1#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Rosebud) (6 page)

She
shook her head. Yeah right, he was going to tell her what she wanted to hear.
Appease the princess, keep her happy. “Please don’t do me any favors.”

York’s
eyes slid down her length. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but I think that you
need me to. A female such as you is highly prized among the vampires. Hell”—he
let out a low whistle—“highly prized amongst any species I’d wager…your hips
are flared to perfection. They would be perfect to hold during…” He let the
sentence die as his eyes lifted to her breasts and they heated. “Your mammary
glands are full and lush.” His voice deepened. “What I wouldn’t give to…” He
licked his lips letting that sentence die also. At long last his gaze lifted to
hers. “I assure you that I would like nothing better than to…” he cleared his
throat. “Like I said before, any male would be lucky to have you. You are not
defective. I wish I could prove it to you, but…”

“But
what?”

“I
can’t touch you or rut you,” he growled. Then his eyes narrowed. “Besides, you
are making this whole thing sound like a business arrangement. We have not even
tested compatibility. A vampire would not mate a female without testing
compatibility first.” York took a deep breath. “It does not matter anyways, princess,
because I do not believe that you wish to mate me…not really.”

“I
really want to mate you, York. I assure you of that.” She looked him deep in
the eyes, trying to convey her sincerity. She may have feelings for another
male, the wrong male, but she needed this union to salvage her reputation. To
give her father his much needed peace. “You are a good male. We get along well.
I believe that we would make a good partnership. I will bear you young.”

His
eyes flared with interest which quickly died. “I would greatly like to see my
seed take hold. Although I know I would enjoy rutting you, I do not believe
that you truly want me in that way. You say that I am a good male yet you
hardly even know me, princess.”

“I
like you, York. I could possibly grow to love you. I think that is a sufficient
foundation for a relationship. You say that you are attracted to me and that
you would enjoy rutting me. Know that I would make my body available to you to
take whenever you needed me. I will bear you young, which is something that you
most likely would not have with a vampire female. I will always strive to be
the best mate possible.”

“Again,
I need to say that you make this sound like a business transaction rather than
a relationship. I always envisioned having a mate that fired my blood and made
me just a little bit crazy. Don’t you want that for yourself as well, princess?”
York’s brows were raised.

A
light breeze caused the bridge to sway and creak. For a second there she almost
agreed but then she thought of Xavier’s hard stare and something in her
hardened as well. She shook her head. “Allowing someone to have that kind of a
hold on you could be detrimental. You and I get along well and could come to
care for each other.” She shrugged. “I need a mate. I would prefer
you
to be that male. Think on it please.”

York
seemed to be in deep contemplation. “What if I turn you down?”

“How
many vampire males accompanied you to Pulamor?”

“Three
others. I don’t like where this is going.” York shook his head. “Is finding a
mate right now that important?”

She
nodded. “Yes. If you are not interested. Please could you make a recommendation
out of the three? I am afraid that my father will die thinking that I am
defective.” Her voice shook. “That I will cause him shame.” She had to sniff,
feeling her throat close as she struggled to keep from crying. She only hoped
that she could have her blossoming ceremony before word of her broken thorn
spread to her father. He would be devastated. It might just kill him. Make no
mistake, if Cheri had told Keto, there was no doubt in her mind that she would
be spreading untruths around the rest of the castle as well.

York
ground his teeth and shook his head. “Stop putting yourself down like that. I
told you—”

“It
doesn’t matter that it isn’t true. Please try and understand. It is what my
people believe that counts.”

“Fucking
barbaric.”

Esral
didn’t flinch at his use of such bad words. For once they actually summed up
what she thought herself. “If I move quickly, I can still try and salvage
this.”

“What
about your feelings, princess? Doesn’t what you want count for anything?”

She
shook her head. “No. I would’ve been given to someone I didn’t love anyway. A
male I don’t even like. Done this way, it will at least be better than how
things could have turned out if I had never gone to live with the vampires.”

She
thought she heard him mumble something about Xavier being stubborn but she was
surely mistaken.

“I
wish we could test compatibility,” he growled.

“My
thorn is for my mate alone to break and if you are that male then so be it, but
there is no going back once it is done.”

“Let
me think about it. I would enjoy rutting you. I am a skilled male and would
make you enjoy it even if you do not have that type of feelings for me. In fact,
I would probably work harder to ensure your pleasure.” His eyes flared brighter
for a second.

“I
know you would. I have not chosen wrong.” The words tasted bitter on her
tongue. She swallowed her fears and indecision and smiled at him. If York
agreed to this, she would work hard at being the best mate for him even if she
didn’t love the male.

“You
make a good argument. The thought of having children of my own makes me feel
great joy.” York looked up as the bridge swayed and footfalls could be heard.
“Gideon is here to relieve me.”

She
squeezed her eyes shut in disappointment. What bad timing, she had been sure
that he was about to concede.

“I’ll
think on it.” His eyes were still on the approaching male.

“Don’t
take too long.”

“I
just wish we could…you know”—he raised his eyebrows—“just once.”

“Well
we can’t, so think on it and let me know.”

York
introduced her to Gideon. “You are to call her Princess Esral. Do you remember
the other rules we spoke of?” York growled at the male in a way that had goose
bumps rising on her arms.

Gideon
nodded. “I know and understand the rules.”

“Do
you remember the consequences should you break any.”

The
new male’s eyes lit up with momentary fear. “Yes.” He nodded.

“Don’t
forget them”—he turned—“trust me it’s easy to let happen.” York grumbled as he
walked away.

