3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn) (9 page)

His
emotions remained completely intact. So much so that she would almost go so far
as to say that this wasn’t news to him.

“And
before you jump to any conclusions, Xavier didn’t provoke her in any way.”

“Elves
are highly accommodating, I’m sure he misinterpreted her friendly—”

“She
put her hand on his root.” Esral suppressed a sigh. “I’ve told you about her
indiscretions before but you’ve never believed me.”

Keto
growled. “Please don’t bring it up again.”

“I
have to Keto. I saw her that day with Zafar, on her knees…in the forest with
another female. It was her, I promise you.”

“Enough…”
He growled. “Zafar is my best friend and he would never do such a thing. He
swore to me that you were mistaken.”

For
just a second she thought they might actually be seeing eye to eye for once. It
looked like she had been mistaken. “I know exactly what I saw. I just wish you
would believe me for once. Is it too much to ask?”

Keto
rose to his feet and smoothed his robe. “Father wants the blossoming ceremony
moved to this afternoon in his chamber. He…” Keto looked at his boots for a few
beats before lifting his eyes to her. “Our father is worried that he is dying.”

She
made a sobbing noise and covered her mouth with her hand.

“No
matter his improvement this morning, if he has another episode he probably won’t
make it. Lord Minogue has confirmed that. I’m sorry, Esral.” He shook his head.
“I know you love the vampire prince, but you need to do this. Please…” His eyes
filled with tears. It was a terrible sight, to see her brother who she had also
seen as the epitome of strength, reduced to tears. “Think of our father. I wish
it were different. I’m not ready to be king. I don’t want to lose father. I
wish things could have worked out for you but it is the way that it is.”

Once
again, in so many hours, Esral felt numb. In many ways it was a blessing. It
gave her the strength to nod.

“Thank
you.” Keto breathed a sigh of relief. He held her gaze for a few moments longer
before turning and leaving.

She
wasn’t sure how long she sat there, just staring at the bunched up sheet in her
hands.

“He
shouldn’t have asked that of you.” Xavier’s deep voice washed over her. He put
his hands around her but she pushed him away.

The
look of hurt and confusion that took residence on his handsome face was almost
her undoing. “We can’t. I can’t.” She shook her head.

“Nothing
has changed. I will find a way. Please, Esral.”

“You
heard my brother. I have to do this. Please call York. Has he changed his mind?
Will he still have me?” Tears were streaming down her face so she wiped them
away but they were only replaced by more.

“I
will do anything you ask of me.” York moved to stand at the foot of the bed.

“Like
fuck you will.” Xavier growled, making to stand.

Esral
grabbed Xavier’s hand. “No. York is trying to help me. Even knowing that I will
never love him. It’s so cruel of me to expect this from you.” Her watery eyes
locked with York’s.

The
big male smiled down at her. “If you need me, I will be there for you. I’ll
leave the two of you.” He edged his way out the room while maintaining eye
contact with Xavier who growled softly while exposing long, ivory fangs.

“I’m
sorry, Xavier.” She sobbed. “I can’t go against my father’s wishes. I just
can’t.”

“Please,
just speak to him. Get him to postpone the ceremony.” He looked at her with
such longing that she was sure her heart would break.

Esral
shook her head feeling her hair sway about her shoulders. “I can’t. He thinks
he’s dying…” She whimpered trying hard to hold back a sob. “Lord up above, he
may very well be dying. How do I deny him this?”

Xavier
clenched his teeth, he inhaled and exhaled sharply through his nostrils. His
eyes were so dark that they were almost a murky black. “You can’t.” He choked,
pulling her to him. This time she allowed herself to be dragged into his arms.

“You
need to know that I love you.” He whispered into her hair.

It
made Esral sob louder as her heart broke into a million tiny pieces that would
never be made whole again. Not without this male at her side.

“I
love you too.” She whimpered into his chest.

Xavier
pulled her away from him, still holding her upper arms in a firm grip. His
forehead was creased and his eyes glistened. She lowered her gaze, the
intensity of his stare was killing her.

“Look
at me,” he growled.

How
could she not when his voice was so utterly commanding? Every cell in her body
responded to him. She looked up and was captivated.

