The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Rest.” Brant touched his lips to hers one last time before kissing her nose. He stood and moved to the door.

  “Don’t worry.” Zane moved back up. He kissed her neck and his nostrils flared when he lifted. “Oh female, I can’t wait…” He kissed her quick and deep before touching his forehead to hers. “Tell me…us again.”

  “Tell you what?” she felt her brow crease.

  “That you love us.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t change things. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Have we still not convinced you?”

  “No, and my loving both of you doesn’t change things. It is in your nature to be dominant.”

  Zane’s eyes clouded.

  “I’m sorry,” Brant said.

  “We’re sorry, Ysnaar,” Zane let out a deep breath. “We will find a way.”

  “We’ll talk more later. Get some rest,” Brant said as he opened the door.

  Once the door closed behind them, she reached for her phone and dialed Stephany.

  “Are you okay?” Her friend’s familiar voice sounded over the device.

  “Is that any way to answer a phone?”

  A sigh. “Sorry, it’s just that I couldn’t help but to notice that both Zane and Brant were in your room. I didn’t hear any fighting or…other loud noises. I was just worried…you know…just worried. How is the baby?”

  “We’re fine. Zane and Brant are getting along. It’s weird.”

  “Enjoy it. Don’t complain.” Stephany sounded incredulous.

  “It won’t last. I can’t risk it.” She heard Stephany take a deep breath, preparing to argue no doubt. “That’s not why I’m calling. I need you to do something for me,” Tanya said.

  “Anything. Name it.”

  Katar entered the boardroom first followed by Keto. The elven king smiled broadly making a greeting in his own language.

  As a sign of respect, Brant and Zane returned the greeting using elven tongue. Xavier stepped in beside them and did the same.

  Keto remained silent. His eyes were hard, his jaw tense. What was the male’s problem? Zane had mentioned that the king had aged greatly, yet Brant was still shocked by his lined face and greying hair.

  A look of confusion crossed Katar’s face for a brief moment. “Where is your mate? I had hoped that my daughter would be here to greet me. I take it that all is well with Esral?” The old man smiled.

  “Esral is well,” Zane answered. “Your daughter is slowly becoming accustomed to the ways of our people.”

  “Have you found her to be a good mate? She is in many ways much like her mother and will serve you well.”

  Zane cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.

  Brant stepped forward. “Let’s be seated. Can I offer you some refreshments?” He gestured to the table which was laden with fruits and pastries. After talking with Esral, Stephany had advised him that elves had a sweet tooth. “Would you like a glass of juice? Wine perhaps?” He motioned to a pitcher of deep red liquid.

  “I shouldn’t, but why not? It is a celebration after all. The union of our species.” Katar looked thoughtful for a second before smiling.

  This was going to be more difficult than they’d thought.

  Brant poured a glass and reached for a second. “Keto?”

  The elven prince narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “I am fine”—he ground his teeth—“Thank you.” He said the words like they were a curse.

  Katar took a long drink from his glass.

  “This is Prince Xavier, my brother,” Brant stated.

  Katar inclined his head while maintaining eye contact with Xavier.

  Brant tried not to shift in his seat. “I am glad that you called this meeting today—”

  “Meeting?” Katar shook his head. “Think of it more as a family get together.”

  It was time to suck it up. The longer they dragged this out, the worse it would be in the end. “Zane did not mate your daughter.” Brant had to work hard to keep himself from cringing. He definitely could’ve worded that better.

  Katar’s brow knitted. “That means that my daughter has mated with you, Brant son of Taine. It was my understanding that you had taken a mate already.”

  “Your information was correct. I have not mated your daughter either.”

  Katar exploded in a spray of wine scented spittle. “What is the meaning of this? I put my beloved daughter’s life and reputation in your hands and you disrespect me like this?” He took a deep breath. “When do you plan on mating her?” he turned to address Zane.

  “I too am already promised to another, and tomorrow we fulfil the mating come the new moon.”

  Keto bashed the table with a closed fist, his blond hair flew about his face. “The honor of my sister is at stake. Filthy—”

  “Silence!” Katar shouted, his face was bright red. His nostrils flared and his knuckles had turned white on the glass. Brant was worried that it would shatter under the pressure. If the old man cut his hand open on the shards it would flame his anger. Katar didn’t seem to realize that he was still holding it.

  “By slighting my Esral, you have slighted me. My people.” He swallowed hard. “My daughter”—his eyes grew glassy. Katar shook his head, his lips a thin white line—“my beloved Esral will be seen as defective, forced to live a life of solitude. My beautiful, innocent, sun filled child. So full of potential.” His shoulders had sagged while he spoke, his eyes drifted to the table.

  “We have welcomed her to live among us as one of our own,” Brant said hoping that Katar would be appeased.

  “What?” Keto snorted. “So that her innocence can be taken by any commoner? Rutted in some back alley like a piece of trash?” His eyes were blazing, his face set in a deep scowl. With a loud scrape, Keto pushed his chair back but did not make to stand. “Fucking unacceptable.” Although he glanced Brant’s way, he noticed that most of the prince’s animosity was directed at Zane. It wasn’t the time to think on it.

