The Warrior's Bride

  The Warriors Bride

  Book 1

  By Jen Moore

  Table Of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 1-Ella

  I don’t want to marry him, this man is the bane of my existence, but I know that as a princess, sometimes I must do things I don’t want to. It’s the nature of my position. Marrying Caleb will unite my people and put an end to a war that’s lasted thousands of years. I am the youngest of seven, Caleb could have chosen any of us, but he wanted me. And as I sit here in my chambers, I’m still left wondering why he made this decision.

  I am young, only eighteen years of age, and I’ve barely finished my studies as a royal. I’m nowhere near as plump as my sisters. I’m considered frail amongst them. My long legs, pale skill, virtually no curves anywhere to be found. My long dark brown hair barely holds a curl once you put heat to it, and my dark brown eyes are different from the rest of my family. I’m considered the runt of the litter.

  I’ve also taken on my mother’s bloodline. Though my father is a royal Warlock and king of his coven, my mother his human. After my fifth birthday, it became clear that I wasn’t gifted. I don’t have any powers other than my witty charms. It’s too bad those charms didn’t get me the man I wanted.

  Eli, a bear shifter and one of the most loyal warriors of his clan. He fights for all shifters and witches alike. A treaty spun many years ago; Witches broke the curse for all shifters so they could finally find their true mates in exchange for an agreement. I’ll admit, the breaking of this curse also broke many hearts. For the longest time, Shifters were simply settling to reproduce, they never truly loved their mates because they weren’t fated to them. Once the curse was broken, Shifters eventually could feel the pull to their mates, leaving the ones they’d chosen initially behind.

  Which is why I can’t be too angry with Eli’s rejection. I was a young girl, of course, clearly unfit to be with any man, but there was always something about Eli. I knew he was special. He stood so tall, broad shoulders, his body sculpted with muscles and strength, clearly making him look like a God. I could lose myself in his beautiful emerald eyes for days. There was always this glow in them that made my heart flutter whenever I stared into them. I can’t seem to get over him, even though is rejection was clear. Ten years ago, just moments before his departure, I poured my heart out to him, made a covenant with him that I would never love another. Yet, here I am, agreeing to marry his mortal enemy, a Vampire prince. It feels like the ultimate betrayal, but I have no choice. This war has gone on long enough, and while Prince Caleb had no intention of making a treaty with our people, he took one look into my eyes and that seemed to change everything. He chose me immediately to be his mate.

  I will have to make many changes. I will leave my people behind and become a Vampire Bride. I must let go of this life, even though I’m human, to begin with. I was never truly accepted amongst my people, simply because I was never born with the gift of magic. However, my father seems to think that was the gift all along. My heart was magical enough to end a war that’s lasted many lifetimes. In a way, I’m ready to go, prepared to leave this place forever, the bad memories behind, but I’ll forever miss my mother and father. I’ll miss the enormous library my parents built just for me. I would spend days in the lavish room, reading book after book, my eyes never tiring of the sight of it.

  “I’ll build a castle full of books for you, Ella, more than you could ever imagine,” the whisper of Caleb’s vow echoes in my ear, yet it doesn’t move me. It should, it’s something I’ve coveted all my life. I’ll never tire of books, learning spells that I cannot cast, histories of a people that I feel as though I don’t belong to. And the fairy tales. Oh, my heart flutters at the thought of the beautiful love stories crafted in many of the books I’ve read.

  I’ve hoped for a love like the stories I’ve read, but the reality is that’s not how love works. In fact, it takes decades for a fated mate to finally enjoy their Shifter mates. Vampires take their mates also, but they get to choose. It’s not a choice they take lightly, as the decision is forever unchanging, like a diamond, set in stone. Once the choice has been made, it cannot be undone. I’ve altered Caleb enough to know that he won’t change his decision, no matter how much I beg him. The worst part of all of this is that I don’t know how I did it. One innocent little smile at this powerful Vampire, and it seemed to have broken him on the spot.

  I started to notice once the gifts began to arrive in my chambers. Roses, jewelry, fine art, beautiful garments, and delicious cuisine. For a time, I would decline his gifts, as I didn’t want to give him the impression that I was interested, but Caleb did not relent. My rejection only made him even more persistent.

  Once Caleb began hand-delivering his gifts to me, my mother altered me that he had already been changed. I was devastated. Caleb knows I have no interest in him, but it doesn’t matter. I am the woman he’s chosen. He won’t love or have an interest in another. The only way to be rid of this Vampire now is death.

  “You’ll learn to love him.” My mother tells me. Since Witches and Warlocks suffer the same fate as Vampires, my mother, too was chosen. She understands my situation more than anyone. She’s the prime example of learning to love the man that adopted her.

  For a time, she didn’t love my father and tried to run away many times, but every time, my father would track her down and bring her back home. There was no escaping him.

  The doors to my chambers slowly creep open by my personal guards, and my mother elegantly enters. She’s a beautiful woman, human yet enchanting. She’s fit in perfectly with this community. It was difficult for her at; first, they never truly accepted my mother as one of their own, but once she birthed gifted royals, their tune changed. My mother has more respect than any Witch or Warlock in this coven, including my father. I hold her beautiful dark brown eyes along with most of her features, but I honestly see her as a Goddess. There’s no way I could hold a candle to her. Her beautiful black gown hugs her lovely curves and flows like a train down my marble floors. The scent of fresh country apples fills my nostrils as she approaches me with her elegant walk.

