rollon

  Chapter Thirteen – Tindra

  Chapter Fourteen – Rollon

  Chapter Fifteen – Tindra

  Chapter Sixteen – Rollon

  Chapter Seventeen – Tindra

  Chapter Eighteen – Rollon

  Chapter Nineteen – Tindra

  Specially Selected Bonus Content

  The Werewolf Boss's Baby

  Night of the New Moon

  The Vampire King's Virgin

  The Alpha Wolf's Baby

  Her Two Wolves

  The Vampire Prince's Bride

  The Billionaire Wolf's Baby

  The Vampire Prince's Prisoner

  The Alpha's Secret Son

  Owned by the Vampire King

  About T.S. Ryder

  Selected Other Books by T.S. Ryder

  Join the Heartbeat Reads Readers Club now if you want to receive the EXCLUSIVE hot short story paranormal romance trilogy “The Beast’s Heart” for FREE and get notifications of new releases and promotions.

  Chapter One – Tindra

  Finally, a free day.

  Tindra sat at the back of the group of gathered humans, flipping through the last comic book she had brought with her. If she had known that she was going to end up going all the way through the selection process, she would have brought more books with her. As it was, she had read through every issue twice and was now just looking for evidence to back up her theory that the main villain was actually the heroine's long-lost brother.

  She glanced to the front of the large hall where several vampires milled about – well, held the gangs of men and women from rushing onto the stage and raiding the waiting rooms where the vampires were waiting to choose. She shook her head, her brown hair flopping into her eyes, and went back to reading her comic.

  It was great fortune to be in the running to be chosen as a vampire's companion. It only happened once every five years, and there was a stringent application process. Tindra had no desire to go live in the glittering halls herself. She only signed up because her boss was an A-hole who refused to let his employees off work for a full twenty-four hour period. However, he was recently reimbursed for lost wages, so he had practically shoved the applications into his female employees' hands.

  Just the women. Never mind the fact that several of the vampires were looking for men as their companions.

  A sudden scream went up in the crowded room and Tindra winced. Her view of the stage was blocked, so she stood on her chair to look over the heads of the people. A soft gasp escaped her lips. The prince himself had stepped onto the stage. Tindra had seen him multiple times on the television and in the news. She'd never heard any rumors about him with any companions, though. Had he decided to choose a mate?

  Vampires don't mate humans, she reminded herself. They have companions to give them blood and sex and whatever, but not mates.

  The prince was handsome – if a bit too clean-cut for her tastes. He had the aura of a man who was perfectly groomed, from his hairless chin to his tailored suit. He muttered to a guard next to him, and that vampire directed other guards into the crowd. They checked the application tags from several women and led them onto the stage.

  One of the guards stopped right in front of her and held out his hand. "May I see your card?"

  Tindra stared blankly at him.

  "To check your orientation." He flashed her a dazzling smile that revealed two long, curved fangs. Like on a saber-toothed tiger, only small enough to be hidden when his mouth was closed. They were beautiful, in an exotic sort of way.

  Silently, Tindra handed him her card, where "men" was clearly checked off. She had thought about checking all the boxes as a joke, but at this moment she was glad she hadn't. Imagine having to explain that to the prince, of all people!

  The guard offered her his arm, and she took it. A few faces in the crowd glowered at her as men and women both pressed in on them, shouting for the prince to choose them instead. One woman was actually carried out of the hall as she spat curses and threats out at the others taken up onto the stage. Tindra soon found herself with the other women, facing the prince. His nostrils flared as he looked at them.

  His gaze locked on the comic book still in her hand and then moved to her neck. Nostrils still flaring, he leaned in close and took a strand of her hair to sniff. With a nod and smile of satisfaction, he took her hand.

  "You are perfect."

  "What?" the woman beside her shouted. "Her? She has a man's body! Look at her. She doesn't even have any breasts. Wouldn't you rather have these?"

  She thrust out her chest, making what must have been triple-Ds wobble dangerously. Tindra stared, fighting the urge to clasp her hands over her own small chest. Were they real? How much pudding would she have to eat to get breasts that size?

  The prince ignored the woman. He wrapped an arm around Tindra's waist and led her from the stage as the crowd burst into noise.

  The noise cut out as they entered a back room. Several more vampires waited, and a few of them eyed her with interest. She clutched her comic to her chest, then suddenly realized she had left her backpack. With a gasp, she pulled away and turned – but the guard coming after them had it with him.

  "Thanks," she said, taking it.

  "What's your name?" the prince asked her as he continued to guide her away.

  "Tindra. Like Tundra only with an I instead of a U."

  He nodded. "And I'm Thor."

  "Yeah. I know. The prince."