“I
love you, princess. I need you to know that always.” He swallowed thickly, his Adam’s
apple bobbed.

“I
love you too.” She tried to smile but it was impossible.

Xavier
dropped his gaze to her mouth and she expected him to kiss her with the
intensity that matched the emotion she could see playing in the depths of his eyes,
but instead he gently brushed his lips against hers. “So much.” He whispered
against them before putting his forehead to hers.

She
expelled a shuddery breath.

“I’m
not giving up just yet.” He said as he finally released her.

Esral
shook her head. “You promised.” She swallowed hard trying not to cry. Tears
would do no good.

“Yeah,
well…” Xavier rose to his feet, standing tall. Looking very much like the
vampire prince he was. “I won’t give up on us that easily, princess. The
ceremony hasn’t started yet. In my book…that means it’s not too late.” He gave
her a tight smile, dropped a kiss on the top of her head and left the room.

Lazarus
was still in the same position as when he left. York paced on the deck directly
outside Esral’s door.

“Where
the fuck is Gideon?” Xavier growled, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

“Late,”
York growled as he continued to pace.

“I’m
sure he’ll be here soon,” Lazarus chimed in.

“Call
him.” Xavier gestured to York.

“I
already did.” York held up his phone. “Several times, but he’s not answering.”

“Gideon
always answers.” Xavier couldn’t help but to mutter.

“Even
when he’s balls deep, he always fucking answers.” York said as if reading
Xavier’s mind.

“You
okay to stick with the princess even though your shift is over?” He addressed
Lazarus.

The
male nodded. “You could put me outside this door for five days running and I
would still be perfectly fine.” Lazarus gave a feral grin.

“Good,”
Xavier growled. “You call me if…”

Lazarus
held up a hand. “I will.” The big male bashed a fist to his chest. “You have my
word, my lord. Let me know about Gideon. This isn’t like him.”

Apprehension
seized Xavier. “Yeah.” He glanced back as he spoke, already halfway down the
walkway, York followed closely on his heel.

It
didn’t take long to reach Gideon’s tree house. After knocking several times on
the door, Xavier pushed his way in.

The
big male lay slumped on the bed…alone. He was lying on his stomach, only partially
covered with a sheet and snoring loudly.

At
first he felt relief like nothing he had ever felt before, but that was
followed closely by anger. “What the fuck!” he growled. “Get your big, hairy
ass out of bed.”

York
chuckled, probably because Gideon, like all vampires, had very little body
hair. “Rise and shine, buttercup.” York said as he approached the bed.

Gideon
didn’t so much as stir. His chest continued to rise and fall rhythmically.

Xavier
muttered a choice curse word. He sucked in a deep breath somehow managing to
maintain control of himself…only just. “Gideon…I fucking swear.” He grabbed the
male by the arm and shook him hard. “Wake the fuck up.”

That
did rouse the male, but not in the way he expected. Gideon lifted himself onto
his forearms looking bleary eyed at Xavier for a half a second before emptying
the contents of his stomach onto the bed.

Congealed
blood, partially clotted and strings of slime-like mucous. It dripped down the
front of Gideon’s mouth and chest. “Fuck.” He said, before passing out in the
puddle. His body made a plopping noise as it hit the drenched sheet.

York
turned to face Xavier. His eyes were wide and a deep frown marred his forehead.

Xavier
scrubbed a hand over his jaw feeling a day’s worth of growth catch on his palm.

“Do
you think he caught Katar’s illness?” York’s voice sounded panicked. “Maybe elf
blood doesn’t agree with us. Oh fuck!” He looked Xavier up and down. “You drank
from the princess.”

“I
feel fine,” Xavier growled. “I don’t think we are susceptible to elven
illnesses.”

“What
the fuck is wrong with him then?” York’s voice held an edge of panic.

“Help
me get him up.” Xavier bent over to grip the male by an arm.

York
grimaced.

“Just
help me.” Xavier put his arm around the male. “Let’s get him to the shower and
clean him up. We need to try and wake him. Find out what the fuck happened to
him.”

York
nodded, moving to Gideon’s other side.

“On
three.” Xavier said as they locked arms around Gideon.

York
nodded.

