TWISTED DESTINY: The Complete Saga

by Leia King

  “How about the first dream you forced me into? Your eyes were glowing red.”

  “That was a spell, one that merely opened you up to your true wants and desires. Compulsion enforces my wants and desires upon someone. Very different.”

  “It was still messed up, Luca. Just like this is! Keeping me here like this.”

  Again, he didn’t engage with the topic, focusing on the scent thing instead. God, he was obsessed with it. “The stench of wolf, especially an Alpha, is very difficult to get out.”

  “Then you should keep your distance.”

  He snarled. “Stop turning me away. You keep trying to fool yourself, but I know the truth. You wanted me in the first dream and in the alley that night. What has changed?”

  “I know who you really are now.”

  He released a heavy sigh, clearly trying to summon his patience. “I am not used to this.

  “To what?”

  “A woman denying me. You are very difficult.”

  “You can’t just take what you want. I’m not your property. Plus, I barely know you.”

  “You barely know Ryan, yet you were more than willing to give yourself to him.”

  “He had my permission. You didn’t. And you threatened me with your demon a few moments ago.”

  “I was testing you, to see how you would react.”

  “I don’t take kindly to manipulation.”

  “You are my bride!” he thundered.

  “Pass me a towel!” she bellowed back, matching his volume.

  “What?” he asked, confused.

  “Pass. Me. A. Towel,” she said as she turned off the shower.

  She heard him moving around. A second later, a towel was thrust at her. She snatched it from his grip and hurriedly covered her naked body. As she stepped out of the shower, she asked, “Where are my clothes?”

  “You do not need them.”

  “Luca!”

  He turned away and stormed out of the bathroom.

  Rolling her eyes, she followed him out and watched him throw open the doors to a mammoth walk-in closet.

  “While you are here, you will wear these.”

  Cora glanced at the clothes inside. All dresses. All incredibly sexy and revealing. Definitely not her style at all. He wanted her to dress like the whores she’d seen downstairs?

  “I don’t fucking think so.”

  He took an angry step towards her. “You have a dirty mouth on you, just like my brother. I don’t like it, Cora.”

  “I don’t care what you like. I’m not wearing any of those.”

  “Then you will wear that,” he said, gesturing to her towel. “Or, nothing at all.”

  Before she could respond, he stormed towards the door.

  “Don’t you dare lock me in here again!” she screamed.

  He threw open the door.

  “I will never forgive you!” she warned.

  She saw him hesitate briefly, his hand grasping the doorframe.

  But then he stormed out. A flash of red magic followed in his wake and she heard the door lock with a jarring clang.

  “No!” she screamed. “Let me go, Luca! Let me out of here!”

  11

  “Deeper, Vivian,” Luca commanded.

  The sexy vampire had her arms wrapped around him, her fangs buried deep in his neck.

  He groaned as she drove them deeper, relishing the bite of pain.

  He eyed the other vampire vixen he’d invited into his bed to play, a voluptuous redhead. She caught his eye and begged, “Please.” She was no longer content just to watch. He smirked at her slyly and grasped her hips. She shrieked as he drove her down onto his cock.

  “Ride me. Hard,” he commanded.

  He let his demon rise to the surface and flashed his fangs at her. He scraped a sharp talon along the delectable flesh of her breast, drawing blood. He buried his fangs in the wound, making her cry out in ecstasy. He drew her blood into his mouth, sucking hard and deep, taking as much as he desired. The sensation was too much for her, pushing her over the edge. She came and he shuddered, feeling her orgasm ripple through her blood.

  A familiar scent washed over him.

  A warning sparked.

  He ripped his fangs from the redhead’s neck and swung his head towards his bedroom door.

  Cora stood there, her eyes wide with shock.

  She turned and ran.

  “Cora! No!”

  He lifted the redhead off him and gripped Vivian’s hair, ripping her fangs from his neck.

  “Out!” he ordered them.

  He snatched his black linen pants off the floor and hurriedly pulled them on.

  And then he was out the door.

  He sniffed the air, drawing Cora’s scent to him. There!

  He spun to the right and took off in a burst of vampire speed.

  It took him mere moments to spot her.

  She was headed for the lobby, trying to escape, no doubt. He watched her struggle to run in the floor-length, purple dress she had on. He passed a pair of heels. She’d obviously discarded them in an attempt to run faster and now she was running barefoot through the mansion.

  “Stop, Cora!”

  She didn’t listen and just continued running.

  Did she really think she could outrun him? A vampire?

  Enough of this!

  He cut her off, rounding on her. It had her gasping and jolting as she was forced to come to a sudden stop. She glared up at him.

  “How did you escape your room?”

  “One of your guards brought in some food. I got the jump on him,” she revealed.

  He clenched his teeth, fighting not to get into it with her. That would just make things worse. He needed to reassure her after what she’d just witnessed.

  “You continue to deny me, Cora. So, I took my pleasure elsewhere. What else would you have me do? Vampires possess voracious sexual appetites.”

  He watched her take him in, grimacing as she did.

