1#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Rosebud) (4 page)

Her
father’s face lit with genuine happiness. He looked better in that instant than
he had since she had arrived. The contrast was startling. “So we will have a
blossoming ceremony soon then?”

She
nodded. “Yes, father.” The thought of having to mate York made her feel funny
inside and not in a good way. Then she felt guilty because he really wasn’t
such a bad male.

“I
would love to know who this male is and I’m sure you will introduce me in due
course, but”—he held up his hand—“I’m not going to bombard you. You can tell me
all about him when you are good and ready.”

She
released a pent up breath that she had not even realized that she was holding
and nodded. Her smile felt tight and forced. “Very well, father. Shall I fetch
you some elderberry tea?”

 “That
would be lovely child. Please make sure—”

“I
know father…three drops of honey and two of nectar.”

He
sank back down into his pillows and smiled. “You are such a good girl.”

The
thought of ever letting her father down was unacceptable to her.

She
handed him the tea and after blowing on it for a few beats he took a small
tentative sip. He didn’t exactly grimace but she could see that it wasn’t to
his liking. Her father was picky when it came to his tea.

“Is
it too sweet?”

He
gave her a warm smile and shrugged. “I’m not sure. It isn’t quite right. The
only person that can make tea to my liking is dear Cheri.”

Esral
had to keep from rolling her eyes.

“You
should ask her for some pointers. She visits me every day.” His eyes held a
faraway look. What was it about Cheri that turned males into blithering idiots?
Even her own sweet father.

“Does
she?” Esral tried to keep her voice even.

“Even
though she’s not a server anymore she still takes the time to bring me my
afternoon tray.”

“How
nice of her. I’ll ask her about her tea recipe.”

Her
father smiled and nodded. “I’m sure there will be two blossoming ceremonies
very soon and I won’t have to worry so much anymore.” His brow creased as he
looked her way.

Esral
nodded and smiled, trying to look calm and self assured. She sincerely hoped her
lie didn’t come back to bite her.

Pausing
with her hand just above the door, she wondered why Keto had summoned her to
his chambers. At least if she knew the reason, she could’ve better prepared
herself. This was the first time she would be seeing him since arriving back at
Pulamor. A logical explanation for the summons was that he wanted to welcome
her home, even if she was here as a guest. If that was the case, why did her
hands feel so clammy, why did her heart race so?

Instead
of dwelling on her worries, she tried to concentrate on the beauty surrounding
her. Pulamor was a living breathing castle built into the canopy of the tallest
trees in the elven forest. It was spread out with suspended walkways that led
from one tree to the next.

Keto’s
chamber was in one of the tallest trees, a great white oak. Rare as it was
beautiful, it stood powerful and strong. Its wide branches reserved only for
royalty. Esral took a deep breath before knocking on the intricately carved door.

“Enter.”
She could hear that Keto was tense. His voice had that stressed edge that she’d
come to know so well.

She
smoothed out her robe and proceeded into the chamber. Her brother stood with
his back to her, his gaze firmly fixed on the view outside his window. They
were surrounded by a thick canopy of trees as far as the eye could see. There
were tall mountain peaks in the distance, it was enough to take your breath
away. Esral would never grow tired of the sight. She just wished that she could
enjoy it more at this moment.

Silence
overtook the room. So much for the warm welcome. Apprehension grew inside of
her. Esral stepped forward. “Hello, brother.” She flinched at the slight quiver
in her voice.

Keto
stiffened. From this angle, she could see his jaw lock. It felt like endless
hours, when in fact it was just a few seconds, until he finally turned. His
eyes were the color of the deepest ocean, his icy stare held hers. It took some
resolve to keep from flinching away, to keep her back straight and her eyes on
him.

His
lips pursed together in a grimace, and then he finally spoke, “What is this I
hear?”

She
felt her brow crease and against her will, clasped her hands in front of
herself. “I’m not sure I know what you are talking about.”

Keto
chewed the inside of his lip. “Don’t play games, Esral. Who is he?”

Confusion
flooded her. Firstly at his question and secondly because she couldn’t
understand why he was so angry. Disappointment maybe but anger, it made no
sense.

She
shook her head.

“This
isn’t a game, Esral. Last time I checked you were a grown female. Don’t pretend
that you don’t know what I’m talking about.” His hands were clasped into tight fists
at his sides and he took a menacing step towards her. “Who is this vampire that
broke your precious thorn?”

Her
mouth fell open and a strange garbled sound escaped her.

