3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn)
Read 3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn) Online
Authors: Charlene Hartnady
Thorn
Awakened
by the Vampire Prince
Part
3
By
Charlene
Hartnady
Copyright © July 2015, Charlene Hartnady
Cover Art by Melody Simmons
Copy Edited by Kimberly Reichmann
Produced in South Africa
Published by Charlene Hartnady
PO BOX 456, Melrose Arch,
Johannesburg, South Africa, 2176
‘Thorn’ is a work of fiction and
characters, events and dialogue found within are of the author’s imagination
and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or
persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
With the exception of quotes used in
reviews no part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying,
file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without prior consent in
writing from the author
Table of Contents:
Part
3
Birds
fluttered from branch to branch and crickets chirped. A light breeze played
with the shorter hair on her temple causing it to blow lightly about her face.
It was cool and pleasant beneath the shade of the trees. Esral loved the
outdoors. At least, she normally did.
York
threaded his fingers through hers. Esral had to fight the urge to pull her hand
away. In two days’ time they would be mated. It was perfectly reasonable to
allow him something so small as to hold her hand, yet the need to pull away only
increased as they continued to walk through the forest. It irritated her
because York was a sweetheart. He could’ve had his pick of females here as well
as back at the castle, but here he was with her.
She
took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of crushed grass and the rich soil. Esral
had needed to get away from the hustle of Pulamor. She needed the type of
calmness that only the outdoors could bring. York had insisted on accompanying
her even though Gideon was on shift as her guard. The big, brooding male
trailed about twenty feet behind them. Right now, she wished she’d just stayed
in her room but she couldn’t hide from the world or from her future. It was
best that she make peace with it.
As
much as she wanted to allow hope into her heart, she knew that finding a way
out of this was impossible. She needed to try and close herself off to Xavier
and accept her fate. The pain and heartache would be so much worse otherwise.
She put a hand to her chest. She couldn’t take much more.
“Why
are you so quiet?” York gently squeezed her hand, reminding her of how sweet and
kind he was.
Esral
shrugged, she glanced up at York noting the concerned expression on his face.
He
sighed heavily while halting. His hand was still firmly locked with hers,
forcing her to stop as well. He turned; she could feel his eyes on her. “I have
seen the way you look at Xavier. I know that you would have preferred him as
your mate.” He kept his tone low.
Esral
took a deep breath and looked up, she worked hard to keep her expression
neutral. York frowned. “I’m sorry that things have not worked out the way you
would’ve hoped. You came to me and implored me to agree to become your mate.”
He took a deep breath. “After much thought, Esral”—he squeezed her hand and
even smiled down at her—“I decided that we would make a good team. You need to
know that I waited…” His eyes became serious as they narrowed on her. “I gave
Xavier a chance to claim you and he never did.”
Pain
squeezed her chest causing her to hold her breath for a second. She nodded
urging him on. Not ready to respond yet. Her throat was too constricted with
the emotion she felt.
“Although
this was not your desired outcome, please know that I will do my best to be a
good mate. I am sure that in time we will grow to love each other.”
Esral
forced herself to smile. Her eyes burned and although her throat was less
constricted, a lump formed. She nodded, squeezing his hand back. “I know you
will do your best. You are a good male, York. Know that I am grateful for all
you have done and I will do my best to honor you once we are mated.” Guilt
churned inside her belly.
York
gave her a half smile. He was a very handsome male. She only wished that she
felt even a smidgen of attraction for him.
“You
speak as if I have made a huge sacrifice to be with you. That is not true,
princess. The truth is”—his eyes flared with interest and they dipped to her
lips—“I am very attracted to you.”
Oh
nuts!
Oh
good, sweet petunias!
York
looked like he wanted to kiss her. Esral lowered her gaze. “Thank you,” she
managed to mutter.
