2#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Flower) by Charlene Hartnady Page A

as an office with book lined
shelves. “Shouldn’t you be guarding my sister or something?”
    “I’m
not one of the males assigned to guard duty.” He was starting to feel
irritated. The elven prince had yet to look his way.
    “Well,”
he sighed. “Why are you here then?” Keto finally lifted his eyes. Hard, icy,
he’d even go so far as to say that the male hated him. Zane had not been over
exaggerating in his assessment of the elven prince.
    “I
needed to deliver some of our healers. Though my main purpose for being here is
to try and see if I can find some common ground with you, Keto.”
    The
male gave a humorless chuckle which ended on a snort.
    “We
are both princes. There is no reason why vampires and elves can’t live in
peace.” It irked him to have to bow down to the other male like this. The
vampires greatly outnumbered the elves and were therefore the superior species.
It wouldn’t take much to wipe out the pointy eared motherfuckers. But that
wasn’t something that the kings wanted, and it certainly wasn’t something that
Xavier wanted. A picture of Esral rose up in his mind.
    “You
have slighted the elven people, my own royal tree.” The elf beat his chest with
a tight fist. Then his lips pulled into a feral grin. “As far as I’m concerned,
it’s a personal slight.” His eyes narrowed. His whole body radiated tension.
“My father gave the vampire royal house a great gift. Why did you take her if
you never planned on mating her?” He began pacing the chamber while using animated
gestures. His head jerked from side to side, blond hair flying. “Esral comes
from good stock. From royal blood. Unlike many of your vampire females, she
would be capable of bearing young.” He stopped moving for a second, his face
looking puzzled. “I don’t understand why none of your males seem to want her. Is
she not considered fair to your species? Is it because she has acted without
honor?”
    Xavier
felt his blood heat just listening to the other male. He spoke of his own flesh
and blood like she was livestock. A beast that had not fetched a high enough
price at the market.
    “It
is clear that she is definitely defective. I have it on good authority that
Esral has allowed at least one and possibly even many of your males to dishonor
her, to dishonor our royal oak—” He spat, his face contorted in rage. “My
father should never have sent her to the vampires. You are all a bunch of sex
crazed, bloodsuckers who will rut anything with a flower regardless of
consequence. She should have known better. This is going to fucking kill my
father if he hears of it. He already blames himself for the mere disgrace of
her still being unmated.”
    Xavier
ground his teeth until he tasted blood. The muscles in his neck corded and his
arms bunched. His hands were clenched so tight that they physically hurt. He
was using resolve he never even thought he had to prevent himself from flying
at the male. The only thing that really held him back was the concern he saw in
the male’s eyes at the mention of his father, King Katar.
    Keto
continued to pace. “I have already told her that I will find the male
responsible for breaking her thorn. Go back to your kings, inform them that I
will make this male mate my sister. I will insist on a blossoming ceremony in
front of the entire elven community or the male will die.” He growled. “I will
deliver the death blow myself. I don’t particularly care if this causes a war.
As far as I’m concerned, you and those bastard kings are responsible. You
should have protected my sister better.” Keto was pacing once again. His face
was red, his hair clung to his sweaty brow. As he said his last, he swung back
to face Xavier, the other male’s icy glare was firmly on him.
    Muscles
bunched tight, Xavier’s arms shook from the exertion. Sweat dripped off of his
own brow in an effort to remain calm. He had seen firsthand what the elven folk
thought of the princess. How they mocked