  His own blood was oozing from the messy puncture wounds in his neck, dripping down his bare chest. His torso was covered with hickeys and minor lacerations that were healing with every second that went by. To top it off, his cock was still standing to attention, pushing against the thin fabric of his pants. He wasn’t exactly presenting himself in the best light.

  “Cora,” he pressed when she remained silent. “You know what I am. I don’t understand your shock.”

  Her fierce gaze met his and she seethed, “I will never forget what you are.”

  Her words struck a nerve and he reacted, grabbing hold of her arm and jerking her against his body. “I am the Vampire Prince. You must address me with respect.”

  “Why? I’m not one of your whores. I’m not part of your nest.”

  Nest? It incensed him that she was using Ryan’s terminology. The two of them were so alike. He hated it. But, he would remedy it.

  “You are mine and you will show me respect.”

  “Never!”.

  He bared his fangs, snarling. “That is it. Tonight we bond. No more waiting.”

  He tightened his grip on her arm and dragged her behind him, back down the hall towards his bedroom. He ignored her struggles and her cries of protest.

  They were almost there when he felt a painful tingle permeating his hand. Within seconds, it became searing. Unbearable. He cursed and released her.

  He spun around to see her palm afire with a silver glow. It was different than the last time he’d seen her use her magic. Her pupils were dilated. Pure white. What is happening?

  A powerful gust of wind ripped through the corridor. Her other palm started to glow the same blinding silver. The wind encircled her, like a hurricane, right there in the middle of his mansion. He stumbled back to avoid it. She thrust her left palm behind her, and the entrance doors flew open with such power that they almost ripped off their hinges.

  “Stop, Cora!”

  But she was lost to the magic. He wasn’t even sure if she’d actually hear
d him.

  She brought her palms together in a prayer-like gesture. A shimmering film enveloped her body. And then she turned on her heel and strode towards the entrance.

  “Stop her!” he bellowed down the hallway.

  His guards arrived in a split second. They rushed her. But the shield surrounding her blew them back several feet the second they made contact.

  He watched helplessly as she walked through the doors and out into the dark night.

  12

  Josh leaned back in his chair in what passed for a living room in the military compound.

  It was a former military base that had been abandoned by the humans decades ago. When Ryan had become Alpha, he’d commandeered it as a place of sanctuary for the pack in times of need. They’d taken up residence there twice over the last five years, due to threats from various supernatural beings. The first time had been during a turf war with a rival wolf pack, which they had since annihilated. The second time had been in response to a betrayal from the Vampire Prince that’d put Ryan in jeopardy.

  And, now, they were enduring the third time.

  Josh took a sip from the glass of scotch in his hand, savoring the peace and quiet, which he knew was merely the calm before the storm. Things were tense and everybody was on edge. Luca had crossed Ryan once again and the pack was under no delusions that neither their Alpha, nor the Vampire Prince, would simply let it slide. No, a battle, if not a war, was on their doorstep.

  The pack was asleep, aside from the four guarding the base. Two were located at the entrance and two at the rear. Josh couldn’t sleep, though. Not until Ryan returned. As his second-in-command, it was his responsibility to safeguard and lead the pack in his Alpha’s absence. Ryan had left over an hour ago to seek out his former flame, a powerful witch, who he hoped would be able to help him to free his newfound mate from Luca’s clutches. He’d insisted on going alone, refusing to put the pack in unnecessary danger. Josh knew that Ryan already felt guilty for unwittingly putting them at odds with Luca, due to the complicated issues with his mate. The pack didn’t see it like he did, though. Ryan had protected them countless times. The pack had flourished under his rule for the last five years. They’d back him through anything. They’d follow him to hell and back if they had to.

  Josh snatched up his phone. It was time to check in with Ryan again.

  He stilled as the sounds of howling and commotion outside by the front gates reached his ears.

  He sprang from the chair and hurried out of the room into the small lobby.

  Heaving open the titanium doors, he looked out at the fenced-in courtyard to see what the matter was.

  Bryan and Steve stood at the gates, growling at someone. He couldn’t see who it was, because their large bodies were blocking his view.

  He strode down the steps and approached the gates.

  “What’s going on here?” he asked, pushing past the boys to see what they were freaking out about.

  He frowned at what he found.

  A tiny woman glared back at him. Her hair was mussed up, wild and tangled. The slutty dress she had on was torn to shreds, baring skin in a hell of a lot of areas. Blood-red scratches adorned her arms and face. And she was caked in mud.

  “This is private property, sweetheart. If you need medical assistance, I can call you an ambulance, but you don’t have authorized access inside this compound.”

  “You don’t remember me, huh?”

  He scrutinized her for a moment.

  Ah, of course.

  With the state of her and the way she was dressed, he hadn’t recognized her right off the bat.

  Just to make sure, he scented her. And there it was. Ryan’s scent all over her. He turned up his nose as he scented a potent vampire smell also. Luca, clearly.

  “Ryan’s girl,” he told the boys.

  They nodded and hung back.

  “Cora,” she corrected him.

  “Right, sorry.”

  “Where is he?” she demanded. “Is Ryan here?”

  Her tone was demanding, commanding even. He smiled to himself. So much like Ryan.

