1#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Rosebud) (7 page)

“That’s
what I thought. My door is open if you decide to grow a backbone. I’m trying to
help you.” She huffed as she stood. “Later,” she said in Zafar’s direction.

“Look,”
Zafar clasped his hands under his chin. “I’m sorry about the ice block remark.
I shouldn’t have said that.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, checking if they
were clean. “I was looking forward to…our life together and was greatly
disappointed when you were given to the bloodsuckers. Although you are
defective, I would be willing to lower myself and still take you.”

Esral
was stunned silent for a few long seconds. Then her mouth dropped open and she
made an unintelligible noise.
Lower himself
? Did he really think that she
was so desperate that she would take a male like him?

Then
again she was pretty desperate, but not that desperate. She would never be that
desperate.
Never.

“I’m
sorry I said those nasty things, I was”—he looked really uncomfortable—“upset that
you would allow a vampire to break your thorn without claiming you first. You
wouldn’t even let me kiss you, Esral.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. She
was so stunned that she froze. “If you are with child, it will need to be
removed. I’m not raising a bloodsucker. I know it will be a painful procedure
but it is something that you will have to do for me…for us, or no deal.”

****

Xavier
felt his blood hit boiling point.

Unable
to stay angry with her for long, he had come looking for the princess because
he felt bad for ignoring her earlier. The sight before him was the last thing he
expected to see. Even though he had no hold over her, rage settled in his gut.

In
hindsight, he’d realized that nothing had really happened between York and Esral.
The princess had been tense when the male had touched her. Her eyes had been
wide and afraid. He wasn’t sure why she was blinking in that way, but her
beautiful blue orbs had not flared with lust or excitement when York had clasped
her chin.

It
didn’t matter. She was still off limits to him, and to all the vampire males.

“You
wouldn’t even let me kiss you, Esral.” The dickhead elf whined, drawing back
his attention. Unfortunately, he had no jurisdiction here in Pulamor. As much
as he wanted to beat this male for saying these things to the princess, he
couldn’t.

The
male spoke utter nonsense. Talking as if Esral had been rutted and impregnated
by a vampire. Why hadn’t she set the male straight? He was offering to mate
her.

Xavier
could not see Esral’s face but he could hear that her heart was beating out of
her chest. At first she held her breath, though when she finally exhaled it was
in an enormous gush followed by a deep inhalation.

“…will
be a painful procedure but it is something that you will have to do for me…for
us, or no deal.” The male’s eyes dropped down to Esral’s breasts before coming
back up to her mouth.

“You
didn’t just say that.” Esral finally found her voice and pulled her hand away.

The
male growled, looking around the table and speaking so softly that Xavier could
hardly hear him. “Fine, but when the child is born it goes back to the
vampires. I am not raising a bloodsucker. It’s a deal breaker.”

“I’m
not pregnant, you moron,” Esral whispered back.

Xavier
felt his lips twitch. Now that was the princess he knew and…liked.

“Thank
the sun, the moon and the stars.” A look of relief crossed the male’s face and
he swept a strand of blond hair behind his pointed ear. “I will inform Keto
this evening. We can go announce it publicly tomor—”

“I’m
not mating you, Zafar.”

The
male’s eyes narrowed. “You need me. You should go down on your knees and thank
me, princess. Better yet, you should get on your knees and lick my root.” He
did this bouncy thing with his head as he moved it to the side. Moron had been
an apt description.

Xavier
clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to punch the male until he heard
a few bones snap. Preferably in his jaw and nose. Maybe loosen a few teeth. A
male could dream. Esral seemed to be handling the situation though, so he held
back but only just.

“You
saw how it’s done, princess, that day in the forest. Now stop messing around.
You need me, end of story. I shouldn’t do this but I’ll be the martyr. I don’t
have to tell you that I come from a really good family oak. The tallest and
strongest of the non-royals. I am willing to lower myself. This is the end of
this conversation.” His face contorted in anger. “I will go now and inform your
brother. You can come to my chambers this evening to suck on my root.”

Xavier
took a step towards them, his breathing came in ragged pants as his vision
turned red.

Esral
made an exasperated sound. “Root?” She laughed, sounding like she was about to
have a nervous breakdown. “More like tiny earthworm.”

The
male’s face turned red and he growled, showing Esral his sharp teeth.

