Xander

Xander

A Baby Farm Series Novella

By

Kayresia A. Bass

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Published by

Kayresia A. Bass on Smashwords

Xander

Copyright 2016 by Kayresia A. Bass

All Rights Reserved

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status, and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One - Casteal

Chapter Two - Kristina

Chapter Three - Brie

Chapter Four- Kristina's Plea

Chapter Five - Brie's Realization

Chapter Six - Alec

Chapter Seven - Quint

Chapter Eight - Kristoff

Chapter Nine - Birthday Presents

Chapter Ten - Hard Decisions

Chapter Eleven - Painful Exodus

Epilogue

Other Titles by Kayresia A. Bass

About The Author

Prologue

When I woke from my sleep I heard screams. I looked to my left to find Kristina was not in the bed with me. I threw myself out of bed and immediately went to my daughter's room. She was there safe, and sound asleep. I then began to panic. Where was Kristina?

After a few minutes I realized that it was my mate screaming like she was in pain. As I moved through the hallways frantically looking for her, the screaming continued, and it seemed that I could never get closer to it. I called her name, and she didn't answer. Where was she?

The hallways were dark, and the only one moving was me. At the time I had many servants; day and night walkers alike, but none moved within my chamber. I found that a little odd. Was I the only one who heard her screams? I couldn't have been.

The screams lead me to my chamber door. When I reached the door, the screaming stopped. I immediately opened the door to find my mate lying in a coffin in a beautiful gown that matched her mesmerizing green eyes.

When I actually woke up, I had tears streaming down my face. It was a dream. A very sad memory that I have held onto for well over one hundred years. I sat up on the edge of my bed and wiped the tears from my eyes. I looked over my right shoulder to find her side of the bed was occupied by someone else. Kristina had been gone for what seemed like forever, and I still missed her with everything I had.

My daughter, who I was grooming to take my place one day, is no longer living with me. At this time she is joined, and a mother. Her mate, I had doubts about for many years when they were younger, but he turned out to be a very good man, and I almost regret my actions all those years ago, but not really. Who knows what would have happened had I given into the whims of a wealthy young vampire back then. It may have been a good thing, but right now, I don't see how.

My name is Xander Lestat. I am currently a member of the Clan of Kings. You don't know what that is? I didn't expect you to. Let me explain. The Clan of Kings has only five members. We are the elders of the Coven of Kings. The most formidable coven of vampires in England.

I am currently the second seat of this very coven. What does this mean you ask? This means that if the King dies, I will become king. Do I really want this? Right now it doesn't matter, because I happen to know that my King will be around for a very long time.

