by Franca Storm
“What?”
“We’ll just have to find someone else.”
“Who?” Michael snapped. “Cora knows plenty of white witches but we need dark energy to break this. It was created by white magic. Dark magic is needed to counteract it and destroy it. There is no one else powerful enough.”
“That’s not entirely true,” a voice boomed through the still night.
A rush of ice-cold air swirled around the three of them. And then Nathanial and Haraz stood before them.
Everyone was silent for a few awkward moments.
Nathanial was the one who finally broke the tension as he addressed Cora, “I see you took it upon yourself to save my son from his fate.”
“I—” Cora began.
But he smiled and said, “I knew you would.”
“What?” Cora asked, surprised.
“I knew your affection for him, as a result of the betrothal bond, would be strong enough that you wouldn’t be able to let him die. I saw it in your eyes the moment I suspended him before the window to face the sunlight, or so he’d believed was my intention.”
“You engineered this?” Luca asked. “You didn’t really intend to kill me then?”
“I’ve considered it many times, Luca. You haven’t made it easy for me to forgo that option either, over the years. But…no…it was intended as a scare tactic. It was one last ditch attempt to make you see your true place in things. I knew it would take extreme measures to achieve that—forcing you to stare death in the eye and having you truly believe you would die.”
“I don’t understand. You wanted this? You wanted the princess to save me so I would ally myself with her?”
“For you to finally realize your true path and to work with us instead of against us. It’s a shame I had to go to such extreme measures. It was either that, or really ending your existence. This was your last chance.” He turned to Michael. “And where do you stand?” It wasn’t so much a question as it was a threat.
Shocking them all, Michael lowered himself to his knees before him. “You are my King. I no longer covet your throne, your majesty. I only desire a place in your Kingdom, if you can find it within you to forgive my crimes.”
“Treason is what you are asking me to forgive,” Nathanial growled.
Michael kept his head bowed as he murmured, “I know, your majesty.”
“An offense punishable by death.”
Michael trembled at his words.
“Do you understand that your magic could never overpower mine, wizard? That I am and will always be your King?”
“Yes. Yes, your majesty.”
Nathanial stepped closer to him and snarled, “Do you also understand that I could kill you with a snap of my fingers? That is how great my power truly is. You are insignificant in that regard.”
Cora caught Haraz’s eye and he winked at her. She smiled to herself. Nathanial was messing with Michael, instilling the fear of God in him. She glanced at Luca and saw he was taken in by Nathanial’s threats. He was scared shitless.
Nathanial stepped back from Michael and commanded, “Rise.”
“You…forgive me?” Michael asked, surprised.
“Of course not. I am not a fool. Whether or not I drive a stake through your heart will depend on how well you fare in the coming days. If you betray any of us, I will not hesitate. And make no mistake, you will not see it coming until your bones are already decomposing to dust.”
Michael shivered at his words. “Yes…I understand, your majesty.”
Nathanial eyed Luca. “Luca?”
“Yes. Yes, I understand also, father.”
“Michael, I assume your change of heart is due in large part to the recent turn of events?” Nathanial asked.
Michael nodded.
“What turn of events?” Cora asked.
“Luca, show her,” Nathanial commanded.
“Show me what? What is going on?”
“I’m sorry. I came into your bedroom last night to tell you, but then…well, you know,” Luca said. He lifted his white, silk shirt and gestured to his chest.
Cora moved closer and gasped as she saw burn marks all over his chest. She reached out and touched one of them and he hissed. She pulled back quickly. “Sorry.” She turned to Nathanial and asked, “What are those? How did they happen?”
“All creatures borne of the dark—both in the human realm and the Dark Realm—have been afflicted. All those without royal blood.”
“Something that wouldn’t have happened to me if you hadn’t stripped me of my title,” Luca snapped.
“You wish to challenge me now?” Nathanial demanded.
Luca shook his head and shrank back. “No. I’m sorry.”
