3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn) (4 page)

“I
know your take on this and you know mine, there is nothing to discuss,” York
bit out.

A
muscle ticked in Xavier’s jaw. “This can go one of two ways.”

Esral
swallowed thickly, feeling her heart rate quicken. “Please,” she whispered.
“Don’t hurt him.” It was only then that she realized that she clasped Xavier’s
arm. She released him before taking a step back. She managed to somehow drag
her eyes from Xavier, they locked with York’s. “I’m so sorry.”

Some
passing elves, sensing the tension, had stopped to listen in on the
conversation.

“This
discussion needs to happen.” Xavier’s eyes softened as they landed on her, and
he lifted the hand closest to her before realizing what he was doing and shoving
it into his pocket. Then he looked back at York. “Hear me out…please.”

Something
in her eased when she realized that Xavier was giving York a choice. He
wouldn’t force the male into listening to him.

At
first the big male’s eyes seemed to harden, but then he took a deep breath
before nodding once.

“Call
if you need anything.” Xavier glanced Lazarus’ way as he spoke. “The same goes
for you, princess.” His eyes landed on her and her heart almost gave up
beating. She nodded weakly.

“Don’t
hesitate.” York said, drawing her attention. He gave her a half smile.

Esral
nodded once. “I’m sure I’ll be fine, but thank you… for everything.”

Xavier
took a step towards her, his jaw locked. “I’ll come by later to check in on
you.”

Excitement
coursed through her and she nodded. It did make her feel somewhat better
knowing that York knew about her and Xavier. She only hoped he would understand
the depths of their feelings for one another. York didn’t love her, that much
she knew. Though it seemed that she had done a very good job of convincing him
that they were a good match. Guilt still churned inside her.

York
growled. How could she blame him? She felt so bad for him. He was such a good
male. She so wished that things could be different.

“After
you…” Xavier gestured to the walkway ahead. Esral could see that he was trying
to go easy on York, that he too must be feeling guilty about how this was all
playing out.

She
turned back to Lazarus who had an amused expression on his face. His nostrils
flared but his eyes stayed on hers. The big male shook his head.

She
felt her eyes narrow and her hands automatically clasped her hips. He must’ve
caught something in the look she threw him because he threw up his hands and
chuckled softly. “It’s none of my business, princess.”

Esral
nodded. “It’s not the way that it looks.”

“Actually,
I think it’s exactly the way it looks. Some unsolicited advice, take care how
the two of you look at each other.”

She
felt her brow crease and even began to shake her head.

“You
and Xavier, princess. It’s easy to see from about a mile away that the two of
you are mad for one another. It could become a problem considering you have
been publicly claimed by another…” He shook his head. “I really hope you can
get it sorted out. I overstepped my mark already, I will just stand here and
ensure your safety from here on out.”

“Thank
you.” She knew it sounded lame, but didn’t know what else to say. They would
need to be more careful.

“I’m
really starting to tire of our long walks in the countryside.” York strode
ahead of him; he glanced back over his shoulder as he spoke. The male’s muscles
were bunched, Xavier could hear his heart rate and ragged breaths and it sure
as hell wasn’t from the exertion.

“You
must agree that we needed to have this out with one another. It can’t carry on
like this.”

“You’re
right.” York picked up the pace. “You need to stay away from her. How do you
think it makes me feel to know you’re fucking around with the female I’m about
to mate with? With all due respect, my lord, it needs to fucking stop.”

“You’re
right.” By now they were far enough away from Pulamor but York kept on walking.
Hell, if it made the male feel any better then so be it.

“So
why the fuck are you meeting up with her later then?” York spun around, putting
his hard eyes on Xavier. “From her scent this morning and just now, it isn’t to
talk with her although I’m sure you’ll use your mouths a whole hell of a damn
lot.”

“You’re
right, I shouldn’t be spending time with or touching the female you’re about to
mate, but, York, you need to know that I plan on stopping this. If I have
anything to do with it, you won’t be mating her.”