“One,
two, three.” They both lifted. York grit his teeth and they both made strained
noises. Gideon weighed a fucking ton. His feet dragged on the floor as they
pulled him to the bathroom. They propped him up against the shower door while
Xavier turned the faucets on. Once the water was warm enough, they hauled him
into the shower stall.

“Get
him under the spray,” Xavier instructed. He gripped Gideon by the hair with his
free hand and pulled his head back. The spray hit him full on the chest,
washing away most of the blood and gore.

It
worked.

Gideon’s
eyes popped open and he began to scream and fight. “That fucking hurts.”

The
male was weak. Xavier and York managed to hold him under the spray. Gideon
continued to scream, trying to pull free.

Within
a minute, he gave in, his head dropped to the point where his chin rested on
his chest. For a second, Xavier thought that he was unconscious, but then he mumbled.
“What the fuck is wrong with me?”

“You
had better not be happy to see me,” York growled. “I don’t swing both fucking
ways.”

Xavier
followed York’s line of vision. Sure enough, Gideon’s dick was hard. It was
also bright red and didn’t look right.

“Let’s
get him out.” Xavier looked at Gideon. “Can you walk?”

“Yeah,”
he growled.

Both
he and York released Gideon, both grabbing him again as his legs buckled from
underneath him.

“Sick.”
Gideon gave a choking heave. “Going to be sick,” he growled.

“Toilet.”
York yelled and they pulled Gideon to the porcelain amenity, making it just in
time.

Gideon
clutched onto the bowl like his life depended on it. More of the same bloody
mess erupted followed by dry heaves and choking noises. “Mother Fuck,” Gideon
finally whispered. His whole body shook.

“To
the basin.” Xavier instructed and they helped him to the vanity where Gideon
washed out his mouth and cleaned his face. He moved slowly and deliberately.

“I
feel like shit,” Gideon mumbled.

“You
look like fucking shit,” York growled.

Gideon
tried to chuckle but it ended up sounding more like a grunt of pain. “Maybe I shouldn’t
have sampled from the local offerings. My dick is on fucking fire.”

“Can
we take you back to the bed or are you still feeling sick?” Xavier asked.

Gideon
sort of smiled, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. “Still feeling sick but
take me back anyway. I think I might need to lie down.”

Xavier
locked eyes with York who gave a curt nod. All three of them grunted with
effort as Gideon’s feet still mostly dragged on the ground, but they managed to
get him to the bed. They lay him down on the clean side, his chest heaved from
the effort and a sheen of sweat covered his forehead.

Gideon
lay with his eyes scrunched shut, clearly in pain.

“Sheesh,”
York whistled. “What a fucking mess.”

Xavier
knew exactly what he was referring to. The male’s dick was swollen and an angry
red color. One of his balls was in much the same way. There were raised red
welts intermittently on his stomach and chest. On closer inspection, there was
one on his neck as well. Xavier was sure that if they turned the male over
there would be more on his back. His legs and arms seemed clear. The worst area
affected was his dick. Xavier winced just looking at it.

“Humans
carry and give each other STDs.” York stated as he scrutinized Gideon’s cock.
“STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. I think maybe the same is true
for elves and vampires. I really hope it doesn’t shrivel up and fall off.”

“Do
you think so?” Gideon growled looking down at his swollen member. He groaned.
“Fucking hurts like a bitch.” He said as his head flopped back on the mattress.
“I’m going to puke again.” They helped him to lean his large frame over to the
already soiled side of the bed. Gideon, heaved and choked and heaved some more
but nothing came up. After a few minutes, he fell back looking pale and sweaty.

“I’m
going to find an elven healer who will hopefully be able to get to the bottom
of this,” Xavier said.

Gideon’s
face was contorted in pain. “Please hurry,” he choked out. “Save my dick.”

Xavier
shook his head, narrowing his eyes on York. “Stop feeding him bullshit.” He
turned to Gideon who looked at him through thin slits in his lids. “I’m sure
your cock is going to be just fine. There must be a perfectly reasonable
explanation for this.” He glanced at York. “Stay with him.”

York
nodded.

****

True
to her word, Cheri arrived bright and early. Esral had only just finished
showering and dressing.