“Good,” Nathanial said. And then he proceeded to tell Cora about Oriana’s destruction of one of the five orbs of the Dark Realm and the resulting consequences.
“Oh my God,” Cora breathed when he’d finished. “My son and Ryan?”
“They are fine. Ryan is in the Dark Realm. He will lead his wolves to the castle to distract Oriana so that she cannot destroy any more orbs. He is allowing me time to prepare you.”
“Prepare me?”
“To do what you had already intended by allying yourself with Michael and my son.”
“To kill Oriana and Vazra.”
Nathanial was taken aback. “You intend to kill your father?”
“Yes.”
Nathanial, Haraz, Luca, and Michael eyed one another in surprise. And then Nathanial told her soberly, “You cannot kill Vazra, Cora. It will destabilize the White Realm, which would put all of us in danger.”
“I would’ve thought you, of all people, would want him dead after what he did to Marella.”
“He will feel my wrath, believe me. But I will not kill him. The bigger picture is more important, Cora. Do you see that?”
Cora released a frustrated breath. “Fine. Yes, I get it.”
“Good.”
“Wait,” Luca exclaimed. “You and Marella are…together?”
“She is my destined mate,” Nathanial told him. “She is with child.”
“Holy hellfire,” Michael exclaimed. “I did not see this coming.”
“You’ll have another heir,” Luca murmured.
“You are still my first born. So far, you have not proven yourself worthy of the throne. It is not too late for you to convince me, Luca. You have until she comes of age to do so. Otherwise, yes, the throne will pass to her.”
“Her?” Luca asked with a smile. “A girl?”
“Yes. You are…happy?” Nathanial asked, surprised by his positive reaction.
“Oddly, I appear to be,” Luca said with a laugh. “A lot has changed since—”
“Since you recognized your love for the princess,” Nathanial finished for him.
Luca caught Cora’s eye and looked away awkwardly.
Cora crossed to him and took his hand in hers. “It’s okay. I already know, remember?”
“I must break the bond, Luca,” Nathanial announced as he came to stand before the two of them. “I cannot risk the possibility of Cora being trapped once she enters the Dark Realm to take on Oriana.”
“I know,” Luca said sadly.
Nathanial laid his hand on Luca’s shoulder and closed his eyes briefly. Luca gasped as a vibrant glow of black power enveloped him. After a few moments, it dissipated and Nathanial pulled back. “Misuse your gifts again and I will take them from you permanently. Understood?”
“Yes. Thank you, father.”
“Fortunately for you, to break the betrothal bond, you and Cora must combine your magic. I had no choice but to restore your Vampire Prince title.”
“Come,” Nathanial said gently to Cora.
She stepped forward and he took her hand in his. With his other, he gripped Luca’s.
“Now? You’re going to break the bond now?”
“Yes. Why? Did you think it would aid you in taking the princess to your bed?” Nathanial asked. “L
uca, you forget who you are dealing with when it comes to Cora,” he said, winking at her. “Besides, she is Ryan’s wife. You will find your own soon enough.”
Luca growled quietly.
Nathanial let it slide and told the two of them, “You must tap into one another’s magic. Keep it clean, Luca. Take her other hand—nothing else.”
Michael and Haraz laughed as they watched them from a few feet away.
Luca snarled.
As Cora took his hand she told him, “I do care about you, Luca.”
Luca smiled at her words. “You are very forgiving then, princess.”
“The heart does not always see reason,” she jested.
“Your heart?” he pressed.
Nathanial cleared his throat noisily, clearly not liking the exchange between them. Cora wasn’t surprised. She knew how tight him and Ryan had become.
“Nathanial,” Cora pressed, when he just continued to stare at Luca with a severe look of disapproval. “We’re ready. Our magic is connected.”
At her words, he averted his gaze and sprang into action. “This will sting a little,” he warned the two of them.
They both nodded their understanding.
He summoned his magic. Cora gasped and Luca hissed as the sting he’d warned them about ripped through them both.