“I
refuse to mate you, Zafar. I would rather live alone and hungry in the depths
of the forest than
lower myself
and mate a despicable male like you.”
Esral spoke ever so softly, yet her words came out like they had been
reinforced with silver.

Zafar
reeled back like he had been struck. His irises turned a freaky red. “You
fucking whore.” He spat. “How dare you—”

It
was only when the male froze and turned as white as fresh fallen snow that
Xavier realized that he had growled aloud, ending on a vicious snarl that he
normally reserved for battles.

Esral
spun in her chair, her eyes were wide.

Xavier
remembered where he was, as well as his business here. As much as he would love
to beat this male until his blood ran rivers, he held himself back. “I think I
must have misheard what you just said to the princess,” Xavier said between
clenched teeth. He had to work to keep from growling again.

The
male swallowed thickly, his eyes darted to the princess and back to him.
Finally, Zafar nodded. “I take it back. All of it.” His eyes narrowed as they
landed on Esral and Xavier couldn’t help the low growl that passed his lips
this time either.

“You’ll
regret it.” The male said as he stalked from the room. Every muscle in Xavier’s
body felt tensed and ready. He longed to go after the elf fucker for his lack
of respect.

Esral’s
choppy breathing snagged his attention. Her eyes were red rimmed and brimming
with unshed tears. Her little hands shook in her lap. For the first time, he
noticed that a hush had fallen over the eating hall. That everyone was staring
at them. Gideon moved forward and clasped the princess’ arm. He could see that
the male was just trying to help but he moved between the two of them anyway,
narrowing his eyes at Gideon. “I’ve got this,” Xavier said.

Gideon
stood tall. “It is my duty—”

“As
your senior, I relieve you, for the moment, of your duty.” Xavier lifted his
chin and took up a stand while spreading his feet.

“The
princess is…” Gideon stammered.

“I
will take care of Esral.”

The
other male’s eyes widened at his use of her first name and Esral made a
surprised sound.

“I
need to talk with the princess. Wait here, we will not be long.” Xavier didn’t
wait for the male’s reply, he took ahold of her elbow and walked towards the
exit.

Xavier
watched as the princess worked to compose herself. Her heart still beat a mile
a minute but you would never think it by looking at her. She allowed him to
take her arm. It killed him to feel the slight vibration which still belied her
inner feelings. It was clear that the male had rattled her, to her very core.

Esral
inclined her head at Gideon, thanking the male for his assistance and allowed
herself to be led from the eating hall. The elves didn’t try and hide their
interest and buzzed like insects in need of extermination. Xavier glared at
several of them but the yellow bellied fuckers quickly turned their heads.
Their behavior was disrespectful towards a member of the royal family. It was
strange to him because his own kind would never act in this way.

Once
they were outside, Esral turned to him and exhaled a shuddery breath. “Thank
you.” Her cheeks turned a brighter shade of red and she refused to look him in
the eye.

“Hey.”
Xavier wanted so badly to tip her chin so that she would at least look at him.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her. The need to protect her almost
overwhelmed him. Then, he noticed that her bottom lip quivered. Esral drew the
lush flesh between her teeth, indenting her skin as she bit down.

“I
heard what that male said.” He couldn’t help but to growl. Although he didn’t
want to upset her any further, he needed to set a few things straight in her
mind.

She
shook her head and briefly closed her eyes like she was willing him to
disappear. He could see that she was embarrassed.

To
hell with it.

Using
just the tip of one finger, he tipped her chin upwards so that she was forced
to look at him. “You were being too nice when you called that male a moron. I
didn’t believe a single word of the bullshit he spewed. Anyone that knows you
wouldn’t believe that kind of”—he clenched his teeth for a few beats to stop
himself from saying exactly what was on his mind, because unfortunately it
would involve some choice words the princess would not approve of—“rubbish.”

Her
eyes softened and her shoulders slumped. Just then a crowd of elves bustled
from the chamber.

“Did
you see how that vampire grabbed her arm? How he stood up to Zafar like that?”
A female shrieked, her head turned in the opposite direction.

A
big male followed close behind. “That must be the male that broke her—”

Xavier
heard Esral’s sharp intake of air.

The
elves stopped dead in their pointy shoed tracks. The male walked into the back
of the female, snapping his mouth shut as he slammed into her.

