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Authors: Charlene Hartnady

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BOOK: 2#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Flower)

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“Fucking
idiots.” He couldn’t hold back.

“It
doesn’t matter whether it is true or not. York claiming me and the up and
coming mating ceremony has brought honor back to the royal tree.” She sighed.
“Although many will still look down on me as being defective, none will be able
to say it publicly. How do you think it will look if you claim me now?”

“I
don’t give two fucks.” He blurted, instantly regretting it as he watched hurt
flare in her eyes.

“I
care,” she whispered. “It would devastate my father.” She shook her head. “It
would look as if I was courting more than one male. I may have asked York if he
would consider mating me but we both know how this will look. Like I rutted my
way through the vampire troops. It would shame my family. I can’t do it.” A
tear rolled down her cheek. “It would kill my father.”

“Your
father wants to see you happy.” Xavier reached forward and wiped away the tear.

She
swallowed hard, nodding. “You are right. My father would agree for my sake. I
know though that in the long run, the ridicule, the rumors…” She gave a
humorless chuckle. “Hearing my people put me down on a daily basis would kill
him…he can’t take an upset like that.”

“So
that’s it then?” Xavier moved from the bed and paced the room. He had to try
and expel some of the turbulent energy coursing through him. “I have to watch
you take another male? You will never be truly happy?” The thought of her
living like that made him want to smash things.

“My
heart will always be with you. You need to know that.” She reached a hand to
him, sucking in a sob.

Xavier
cursed, a hard word but Esral didn’t so much as flinch. He moved to her, eating
up the distance in two, big strides. Grabbing her waist, he pulled her into his
arms. “I’ll find a way. We have three days.”

Her
beautiful scent filled his nose as he crushed her to him. Her tears were wet on
his skin, each one pierced his heart. Her small sniffs made him harden in his
resolve. “Just promise me that you will keep believing in us.” He put his nose
into her soft hair and breathed her in.

“I’m
too afraid to hold hope. There is no way.”

He
pulled away from her, locking eyes with her. “There must be and I will find
it.”

She
tried to smile through her tears and nodded bravely.

Xavier
kissed her trembling lips. She whimpered as he softly caressed her tongue with
his before placing soft kisses on her jaw line. “We have to fight.” He
whispered into her ear. “I’m not giving you up.”

She
nodded. “We have three days, but if there is no way—”

“Don’t
say that.” He tried to keep the growl from his voice and failed.

She
placed a finger against his lips. “If we do not find a way, you have to promise
to let me go.”

His
throat felt like it was closing and his eyes burned.

She
clasped his jaw and his stubble caught on her hand. “Please, Xavier. You have
to know that it’s not what I want, but you have to promise me…”

Xavier
squeezed his eyes shut for what felt like the longest time. He took in a deep
breath, holding it in his lungs until they felt like they would burst before
finally breathing out. Xavier took ahold of her much smaller hand in his,
placing a kiss on the inside of her palm. “I promise.” The two most difficult
words he had ever uttered.

Her
shoulders slumped and fresh tears caressed her cheeks. Xavier pulled her back into
his arms.

Chapter 6

Keto’s
eyes dipped to her breasts. “Are you coming to bed?”

Cheri
put her hairbrush down on the table.
Where is that blasted female?

“I’m
on my way.” She looked down at him through her lashes in the most seductive
manner she could muster.

Keto’s
robe tented as he watched her make her way to him. Thank all that was green
that he was a handsome male. Tall, well-muscled, his hair halfway down his
back. He had heavily pointed ears that drew a female’s eye. His most endearing
quality though was his title.
Prince
…soon to be king. It made her wetter
than moss covered in dew on a cold, early morning.

His
eyelids hooded as she pulled her robe from her shoulders. He had often said
that he liked her breasts because they were full but not overly so. He liked to
rut her from behind and hold onto them. He was very good with his root. Knew exactly
how to make her come…
hard
…every time. Another bonus. She knew that he
planned on announcing their union soon. They spoke of it often, yet she
couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

He
never fully gave of himself. There seemed to be something missing from his
smile, from the way he touched her. Sometimes it felt like he was thinking of
someone else.

Sure
he had rutted with some of the servers over the years but it had only been her
for the longest time. There was no one else. She would know it if there was.

Desire
flared in his blue orbs and he pulled his own robe from his magnificent body.
Her flower filled with nectar as she caught sight of the length of him.

“Stay
where you are,” she whispered. Keto lay on his back in the middle of their
large, round bed. His hands were clasped behind his head. Her prince shook his
head, making to rise.

“Let
me ride you.” She tried to keep her voice in a low, seductive purr.

He
smiled as he shook his head again. “I like to take you from behind.”

“Just
this once.” She heard the whine in her voice. It irritated her.

There
was a timid knock at the door.

