Gifted to the vampire prince

Ciara Pov

"l can't believe you're actually going to give her away for nothing. Adrian is fine with the arrangement. He has accepted his duties like a man! She'd be far better utilized for an actual diplomatic need, not to give my son another piece of ass before he's mated. He doesn't need his mother's gift to get that." King Baylen exclaimed, his hands gesturing emphatically in frustration.

Queen Valentina snapped her gorgeous head around, glaring her husband straight on as she

squared herself to her full height. "Exactly Baylen,he deserves this, he's giving up alot for your treaty. The least we can do is give him a reward for doing it so willingly, she is by far the most beautiful slave I've ever had. What he does with her is up to him. She will belong to him from now on. For now, she is mine to do with as I see fit, and I will give her to him, I don't need your permission to do so." He growled under his breath and ran his hands through his hair angrily. "Well, get it over with already. The ceremony is in a few months and he needs to get it out of his system so he can focus on what's coming. Hell, he can keep her on the side after he mates Vessa for all i care, but he will not be distracted from his duties." King Baylen stepped close, his eyes blazing with disapproval. "A waste," he muttered, his voice low and dismissive, before turning and exiting the room with a sharp click of the door queen Valentina took a calming breath before turning back to face me, her fingers holding firmly beneath my chin to bring my gaze up to meet hers. I felt my body tremble against her touch as my breath came out shortly. I worked hard to slow my heart rate, realizing she'd hear the change instantly. "Don't be afraid, Ciara. This is what you've been trained for your entire life. you are to bring him some comfort before all of this hell starts for him. You are to do whatever he asks of you and please him in more ways than just sexual."

Her mahogany eyes were warm as she gave me a small smile, cupping my face in her hands. She had been the only mother figure I'd known my entire life. They found me at age three, wandering the woods outside of their kingdom. She took pity on me and brought me in to join her personal slaves, having me serve beneath her private servant. As I began to age, she noticed my creamy skin and long wavy Black hair paired with my deep emerald eyes as a gift to be nurtured. She separated me from the rest of the slaves and began to have me serve her individually. She'd had me fitted for a chastity

belt the moment my curves began to come in, knowing the males in the kingdom would try and use me. Most knew better because of my position with the Queen, but they often did not keep their hands to themselves, only to find that they would not be able to be successful with the barrier seated tightly around my hips. She'd treated me with a firm hand but with kindness, nurturing me from the beginning. She did not however blur the line between master and slave. I knew my place. I knew she is in charge of every movement and step I take. I knew nothing else, her authority and guidance

Is all have known. She ensured I was trained not only as her personal servants, but in other aspects. Queen Valentina had me learn the art of seduction and pleasure as well, knowing my purpose would one day be useful in tight

negotiations or to show gratitude to another kingdom or warrior after a major battle. I'd known my fate all along, I'd accepted it. Queen Valentina had me spend the entire day being cleaned and prepared, and a new outfit was made for me. I slipped into the thin skirt of the

white gauzy dress before pulling the halter over my head and around my neck. The neckline

plunged to meet the skirt sitting low on my hips before it wrapped around my back, covering just enough skin. Two slits split the sides, exposing my hips and the silver of my chastity belt. My back felt the delicate gold chain as it draped against my bare skin, sending shivers down my spine each time it touched. The sides

of my hair had been braided into a partial braid meeting in the middle of the back of my neck as the rest of my long black hair hung in cascading waves down my back and arms. My gold metal collar was placed around my neck, the center open to indicate my status. I was ready. " It's time for you to be presented to him." She squeezed my shoulders reassuringly and then turned, leaving the royal suites and walking slowly towards the throne room as I followed closely behind. She was announced and I trembled slightly as I followed her in, my barefoot steps quietly padding against the cold stone floors. My eyes remained dropped to the floor as I moved, focusing to calm my breathing. She stepped up onto the platform and sat in her golden seat beside King Baylen, as if it was any other day in court. I felt a presence standing at my side and my heart fluttered as I realized the prince was standing only inches from me, waiting. I fought every