  Katar grunted. “The agreement was that my daughter would mate vampire royalty, anything less would be taken as an insult.” His eyes grew hard as he squared his shoulders. “I had not wished to bring war to my people, but you will force my hand.”

  How should he proceed? Should he inform the king of his daughter’s wishes to date and to choose her own mate? The elven king would have little understanding for her desires. Glancing at his brother, he noticed how grim and ashen his expression had become, like he was about to be put to death. Xavier briefly inclined his head in acceptance, his respect grew for his brother. Brant ran a hand through his hair. He suppressed the urge to sigh. “Xavier is royalty, he will mate your daughter but it will happen in due course. It would be preferable if they could have some time to—”

  “No,” low and evenly delivered. The elven king’s eyes narrowed. “Tomorrow is the new moon, the prince will mate her or I will declare war on the vampire species.”

  “That would not be wise Katar, many would die,” Zane stated.

  Katar locked his jaw.

  “Your species would be hardest hit,” Brant added. “It is not our wish to slaughter the elven kind, do not force our hand.”

  “It is you that forces my hand.” He turned to Xavier and locked eyes with him. “Mate my daughter.” His voice had a hard commanding edge. For a moment he looked like the man Brant remembered, then his shoulders sagged again and he seemed to age before Brant’s eyes. “You have wronged me, both of you.” He shook his head.

  “We will make this right, Katar, you have my word,” Brant said. They could not enter into another bloody war. He did not wish to decimate a species. His female must be rubbing off on him because he wanted what was best for the elven princess as well. She may not realize it, but having Xavier as a mate would be for the best in the long run. Brant knew that his brother would do right by Esral, even if it killed him.

  Xavier reached for a jug of wine, he filled the glass in front of him and downed the contents. The buzz
from the alcohol would be over in a few minutes, hardly worth the effort. Yet, if he was in his brother’s shoes, he would probably do the same.

  Chapter 33

  Tanya had just finished running a brush through her hair when a knock sounded. She was still dressed in her flannels, only she’d taken the time to put on a bra. It wouldn’t be right to address the elven king without underwear.

  “Come in.”

  Stephany entered followed by the king. Behind him, trailed a large robe toting, pointy shoes wearing guard. It reminded her of the night the elves had breached the castle in order to kidnap her so that the alpha could mate her. She mostly remembered how she had been forced to kill two of them in order to survive. She shivered, feeling that this may not have been such a good idea after all. Tanya took a deep breath. The fact of the matter was, she’d promised to help Esral and she would damn well do everything in her power to do just that. Tanya swallowed down her fear.

  “Ah, you must be Tanya,” he locked eyes with her and smiled warmly. “This delightful young lady mentioned that you were unwell.” He looked concerned.

  “I’m on the mend. Thank you for agreeing to see me. Please”—she gestured to a seat next to the bed—“take a seat.”

  The king smiled and did as she asked. “Stephany told me that you are to be mated to one of the kings, but won’t divulge which one. It’s all very cryptic.”

  “Both.” Not that she was going to mate either male. They weren’t even together but she wasn’t about to go down that long winding road with the old king. It wasn’t why she’d called him here.

  He raised his eyebrows for a second before chuckling. “Excuse my reaction, elves are a little more…conservative. You must be some female to have tamed the likes of those two.”

  Tanya smiled, but chose not to respond since she would also have to set him straight on that count.

  “Stephany said that you were concerned for Esral.” His face turned stormy. “I share your concern.”

  “I understand that a decision was made that Esral is to mate with Xavier come the new moon.”

  Katar shrugged. “I had hoped that she would become queen. In many ways she reminds me of my late wife. So soft and timid. Fair to behold, yet strong and resourceful. Clever like Esme. I will come to terms with the new arrangement. Princess Esral”—he shrugged his shoulders—“she is a princess already, I had hoped for more.”

  “I can see that you love your daughter.”

  His whole demeanor softened. “She is my little girl and in many ways all I have left of my Esme. I want the best for her.”

  “Do you want your daughter to be happy?” Best she proceed carefully.

  His eyes narrowed in thought, “Why would you ask me such a question? It is clear that I do.”

  “With all due respect, King Katar, wanting the best for your daughter and her being happy will not necessarily go hand in hand.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I am her father, I know what is best for Esral, she will be happy in the long run.”

  Tanya paused for a few seconds, using the time to gather her thoughts. She had one shot to convince the king. “Being forced to mate with someone she doesn’t even know will not make her happy. I have talked at length with Esral, she does not want this union.”

  Katar clenched his teeth. “Is there something I should know about this Xavier?”

  “Xavier is a good male.”

  “Well then?” he seemed to relax somewhat.

  “Esral would like to date, she wants to choose her own male.” She shrugged. “Who knows, she might end up choosing Xavier in the end. It needs to be her decision though.”

  He scowled. “Unacceptable. It is the way of our people. No highborn gets to choose. Esme and I found happiness, she will do the same.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Katar nodded his head, his eyes solemn.