  My mother wants to prepare me for this so that I don’t suffer the same fate. I’m incredibly grateful for her efforts.

  “Mother,” I greet gracefully, bowing before her. My mother lightly lifts her hand once she reaches me, motioning that a royal greeting is not necessary. I rise quickly, and my mother pulls me into a loving hug. Out of the seven of us, my mother seemed to favor me the most.

  And it shows.

  Because of this, there is an open resentment with my sisters. Not only am I outcasted because of my gift, but I’m also hated because of my mother’s love for me. I suppose my mother can see much of herself in me. The innocence, the difference among the people she’s stuck with for the rest of her life. My mother gave up her humanity to join her people. While her life span is now much longer than humans, still, she will never be a true Witch. My mother can cast a small spell here and there, but she doesn’t hold the real power of magic. It is a gift you are born with, but if you practice and take in the craft, you can cast spells, but you’ll never be more powerful than a true Witch or Warlock.

  “Ella, I’ve come to walk you down to breakfast. Caleb is here, waiting for you.” I feign a smile, but my mother knows I’m groaning deep inside. I don’t want to see Caleb. He seems to find a way to be at my side just about every day. The only breaks I get from him are when it’s time for him to feed. And that is once a week.

  ONE. DAY. A. WEEK.

  I’m sure the average human woman would do just about anything for this type of attention, but I can’t help it. Caleb is not the man I made a covenant with, and he knows this. However, it doesn’t stop him from taking what he wants. He truly believes I will get over Eli and learn to love him.

  Maybe Caleb is right, perhaps over time, I will learn to love him. It will never be the same though. My heart simply belongs to another, it doesn’t matter that he’s rejected me.

  “There’s much to celebrate, Ella. The war has ended. Our warriors are returning to us.” My mother frowns at the glimmer of hope that hits my eyes. She knows that I’m hoping Eli will at least look at me. She takes my face in her hands, staring at me intently.

  “Let him go, Ella,” she demands with a huff of annoyance. I let out a sigh of despair and pull away from her. I cannot help how I feel about this Shifter.

  “He rejected you, Ella. You know what that means.” The reality and the truth hit a nerve, filling me with anger. I scowl and huff at my mother, but I do not say the words. I would never disrespect her.

  “I know, mother.” I grit my teeth as I say this. My mother’s eyes soften, and she pulls me back into her embrace. I know she’s trying to comfort me, but I don’t want it.

  I must be a masochist because I want to feel the rejection from Eli again, to get confirmation that he doesn’t want me. I cannot accept this rejection. I don’t know why. It burns in my heart that he never truly meant to reject me.

  “Come, let me take you down to breakfast. We have a big celebration to plan, and Caleb has a surprise for you.” I feign another smile and nod, allowing her to pull me out of my chambers.

  I’m fighting a war internally. I know I need to let Eli go, and my intention is to do just that.

  I just need him to reject me once more.
br />   Chapter 2-Eli

  The victory is ours. We’ve successfully won the battle that’s lasted thousands of years. A silent battle fought under the eyes of humans, our ultimate enemies. The Dragon keepers, enemies of all Witches and Warlocks, holding an unbreakable grudge against them, all for the same reasons my people hated them for. Admittedly, this battle could have easily ended if Witches would have simply broken the curse, they cast upon them, but their stubbornness only leads them to forge a treaty with my people to save their bloodline.

  Witches and Warlocks cannot be trusted. They are a venomous people, casting curses on creatures that hate them. The only creatures they cannot bend to their knees are the Vampires. Vampires have the ability to make any creature bend to their will, even if they are cursed. It isn’t wise to cast a spell on a Vampire; a Witch will pay the price either way.

  Witches and Warlocks are the most hated amongst all the paranormal. Their scheming ways and ability to cast curses that last out many generations made them a force not to be reckoned with. After all, my people tried and failed, ultimately paying the price as their warriors. Our treaty to fight amongst them only made us targets to the Dragon keepers, new enemies that we didn’t ask for. This battle was not something I wanted, but I coveted finding my fated. I’d waited for her, saved my Chasity, just for her. She would be the only woman I’ve even touched, and this would be my scared gift to her. I didn’t care if she were already moved, she belongs to me regardless.

  Once the Dragon keepers realized they were on the verge of extinction, they forged a treaty, but oddly enough, it wasn’t with the Witches and Warlocks. The settlement was formed with me, the leader of the Shifter clans, to keep the peace amongst all creatures. Cursed by the Witches and Warlocks to be paired with their Dragons, every dragon that we murdered, killed a Dragon keeper. During the treaty, the Dragon keepers begged the Witches and Warlocks to free them from their spell, but they declined, leaving them to suffer their curse until it finally fades off. That could take another hundred generations, or when the Dragon keepers simply die off.