urge not to look up at him, but I could see in my peripheral that his hands were clenching and

unclenching. Did he not want me? After a moment, Queen Valentina spoke with authority as the King eyed her in annoyance."Zane, in honor of your cooperation with the terms of the peace treaty that King Treston has laid out, you are being gifted with one of my most sacred possession. She has been raised with the sole

purpose of gifting her purity one day, and that time has now come. Today, and from now on, she is yours. She holds her key and is ready to present it to you at whatever time you're ready." "I told you I didn't need this. I understand what's expected of me. You don't have to bribe me." Prince Adrian spoke dismissively. "Zane, this is not a bribe, it's a reward and it's one you'll accept, whether you like it or not she belongs to you now. Do with that what you will." Queen Valentina spoke firmly and absolutely. There was no room for negotiation with her. He hesitated and took a deep breath before saying calmly, "Fine." He bowed shortly and Left quicker than I could follow. Keeping my eyes to the floor, I gave a small bow before turning and slowly walked in the direction of his suite. I knew the way, and would be there waiting until he was ready. It was my duty

Caira pov

I made my way down the long hall leading up to his personal suites, pausing at the large

wooden door in front of me. My life was about to change, and I wasn't sure if it would be for the better or not. Up until this point, the future had seemed so finite. I knew my purpose and that the day would come when I'd be forced to be with a male that I may very well not want to be with. It is my reality and I have accepted it. But now, knowing have been given to Adrian my perception of my future lightened just slightly. I know he doesn't want me, but part of me hopes he will come to change his mind. At least with him, I don't have to leave the only place I'd known as home with a man that Would have treated me horribly. My hand knocked gently on the door and was met with silence. I knocked again harder and heard nothing. I reached for the handle and the door opened, revealing his large room. A huge wooden King bed dominated the space against the center of the largest wall in front of me. I pushed down the anxiety balling tightly in my stomach and stepped inside, closing the door behind me softly. To the right, a study oversized desk sat beside a floor to ceiling window, and to the right was a large balcony, overlooking the castle

gardens and lush forest below. I walked over slowly, my hands coming to rest on the handles of the balcony doors before opening them. A gentle breeze blew the deep navy curtains, swirling them behind me as I breathed in deeply, allowing the fresh air to fill my lungs, I closed my eyes and took several calming breaths. I loved the feeling of the wind rushing over me, such freedom. An underlying chill coursed through the air, fall will be here soon.

I jumped suddenly as I heard him shut the door behind him.

"Im...I'm sorry your highness. I didn't mean to intrude, I'll close the doors."

I turned to close the doors behind me but was interrupted. "You may leave them. The air will do me good right now." His voice was strained as he spoke. I took another breath before turning slowly to see him seated on his bed, his forearms resting against the tops of his strong legs. I walked back into the room and moved over to the desk, eyeing the crystal bottle of dark amber liquid. I glanced over my shoulder

at him, speaking softly with my head bowed submissively. "Would you like a drink your highness?"

He nodded shortly, his eyes remaining forward. I filled a glass and walked over to stand

in front of him, holding it out for him to take, my eyes fluttering to the floor as I waited for his acknowledgement. He hesitated and sat straighter before taking the glass and giving

a grunt of acknowledgement. I raised my head and slowly fluttered my eyes up to meet his own piercing pale blue gaze staring up at me intently.

"You don't have to do that here." His voice was light but firm and I could feel the tension beginning to fade as he took a long sip from his glass.

"I'm sorry?" I answered in confusion.

"I mean, you don't have to keep looking at the floor while addressing me here." He said and I felt my skin flush slightly, unsure of what to do with his request. I'd never looked at any of the other vampires while addressing them for as long as I could remember, I'd always acted within my station, never breaking from it. The Queen made sure of it. He took another long sip and stood, now only inches in front of me before turning to refill his glass. As he walked toward the desk, my eyes couldn't help but take in his strong figure. His gray dress pants pulled tight against his strong legs as they moved against the fabric. The crisp black button down worked hard to contain his muscular back and

shoulders as he poured more liquid into his cup. "Would you like one?" he asked. My eyes widened. I'd never been allowed to have any type of drink before other than water or the festive drinks offered to everyone during seasonal banquets. Never alcohol. We weren't allowed any Indulgences. Without waiting for

my answer, he grabbed a second glass and filled it before walking back to sit on the bed. He kept the second glass next to him and took a sip from his glass."Well, are you just going to stand there or are you going to sit down?"