“Let’s
go.” He couldn’t help the growl that emerged. If he stayed for even a second
longer, someone was going to get hurt and he’d bet money on that someone being
an elf. Brant would have his left testicle if he fucked up the relations
between the two species by using the idiot male as a punching bag.

Instead,
he growled again while narrowing his eyes at the elf fucker who flinched while taking
a step back like the pussy he was.

Esral
pulled on his arm and he allowed himself to be led. When they were far enough
away, he glanced her way. “I mean it, princess, that male, Zafar, was a
dickhead…” He paused for a few beats. “Sorry,” he added.

When
she smiled, he felt a pressure inside himself ease. “It’s fine…you were
right…moron was too nice.”

“Who
is he? I got the impression that there’s a history between the two of you.” As
hard as he tried, he couldn’t keep the tension and anger from his voice at the
thought of that scumbag anywhere near the princess.

“He
was the male that my parents had picked for me. As elven highborn, our matings
are…used to be arranged.” She paused and seemed to be deciding whether or not
to divulge something. The princess glanced his way. “I didn’t want him or any
of the other males. It’s why my father decided to…give me to the vampires in
the hopes that I would be happier.”

“Are
you?”

She
shrugged. “I’ve made a bit of a mess of things because I put my own feelings
first.”

“How
so?”

“I
should’ve taken a mate by now, Xavier. My father is worried about me when his
only concern should be getting well again.” Esral stopped outside a chamber.
“This is mine.” She stood with her back to the door.

Xavier
considered what she had just said and the thought of her with any other male
did strange things to him. It made him want to punch something. “You shouldn’t
have to just settle on anyone. It’s not right.”

There
was sadness etched in the depths of her eyes. She held her breath, taking a
tiny step towards him. Longing filled her beautiful blue orbs for a split
second before she schooled her emotions once more.

He
felt his brow crease. It couldn’t have been. Longing…for him?
No way.
Xavier
clasped his hands behind his back wanting so badly to touch her silken skin, to
thread his fingers through her golden hair. To find out if what he had seen written
briefly in her eyes was true, but it would be a mistake so he held back.

“Why
are you here?” she asked.

“I
brought more of our healers and have a meeting scheduled with your brother.”
Xavier looked away to where the sun spilled dapples of light on the wooden
walkway ahead. He licked his lips. “I wanted to apologize for ignoring you
earlier. It’s just that…” What reason should he give for his behavior?
I was
so jealous when I saw another male’s hands on you that I saw red and would’ve
killed him if I had stayed.
It wouldn’t go down well. Xavier took a deep
breath. “You shouldn’t have let York touch you. He will be punished for putting
his hands on you, I will have a talk with the male.”

Her
whole posture changed as she stood more upright, her lips pressed so tight that
they were a thin white line. Finally she sucked in a deep breath. “You are no
longer my guard. I think you can drop the whole protector act now.”

“Protector
act…” He clenched his teeth, looking up at the thick canopy above for a few
beats before meeting her storm filled gaze. “It is my duty as prince to ensure
that—”

“Well
you can stop…” She shook her head. “I am no longer your responsibility…your
burden…”

“Burden?
Seriously, princess? I think you have it all wrong.”

She
folded her arms across her chest. “No I don’t. I’m not your little sister,
Xavier. I’m sick of being treated like some annoying little kid. If I want to
talk to York then I will. If I want to—”

“No,
you damn well will
not
.” He growled, not wanting to hear what else she
had to say.

“Why
not? I’m a grown female. I’ve wasted a lot of time on something that’s never
going to happen and I’m done being patient. I will talk to males if I—”

Xavier
closed the distance between them. A mere inch of space separated them. “Not
happening, princess. I won’t let York or any other male near you and that’s final.”

****

Frustration
welled.

“You
are not my father or my brother. You—” The words died on her tongue as he
pushed his hard body against her. She had to crane her neck to maintain eye
contact. The cold wood of the door pressed up against her back and hard hot
male pressed against her front. Esral sucked in a ragged breath.

“You
are right about my not being your family,” he growled. “I don’t see you as a
sister or as a burden.” He swallowed hard and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “You are
a beautiful female, princess.”

Her
breath came quicker when his eyes dropped to her lips. Xavier’s gaze turned
heated with desire. She may be an innocent but she instinctively recognized a
primal need when she saw it. Excitement laced with confusion coursed through
her. Then he clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds.
“You had better tell me to go. Do it now.”