  “Are all the highborn matings at your court successful?”

  Katar squared his shoulders, he raised his hand. His whole demeanor shouted yes, then, he sank back into the chair, a bewildered expression on his face. “Not all, but Esral will find success. Xavier will have to love her, how could he not?”

  “Let’s say for argument’s sake that he does grow to love Esral, what if she doesn’t feel the same for him? They would be miserable.”

  The king worked his jaw for a few seconds, his eyes took on a faraway lo

  ok. “You said he was a good male.”

  “He is a good male, but love is a strange thing. We don’t always love the right person or the good person. Heck, sometimes, even against our best judgement, we even end up falling in love with two people.” She blew out a puff of air. “We don’t have an on and off switch inside of us, as much as we may want one sometimes…the point is, just because he is good doesn’t mean Esral will love him. Just because your daughter holds all of those amazing attributes doesn’t mean Xavier will love her.”

  He shook his head. “My daughter is not defective. She must mate with this Xavier come the new moon. There is no other way.”

  “You are right, your daughter is not defective. Even if she were to stay unmated for the time being, it would not make her defective. Please allow her to choose her own mate.”

  His eyes widened in horror. “To mate with a commoner?”

  “If that is who she ends up loving, then yes a commoner. You said it yourself, she is a princess and would remain a princess regardless of who she decides on.”

  “What if she ends up rutting with a male before she is even mated? What if she takes several to her bed?” He looked like he might have a heart attack, Katar’s breath came out in pants and his face turned red.

  “Do you really believe that of your daughter? Esral does not strike me as a female that would fall into bed with male after male. She has more sense than that.”

  “You make a good point, but it doesn’t change the fact that my daughter will be seen as defective.”

  Tanya took a deep breath, feeling a little frustrated. “Do you believe that your daughter is defective?”

  Katar’s fists clenched and his face grew red. “Certainly not and it is for that reason that I insist that she mate with the prince.”

  “Let’s say for argument’s sake that the mating doesn’t happen…” His face reddened up a whole lot more and she became a bit worried that he might die from that heart attack at any second. Was that even possible with older non humans? Tanya hoped not. “Would your daughter be defective?”

  His jaw worked and he looked at a point somewhere behind her on the headboard not saying anything for the longest time. If there was one thing that she’d learned in a home where arguments and disagreements were a regular occurrence, it was how to get the upper hand in moments like this. Silence could be used as a tool to draw an answer from an opponent. Especially when the answer wasn’t something they wanted to admit.

  “Yes.” His eyes shone and he blinked several times before catching her gaze.

  Not what she’d hoped to hear. “Will you believe that your daughter is defective if she isn’t mated come the new moon?”

  He shook his head slowly, looking utterly defeated. “Yes,” he whispered.

  “It’s just you and I between these four walls, Katar. I’m not asking if your daughter will be perceived as defective by the elven people, I’m asking if you will truly feel that your beautiful, intelligent, resourceful daughter will suddenly wake up defective if she herself chooses not to mate with someone she doesn’t love?”

  His shoulders sagged. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”

  “You are the king. You make the rules. Moreover, you are Esral’s father. Your opinion matters the most. Don’t force this on her, please.”

  He remained silent.

  “Go and talk with her. She told me that you have dragged your feet in choosing a mate for her because you knew she disliked all the highborn elven males. The path you chose for her, offered the best success rate for her happiness even though it
was the most unorthodox.” The old male’s face was set in thought.

  Her hopes plummeted as he shook his head. “This would change everything. If Esral is not made to stick to her arranged mating. If I ensure that she is not labelled as defective, what of all the other highborn females? All the other arranged matings? This would change everything.”

  “Would that be so bad, King Katar? Why can’t they also be allowed to choose? To have a real shot at happiness?” Tanya reached out to the old king, placing a hand on his. “Change can be a good thing.”

  “We can’t have the commoners and the highborn mixing. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Why not? From the sounds of things, they mix plenty behind closed doors anyway.”

  The old man chuckled. “You are right on that count.” He sighed. “I will think on it. I wish it were less complicated. What you are asking would change age old traditions.”

  “Will you talk with Esral?”

  Katar nodded and smiled. “I will talk with her, but I can’t promise any more than that. I can’t just do whatever I would like. I need to keep my people in mind with each and every decision.”

  It would’ve been nice to hear him agree to everything she had said, but at the same time this type of major decision would affect a whole species. Katar would not be doing his duty as king if he didn’t put his own emotions aside and think about the repercussions it would have on his people. Tanya respected that.

  “Thank you for agreeing to see me and for hearing me out.”

  “No…thank you for caring for my daughter. This took courage.” He patted her hand.

  Zane had not slept well. If he and Brant didn’t manage to convince Tanya that they could make this work, she would leave them. He sighed. This was not the time for such thoughts. Zane watched as the elven king made his way over to them.

  The crisp morning air caused the old elf’s grey hair to blow about his face. Katar removed a leather tie from a silk sack at his back and used it to secure the strand at the nape of his neck. “When is the next new moon?”