My chest tightened and I realized it was time to act my part. I'd been prepared for this. I knew

what to do, but something about being that close to him was unnerving. It was as if I'd

forgotten everything I'd been taught. I moved to sit next to him before taking the glass into my hands, I lifted it to my nose and inhaled the liquor before taking a sip. It burned gently as it went down, filling my stomach with a growing warmth as I followed it with another slow sip. I liked it.

"Thank you." I said quietly. He didn't speak for several moments, slowly draining his glass with every sip. My own had become empty and I stood, my hips swaying as I walked over to the desk to refill my glass. I didn't need to overdo it. My body already felt warm all over, but I needed more to silence the butterflies flapping within me. I turned to look back over my shoulder as I poured, speaking sofly, "Would you like another your highness?"

He shook his head and I turned to face him, taking another long sip from my drink, letting the warm liquid fill me. No wonder they didn't let us have this. It was an incredible feeling, I could feel courage beginning to swirl back inside of me.

"As I told you, you don't have to do that in here. You can call me Adrian." "Yes your hi...Adrian," I corrected.

"My name is..."

"I know your name Ciara." He interrupted. "You've been at my mother's side for as long as I can remember."

My breath hitched in my throat

and I took another sip to try and hide my surprised expression as heat rose up my neck. He'd noticed me all along. Most just ignored us if we weren't doing something for them, I'd brought things to this very room more times than I could count, but never directly to him. Always to his servants. I was pulled out of my thoughts as he growled, "I don't know why she did this.I told her I don't need this, but she insisted. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, being used by her."

My jaw dropped slightly but I quickly shut it. I drank down more of the amber liquid and placed the glass on the bench next to him before standing in front of him. His eyes cut up to meet mine and my heart skipped, feeling his intense gaze staring into mine. His chiseled face was calm and his brows were furrowed into a scowl I'd seen many times before. His sharp jaw was rough with stubble and his full lips were pressed into a tight line. I dipped my fingers into the fabric at my hip, fishing out a small metal skeleton key, kneeling in front of him slowly and looking up at him through my lashes. "This key and everything it holds with it now belong to you. Please, take it."

"You can keep it," he said, shaking his head. I gave him a questioning look.

"Your highness, I can't keep my own key.That's not how this works."

"I say how this works, Ciara." He said firmly.

I waited, unsure of what to do and gripped the key tightly in my hand. Nerves began to build

inside of me and I muttered, "Do I not please you? Do you not want me?"

My eyes closed for a moment, grounding myself in the cold feeling of the stone tile beneath my feet as heat coursed through my body from the alcohol. He let out a sigh and leaned back onto the edge of bed, his hands

over his face. "It's not that, you're gorgeous. It's

just..." I moved instinctively, my hands reaching out to touch his strong legs in front of me, grazing slowly up his thighs. His words stopped short, his body tensing under my touch, but he didn't move to push me away. I stood and leaned forward, hovering over him as my legs move to either side of him, straddling his hips, my hands slowly moved to rest against his chest. His own pulse increased and I was thrilled to see him finally responding to me. My hands moved inch by inch down his body before tucking under the hem of his shirt to touch his rippling abs with a feather light touch. He shuddered against me and leaned forward, his arms gripping my thighs securely around him, his piercing blue gaze was swirling darker with desire and I felt heat ignite inside of me. My skin felt like it was on fire beneath his strong hands. I moved my hands to rest on top of his, but my breath caught as his begin

to move on their own, slow and intentional up my thighs. I looked down and a small smile crept across my lips as I saw his manhood pressing against the confines of his pants. His hands stopped to rest at my hips, locking around the metal barrier that's grown to become a part of me. His eyes went cold in an instant and he lifted me off of him as if I was weightless, planting me on the bed before flashing over to the balcony.