His
face contorted with rage and for a second Xavier was sure that York would fly
at him. He even braced himself. Xavier would do his best to hold off the male
without actually having to hurt him. Maybe this way York could get rid of a bit
of his frustration and they could actually have a real conversation.

Instead,
York snarled sounding every bit the warrior he was and punched a nearby tree.
Its trunk was thick and yet Xavier still heard a crack.

Xavier
waited patiently as York pummeled the tree a second and a third time. A crack
appeared as bark exploded about him.

Finally,
chest heaving, York turned to face Xavier. His hands were a bloody mess. “I
claimed her.” He growled, the words barely recognizable. “She is soon to be
mine.”

“Tell
me one thing, do you love her?”

York’s
jaw clenched and he mopped a bloody paw across his face leaving a streak of
red.

“Please,
York, do you love Esral? Answer me honestly.”

“What
difference does it make? She is a good female. I’m attracted to her and I’m
sure that we would be compatible. I will do my damndest to please her.”

Xavier
had to swallow hard as he shoved his hands into his pockets to prevent himself
from hitting York. The thought of him or any other male touching his female
enraged him.

“I
would treat her right. Take very good care of her and in return she would bear
me young. I long to be a father.” It was strange to see the change in such a
hardened male. Everything in him softened and his eyes lit up. “I hope to have
several children. I want a house filled with the sound of laughter.”

“Your
main reason for wanting to mate the princess is so that you can become a father?”

He
nodded. “I told you that she put up a good argument. It’s not that I would just
take any female though. I could see myself caring for the princess greatly and
I would hope that she would do the same for me in return. I would do everything
for my family.”

“You
have yet to say that you love her, York.” Xavier hated to state the obvious.

“Love
is fucking overrated,” York growled.

“No,
it’s not.” Xavier took a deep breath, scrubbing a hand through his hair and
clasping the back of his neck. “Even just a few short days ago, I would’ve
agreed with you but I was wrong, York. I was very fucking wrong. Love is
everything and once you have experienced it, you will never want to let it go.”

York
shook his head. “Are you telling me that you love her? I know that you lust
after her and that you care for her. Maybe even see her as a friend, but love…Xavier,
really? You? I don’t believe it.”

“Well
you had better fucking believe it. I love her more than anything, more than my
next breath. My life would be meaningless without her and Esral feels the same
about me. Do you really want a female that is in love with another male? Don’t
you want more than that? Wouldn’t you like to experience love for yourself?”

Xavier
couldn’t help but to smile as he thought of Esral. So soft, sweet and innocent,
yet she had a tougher side as well. He loved the way she always put others
before herself. Loved that she had no clue as to how beautiful she was. He
planned on rectifying that in a big way. By his actions, in his words, and with
the way he made deep, passionate love to her.

York
shrugged. “I have never experienced love. I’m not sure I want to. I’ve seen
grown males turn in to pussies,” he growled.

Xavier
couldn’t help but to smile. “I’ll gladly call myself a pussy. I love her, York.
She is mine and will always be mine. Don’t you want a female you can truly call
your own?”

York’s
big shoulders lifted for a second before dropping. He sighed deeply. “I want my
own female and I want children, but how?”

“Look
around you. This place is crawling with eligible females. From what I’ve heard,
the elves do not have the fertility issues that we do.”

York
chuckled humorlessly. “The elven females may want to rut with us but they are
not interested in anything long-term.”

“What
if I told you that we were working on something?” Xavier looked around them,
seeing only thick tree trunks for miles around.

York
looked skeptical.

“A
program.” Xavier paused, not sure how much to disclose.

“What
type of program?” By the glint in York’s eyes, he could see that he had struck
a chord.

“What
I’m about to tell you is strictly classified. Top fucking secret, so not a word
to anyone.”

York
nodded his eyes.

“This
goes no further.” He narrowed his eyes at York. “We’re starting a breeding
program.”

Interest
definitely flared in the big male’s eyes and he took a step closer while
licking his lips.