“I
see you’re still going to continue to play dumb with me. I want a name and I
want it now,” he growled. “I don’t know what father was thinking when he sent
you to those bloodsucking fiends.”

“I
would’ve been given to Zafar.” She said, her voice was almost a whisper.

“And
what is wrong with Zafar?”

She
knew she needed to tread carefully, the male was Keto’s best friend. Esral
shrugged.

“Zafar
is an honorable male. One of the best highborn males at Pulamor.”

“Zafar
ruts anything in a yellow robe. I saw him while out walking in the forest a few
months ago. He was with two females, Keto…two.” Esral couldn’t help but to
raise her voice.

“Males
have appetites. You know that Esral. He was merely appeasing his needs and
learning how to please a female. Learning how to please you.”

Her
brother did not just say that. She sucked in a deep breath, feeling her eyes
narrow. “More like please himself.” Both females had been naked. Both had been
licking his root. Her cheeks heated as she thought back. The worst part of all was
that he had caught her watching. The incorrigible male had clasped both females’
heads and had thrust his hips towards them, a slow smile on his lips. He liked
that she had seen the whole thing. Esral had heard his chuckle as she ran away
as quickly as her legs would take her.

“The
point is, Esral, that Zafar would’ve bled for you. Would’ve honored you by
taking you as his mate.” Keto narrowed his eyes. “I can’t believe that you would
complain about Zafar, do you have any idea of the sexual appetites of vampires?
Especially the males. They rut several times a day and often with more than
more partner. Yet you would prefer one of them to Zafar?” He shook his head
while looking disgusted. “Now look what has come of it.” He gestured to her, that
same look of disgust still on his face.

Esral
had, had enough. She felt anger rise up inside of her. This had to be the work
of Cheri. What nonsense had the female been whispering into her brother’s ear?
“I think I have a very good idea where you got your
mis
information. Yes
that’s right, brother, you heard correctly…” She added the last when Keto’s
eyebrows lifted. “
Mis
information. I still have my thorn.” She felt her
cheeks heat. It was so unfair that she was being forced to explain herself to
him. “It’s still very much intact, I assure you.”

“Don’t
try and deny it. You can be open and honest with me. This way we can still find
a way to fix this.” His eyes glowed with the intensity of his emotions. Keto
had always worn his feelings on his sleeve for all to see. It was such a pity
that in recent years, the bulk of his emotions was anger. Often bottomless and
unwarranted. Esral couldn’t understand why the change had come about or what
had caused it.

“I
am being honest,” she pleaded to him with her eyes. Praying that he would
believe her. “Please, Keto.”

“Stop
lying, Esral. Just admit that you let one of those blood suckers rut you, that
you allowed him to take away your honor. Please”—for just a second his gaze
softened—“tell me who he is so that I can make this right. I will make the
bastard mate you or he will die.” He growled the last, his eyes flashing blood
red with his anger.

Esral
shook her head, working hard to keep from crying. She turned and had to force
herself not to run as she made for the door.

“Where
do you think you’re going?” he growled.

Using
every ounce of strength she still possessed, she stopped and turned back to
face him. “I can’t believe you would take her word over mine. I am your flesh
and blood.”

Confusion
marred his handsome features for a split second before his lips tightened and his
frown deepened. “Cheri told me that she found you upset and crying, she told me
that in a moment of weakness you told her about losing your thorn. That a
vampire male had broken it without a care for you or your future. What reason
did she have to lie? What did she possibly have to gain from it? Cheri is
trying to help you. She’s trying to save you, Esral. Why won’t you let us help
you?”

“I
don’t know what goes on inside that sick, twisted mind of hers. She is lying
though. I don’t know what she would have to gain, maybe she just wants to ruin
my reputation?” She blurted.

Keto
chuckled humorlessly. “I think it’s a bit too late for that, sister, don’t you?
I think you’ve already done a great job of that all on your own.”

His
words stung but only because of the truth in them.

“You
are defective and without honor. I plan on rectifying that. If you won’t tell
me who this male is, I will find him myself someway, somehow. I won’t rest
until I have his name and then either he will mate you or he will die.” Keto
folded his arms. His hard eyes told her that he meant every word. “I sincerely
hope that you come to your senses, that you help me make this right. I never
expected this from my own sister.” He looked down at his feet for a few seconds
before lifting his eyes, they were filled with sadness. “I’m disappointed in
you.”