But that is not what I want to talk about. Our history has shown that I am nothing more than a glorified bodyguard. I don't believe that is the case. Yes, at one time I was, Captain of the Guard, and I think I did a very good job. But I was more than that. Yes, I was young and focused, but I was a man in pain. I was a lonely man, but I didn't let that hinder my duties. I went on everyday guarding the king, and doing his bidding as I was supposed to, but I still missed my beloved Kristina.

~~~

Chapter One - Casteal

Casteal Gaspar. The very first vampire female I was in love with. However, this didn't happen overnight. I am and have always been very picky about my women. I have a very unusual obsession with red hair. Not to say I do not find other women attractive, but red hair is my weakness.

Casteal had flaming red hair with wide, expressive, unusual grey eyes. She had beautiful full lips that she painted red. Her look was of pure innocence. I liked that.

Her mate, my clan leader at the time, was Garan DuPont. A very handsome vampire like myself. From the beginning he told me that he didn't see me as a threat, but I knew better. Garan was jealous of my strength, speed, good looks, and my ways with women. I'm not sure why, I didn't want anything he had, not even his woman. I respected him as my leader, and I would have never, ever stepped on his toes, until one day…

Xander, I know you desire my Casteal.

I shook my head, and tried to lie. I wasn't very good at it. Garan, that is a falsehood. Who told you such a thing?

Casteal has told me herself that you have been with her. If you are an honest man, you will tell me the truth and not deny it.

I sighed heavily. I do desire Casteal, but only as a concubine. I know that she will never belong to me, because she is committed to you.

Garan paced back and forth in front of me as if he were contemplating something huge. Casteal tells me that she still loves me. She says she still wants to remain my queen, but I will not tolerate her infidelities.

She has been with others? I asked.

Garan shook his head. Casteal has been with me for a very short time. Twenty years. In all of that time, she has never strayed, until you showed up. The only infidelities that she has committed were with you…several times.

My lord, forgive me. I didn't know this was not your way.

What way would that be, Xander?

I was not aware that we did not share women.

Ah. Casteal is mine. Garan stated and began to pace again.

Can I go now, Master Garan? I will not put my hands on Casteal again.

Garan shook his head. I cannot trust that you are telling me the truth, Xander. However, since it is obvious that you want my mate, I will give you the chance to get her.

I was confused. I don't understand.

I love her, and am not willing to give her up. So I think a fight to the death is in order.

I was very surprised by his statement. I was attracted to Casteal, but not enough to die for her. Master, Casteal is your mate. I am not going to fight you for her.

He immediately stopped pacing and looked me directly in my face. Either you do this, or I kill you in your sleep.

I was a man; a warrior. I wasn't afraid of anything, least of all, another man. I had respect for my leader, but since he decided that he wanted to challenge me by threatening me, I had no choice but to accept.

I stood and looked him directly in the eye as a man. You will not dishonor me by thinking me weak, my lord. I accept your challenge. Name your terms.

Garan told me his terms. Our weapon? Our bare hands. He gave me a month to prepare.

If by chance I win, my lord, what will I receive?

You will be the new clan leader. That means everything that I own, including Casteal will belong to you. Do you think you can win, Xander? That is a very huge prize.

I am not sure I can win, my lord, but I will try. You will not kill me while I rest and tell lies about me after I am dead. If you kill me, it will be for all to see.

Garan nodded. Very well, Master Xander. See you in a month.

I prepared by practicing. I practiced with my friends. They were almost as tough as I was, so I did my best not to hurt them too much. When it came down to the deadly blow, we mocked how we would do it on each other. It wasn't uncommon that I came home after a session bleeding from head to toe.

A week before I was to battle the master, my closest friend, Corbin came to me in secret.

Xander, you have got to be sure the moves we worked out are actually going to kill Garan.

I shook my head. I will not kill one of my clan, Corbin.

You have to.

No I don't.

Yes, you do.

I looked at him. Why do you think I have to kill one who has no ill will against me?

Corbin turned away. Because if you can't be sure you can kill Garan, I may lose you. You are like a brother to me, and I don’t want that. You are going to have to sacrifice one of our clan to be sure you can lead the rest of us. It is the only way.

I chuckled a bit and smiled. Fine. Pick the weakest one amongst us. Make sure he does not have a mate or children, and we will kill him.

We will not kill him, you will. Again, I am not going to lose you.

I nodded, and we continued to converse about how I was going to take out our master.

When it was all said and done, I killed my master, and became our clan leader. Most accepted me; there were many who did not. I was not worried about that. What mattered to me most was my prize.

In the big prize was thirty thousand pounds, the largest house amongst us, a few jewels, and the beautiful Casteal.

The money and jewels mattered to me most at first until I realized that Casteal thought of me more like her master, than her mate. I will admit that at first I didn't care. I was very happy about winning.

Casteal kept her distance from me when we were in private. That bothered me. One day I went to her private bed chamber to have a very serious conversation with her. When she belonged to Garan, she gave herself to me freely. Now that she was mine, she stayed away. I didn't understand that.

I knocked on her door. Casteal, it's me, Xander. Can we talk?

I heard nothing from the other side of the door. Moments after I spoke, her door opened, and I went in.

What do you want, Xander? she asked.

I just thought we could talk.

We have nothing to discuss. You killed my Garan.

I shook my head. It wasn't my choice to do this. I would have been perfectly happy with what we had. It was Garan's choice to die. You cannot hold that against me.

You are correct. So what do you want with me?

I got angry. You wanted to be with me as long as you belonged to someone else. I will not allow you to do this to me. I do not want you to be a slave to me, Casteal, but you will force my hand if you do not open up to me. I want to love you. It is my desire to love you even more than Garan did, but you have to give me a chance. Will you do that for me? Give me a chance I mean?

She hesitated. Certainly.

Over the years she began to open up. Eventually she moved into the same bed chamber with me, and things were much better. However, I still felt that she still loved Garan, even just a little bit. I needed to figure out how to get her to love me totally. I needed her devoted