“With
humans. I know you have always been interested in having one since I’ve heard
you mention it on several occasions.”

York
licked his lips again. “What red blooded vampire male wouldn’t be? They are so
sweet, are so lush yet ridiculously tight or so I’ve been told. The fact that
they are capable of bearing young is a major bonus.” York looked skeptical.
“Humans have always been off limits though. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“It’s
come to our attention that all human females will become stronger once they are
mated to a species male. It’s not just royal mates. The wolves have been taking
human mates for years with no problem. All of their mates became stronger and
have given them young.”

“Wolves
are weaklings in comparison to vampires. What about bloodlust and the risks
involved? Don’t get me wrong, I would love a human mate but the female could
end up getting hurt or even killed.”

“All
the angles are being covered. It’s still in its early stages, but Brant and
Zane are working on rolling out a breeding program where our best males will get
to take human mates. We are months away from trials. Right now it’s all being
discussed with our lawyers. Contracts are being drawn up, but in the very near
future there will be opportunities. What if I could guarantee you a place in
the program?”

York
shook his head. “As great as it sounds, it’s not a sure thing. I’ve known our
kings to change their minds on a whim. Either of them could overrule you.”

Xavier
shook his head. “The program is a sure thing and I will make it happen for you.
I swear it. I’ll discuss it with Brant now, upfront. If he gave you his
personal word, would you agree to help Esral and I? To backing the fuck off?”
He couldn’t help but to growl.

When
York hesitated, pursing his lips, Xavier felt frustration well. Having York on
their side would make things much easier. The longer the male made him wait,
the more he wanted to hit him but he held back. Although York had acted with
his own interests in mind, there was no doubt that he had some sort of feelings
for Esral and that at the end of the day he had been trying to help her.
“Please, York. We love each other. She is everything to me. I would be lost
without her.”

“Stop
for fucking sakes.” York made a puking noise. “You’re going to make me sick.
Set it up with Brant and you have got yourself a deal. Do you want me to go and
see Keto? Do I make an announcement or something?”

Xavier
shook his head. “It’s not going to be that easy. The elven folk are expecting a
union between the two of you. As far as they’re concerned it’s done. No going
back.” He went on to explain the effect it would have on King Katar’s health
and on Esral’s reputation as well. He reminded York of how close Esral was with
her father and of how she would blame herself for his death if she called off
the mating. Even if she was told without a doubt that she wasn’t to blame, his
princess would still blame herself.

“So
what?” York’s brow was heavily creased. “You ask me to concede and then tell me
that there is pretty much no way out?”

“I
will find a way. I need you, Lazarus and Gideon to help me. I’m hoping that
they find a cure for King Katar between now and then.”

“Don’t
hold your breath.”

“Don’t
get me wrong, I’m not relying on it. Would be nice to catch a break for a change
though.” Xavier squeezed the back of his neck, looking up at the thick canopy
above. “Fuck it. When we get back, I’m going to speak with Keto myself.”

“You’re
what?” York smiled. “You must have a death wish.”

It
was as if his blood turned to gasoline and someone had struck a match. “If that
fucker so much as lifts his pinky finger, he will…” Xavier meant to say die but
there was no way he could kill Esral’s brother. He shook his head before he continued,
“…bleed.”

York
smiled. “So you’re just going to march in there and tell him you plan on mating
his sister and in so doing, smear the royal reputation, which could end up
killing his father?”

Xavier
smiled. “Something like that.” He paused, filling his lungs with air. “It would
be nice to see him care for his sister for a change. To actually be on board
with doing something that would make her happy. It would be really nice if we could
end up seeing eye to eye on this one.”

“Good
luck with that. I think there is more of a chance of me sprouting pink wings
and flip-flapping from one tree to the next.”

“Now
that, I would like to see.” Xavier chuckled.

“Keep
dreaming.” York chuckled as well, it was a scary sight. The male was just too
big and mean looking to be laughing.

“How
about we get Brant on the line and seal this deal?” Xavier needed things
wrapped up. Time was running out fast.