The
big vamp took another small step towards her, putting him almost chest to chest
with her. He slid a calloused hand under her chin, tilting her head up. “I
would like to kiss you now, princess. Are we permitted to kiss?”
By
all that was green! No!
Esral
had to fight to keep from running away, as fast as her nimble, elf feet would
take her. She shook her head. “Yes, but I would rather wait until we are mated.
I can’t right now…I just can’t.” Her thoughts were of Xavier. His silvery eyes,
his endearing frown, the rare moments he smiled. Especially when he smiled for
her. Her heart ached for something that could never be.
Confusion
caused the creases on his brow to deepen and his eyes to darken. “I don’t wish
to scare you, but you do know that I will rut you in two days right? As soon as
we finish with the ceremony, I will take—”
She
put a hand to his chest and gave him a small push. The big male took a step
back of his own accord. There was no way she could’ve actually pushed a big
male like him. “I know how it works. I will be ready but would prefer to wait
until then.”
York’s
expression softened. “I will not force myself on you, princess. Not now and not
then.”
“You
won’t have to force yourself. I will willingly give you my thorn. It is
customary to rut right after the ceremony. We will go into the forest, both of
us will wear white. The dirtier our clothing when we attend the celebration
afterwards the better. It is considered good luck.”
York
looked confused. “Forgive me but you elves have some very weird customs. I
still think it would be better if we kissed and maybe touched a little before
then.”
Her
heart rate picked up but not from excitement.
York
used his free hand to lightly touch her arm. “I wouldn’t harm you in any way or
push you for more than you were willing to give.” He shuffled his weight from
one foot to the other. “I am worried about how you will react on the day though.
It might be somewhat overwhelming for someone with such little experience. I
don’t think it is wise to go from never even having kissed me to full blown
sex.”
“I
have attended sex education classes and have seen many pictures. I understand
the mechanics. I will not be shocked or afraid.”
York
laughed. “Pictures…classes…princess, I am going to enjoy teaching you for real
because the reality is very different from what you would find in any book.”
She
almost blurted that she agreed with him, feeling her cheeks heat just thinking
of how Xavier had made her flower drip with nectar when he had used his mouth
on her.
York’s
nostrils flared and he stepped back into her space, his eyes on her breasts and
mouth. “I’m going to kiss you now, princess. Do not be afraid.”
She
shook her head. “You will have to wait, York. I am not ready. I don’t know you
well enough.”
York
took a deep breath. “It is going to be difficult to be around you, to scent
your need and not be able to ease you but I will do as you request. I only hope
you are not afraid when I take your thorn.” He smiled at her. “We will take it
slow. I will make sure that it is very enjoyable for you. Do not fear.” He
gently caressed her jaw before dropping his hand back to his side.
She
had to smile. “Are you not in the least bit afraid?”
York
threw his head back and laughed. When he finally regained his composure, he
locked eyes with her and shook his head. “I am a vampire elite, I fear nothing.
Certainly not rutting you.”
“I
am glad to hear that. Please can we walk some more? There is an open meadow to
the east of here. I would really like to lie in the sun for a time.”
York
groaned. “Sun…that would be wonderful. Lead the way, princess.”
She
took the opportunity to slip her hand from his and skipped ahead. Her feet
might be light and nimble but her heart weighed heavily in her chest. Her
thoughts on one male.
****
“You
should quit torturing yourself,” Gideon whispered under his breath.
Xavier
clenched his teeth, his eyes firmly on Esral. She lay sprawled out in the open
field, surrounded by long grass and wild flowers. The picture she made was of perfection,
or it would be if it wasn’t for York lying beside her.
“I
will find a way,” Xavier whispered.
“You
should’ve taken her last night. You are a better male than I am, because I
would’ve done it. Compatible mates do not come by very often.”
Xavier
shoved his hands into his pockets. “How do you know that we are compatible? I
have never rutted the princess.”
Gideon
chuckled softly. “I have ears. You both greatly enjoyed the simple act of
touching one another. I am also of the opinion that feelings lead to greater
sexual enjoyment.”
