Wanted By the Elven King (The Chosen Series Book 7)

by Charlene Hartnady

  She looked away for a moment. “Funny … I don’t think of it in terms of elf or vampire. I remember you as the beautiful young male with the haunted eyes the color of a winter’s sky. It’s not something I could ever truly forget. Bury it maybe, but never forget. We shared so much that day. You helped me heal and also,” she hesitated, “because you were my first.”

  Keto choked. He hit his chest with his fist trying to regain control. “No—” he frowned. “That’s not right, I could not have been your first. You must be mistaken.”

  Charlotte felt her blood ignite. “Mistaken?” She cocked her chin. “Do you really think I would forget my first time?”

  “But,” he shook his head, “I know that vampires do not have thorns, I didn’t realize—” Keto frowned.

  “Vampire females have no barriers at all. We are unlike all of the other species in this regard. You,” she poked him in the chest with the tip of her finger, “were definitely my first.” She could hear that there was an edge to her voice, daring him to argue.

  His jaw fell open. “I was led to believe that you were the same as humans. All these years I thought …”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Your information was incorrect.” Why was it such a big deal?

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you were lying. All these years I thought … Elves and vampires have not been the best of friends over the years. We’ve hardly mingled. Have very little understanding of one another. You can’t blame me for getting it wrong, it’s just that you seemed so confident that day. So sensual. So ready.”

  Charlotte folded her arms. “So it was me who seduced you that day as well?” She shook her head. “Here I was thinking that we were making progress. Good thing I’m in my own home or you’d make me use the back door again.”

  “Oh shit!” His face morphed into a look of horror. “Did my guards make you use the back exit?” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Shit! It’s standard practice. Not that many females visit with me. I haven’t had a female in the longest … I’m sorry. A female like you should never have to leave through the back door.” He pushed out a breath. “You need to know that you were my first as well. That day … if it seemed a little rushed and a lot fumbly, now you know why.” Keto made a growling noise, looking distressed. “I hope you can forgive me … for everything …” He pushed out a heavy breath. “Mostly for making you feel like you don’t count. Like you’re not special when you are …” His eyes burned with determination.

  She frowned. “I’m glad you told me some of your feelings and that you were honest about being Keraar. I understand now why you kept it from me, but nothing has changed.”

  “Hear me out. That day all those years ago. It meant so much to me. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind …” He swallowed hard. Keto reached for her hand and she let him take it. He thread his fingers through hers. “I tried to convince myself that I had exaggerated everything. I was a teenage boy, I made love for the first time. Surely I had remembered you as being larger than life. Your beauty, your smile, the way your laugh lit up your face …your feistiness.”

  She smiled and he grinned back.

  “The way you felt in my arms and the way you made me feel. For one day I was able to forget everything. There were no airs and graces.” He used her words from the other day and she smiled again. “No titles. It was just you and me. I felt I could be myself with you. Up until then I had been holding everything inside, but I felt as if I could confide in you.”

  She frowned. “You could’ve told me who you were, even back then.”

  “I didn’t want to change things between us. People always treated me differently when they realized I was the prince and heir to the throne.”

  “It wouldn’t have changed things between us.” She shook her head.

  “I know that now, you just kicked me in the shin twice. My being king makes no difference to you.”

  She clasped a hand over her face. “I had to.” Her eyes were wide. Shit! She had kicked him ‒ and damned hard too.

  He looked deep in her eyes. “What do you mean you had to?” Then he narrowed his eyes.

  “Esral made me promise not to initiate a meeting with you tonight. She made me promise I would kick you in the shin if you came knocking on my door. I didn’t think you would, so I agreed. She was so sure you would come.”

  “I think I might need a word with my little sister.”

  “She only made me promise because she cares about you so much. She’s worried you’re going to give it all up to be with me. I think, most of all, she’s worried what your stepping down would do to your father.”

  His eyes clouded with concern. It reminded her that despite all of his admissions, this still wasn’t going to go anywhere. It couldn’t.