“What
rules?” Esral couldn’t help but to ask.

Gideon
kept his face blank. “One of the rules is not to inform you of the rules.”

When
she frowned, he added. “Just know that they were designed to keep you safe from
all forms of harm.” He shook his head. “Even if they make no sense to me. It’s
not like you’d be harmed. Answer me one question please, princess?”

She
nodded.

“It
was always my belief that elven females were strong. Was I wrong?”

She
wasn’t sure why he felt that he needed to ask this. “You are right. Although we
are smaller than vampire females, we are also non-humans and therefore just as
strong. Do not underestimate us.”

The
male nodded. “That is what I thought. You would not break easily or be harmed
easily, right?”

“That
is correct,” she said. “We also have the ability to heal quickly.”

Gideon
shrugged. “The rules do not make sense but you are a princess and I will obey
them even if it is difficult.” His eyes dropped to her breasts for the briefest
second before moving back to her face. “Pity though. I was told to tell you
that lunch is being served in the dining chamber.”

The
last thing she felt like doing was being in a room full of people. She knew
that they would stare and talk about her behind her back. The thing was that
she couldn’t hole herself up in her room because it would look like she had
something to hide.

Esral
nodded. “Lead the way.”

“No,
princess.” Gideon gestured to the walkway ahead. “After you.”

****

“There
is a female waving at you,” Gideon said from behind her.

“Please
don’t look in that direction.” Esral talked between her teeth as she chose
another piece of melon. Her plate was already piled higher than she could eat
but it was important that she look busy.

“I’m
sorry, princess.” The male looked crestfallen. “I already made eye contact with
her. Besides, she was the one that told me to call you here in the first place.”

Esral
let out a deep sigh, looking across the many busy tables to where Cheri stood.
Her blood turned to nightshade in her veins as she noticed that Zafar was next
to the female.

Cheri
smiled and bounced on her feet while she waved Esral over. How could looks be
so deceiving? Everyone present would think that they were best friends. Esral
plastered a smile onto her face and made her way through the busy hall.

“Come
and sit with us.” Cheri motioned to a table. “Your helper can go and stand over
there.” The nasty female pointed to a spot at the wall, not even bothering to
address Gideon personally. It infuriated Esral. You would think that Cheri who had
worked enough years as a server would feel some sort of empathy for a male like
Gideon.

She
locked eyes with the vampire, trying to convey her apologies without words.
Thankfully he seemed indifferent to Cheri’s poor treatment. Gideon moved to the
wall on the opposite side to where Cheri had pointed.

“Little
Esral.” Zafar’s gaze moved down the length of her in much the same way as
York’s had. Except, where York’s appraisal had seemed honest and open, Zafar’s leery
eyes made her feel dirty.

She
had to work to keep her emotions in check, most of all to keep from blushing.
“Hello, Zafar.” Thank the gods her voice came out sounding calm and clear. She
sat opposite the pair.

Although
bile churned in her stomach, she forced herself to pop one of the ripe berries
into her mouth.

“Wow,
that’s some plate of food. Be careful or some might think that you are eating
for two.” Cheri beamed at her like she had just given Esral the biggest
compliment.

Zafar
smirked, his heated stare instantly dropped to her belly. “I must say”—he
growled softly—“I have always enjoyed rutting pregnant females, before they get
too big that is.” His eyes fogged over in thought. “Pregnant females have
voracious sexual appetites. Their mammary glands get really big and their
pussies swell making them so ti…”

Esral
couldn’t help the shocked sound that escaped her.

Zafar
laughed while shaking his head. “You always were such a prude, Esral. I’m
actually glad we didn’t have to mate in the end. It would’ve been like rutting
a block of ice.” He pulled a face and Cheri laughed.

All
that she wanted to do was to get up and leave but that would draw unwanted
attention to her, the best thing she could do was finish her food and excuse
herself. Just as she had suspected, a hush had fallen in the eating hall when
she had entered followed by whispered chatter as most everyone talked about her
behind her back. Esral took a bite of the sweet melon not tasting anything, she
just chewed and swallowed.

“Keto
mentioned that you aren’t prepared to tell him who the male is so that he can
be forced to mate you. Don’t you want your honor restored?” Cheri was at least
talking softly.

Esral
swallowed the melon, taking a deep breath. “I told you that my honor is not at
risk.”

Zafar
popped a large piece of pear in his mouth before talking. “You’re right, Esral…you’re
pretty much defective anyway.” He chewed and spoke at the same time. “So there
isn’t much to save. No wonder you threw yourself at a male. Desperate times…”

His
words stung because they pretty much summed up what she was doing…what she was
being forced to do. “You’re wrong.” She whispered, forcing herself to take
another bite of food.

“Why
can’t you just admit it so that we can help you?” Cheri rolled her eyes, not
touching her plate. “You told your father that you met someone and that there
is going to be a blossoming ceremony. Was that just a bunch of bull?” She tapped
a finger on the tabletop. “That’s not right you know, lying to a dying male.”

Anger
like nothing she had ever felt before burned through her. “My father is not
dying.”

Cheri
glanced left and right, checking to make sure that no one had heard her. “I
mean a sick male. Your father is very ill and it’s not very nice to do that to
someone you supposedly love.”

“I
wasn’t lying,” she forced out.

“I
think you were and still are. Who is the male? Just admit that he has long
since left you. You’re just trying to buy time.”

“It’s
none of your business, Cheri.” Much to her horror, her voice shook.