#6 Chosen by the Vampire Kings: BBW Romance (Part 6: New Moon) by Charlene Hartnady Page B

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 look. “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