  “He will be.” He turned to the boys. “Open the gates.”

  They set about unlocking them, taking several moments to accomplish the task, because they were so heavily fortified. Then, they pulled them back, edging the heavy things open with an ear-piercing screech.

  “Thanks,” Cora said, as she passed through into the courtyard.

  Josh noticed her limping, the grimace on her face with every step she took. “Are you wounded?” he asked, worriedly. She’d better not be, or Ryan would lose his shit.

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “My feet are just a little sore, because I walked here.”

  His eyes darted to her feet and saw that she was barefoot. Just a little sore? They were in a real bad state, bruised and bloody. Jesus. “No shoes?”

  “I was in a hurry to leave. He took my clothes and… heels. Just heels. I couldn’t walk in—they’re not my thing,” she rambled.

  It was clear she was in a state. Mentally, as well as physically. What the hell had the bloodsucker done to her?

  He snagged her around the waist and swept her up into his arms.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Ryan would kill me if he found out I let you walk around here with your feet like that.”

  His mention of Ryan had a soothing effect on her and she nodded and murmured, “Oh.”

  “Where is he?” she asked as he carried her towards the building.

  “He’s out conducting some business. I’ll give him a call once we get inside, let him know you’re here.”

  Ryan burst into the room to find Cora sprawled out on the couch talking with Josh, who sat in a chair beside her. They were both drinking scotch and having what seemed to pass for a civilized conversation.

  Ryan’s eyes raked over Cora and he started in surprise.

  She was wearing a dress that was ripped in several places, no doubt from her journey to get to him. She would’ve had to pass through a forest to reach the base from Luca’s place. And he noticed her feet. They were bandaged now. When Josh had called him, he’d told him all about it. He couldn’t believe she’d walked all the way. Damn, she was a tough little thing.

  They both turned to him as he strode into the room. He lifted his chin at Josh, letting him know he was grateful for him taking care of her in his absence.

  “Hey,” he greeted Cora, as he made his way over to the couch.

  “Hey, Alpha,” she returned in a drunken drawl.

  “A little drunk there, darlin’?” he asked with amusement.

  “No. I’ve only had a couple of glasses.”

  Ryan eyed Josh. He held up four fingers. Ryan shook his head with disbelief. He perched on the arm of the couch beside her head and, deciding to play along, asked, “Two, huh?”

  She grinned mischievously and let out a small laugh.

  “How did you get out of there?” he asked gently, laying his hands on her shoulders.

  He’d been out searching for his former flame, Shaye. She was a powerful witch and if anyone could have broken through Luca’s magic, it would have been her. But he hadn’t even had the chance to pick up her scent when Josh had called him and told him that Cora had escaped on her own and had come looking for him at the compound.

  “I blasted my way out.”

  “What?”

  She craned her neck to look at him. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she said, “With magic.”

  “I didn’t think you could control it.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “It just happened. I got upset. Scared.”

  “Scared?” he growled.

  “Ry,” Josh cautioned when his aggressiveness made Cora jump.

  He drew in a breath and forced himself to ask calmly, “He hurt you?”

  “I stopped him.”

  He drew back from her and clenched his fists in fury.

  What had Luca done to scare her enough that it
’d had her power exploding forth?

  She shifted on the couch, easing herself into a sitting position. “Are you mad at me?” she asked, worriedly, her intoxicated, glazed eyes trying to search his.

  He shook his head. “No, my love. Not at you.”

  She smiled back, seeming content.

  But, instead of settling, like he’d figured she would, she caught him off guard when she lunged at him, flinging her arms around his neck. He felt her trying to pull him down on top of her. Whoa. Her strength was much greater than he remembered. A lot had changed in her in just a couple of days and it bothered him that he hadn’t been there to experience it with her. She was coming into her supernatural heritage, and he could’ve helped her to understand. He could’ve comforted her. But Luca had denied him that by keeping her imprisoned with the only thing in existence that could keep someone of his power away. Fucking magic.

  He tried to find comfort and calm in the fact that she was here with him now.

  “Time for bed,” he said, gathering her into his arms and sweeping her off the couch. “Get some sleep. I’m here now,” he told Josh, as he carried Cora out of the room.

  He strode down the corridor until he came to the last door. His room. He pushed it open with his back, then kicked it shut once they were inside.

  He dropped her on his bed, and she bounced around, shrieking excitedly. So, she was a wild drunk then.

  “Shh,” he told her. “Don’t wake the boys, or I’ll have a situation on my hands. They’re not used to a woman being on base.”

  “Wolves listen to their Alpha,” she responded, chuckling to herself.

  He smiled and turned away. He crossed to a chest of drawers in the corner and quickly pulled out one of his gray t-shirts. He tossed it to her and ordered, “Put that on.”

  “Okay,” she murmured without the slightest protest.

  But then he watched her hold it to her face, rather than making any attempt to actually put it on. “What are you doing?”

  “Smelling you.”

  “I’m right here,” he told her as he shook off his leather jacket and quickly shed his t-shirt as well.

  “You smell… manly.”

  “I hope so,” he said as he shed his jeans. “Now put on the shirt and go to sleep.”