  Chapter 19

  “What are you thinking?” Keto asked, giving her hand a squeeze.

  “That all of this means nothing … at least not in the greater scheme of things.”

  “I hope you’re not trying to deny that there is something between us. It’s like we’re connected by invisible strings … I know it sounds stupid.”

  “It doesn’t.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “I think I knew back then that you were the one I really wanted. One day was all we had, we were so damned young and yet I couldn’t get you out of my head. For years and years … it was you.”

  Her heart pounded. Was this really happening? “What about Cheri?”

  “Esral has a big mouth.” His eyes flashed with annoyance. “Cheri was nothing … a mistake. She didn’t even come halfway to competing with you.” He looked down for a moment; when he looked up, he was solemn. “I should never have been with Cheri. It was unfair to the female. I see that now. No one could ever hope to hold a candle to you.” He cupped her chin, ran a thumb along her bottom lip before dropping his hand. “I don’t think anyone ever will.”

  “What are you saying though?” Her voice was breathy. She couldn’t help it. Her heart raced and she couldn’t help that either.

  “I want to give us a chance.”

  “You’re still expected to take an elven female. Nothing has changed.” Shit! There was a quiver to her voice. She hated the hope that unfurled inside her.

  “I was your first, Charlotte. Although you are not an elf female that still makes you eligible to become my mate.”

  “Does it?” She was too afraid to hope.

  “Yes.” His eyes were animated.

  “I’m not an elf though.”

  “I will find a way to make our union work in my kingdom’s favor. I will sell the concept to my council. I will fight for us. All I need to know right now though, is that you want this as much as I do. If you do, I’ll give it my best shot. I’ll speak to my lord father and address the council … I’ll make them accept this union.”

  “Union?” Her mind raced, as did her heart. “I think you might be getting a bit ahead of yourself.” Just like an arrogant royal to assume she returned his feelings. She couldn’t help but smile though, since she obviously wore her feelings on her sleeve.

  Keto’s eyes turned stormy. So intense and so focused on her. He wound his fingers into her hair and leaned in close. “Tell me you don’t want me as much as I want you and I’ll walk away.”

  “I want you,” she whispered. “I just don’t know that it will work.”

  Keto released her and paced to the other side of the room before pacing back. “Charlotte, you need to know my feelings for you. You need to know that I l—”

  “No!” she yelled. “Don’t say it.” Much softer. She shook her head. “We can’t be together.” How could she have forgotten? It was one of the most important things in this whole equation. “You need heirs.” She choked out the words, swallowing hard to try and contain her emotions.

  Keto made her feel whole again. He made her feel like a sensual female. A real female. “I can’t have children.” A tear slid down her cheek. A sneaky little drop. Just one.

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nbsp; Keto frowned, his eyes clouded. His jaw tightened. “Of course you can. I can scent the start of your heat on you right now.”

  “That’s the thing.” More tears. Damn! She rubbed them away, composing herself. “I do produce eggs but I don’t have a growing sac. I’m not sure what elves call it. Humans call it a womb. My womb was removed years ago. All it took was a silver blade and it was gone. I’m sorry. I can’t give you heirs.”

  Keto sighed. An all-out sigh of utter relief. What?! His shoulders relaxed, his whole stance became one of calm. Charlotte felt herself frown. What the hell? “That was not the reaction I expected. You look relieved.”

  Keto smiled. “Elves call the ‒ womb or growing sac,” he paused, “a garden ‒ and you will grow one.” He said it matter-of-factly, even shrugged like it was no biggie.

  She frowned. “No, I’m a vampire and vampires definitely do not grow wombs. We are born with them. I had one. It was removed. End of story.” Hers did not have a happy ending.

  “My seed will cause a garden to grow within you, you will be able to carry our child just fine.”

