She shook her head and her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t say anymore. I couldn’t take it. It is already done, you cannot claim me.” Her lip trembled. “I’m promised to York. The ceremony has been announced.”
“Bullshit!” He sat upright, feeling every muscle inside him tense. “Why did you let me touch you? What was this all about?”
Esral sniffed softly and he felt as if his heart had been stabbed. She put a soft, tentative hand to his chest touching him with the barest tips of her fingers. Her lip trembled as she shrugged her shoulders. “You have my heart but any chance we had of being together is gone. I needed this. I’m sorry.” Her voice shook so badly that she paused, biting down on her lower lip for a few beats. “I know it was selfish of me. Wrong on so many levels but I had to be with you one last time. It was my way of saying goodbye.”
Blood rushed through his veins, he could hear the beat of his heart in his ears. Xavier had to work to keep himself from pulling her to him. He shook his head. “No, Esral. I will speak with Keto. They cannot hold you to this farce of a mating. It was all a mistake. A terrible misunderstanding. I will fix it.”
A tear fell as she shook her head. “It is done.”
“Stop saying that.” This time he couldn’t help but to clasp her slender wrist.
Her tears only fell harder. “I’m sorry.”
“Tell me one thing, Esral.” He growled her name.
Although she hiccupped and sniffed, the tears stopped falling. “Okay.” Her voice was still shaky.
“Do you want me?”
“More than anything.” The sincerity that shone from her blue orbs almost killed him right there on the spot.
“Then you are mine. I won’t let York or anyone else have you.”
She gasped as he pushed her down on the bed.
“I will make you mine. Forget the bullshit rules, your brother, my kings…” He settled in between her thighs feeling her wet heat against him. “Every fucking one of them can go to hell. We are meant to be together. You are mine, princess.” He lined up his dick with her opening. Her wet, heat called him. Everything about her called to him on so many levels that it scared him, but the thought of losing her scared him the most. “Mine…just as I am yours.” He growled, preparing to thrust deep inside her and ending this madness once and for all.
It was then that he realized how she pushed against his chest. Utter panic marred her features. “No please.” She begged. “Stop, Xavier, stop. You have to stop.”
On a snarl, he tore himself away from her. “You said you wanted me more than anything. Why can’t we just be together? Your brother holds no jurisdiction over me. You are considered to be a vampire. We choose to be together. What the fuck?” He let a loud groan escape him. “You know I would never hurt you. Never force you. Fuck!” He snarled again, thinking how close he had come to doing just that.
“I know.” Esral righted her robe. “I know this is hard for you to understand. According to my people, I have been courting with York for some time. Some even believe that I am pregnant with his child.”
“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.