She
shook her head. “I don’t understand.” It was a mere whisper. “Why are you
acting this way all of a sudden? Why now?”

When
he opened his eyes, they were more silver than grey. So beautiful that she
forgot how to breathe for a moment or two.

Xavier
half smiled, looking anything but happy. He took a small step back and she
instantly missed his heat. He ran a hand over his jaw, the light stubble
catching. “If you only knew of the thoughts I have had about you.” He pursed
his lips for a few seconds. “You would go inside, shut the door and never speak
to me again.”

Esral
couldn’t help the smile that came with the feelings of pleasure that his words
evoked in her.

Xavier
rubbed the back of his neck. “You shouldn’t smile like I just made your day. It
would be better for you to leave right now.” Then his face turned serious and
those stunning silver tinged eyes dropped back to her lips. He groaned, dragging
his gaze back to hers. “This would not be a good idea, princess.”

It
was now or never. She had an opportunity to be with the male that she truly
wanted. If she was honest with herself she was already in love with him.
“You’re the reason I’m not mated yet. I don’t want any of the other males.”

He
cursed under his breath and immediately apologized. “I don’t know how I feel,
princess. I want you, but I had other things planned for myself. The problem
is, I can’t seem to get you out of my head. When I saw York touching you, I
lost it.”

“You
did?”

“Don’t
sound so shocked, princess.” He got all tense, two familiar, vertical creases
appeared between his brows. His nostrils flared. “I never felt jealous before a
day in my life…at least, I never did before meeting you.”

Esral
melted. She put a hand at the solid wood behind her to find support.

“I
know it’s damn selfish, but I don’t want other males near you. The reason I’ve
been acting like a bear with a sore head is because I’ve been fighting my
attraction to you.” He leaned back in, his lips hovered over hers. She could
feel the heat from his warm breath as it fanned her lips.

“Come
inside for a minute.” She all but whispered. “I don’t want anyone to see us.”

Xavier
shook his head. “I can’t be trusted alone with you.”

“Nothing
will happen.”

“I
don’t have much willpower left. The last few months have eroded my
self-control.” He growled. “I respect you, Esral.”

“I
have enough willpower for the both of us. I just want to talk…” And maybe a
kiss would be good but it wouldn’t go any further. The thought of pressing her
lips to his. Of possibly talking of a future together. Hope unfurled. Maybe
this situation would work out in the end after all.

With
a nod of his head, he reached behind her and opened the door, putting a hand on
her waist so that she wouldn’t fall backwards. Esral checked to make sure that
the coast was clear and they went into her chamber.

“I
had expected”—Xavier smiled, making the slight dimple in his chin more
pronounced—“something different.” He said as he walked further into her chamber
looking about the space.

“Different
how?”

He
shrugged, his smile widening. Esral looked at her chamber, trying to do so
through his eyes.

There
were modern finishes. Her space was uncluttered. Decorated in white with the
odd splash of green. It was clean and fresh.

“I
guess I expected pink or lavender. Something more princess like.” His smile
faltered. “I really should go.” Xavier took a step back.

The
last thing that Esral wanted was for him to leave right now. Not when he was
finally admitting to having feelings for her. To think that Brant had been
right all along. She took Xavier’s hand and he, thankfully, followed. Esral
gestured to her bed. “Take a seat. We really should talk.”

His
eyes widened and the big warrior actually looked afraid. “I don’t think that’s
a good idea.”

“Fine,
we’ll stand.”

He
nodded.

“I
don’t want other males.” She said, watching how his jaw tensed and his hands
fisted. It felt good to know that the thought of her with someone else made him
react this way. “Although we’ve spent many months together, I feel I’ve only
seen glimpses of the real you.” She laughed under her breath. “You mostly
growled at me and acted like I’d done something wrong.”

“What
do you expect when you wore those little shorts that almost showed your
spectacular ass? I had to find a way to keep you at arm’s length because my
dick was so hard that I couldn’t think straight…” His eyes darkened to a gun
metal grey. “I’m sorry, princess. I meant no disrespect.”

“It’s
fine. At least I understand why you acted the way you did. I thought you really
hated me because you had been assigned to babysitting duties. All this time I
thought it was a hardship for you.”

“It
was a hardship, princess. You have no idea how damned hard. Only not in the way
that you thought.” His eyes were on her lips again. She so much wanted for him
to kiss her. Just once.