  This was too much. Charlotte pulled away and walked to the opposite side of the room. She spun around. “We don’t know that for sure.” Don’t get excited! Don’t let yourself have hope. Don’t!

  “I’ve done extensive research on the subject. An elven male’s seed causes a garden to grow within the female. It is the reason why Esral and Xavier are struggling to conceive. He is a vampire and therefore has not been able to stimulate her growth. You do not need this womb of which you speak.”

  Could it be true? Should she dare to hope? No! No, she couldn’t. Stop it! Just stop. She was going to be devastated when this didn’t work out. She hated thinking this way because she normally was a positive, upbeat person. She wanted to believe it. She wished she could.

  “You look even more concerned than before.” He cupped her cheek for a few seconds. “It’s going to work out. We can be together.”

  “I have a narrow pelvis.” She ran her hands down her hips, looking down. “Vampire young are carried for ten months and are very big. You saw Becky at the function last night. She still has at least two months to go before her son is born. I could never …”

  “You said that vampires and shifters are compatible. We are more like the shifters.” He frowned, looking unsure. “At least, I think we are. I’m not sure anymore since most of my information has proven to be incorrect. Our females grow our young for four months. Babies are small at birth. Elven females are slight.”

  Charlotte tried not to smile but couldn’t help it. Elven females were very small. She recalled the delicate females. All tiny, not just in height but also in stature. Four months. Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. “Yes, four months is the same gestation period as the shifters. Stephany birthed twins.” She realized that she was talking more to herself. “Stephany is a vampire female with narrow hips. She mated a wolf shifter. They have healthy twins.” Her voice was soft and she was speaking too quickly but she couldn’t contain herself. “Do you think it might be possible?”

  “I know it will be.” Keto closed the small space between them and slid his arms around her. “Are you willing to try? To fight?”

  She nodded. “One more thing. I’m sure your council will want to keep your line pure. I’m a vampire. Our babies wouldn’t be pure … your council will object.”

  “You are forgetting that I am the king ‒ my blood is strong. My DNA will dominate. My … our young will be predominantly elven.”

  She bit back a laugh. These royals were all the same. “Because your seed is very strong?”

  Keto pulled a face. “Yes, of course. It goes without saying. I’m sure there will be some vampire traits but I see it as a positive, a way to make our species stronger.”

  Charlotte reached up and slid her hands around his neck. “You need to be very sure. The only thing I have to lose is you, so I will happily fight for a chance at being with my scrawny elf. You, though … you have so much to lose.”

  “I will handle all of it.” Keto looked deep in her eyes. “Can I say it yet?”

  Charlotte put two fingers over his mouth. “No, I couldn’t bear to hear those words and then to lose you.”

  “You won’t lose me.” His words were garbled by her fingers that were still in the way. He nipped at her hand, his sharp teeth catching. Desire rushed through her. She pushed it aside.

  “You have to promise me that if your council won’t allow … this … us to be together, that you will move on.”

  His eyes darkened and narrowed. “No, I—”

  “Yes, you are a king. Your people must come first. You have to think about your oak, your father.”

  Keto tightened his jaw. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I can’t lose you.”

  “You might have to sacrifice. We both might have to.”

  Keto nodded. “You are amazing.” He put his forehead to hers. “You would make the best queen. You put my people before your own happiness. I … I can’t fucking wait to tell you how I feel about you.”

  Charlotte brimmed with such happiness, such fear.

  “I’ll show you.” He picked her up and looked around the room. There were three doors.

  “That one.” She pointed to her bedroom.

  Keto strode forward, eating up the ground with big strides. He dropped her on the bed and tore off his shirt. Buttons went flying. His eyes were intense, his gaze locked on her. Charlotte hurriedly removed her tank top and shorts while Keto toed off his shoes and yanked down his pants. His socks were last to land on the pile.

  He gripped her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the bed. Charlotte lifted herself onto her elbows. Keto stared between her legs and then hooked them over his shoulders, leaned forward and tongued her slit.