Xavier
nodded his head. “You are probably right.”
“I
know I am right. Two people who love each other will try harder to please one
another.”
“You
sound like you have known love.” Xavier glanced Gideon’s way, noticing how his
face clouded for a second or two in definite pain.
“Yeah.
I loved and I lost. What can I say?” The male took a deep breath. “Let’s just
say that I understand something of what you are going through.” After a short
time of silence he added. “You need to talk with York. Make sure that the male
knows you have feelings for the princess. He needs to know that you plan to
stop the mating.”
Just
then, York pulled himself up onto his elbow, his gaze still on the princess as
he hovered over her. He snapped off a long piece of grass and began to tickle
her arm with it.
Esral
stiffened. If they weren’t so far away, Xavier was sure he would hear her heart
rate increase and it damn well wouldn’t be from excitement. Nervous tension
radiated off of her instead.
York
said something to the princess that Xavier could not make out. The distance was
just too great even for his superior hearing. She nodded and relaxed somewhat.
York continued to tickle her arm, lightly touching the blade of grass to her
skin in long sweeping movements.
Xavier
had to work hard to suppress a growl. His jaw was locked, his teeth clamped
down hard.
Motherfucker!
“You
cannot blame him,” Gideon said. “He is merely trying to win his female.”
“Esral
is my female. I still have two days.” Xavier knew that he was being irrational
and petty but he couldn’t help it. Esral had come to mean so much to him.
Gideon
nodded.
“If
he tries to touch her, I will remove his arm.” More pettiness, the thing was,
he meant every word.
“She
won’t allow him to touch her. As much as she doesn’t want to permit herself to
hope that you will find a way to fix this, she is holding on none the less.”
Xavier
felt his shoulders slump, he scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know how
though. I can’t go and see Keto. I can’t find a miracle fucking cure for Katar.
I can’t force Esral to turn her back on her culture…her father, and drop this
whole fucking charade. I don’t know what to do.”
“Standing
here isn’t going to solve anything,” Gideon whispered. His dark eyes on him. “Esral
loves you, she’s not going to allow York anywhere near her. No fucking way.”
“I
know she won’t. I just feel a little better when I am near her. God, I sound
like such a pussy.”
Gideon
chuckled. “That is what love does to you my friend. It can turn the biggest,
baddest warrior into a blithering idiot.”
Xavier
smiled. “You think she loves me?”
Gideon
shook his head, he made a small snorting noise. “You have it really bad, my
prince. Yes, she has loved you for some time now just as you have loved her.
It’s a pity that the two of you were too pigheaded to admit it. Could’ve saved
a ton of heartache.”
Xavier
nodded. “I could kick myself. I was so sure of everything. Had my life mapped
out in great detail. An elven princess did not feature in my plans and now I
feel that my future will never be complete without her in it.”
“It
won’t. You will be screwed. Trust me…I know.”
Xavier
could see pain swirling deep inside Gideon’s eyes.
“To
watch your female take another male, to watch her belly swell with his child.
It is almost more than one male can take.” His face took on a pinched look.
These were things he never knew about Gideon. He took females to his bed like
any other red blooded male. It was always casual. To Xavier’s knowledge, there
had never been a special female in his life. “Go now,” Gideon growled. “I will
watch the princess.”
Xavier
nodded.
“Remember
to speak with York.” His dark eyes landed on him.
“He
knows where I stand,” Xavier said as he moved away.
“I
hope you spelled it out because from where I’m standing, he is making every
effort to win the princess.” Gideon gestured to York who was still using the
grass stem on Esral’s arm.
Xavier
growled. “I will have another little talk with him.”
“He
needs to understand his place in this, my lord.” Gideon lowered his eyes.
Xavier
smiled. “Cut the ‘my lord’ crap. We are friends, feel free to give me advice. I
need all the help I can get.”