“Just a sting, huh?” Luca complained.
Nathanial ignored his comment and said, “I need you both to repeat my words in unison until you feel a sharp spark within. That is the bond shattering.”
They both nodded again. And then Nathanial began. “Exsolvo. Exsolvo. Exsolvo. I command thee, release them! Release!” his deep baritone rumbled through the night.
Cora and Luca followed his instructions and repeated his words until Cora finally cried out in agony, followed by a hiss of pain from Luca.
“It is done,” Nathanial said, releasing them. “Luca, you and Haraz will take command of the vampires here in the human realm. After experiencing the painful effects of Oriana’s destruction of the first orb, they will be angry. I need you to get them under control. We cannot risk them reacting and drawing attention to our existence here in the human realm. Michael and I will assist Cora in removing the block Vazra implanted in her.”
“Father, I can assist with that.”
“No,” Nathanial growled. “You are the Vampire Prince. The human realm vampires recognize your authority as much as mine here. It must be you. Haraz will assist you and you will listen to his advice. He has many centuries of experience that you can learn from.”
“Yes,” Luca grumbled. “As you wish.”
Before Cora could get a word out, Nathanial grabbed her hand and said, “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 5
Ryan stood in Damon’s tent, discussing their plan to distract Oriana at the Castle of the Dark Realm. After donning a black robe that he’d snatched from one of the marketplace stalls and making his way through the dead forest incognito for several hours, he’d finally caught onto the scent of the wolves. He’d found their camp located deep in the valley of the forest. It’d been fortunate that, as Wolf King, his wolf senses were so attuned or he would’ve never found them.
When he’d arrived, all the wolves had bowed instantly at his feet. Damon Hunter—the former leader of the wolf resistance and now, since their battle, Ryan’s second-in-command here in the Dark Realm—had been surprised by his arrival. He hadn’t expected him to return so soon. He’d made his apologies for not having gathered all of the wolves as he’d promised, but Ryan had shown up early. After conversing with the one hundred wolves that were present in the camp, Ryan and Damon had retired to Damon’s tent to discuss strategy.
“Your plan depends a hell of a lot on your ability to control the wolves,” Damon said.
“It won’t be a problem.”
“Ryan, in the human realm your wolves are at their wildest and uncontrollable during the full moon. Here in the Dark Realm, it’s like that all the time. I’m not sure if you remember.”
“I do.”
“How do you expect to be able to control them when you’ll be affected by it as well?”
“I won’t shift.”
“What?” Damon asked, shocked.
Ryan held up his hand and gestured to his ring. “This will ensure that I maintain control. And, believe me, I won’t have any issues controlling all the wolves here. I’m Wolf King, Damon. They won’t be able to resist my will.”
Damon nodded and slapped a friendly hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “If you say you can, then I believe you. The rest of the wolves will arrive here within forty-eight hours. Unfortunately, it won’t be sooner as they’re scattered all over the realm—a precaution given our former war against the Vampire King. Until then, I’ll show you to a tent so you can get some rest.”
Ryan nodded and let Damon lead him out of his tent and through the camp. It was deserted, everyone having already gone to bed because it was late. Damon stopped at the white tent at the end of one of the two rows. He pushed aside a sheet of cloth passing for a door and led Ryan inside. It consisted of a double bed with a thin blanket and two pillows and a small table for two in the corner. He noted the box of rations on top of it. Good. He was hungry.
“I’m sorry it’s not anything worthy of a King. We weren’t expecting you so soon. I would have—”
“Relax, Damon. I’m not used to anything different. I’m not my father.”
Damon chuckled. “If you were, you’d have already had my head by now.”
Ryan smiled. “Goodnight, Damon.”
Damon nodded and left the tent. Ryan shed his shirt and pants as he approached the bed. He was fucking exhausted. He breathed a heavy sigh as he flopped down on the bed.