  Soon, they were outside, and a guard opened the door to a limo for her. She slid in and had to stifle a gasp. Sitting inside was the manliest man she had ever seen. Jeans and a worn leather jacket, five o'clock shadow, long black hair pulled back and tied with a leather string. His eyes were dark and piercing as they glanced over her. Unlike a lot of the vampires, his skin had a well-tanned look. It went well with his strong jaw and high cheekbones. Tindra nearly forgot how to move as she slumped into a seat, staring at him.

  Why couldn't he have chosen her instead of the prince?

  Realization suddenly hit her. Oh, god . . . The prince had chosen her. She had just gone along without a protest, but she couldn’t do this. She couldn't go be his companion in the palace! What about her job . . . which she hated. Or her family . . . who she avoided most times because talking to them was like shooting her self-esteem in the foot.

  "Isn't this one a bit old for you?" the manly vampire asked in a cool tone.

  "Old?" Yeah, maybe she had a few silvers in her hair and faint laugh-lines around her eyes. But that certainly didn't make her old, especially not in vampire terms! Her hands clenched and she almost
poked him in the chest. "Lookit here, buster. I'm only thirty, and if that's old to a thousand-year-old vamp, then maybe that's your problem—"

  Her eyes widened as the vampire arched a brow at her. Recognition hit her in the stomach like a fist as he turned his face fully to her. Rollon. The king. The freaking vampire king. And she had called him Buster. Heat rushed to her face and she shrunk back from him.

  "Sorry!" she blurted. "Oh, sorry your highness. Majesty? Your kingship? Uh . . . sorry. I didn't realize it was you. You usually shave before a press conference and the clothes are . . . Well, you look great, but they're not what I would expect a king to wear and—"

  Rollon raised a hand, and she fell silent at once. Her face burned and she wondered just how badly she'd be injured if she crawled out of the window. Given that they were driving down the street with a plethora of guarded vehicles around them, probably quite a bit. Hopefully a nice coma. The king's dark gaze stayed on her, stilling her.

  "I understand that this is a new situation for you," he said calmly. "And that is why I will tolerate that attitude from you this once. But only this once. Understood? Companion to my son or not, I will not be spoken to disrespectfully."

  Tindra nodded meekly. She shot a look at Thor, who stared out the window with a small smile. Was this his idea of a joke? And him being Rollon's son . . . They looked more like brothers. If she had to hazard a guess, Rollon was probably about her age when he was turned into a vampire.

  "Thor?" Rollon glanced at him. "Do you have anything to say?"

  The prince shrugged. "I'll teach her the correct behavior, Dad."

  Dad. That sounded weird coming from a prince. How old was he again? For the life of her, she couldn't remember.

  "Good," the king said.

  "But I think you might need to be more tolerant of her regardless. Tindra here doesn’t look like she has great social skills."

  Tindra almost asked if it was because of her comic but bit her tongue. The truth of the matter was she didn't have that great of social skills. She was into geek culture, something that always seemed to be highly unsuitable for women like her – the Plain Jane types who picked plaid shirts and jeans over high heels and pink dresses.

  "It was against my better judgment to let my son claim a companion among the common, but I suppose you're pretty enough to do." Rollon's eyes ran down her figure. "At least you will be once you're in more feminine clothing and someone brushes your hair."

  She didn't respond to that, crossing her arms over her chest. As the buildings zipped by, she turned her mind to her parents. How was she supposed to explain to them that she had been whisked away by the vampire prince? What were they going to say? Would they insist on her bringing him to visit or that she leave at once before he could 'ruin' her more than she already was?

  And thinking of that . . . What was going to happen once they were in the palace? Would he expect her to be his blood-filled blowup doll?

  Thor reached across the limo and grasped her by the waist. He pulled her between himself and his father. Too close to both of them for comfort. One arm remained around her waist while the other took her hand in his.

  "You don't have to be afraid," he said, smiling. "Everything is going to be perfect."

  Tindra forced herself to nod. The only question was, what was his definition of perfect?

  Chapter Two – Rollon

  She was pretty. Not a raving beauty, but pretty. The most intoxicating smell clung to her. Oh, she had the same sweet undertones that most females had, but there was something else as well. Rich and mouth-watering. Like the first taste of blood after the June fast. Intoxicating. He understood why Thor had chosen her.

  Rollon shook his head, putting his son’s chosen companion from his mind. Shifters had been testing his boundaries again and he was going to lead a group of men to remind them of their place. He fastened a short silver blade to his waist. There was something about silver that slowed the natural healing processes of shifters. It could also cut through vampire flesh, which was otherwise hard as diamonds.

  "You will stay at the palace," he ordered his son as Thor laced up a leather jerkin.

  Thor looked up. "Dad, I’m just as good a fighter as any of the full-blooded vampires."

  Rollon nodded. "You are. You are also my son and will act in my name while I am gone. Your lady will not take kindly to being claimed and then abandoned," he added. "Tindra hasn't let you in her bed yet, has she?"

  Thor scowled. "My place is by your side in battle."