  The vile creatures refused to release them, so I forged a clause in the treaty that Witches and Warlocks could not harm them further. It was a clause of the covenant they refused to sign for a time, and they even threatened to curse my people once again, but they quickly realized it’s better to have one enemy than many. They signed, agreeing not to harm the creatures in their royal blood, including the select clause that they must answer to me in regard to the Dragon Keepers, essentially making me their new leader.

  I, of course, would be a silent leader, leaving them to live their lives peacefully and re-populate. The creatures of the paranormal usually keep to their own devices. We don’t mingle with each other, nor do we congregate. However, today this has changed. Never before has two species of the paranormal joined as one, and now I’m considered a God.

  The Witches hate the leverage I now have over them, and I know with their scheming, they are looking for a way to free themselves from that leverage. The Witches had Shifters as leverage for a time, but that time has come to a pass. They are scrambling now to not be overrun, after all, they finally stand a chance to be defeated.

  Witches and Warlocks could have easily been defeated long ago if we learned to unite as one to defeat these vile creatures, but it seemed as though fate would never allow it. The paranormal has always been segregated until now.

  The Witch coven wants to throw a celebration in honor of their victory, but I know they have something else up their sleeve. I hold a power higher than them now, and they hate this. I know they are going to find a way to make me pay for accepted rulership over the Dragon Keepers.

  Still, I prepare for my newfound leadership role. I rule over two creatures, and I must show strength amongst my people. Once a simple farmer, making my home for my future bride, I’m not a God with a throne, primarily built in my name. I must accept this new gift and role, no matter how much I loathe the honor.

  The only excitement I get from this new role is meeting my new mate. As a special gift for accepting the treaty as leader of the Dragon Keepers, they bestowed me with their powers of the future, giving me a premonition of my future bride. She is a princess, and unfortunately, a royal Witch. One of the seven daughters, this much I know, but I cannot see her face. I’ll simply know by the touch of her hand. This news, knowing that I’ll finally be able to enjoy my fated, also brings me turmoil. It seems fate has found a way to bring all of us together. This union will forever unite me with the Witches and Warlocks, all when my hope was to celebrate and be done with them.

  Though, I could be done with them. Their daughter would leave her family and join with me, only a bond would be formed with the Witches and Warlocks, making them my extended family. As the head of the household, I could simply choose to deal with them only with distance, a choice intends to follow through. My only hope is that my fated mate will allow this distance. After all, she could be attached to her parents, and breaking her from them could ultimately break her in turn, something I don’t want to do. I want to enjoy my mate, love, and enjoy every moment with her, no matter what I have to do. Bowing down to the Witches and Warlocks is nowhere in the plans of my future, but loving a Witch is, therefore, the people I dread are ultimately my future. Fate has a sick way of uniting us.

  The moment my ship docks, my heart skips a beat at the anticipation of finally meeting my fated. I’ve met these beautiful young women before, but I’m sure the Witches had something to do with preventing me from discovering that one of them was my fated. I don’t blame them for holding onto their daughter for as long as they could, after all, I plan to take her from them forever.

  “My Lord, we’ve officially docked. There’s a car waiting for you outside,” Darrius alters me. A Dragon keeper and father to five Dragons, has agreed to serve me as my right hand until the end of his days. With this covenant, he’s giving me power over his children to command them as I please.

  I never do, and this seems to annoy the Dragons. They were built to serve, made to be commanded, and yet I keep them caged. I simply don’t know what to do with them. Darrius assures me they will play a role, after all, he can see things beyond our time. A gift given with the curse, all Dragon keepers are given the gift of premonition, but it’s limited. They can only see so far into the future, and the future is very limited in vision. You can only see so much, and piece together the path on your own. This keeps you from altering the future.

  I trust Darius and the Dragons with my life; after all, they have made a blood vow to serve me as gratitude for saving their people. They shouldn’t have, I played a part in their near extinction, but for the strangest reason, Darrius does not hold it against me. He doesn’t show an ounce of resentment. He only sees me as his savior, a God. I nod to Darrius and follow him out of my chambers. After all, I’m ecstatic to be free of this ship. I’ve been on this ship for a week, sailing away from the battlefield after the treaty and burial services of those that were lost in battle.

  My soldiers are eager to celebrate their victory and prepare to enjoy their futures with their mates. We are forever free of this curse, and the Coven has agreed not to curse us again according to the treaty, so long as we don’t break it.

  At the request of my soldiers, I release the Dragons, allowing them to fly over, following us as we are escorted back to the Coven’s kingdom. I can sense the uneasiness of the soldiers that accompany us, which in turn gives Darrius much joy. If he weren’t serving me, he would have nothing to do with the Coven. If I weren’t connected in some way, neither would it. During the drive through the wall of the kingdom, there is no celebration for us. Only silence, a ghost town. None of the commoners have come out to thank me for my service. Could it be the Dragons flying over the kingdom?

  Maybe.

  While my soldiers were escorted back to our lands, I, Darrius, and the Dragons make our way to the royal palace of the Coven. My heart flutters at the thought that I get to choose one of the seven as my bride. I know they’ll try, but they cannot deny me this. I have the legal right to check each of the seven daughters until I find my bride.