"Wh-why did you stop?" I asked, trying to regain normal breathing. He glared hard at the window and I caught his reflection as his voice

rumbled slowly. "I dont want any of this."

"Well your body seems to think otherwise." I said lightly. I took several steps toward him and

paused before placing my hand on his shoulder. It tensed under my palm, but he did not try to remove it. "Adrian, tell me how to please you,

I can be anything you want. Just tell me."

"No"

His jaw was clenched tight and he gritted the words out through his teeth. My heart panged at his change in demeanor. I thought I'd broken

through, but he didn't want me. I had one job, one purpose that I'd been prepared for my entire life, and I was failing miserably at it.

"Im sorry. Do I not satisfy you? Am I not what you want then?" I could feel the ache beginning to Consume me inside.What do I do now? How can I fail at the one thing I'm supposed to

do? He turned to face me, scowling in frustration. "It has nothing to do with you, or what I think of you Ciara. I won't be with a woman who's been forced to be with me."

My eyes widen and I stepped closer to him. "You're not forcing me to be with you."

His eyebrows rose and he let out a tight laugh. "Were you or were you not commanded to be with me?"

I paused and nodded slowly."Yes, I was, but I am perfectly willing. I've known my place my

whole life. I knew what she was preparing me for."

He raked a hand through his hair, anger flashing into his eyes as he stared at me. "Exactly! You came here so young, how could you fight against it? It makes me sick that she thought I'd want this. I'd never want this." The last word dripped in disgust as it left his mouth. I backed away, my eyes locking onto his before turning to face the door in an attempt to conceal my pained expression. "I'm sorry, but I am not permitted to go back to her services. I'm yours now, and you may do with me as you see fit. But I am not allowed to keep this, that was the one condition given." I placed the key down on the bed before making my way out of the room. I could hear him call my name but I couldn't stop. The ache inside of me was

growing and I had to get out of there before I fell apart. He didn't want me. How could he

not want me? What was I going to do now?

Adrian POV

I knew as soon as I'd said it that I'd hurt her. She tried to hide the pain on her face, but she was too slow. I tried to call her back, but she

didn't stop. She left faster than I thought possible for a human to move. I cursed at myself for giving into her touch for even just

that small moment. I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help myself. She was the most gorgeous creature I'd ever seen, and I let myself forget, just for a minute. It wasn't until my hand connected with the cold silver around her hips that I was brought back to the sickening reality, she was here by command, not by choice. She would never have thrown herself at me that way had someone not conditioned her to do so. I'd seen her with other males in the kingdom, She didn't revel in their attention, but instead

shrank away from it. I'd even seen her embrace her position and retaliate, fighting against them and threatening to have them killed if they touched her again. She was feisty and strong when she wasn't being pushed to fit into her role as a slave. She'd come to us so young, only

three years old and was placed in the care of my mother's slaves. Once she began to develop, my mother instantly saw her potential and moved her to train as her personal maid. I remembered when she turned thirteen as her

body began to fill out. She'd been beautiful before, but as she became to grow into a woman, I couldn't help but notice her. She was stunning. For a human, I remembered thinking she was the most beautiful female I have ever seen. And now she was mine, but not because she wanted to be. What's worse is that I couldn't have her, not in the way I wanted. I couldn't be with her knowing she would never have chosen this if she'd been free to choose for herself, I couldn't use her that way. She was worth more than that. I woke groggily from a whiskey filled slumber, my head pounding as I sat up in bed. I picked up the phone next to my bed and texted my servant Anthony to bring up breakfast. I couldn't make it out of the room to eat just yet. After a few moments, a gentle knock sounded on the door. It didn't sound right.

"Come in Anthony." I groaned as I ran my hands across my face, trying to shake away the hangover. The door opened and she walked in holding a tray of food, closing the door shut with her foot as she came over to my bed. Her

eyes remained on the floor as she placed the tray gently on the bench at the end of my bed.