  "Your place is to obey your king." Rollon couldn't help but smile. Thor would be a fine king one day. He had enough self-control for a dozen vampires. If Rollon had a human so delicious waiting for him, he would have spent half the kingdom to woo her by now. So would a lot of vampires. His smile slipped. "You need to make your claim permanent, and soon."

  His son shrugged. "It will happen. But I have to say, I am disappointed that you haven't been nicer to her, Dad. Tindra is a really fun girl if you would give her a chance."

  Nice.

  Rollon yanked his jerkin on over his loose shirt. The moment Tindra had slid into the limo he had wanted to do everything with and to her. He had swelled as her scent surrounded him, and when she began to talk, he thought of all the sinful things he could do with a mouth like that. If it had been anybody but his son to choose her, he would have challenged them right then and there. Human or not, he wanted her. And not to be nice too. He wouldn't compel her, but he would damn well seduce her. And she would be putty in his hands.

  "I am acting for what is best," he said stiffly, not about to tell his only child the thoughts racing in his head.

  "I chose her for a reason. I want you two to get along."

  "You know my stance on taking humans as mates. They are fragile and short-lived. I’d sooner see you bind yourself to a she-bear as a mate. They’re at least robust and can be fed vampire blood to extend their lives for thousands of years."

  Thor was silent for a moment before cocking his head to one side. There was a familiar look in his eye that had Rollon tensing before he even spoke.

  "Humans can live as long as us if they are turned into vampires."

  "After what happened to your mother—" Rollon cut himself off and inhaled deeply. "No. The law is a law for a reason and I am not going to change it. Not even for you, Thor. Besides, would you really put someone you love through that?"

  Thor shrugged. "I don't know what it’s like. I was born half vampire, remember?"

  Rollin's stance softened as he remembered. The day his son had been born was the day his life really began. The squealing red infant had grown so quickly into the man he saw before him. Sometimes it was difficult to believe that Thor was full-grown according to human standards. He had stopped aging almost a hundred years ago, yet Rollon still found himself worrying about him all the time.

  "Go inform Zander that we will be heading out shortly."

  Thor bowed sharply and left the room. Rollon sighed as the door swung shut. Really, he should be sending Thor out for this mission. It was only going to be a skirmish, if anything. No real danger. The shifters that had encroached onto their territory were scouts, nothing else. But he was worried about his son nonetheless. It was just an excuse to say that he wanted Thor to stay here and woo his lady. As limited as the danger was, shifter teeth were the only things besides silver that could pierce a vampire’s skin.

  All the same. He should at least tell the girl that he did not disapprove of her personally before he left. For Thor to be successful, the human had to feel somewhat at ease.

  It wasn't just because he wanted to see her again.

  He finished strapping on his leather armor and headed to the chambers that had been assigned to her. She was probably moping in her jeans and an oversized sweater, sad that she wasn't permitted to leave the palace just yet. Her family was allowed to come here and see her, but given her new position, it would be dangerous for her to leave without the proper protection.

&n
bsp; To his surprise, he heard laughter from her chambers. When he knocked, Ingrid, the head of household affairs here, answered. She curtsied in greeting.

  "Is Tin–the human in?" he asked.

  "Yes, my lord." Ingrid opened the door to allow him in. "Lady Tindra, the king is here to see you."

  Rollon strode in. His eyes passed over a beautiful maid in a gown . . . and then did a double take. It was Tindra. She wore a sequined blue dress that fell to mid-thigh. The deep cut V on the halter top made her breasts look larger than they had in the sweater he had seen her in before. His pants tightened as he gazed at her. She wasn't the sniveling mess he had expected. That was going to make this all the harder . . .

  "Rolly!" A high child’s voice called, and then a little girl rammed into his side.

  "Oof!" Rollon laughed at Hilda, Ingrid’s younger sister. She had been only ten when she had been turned into a vampire. He didn't know if it was fortunate or unfortunate that their minds seemed to freeze as soon as they were turned. Hilda would remain ten forever, a mind to match her body.

  "Hilda, we should let them speak." Ingrid took her sister’s hand and pulled her out of the room. She had a secret smile on her face that Rollon didn't like.

  He almost protested. Almost. The human stood with her hands clasped behind her back, pushing her breasts out further. It would be easy to shift aside the fabric and access them.

  No. Those thoughts were completely inappropriate. "How are you finding your chambers?"

  "They’re nice. Pretty. I mean, very elegant. It's like living in a hotel. Have you ever lived in a hotel? I’ve wanted to live in a hotel for a long time, but it's so expensive. I never had money that I could waste on that. Not that I was poor. I just . . . am shutting up now." She pressed her lips tightly together, making him notice how red they were.

  Why did she have to be so sexy and adorable all the time? Thor had chosen her.

  "You should know that it’s forbidden under pain of death to turn a human into a vampire. You are not going to become one of us."