#
Hours had passed and Ryan still hadn’t been able to fall asleep. It was her. Cora. He couldn’t get her out of his head. And so, despite how exhausted he was, he just couldn’t fucking sleep.
He still couldn’t believe they’d broken up. His wife had actually left him, accusing him of being too controlling. What did she expect? She was mated to a fucking Alpha wolf! It was an animal instinct for male wolves to be in control, to dominate. It was the very essence of what he was. And she’d wanted him to change that? To change his very makeup for her?
After talking to Shaye and Josh, he’d actually considered it, because he loved her so damned much and it’d hurt so much to even think that she was gone, that they wouldn’t be together. Fuck, he’d waited two hundred years to be with her.
But now she could go to hell.
She’d saved Luca from the death that he’d deserved. After all her denial outside his mansion that night, after her pleading with him to believe that she didn’t want Luca. After making him feel like an asshole for treating her like a whore when he’d fucked her after that shit show between her, Luca, and Nathanial. After all of that, she’d gone to that fucking vampire. And the look in Nathanial’s eyes when he’d told him Luca was alive because of her had said it all. Even Nathanial knew Cora felt something for his son. Ryan had seen the worry in his eyes over it.
As far as he was concerned now, she could fuck Luca all she wanted. Break the mating bond between them, divorce him, whatever. But if she thought she was ever gonna take his son from him, she had another thing coming. He would never let her. She might be powerful, but there were other ways to stop her. As long as Orion remained in wolf form, she wouldn’t take him. She wasn’t wolf. She couldn’t take care of him when he was wolf. She knew it. Fuck, if he had to, he’d move to the Dark Realm permanently and surround Orion with all his wolves. See her try to take on an entire army of wolves.
And, as long as he could get to her before she used her powers, he’d still be able to stop her anyway, even on his own. He could easily overpower her physically. He was still stronger than her in that respect, especially since he’d matured into his full strength as Wolf King.
He felt sick to his stomach whenever he thought about her and Luca together. He never wanted t
o see her again, to smell her, to feel her. That fucker had tortured him in the most sadistic way possible. She knew it and yet she was with him now? It told him everything. She had absolutely no respect for him—her husband.
Well, fuck her. Bitch.
He threw the covers aside and breathed a heavy sigh, lying there in just his boxers with his hands folded behind his head as a makeshift pillow.
“Your majesty,” a familiar voice called from the door.
He watched as the feisty, blonde wolf goddess who’d caught his eye last time he’d visited the Dark Realm sauntered into the tent. Her hair was loose and tussled wildly about her face. Her piercing, blue eyes bore into his as she approached the bed.
His gaze raked over her and he failed to suppress a low growl of appreciation at the slip of a nightgown she was wearing. The red silk barely contained her ample tits and the hem scarcely reached the top of her thighs. A slit up her right thigh gave him a glimpse of her tight little ass. She wasn’t wearing any underwear underneath. Her nipples were hard, straining against the thin fabric.
“Call me Ryan,” he said as he watched her perch at the foot of the bed and cross her legs seductively.
“Couldn’t sleep, Ryan?” she asked coyly.
He smiled. “Looks like you couldn’t either.”
She gazed at him intensely, her eyes hooded with desire. “I didn’t want to sleep alone.”
The meaning wasn’t lost on him. “Then don’t.”
It was all he needed to say. She crawled up the bed, giving him a delicious view of her gorgeous tits. When she reached him, he grabbed her and flipped them over. Her hands fisted in his hair, pulling roughly, and he growled. When she growled right back he felt his cock stir in response. He gripped either side of her face and took her in a ferocious kiss. Their lips clashed, teeth and tongues in animal passion.
His claws raked lightly over her tits, down her stomach.
“Don’t hold back, Ryan. I’m wolf, remember?” she gasped between kisses.
Ryan took her words in. Shit, I didn’t even realize it. I’m so used to not fucking a wolf. I’m holding back. I’m always fucking holding back. Well, not tonight.