“Yet
again you are not listening to what I have to say. Quite frankly, brother, I’m
highly disappointed in you and in your choice of future mate. That female is
trouble, I only hope you see it before it’s too late.” She couldn’t bear to be
in the same room as him for even a second longer. Esral turned and walked out.
He didn’t try and call her back, but even if he had she wouldn’t have listened.

Her
heart felt like it was racing at a million beats a second. Her breath came in
ragged pants. Esral barely took note of the heavy, booted footfalls behind her.

“Wait
up, princess.” York’s deep voice sounded from behind her. “Are you okay?”

Esral
put a hand to her chest and willed herself to calm down. Once she had composed
herself, she turned to face the male. She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“I’m
sorry to say this, but your brother is a colossal dick head.” He shook his
head.

She
found herself giggling despite the circumstances.

“Would
you like me to go and set the record straight?” York asked. “I can go and do
that now if you want.”

Asking
York to come had been the right choice. He was very sweet and she trusted him. Esral
shook her head and smiled. “It wouldn’t do any good. He doesn’t believe his own
sister, why would he believe you? Keto doesn’t particularly like vampires
anyways.”

“So
I’ve heard.” York ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know you very well,
princess, but even I can see that you’re not the type to lie. I don’t really
understand your elven ways. For us, rutting is like breathing or eating.” He
shrugged his big shoulders. “Something that just happens. Forgive me for being
forward.” He smiled. “It is the vampire way. I just needed to say that without
really knowing you very well, I know that you are the type that would obey all the
rules. Even strange unhealthy ones.” The male looked down at the ground before
lifting his eyes to hers. “I just cannot believe that you’ve never had your
needs eased. To suffer in such a way…”

Esral
felt heat rise, the burning sensation crept up her chest, neck and onto her
face. The points of her ears felt like they were on fire.

“I
did not mean to make you uncomfortable. Just stating a simple fact.”

“I
don’t mind.” She couldn’t help but to let out a nervous giggle again. “It’s
just that I’m not used to talking about such things.”

“Know
that”—York looked deep into her eyes, he put a hand up as if he were about to
touch her and then thought better of it—“I believe you and I do not think that
you are defective. Any male would be lucky to have you. I for one…” He made a
negative growling noise. “Never mind.” Then he said something along the lines
of valuing his own life, which she didn’t understand.

It
was time that Esral faced facts. Her father was gravely ill and might not make
it. It would help his recovery to see her mated. Cheri was spreading terrible
rumors about her, vicious untruths that could easily take hold. Rumors she
might never be able to shake. Her brother believed everything that the witch
said. She didn’t have much choice, she needed to find someone to mate with and
it needed to happen soon. If her father came to hear of the vicious untruths,
it just might kill him. Fear raced like shards of ice through her veins.

Xavier
was miles away and quite frankly even if he was in the very next tree it
wouldn’t matter. Despite what Brant had said, she knew deep down inside that he
didn’t see her in that way. At the very most, he lusted after her. He certainly
wasn’t the type of male that wanted to take a mate. York was standing right
here, in front of her. He was a good male, would make a good mate.

“Thank
you.” She smiled up at York. “I really appreciate that.” Her cheeks heated
further as she put a hand out to touch him lightly on his arm.

York
jumped as if he had been shocked.

“I’m
sorry,” Esral mumbled. “I shouldn’t have done that.” She could feel her eyes
widen. She felt greatly embarrassed. It was the first time she had ever tried
to seduce a male and look where it had gotten her? He said that he didn’t see
her as defective but that was clearly not true.

Esral
tried to turn, she wanted nothing more than to leave but York gently clasped
her wrist. “No wait,” he growled. “I’m fucking this up.” He said, mostly under
his breath and then he immediately apologized for the profanity. “It’s just
that”—he took a deep breath—“you are a princess and I’m a lowly vampire. I’m
sorry, I probably misinterpreted the gesture anyway.” Red spots appeared on his
cheeks and he refused to meet her eyes.

“You
are more than just a lowly vampire, you are a strong warrior and one of the
elite.” Esral smiled, trying hard to remember what Brant had told her about
seduction. With the elves, it was customary for females to show their body to their
chosen male. Esral slipped a hand to the neckline of her robe, intent on baring
one of her breasts to York but she couldn’t do it. To bare one’s body to a
chosen
male and trying to seduce a male were two very different things.

Just
then, one of the things Brant had said popped into her head. This was the last
thing she wanted to do but she had to suck it up. If not for her own
reputation, then to spare her darling father.