“Leave
it.” Keto growled, he had moved to his knees. His root jutted from between his
narrow hips.

Cheri
fixed her robe. “I’ll make it quick. I had one of the servers check on Esral.
She looked a little shell shocked earlier.”

He
sighed heavily but nodded.

Cheri
made for the door. Glendril stood on the other side as expected. “I hope I
wasn’t disturbing.” She clasped her hands in front of her and dipped her eyes
to her feet.

Cheri
closed the door behind her. She didn’t want Keto privy to this conversation.
“What did she say?”

The
female relayed her conversation with the princess.

“Interesting,
so you think she’s hiding something? Someone maybe?”

Glendril
shrugged. “I can’t say for sure but it seems that way.” The female looked down
at her boots and chewed on her lip.

“Out
with it.” Cheri tried to keep the irritation from her voice.

“She
definitely wasn’t happy.”

Cheri
had to work hard to suppress a smile. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth,
the princess had no idea what it was like to want for something. She’d always
been a spoiled little brat. Cheri had always wished that she could be the
princess. To live in the royal oak, admired and respected by all. It was a wish
she had thought was out of reach. Not anymore. It was so close now that she
could taste it. With Esral out of the picture, her life would be all the more
sweeter.

“Why
do you hate her so much?” Glendil asked.

“I
don’t hate her.” Cheri lied. “She will be my sister one day very soon. I want
her to be happy.”

This
seemed to appease the female who nodded. “I will inform you of any information
I may discover”—she paused—“as long as I know it is to help Esral.”

“Of
course, Glendril. I assure you that I have the best of intentions.”

Glendril
smiled.

Cheri
couldn’t wait for that sniveling brat to be mated and gone. It was a big, fat
bonus that the spoiled princess would be miserable. After seeing how the
vampire prince had looked at the princess earlier today, she would bet cold,
hard cash that there was something between the two of them. She’d only been
having a bit of fun earlier when she mentioned that Xavier had tried to rut
her. On this thought, she couldn’t help but to smile broadly.

“You
need to know that I admire you greatly, Cheri.” The server smiled at her. Her
large, brown eyes were filled with awe. “Who would’ve ever thought that a lowly
server could one day become queen? It gives the rest of us hope.”

Pride
surged inside Cheri. “You speak like you have no hope of ever achieving
anything.”

“It’s
not that”—the female chewed on her lip for a few beats—“it’s just that I’m not
nearly as strong as you are. Please remember us when you take up your place on
the throne. It is not easy wearing yellow…being a female.”

“I
know,” Cheri remarked. She knew all too well what the role entailed. “There are
a number of vampire elites staying at Pulamor, and even the vampire prince
himself. You should try your hand at seducing one of them. That way you could
live in your own castle and leave all this behind you.” Cheri glanced at the
bright yellow silk the other female was wearing. Cheri couldn’t stand the
color. She would never wear it again.

Glendril’s
eyes lit up. “A prince?” She let out a pent up sigh. “Daisy rutted one of the
vampire guards, she said it was the best sex she has ever had. Maybe…”

“You
should do it.” Cheri almost whispered. If Keto overheard her trying to convince
a server to rut with a vampire, he would be pissed. “Don’t forget to keep an
eye on Esral for me though.”

Glendril
smiled. “I won’t. I’ll come to you with anything I find.” The female looked
excited.

****

It
was past midnight when Xavier finally managed to pull himself away from the
princess. She had fallen into a restless sleep. Watching her lie there, her
hair spread out on her pillow, her soft breathing, made his heart ache. He
needed to spend every night with her, holding her close to him.

Gideon
swallowed thickly as Xavier moved away from her closed chamber door.

“Keep
this quiet.” Xavier spoke under his breath.

“You
have my word.” He replied, his voice barely audible.

Xavier
nodded and turned to leave.

“My
lord…” It was strange to hear Gideon address him so formally.

Xavier
paused and turned his head so that he could just make out Gideon’s dark eyes.

“If
you need anything, know that I am here.”

Xavier
pursed his lips for a few seconds before nodding. “Thank you. That means a lot
to me.”

“Anything,
anytime,” he growled softly.

“It
is good to know.” Xavier added before moving away. He made for the forest.
Right now he needed soil beneath his feet. He needed to get away from Pulamor,
even if it was just for an hour or two. He would not find rest tonight. Anger coursed
through his veins. There was another emotion that welled within him as well. It
was hard at first to put a finger on exactly what the emotion was,
especially considering he had never felt it before. With a
sharp intake of breath, realization hit him hard in the gut. It was fear. Heart
stopping, mind numbing fear of losing his princess.

‘Part
3: Thorn’ is on pre-order
now

Author’s Note

Thank-you for reading the second installment of
Awakened by the Vampire Prince. The last one is going to be ultra steamy…I
promise!

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I live on an acre in the country
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In my spare time you can usually
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