The Vampire King’s Husband

By Amber Kell

Previously Released

Vasska has waited his entire life to find his mate. In the end he puts all his hope into his goddess to find him someone to love, little does he know she’s listening?

Shay was at the end of his rope. His uncles had taken over and were trying to get control of Shay’s fortune. His parents were dead, his assets were tied up and no one wanted to hire a guy in his twenties to be an apprentice.

When a grey man hands Shay a note, he discovers it takes a goddess’s intervention to get his life back on track.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amber Kell
• Release date: Sep 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310784125

Amber Kell

Amber Kell is a dreamer who has been writing stories in her head for as long as she could remember.She lives in Seattle with her husband, two sons, three cats and one very stupid dog. To learn more about her current books or works in progress, check out her blog at http://amberkell.wordpress.com.Her fans can also reach her at [e-mail].

Book preview

Vampire King’s Husband

Copyright 2014 by Amber Kell

First Edition: 2009

Smashwords Edition

Cover design: Meredith Russell

Editors: Jason Bradley, Erika Orrick

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer, for free or for a fee. Such action is illegal and in violation of US Copyright law.

Dedication

For my fans that missed this story and insisted I publish it again.

Prologue

King Vasska knelt before the stone altar, his long hair fanning across the ground as he worshipped before the statue of his goddess, Amethia. He bowed down until his forehead touched the rough, icy floor. The smell of damp stone and earth filled his nose while the contact with the hard rock left a burning trail across his skin.

Brushing the pain from his mind, he closed his eyes to absorb the world around him, silently seeking divine acknowledgement, pleading with his goddess to no longer ignore his need. This was his last chance, and nothing would deter him from his request.

Vasska’s throat swelled as he fought back tears. Despair choked him. He knew he’d reached the end of his journey. If he didn’t find a mate this season, he would never marry. He knew that fact as well he knew the stars in the sky and the cycle of the moons. Maybe he had angered the goddess with his preference for males. Whatever the reason, loneliness stabbed him deeper than a knife held by his greatest enemy. After a millennium of searching, he couldn’t stand the wall of isolation anymore. Something had to break, and Vasska worried it would end up being him.

Please, goddess, find me a mate. His raspy voice echoed off the cave walls as he pleaded with the deity. Male or female, handsome or ugly, I care not. Just bring me a lover with a kind heart and a strong spirit. Someone I can spend my days and nights with. I beg of you. By the blood of my forefathers, please bring me my other half.

Vasska pulled himself off the ground and walked the short distance to the stone mantel before kneeling again. He unsheathed a sharp blade from his belt and sliced his wrist from one side to the other. He hissed softly, but made no other sound as he dangled his arm over the altar and dripped his blood over the letting stone. Only a blood sacrifice would catch the goddess’s attention. The rumor was that blood grounded her and pulled her attention from the stars. In order to win her focus, he’d bleed out his entire body if necessary.

I plead with you, Goddess Amethia, protector of the innocent, guardian of the sun and stars, matchmaker of the rich and poor. If you have any fondness for me, please bring me my other half.

Bowing his head, he let his tears fall, mixing with his blood. If this didn’t work, he was out of ideas. Everyone else in his family had found their mate long ago.

He was the only one remaining who walked alone, a fact his family pointed out time after time, hoping to use his single status against him. All proper kings needed a consort, but Vasska had refused to settle for less than his fated mate.

Rumors were beginning to spread that the goddess had forsaken Vasska, whispers no doubt started by his brother Derl, next in line for the throne. Bleeding and heartsick, the strongest vampire king ever born cradled his face in his hands and cried blood red tears.

Chapter One

How old are you? the blacksmith asked.

Shay Karr sighed, knowing how this conversation would end. Twenty-one, sir.

My apprentices are half your age, the blacksmith scoffed. Besides, you don’t look like you could lift a hammer, much less use one.

The brawny man lifted one massive arm and flexed, showing off his impressive muscles. Both of Shay’s arms together were probably smaller than his one.

Thank you anyway. Shay nodded and turned away quickly. The blacksmith didn’t need to witness the tears pooling in his eyes. The blacksmith, the jeweler, the banker, and just about every other possible place of employment in town had turned him away.

Face it, Shay, you’re useless, he muttered, kicking a stone down the street. He’d been raised to be a diplomat, not a tradesman. Now his previous status worked against him. A dockworker probably had more funds than Shay. Right then, he didn’t have enough coins to feed himself, much less buy plainer clothing. His rich fabrics fit right in at the mansion, but here on the street, craftsmen probably took his need as a joke. Dispirited, Shay walked away from the latest in a series of disappointments.

Since his parents’ death two weeks ago, Shay’s life had taken a downward spiral. Kept from his fortune until he turned twenty-five, Shay was at the mercy of his unscrupulous uncles. One wanted Shay to marry his stepdaughter, and the other tried to pin Shay in dark corners and grope him with greedy fingers. Since Shay preferred men closer to his own age and not related to him, he needed to find a way to make money and get the hell out of his family home.

His uncles had moved themselves in at the death of Shay’s parents, and he saw no way to get them back out. With guardianship papers clutched in his uncles’ greedy fists, Shay had no recourse to fight back. According to the law, Shay and his fortune belonged to them until he came of age. Most of it was legally out of their

Reviews for The Vampire King’s Husband

[Carolyn Jones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet love story. I wasn't disappointed in spite of the predictable HEA ending.

[Tatys2673 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

love it