Memories of her toned legs wrapped around me as her curious hands explored my body

instantly popped into my thought and i pushed the memory out of my mind."Is there anything else I can get for you your highness?" she asked quietly, not looking at me. "Why are you here? Anthony handles my personal errands."

She hesitated, her emerald eyes flashing up for only a moment before answering. "He was

instructed that I would now be filling the role of your personal servant." I commanded, "Look at me." Her eyes shot up to stare into mine and my breath caught in my throat. She had the most beautifully intense green eyes I'd ever seen, like a pair of emeralds had been placed inside of her. I tried to shake away the whiskey

haze still racking my brain and softened my tone. "I don't want you doing this. You shouldn't be bringing me breakfast because I'm too hung over to go and get it myself." Her eyes held mine, but I could see she was struggling to maintain her blank expression. "I am happy to, whatever I can do to help." She says softly.

"I need you to tell Anthony to resume his duties." I felt the anger filling my gut at the thought of her having to fetch my every

whim.

" I can do it your highness." She stated plainly, like she was saying the color of the sky. My jaw clenched tightly and I took a breath to calm myself. " You were given to me, yes, but I will not use you in that way. You deserve more than that." A flash of emotion filled her eyes and I hear her pulse suddenly increase as her body tensed in anger. "Why are you upset? You

should be thrilled with that." Her emerald gaze burned into mine and I felt my own anger begin to build, matching hers.

"What am I supposed to do then? Would it be easier for you if I just went back to the Queen

and told her you refused me? You won't let me do what I was sent for, you won't let me work. You've made it very clear what you don't want anything from me. What do you want me to do?" Her words were curt and she was fighting

her voice from rising. She knew she could be punished for speaking to anyone above her

this way. But I was glad she was. I was glad to see a break from her role. " No, don't go to her. She'd just give you to the next person my father deemed important enough to receive you. I can't do that to you." I took a calming breath,trying to quiet the anger at her position, at the life she'd been forced into. "Then what do you want me to do?" She spoke smoothly, control in her tone again as she stood still, staring back at me. " I don't know to be honest.

I haven't figured that out yet. I would free you right now if I didn't think some lunatic would

try and steal you away. I imagine every free male here would like to sink their fangs into you." I ran a hand through my hair as I answered, my voice now free of any tiredness. "I want you to do what you want to do." " when you figure it out, let me know." Her eyes flashed to the floor as she dipped her head. She turned on her heels and quickly left the room.I cursed under my breath as I stood from the bed, sliding into a pair of sweats before sliding my hand back into the bed in search of the phone. I wanted to tell Anthony myself, knowing she would just keep allowing him to send her every time I messaged him. My hand touched something cold under my pillow and I stopped, gripping the hard metal object in my fingers. I pulled my hand out to reveal the key hiding under my pillow securely, I must have grabbed it last night in my drunken stupor.The thoughts of her on her knees in front of me holding out this key made my dick twitch. Her body straddling against mine popped back into the forefront of my mind and it felt as if I'd been jolted with a bolt of electricity. She was wrong. I did want her, more than anything. I'd wanted her for as long as I could remember. But I wouldn't let myself have her, not like this. Not against her will. She hadn't chosen this. She wouldn't have chosen this, and I wasn't going to take that from her. I shot Anthony the text to let him know to resume his normal role before scarfing down the plate full of eggs, bacon and toast. I chased it down with a glass of water before hopping into the shower.Fuck. I don't know how I'm going to get out of this. The water washed over me and I turned it straight to cold, trying to rid myself of the thoughts filling my head. Her incredible eyes, high cheeks and pouty lips staring at me as her hands roamed my body. Her gorgeous toned legs gripping against my sides as she eyed my very hard erection beneath her with a triumphant smirk. Fuck! Even the smell of her pulled me in. Just thinking about her scent had me hard again. Thank God she had that thing around her hips. That's the only thing that snapped me back to reality last night. I'd have to be more careful next time.I don't know if I can keep resisting her, but I have to. I won't take her like this.