Aside
from a pale blue robe that brought out Cheri’s eyes and highlighted her ruby
lips, she wore a dazzling smile. Looking like a dew-kissed daisy on a bright
summer’s morning. For the first time in her life, Esral felt like hitting something
or someone. Okay, may as well admit it, her clenched fist ached to make sweet
contact with Cheri’s smiling face.

“You
heard that your father is doing so much better, so why the glum face?”

Esral
held back a sigh. “I am greatly relieved. He is still in danger so please
forgive me for looking a little concerned.”

Her
smile broadened. “I didn’t know you could be sarcastic, I’m actually impressed.
I’m so excited that he’s moved up the ceremony. Although, you can’t be happy
that it’s only going to be a small affair. I would be devastated.” She held her
hand to her chest and gave a fake swoon.

Esral
had to turn her head so that Cheri wouldn’t see how she rolled her eyes. For
the first time, Esral noticed that Cheri had a woolen bag in her hand. “I
brought you something.” She handed it to Esral. Cheri laughed. “You just took that
like I filled the bag with a nest of vipers or something. Go on.” She gestured
to the bag. “You’ll like it.”

Esral
wouldn’t put it past her to give her something terrible and pretend like it was
amazing. She ignored the comment and opened the bag hearing a crinkling noise.
The robe inside was made of the finest silks and lace. It was the color of
ivory darkened by age. Esral felt tears well as she removed the garment, she
crushed the robe to her chest doing her best to keep from crying.

“I
knew you would love it.” Cheri clasped her hands to her cheeks and fluttered
her eyelashes. “I had initially planned on wearing it for my own ceremony but
it’s just so outdated and”—she made a squeaking noise—“old. I’m having
something specially designed for my special occasion. That’s perfect for you
though.” It certainly wasn’t a compliment, but Esral didn’t care.

She
pulled the dress away from her chest and held it up in front of herself. There
were delicate lace flowers and ivy carefully sewn into the silk. It was breathtakingly
beautiful. Esral couldn’t help a small tear that fell as she remembered wearing
the dress as a small girl. The material had pooled around her feet and the
delicate ties were too long but she still felt so pretty in it. Her mother had
found her as she stared in a mirror at herself. Although Esme had pretended to
be upset, Esral could tell that she really wasn’t.

“One
day, Esral.” Her mother said, smiling down at her. “One day you’ll find your
handsome prince and you will be able to wear it.” Her face took on a faraway
look. “You will look so beautiful.”

“How
do you know, mother?” Esral asked, smoothing the fabric down with her chubby
hands.

“It’s
a mother’s job to know these things.” Esme winked at her. “Now, take it off,
young lady, before you ruin it.”

“Yes,
mother.” She did as her mother said and watched as Esme folded the beautiful
robe before placing it back in tissue paper.

Her
mother had worn the robe for her own blossoming ceremony. Esral’s heart felt so
heavy. She felt selfish for wanting things to be different.

“Stop
with the tears.” Cheri shook her head. “This should be a joyous occasion.”

Esral
made a noise of frustration.

“Stop
that this instant.” Cheri actually wagged a finger at her.

“Joyous
occasion? Are you nuts?” Esral couldn’t hold back any longer. This female had
pushed her too far.

Cheri’s
eyes widened.

“My
father is dying in case you hadn’t noticed. It’s not a joyous occasion. It. Is.
Not.”

“Calm
down, princess.” Cheri held her hand up. “Did someone not get lucky last night
or are you feeling a bit nauseous this morning?” The idiot female had the
audacity to look at her midsection.

“Do
me a favor and cut the bullshit. I’ve had just about enough of you. You can
leave now.” Esral gestured to the door and kept her eyes there while she grit
her teeth. If she looked into her smug face for even a second longer she was
going to scream.

Cheri
snorted, she folded her arms. “Who do you think you are talking to?”

Before
Esral could answer, Cheri took a step towards her. “I am the future queen and
you will respect me. You, little Esral, may have been something to the elven
people once upon a time but you chose to sleep your way around the vampire
castle and now you are nothing. Soon to be mated to a nothing and I couldn’t be
happier seeing you so miserable.”