  Charlotte groaned. Then he zoned in on her clit and her back bowed. She groaned, louder this time. Keto slid two fingers into her. She was so wet, they slipped in easily. He wasted no time finding her g-spot.

  Her eyes felt wide, her skin tight. Much more of this and— He stopped, crawling up her body, pulling her higher onto the bed. He licked and sucked on her nipples, feeling them tighten. Charlotte thrust her chest out, wanting more. She gripped his head. “So good!” she moaned.

  Then he frowned, and picked something up off of the bed. “What the …?” His chest vibrated against her with a chuckle. “Wanted by the Badboy?” He held up her romance novel. There was a bare-chested male on the cover. Keto raised his brows.

  “I was bored.” Charlotte grinned.

  “Not anymore.” He tossed the book and pulled her thighs up his body, his cock there. Right there where she needed him. Keto kissed her, his lashes fused as his eyes closed. She put her hands around his neck.

  They both groaned as he sank into her heat. His features were taut, his eyes unfocused. Keto covered her mouth with his as he began to move. Slowly. With infinite care. He made love to her. The way he held her, the way he looked into her eyes. Slow and deep. Their bodies turned slick. Her release so close but out of her reach.

  “Keto,” she moaned his name, their mouths coming together, their tongues clashing. Charlotte rocked her hips, pulling her legs higher, taking him deeper. She gripped his ass.

  It was Keto’s turn to groan. His eyes were glazed over, his face a mask of pleasure. He was on the verge of letting go. She could see it, could feel it.

  She had that feeling in the pit of her stomach. Hot and heavy. Keto hooked an arm around one of her thighs, opening her up. She cried out. He reached between them and rubbed his thumb over her clit.

  That was all she needed. It was like a bomb detonated inside her. She grit her teeth as her orgasm slammed into her. Keto’s back bowed slightly and he groaned. His jaw was clenched tight. He jerked into her.

  Charlotte closed her mouth over his neck. The tender spot at the base, where his heart beat out a rhythm. Her fangs sank into him. Charlotte sucked hard. His blood was hot and sweet. Divine. T
asting him on her tongue was pure ecstasy.

  Keto roared. His hips pistoned. His cock slid in and out of her fast and hard. There was a loud scraping noise as the bed shifted. He bit into her neck as well and a second rush of pleasure raced through her. She sank her nails into him, tightened her thighs around him as she screamed his name.

  His movements slowed. He kissed her neck, sucked on her earlobe. Charlotte shivered as tingles flowed through her. Her ears seemed more sensitive somehow.

  “It doesn’t get any more compatible than that.”

  “We’re good together in the bedroom. That’s for sure,” she agreed.

  “Not just the bedroom.” He kissed the tip of her nose as he pulled out of her, pulling her into the crook of his arm. They were both still breathing heavily.

  “There is a meeting with the council in a couple of days.”

  Her heart raced. “Okay.”

  “I will address them then.” He was breathing deeply.

  She nodded. “Alright.”

  He held her tighter for a few moments. “It will all work out, you will see.”

  “I hope so.” She lifted so that she could look him in the eyes.

  “Don’t look so worried.” He smoothed the hair from her face.

  “I am though. I can’t help it.”

  “Will you meet me tomorrow?” He cupped her jaw. “And the next day and the next?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Maybe we should wait until we know for sure.” She bit down on her bottom lip. Seeing one another, making love like this would just increase their feelings for one another.

  “It’s too late to try to stop this from happening. That thing of which I may not speak. It has happened already. I, for one, am done lying to myself. I’m spending the night, I want you in my arms and I want to see you tomorrow.”

  “All these demands.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m a king, a royal, I’m wired that way.”

  Charlotte nodded. “Okay, but I can’t go to you, we can’t risk—”

  Keto laughed. “No, we can’t have you leaving through the back door ever again. Next time you are in my bed, you will arrive through the front door and leave the same way. Hell, you will own the tree, just as you own me.”