by Leia King
Ryan froze, shocked. “What are you doing here? What the hell is going on?”
Nathanial gestured to the woman on the bed. “That is not Cora.”
“What?” Ryan demanded, slamming Luca against the wall in a fit of frustration. “What are you telling me?”
“Ryan,” Cora called to him, running out of the bathroom.
The two of them couldn’t have looked more shocked if they’d tried.
“What is this?” Luca rasped against Ryan’s brutal grip around his neck. Pain flashed in his eyes. “I thought we were—”
“What?” Nathanial snapped. “You really believed you could have your brother’s wife? You thought she would capitulate to you?” He waved his hand over her shadow self and she disappeared. Eyeing Ryan, he said, “Her shadow self. Do you really think I would allow my son to take your wife? She called me for help. This was setup by Oriana. They want her blood and they can only drain her when she is willing.”
Ryan dropped Luca and stalked over to her, taking her in his arms.
Nathanial hauled Luca off the floor and slammed him into the wall, holding him there with a single hand. Luca struggled against him, but it was impossible for him to overpower the Vampire King. Nathanial snarled down at him. He swiped his talons across his chest, shredding his shirt open.
Luca’s eyes went wide with terror. “No, father!”
Nathanial ignored him and thrust his hand into his chest, ripping through his flesh.
Cora cringed as she realized what Nathanial was going to do.
“You are no son of mine. You will perish for your treachery.” He pulled on his heart to rip it from his chest. “What?” he exclaimed, his eyes narrowing with confusion. He pulled again, but nothing happened.
Luca choked out a laugh. “She protected me.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ryan demanded, releasing her abruptly and stalking over to them.
Nathanial ripped his hand from Luca’s chest and shook it out. Blood trickled onto the carpet. “I cannot tear out his heart, nor drive a stake through it. She has cast a field of protection around it.” He let out a frustrated roar and began pacing up and down in front of Luca. After several moments, he came to an abrupt stop, realization lighting his face.
He dragged Luca to the window. He thrust his fist through it, his strength shattering the protective glass. “She forgot about the sunlight.”
“No!” Luca screamed. “It is a painful death, father! Please, have mercy!”
“You do not deserve mercy!”
Nathanial waved his hand over him. Instantly, he was pulled up straight, his arms raised above his head, suspended in a field of magic. “You will watch the sun rise.”
“I… I can’t move! Release me! I am your son!”
“I disown you and strip you of your title of Vampire Prince, along with all the gifts it bestows. Your power, your strength.”
He stared at Luca for a long while, before shaking his head sadly, then sweeping out of the room.
Cora couldn’t believe how quickly things had escalated. It as majorly intense. Nathanial was going to let his son die? She knew his crimes, but it still seemed brutal. And, as much as she wanted to deny it, it cut at her.
“Let’s go,” Ryan said, grabbing her hand.
He pulled her out of the room, almost dragging her, as they followed after Nathanial. He stopped all of a sudden and turned to them, his eyes wide. “Marella is here. I can feel her in the human realm.”
“Go to her,” Ryan told him. “We’ll meet you back at the compound.”
Nathanial gave a nod, then teleported away.
As Ryan and Cora walked through the gates of the vampire mansion, Cora couldn’t help commenting, “It’s strange seeing this place abandoned.”
“After you stormed in here when I was being held captive, all the vamps got the message. They won’t come back after witnessing the wrath of your power.”
Before Cora could respond, Ryan suddenly grabbed hold of her and pushed her against the gate. His lips met hers.
He jerked away just as quickly, his features twisted with disgust. “You kissed him?”
Oh no. “Uh… what?”
“Cora! Don’t lie to me. I can taste it. Fucking hell!” He wiped his mouth frantically. “Urgh.”
“I had to.”
He stepped back from her and spat on the ground. “Oh, fuck,” he exclaimed, continuing to spit. “I can smell him all over you, too.”
“I’m sorry. You kissed me, before I could warn you,” she said, reaching for him.
He jerked away. “Stop.” Shaking his head, he muttered, “I can’t believe this.”
“Believe what exactly? You think I wanted this to happen?”
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes boring into hers heatedly. “Yeah, I think a part of you did.”
“How dare you?”
“How dare I? Josh told me how you’ve been jumpy around men, that you won’t let anyone touch you, because of what happened with that fucked-up faerie. Yet, here you were kissing Luca and letting him run his hands all over you. I can fucking smell it, Cora!”
“I had to, Ryan! I had to make him think that I was on board. You can ask Nathanial.”
“I am asking my wife!” he said. “Did you want him?”
“Ryan,” she seethed.
He grabbed her arms again and pushed her roughly into the gate behind her. “Did. You. Want. To. Fuck. Him?” he demanded, punctuating each word with a low, threatening growl.
“Like you wanted to fuck that wolf girl. Jada, was it?”
He flinched at her words, clearly caught off guard that she knew. But, being the arrogant ass that he was, he just shook it off. “That’s different. Purely a physical wolf thing, Cora. This is about Luca. There’s history there. You’re betrothed to him.” He leaned into her and growled, “Did you want his mouth on you? His fingers fucking you? Were you wet with anticipation? Panting like a bitch in heat for him to make you come? Were you gonna beg him to thrust his fucking limp cock inside you? Were you dying to find out if he compared to me, to what I can give you? Did you enjoy being his whore?”
She shoved him back. “Stop!”
“You wanted him to fuck you, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”
She slapped him hard across the face and he grunted as his head snapped to the side. “You’re such an asshole! It’s just the betrothal bond. I can’t help that and you know it. If I’d wanted him, I would’ve fucked him, rather than you, in the first place! And I wouldn’t have called Nathanial here to help me tonight!”
Ryan’s eyes were on fire. He growled low in his throat as he stalked back to her.
He fisted his hands in her hair and forced a brutal, uncompromising kiss upon her.
She jerked her head away. “What are you doing?”
“Taking back what’s mine.”
He grasped the waistband of her leather pants and tugged hard, jerking them down to her ankles in one sudden motion.
He dropped to his knees in front of her.
Without any warning, he flicked her clit with his tongue. She moaned out at the exquisite sensation. He smiled and then licked the length of her slowly, the intense pressure causing her to writhe against him.
He thrust his tongue deep inside her and she grabbed at the gate behind her, holding onto it for dear life. He spread her arousal all over her, tracing circles around her clit. The cool breeze on her exposed pussy and the conflicting heat of his tongue was sensational. She could feel her release building already.
“Ryan!” she cried.
“Tell me,” he demanded, suddenly stopping.
A whimper escaped her at the awful loss of his talented mouth. “What?”
“Tell me how much you crave me. My tongue between your legs. My fingers touching you everywhere, driving you crazy. My cock filling your tight pussy, stretching you, driving so deep that you don’t know if you can take it.”
He thrust two fingers inside her, pl
unging deep. A ferocious scream ripped from her throat.
“Tell me!” he demanded, finger fucking her wildly, brutally.
“Yes! Yes, Ryan! Please.”
“Please, what?”
“I need you! Now!”
He smiled to himself and pulled back, getting to his feet. “Good girl,” he said as he freed his hard dick. He gripped her hips and hoisted her up. “Wrap your legs around me. I wanna hear you scream,” he growled in her ear.
She complied instantly and he thrust into her, gripping her ass and driving deep.
“You. Are. Mine,” he said, punctuating each word with a brutal thrust.
He picked up his pace, fucking her with a punishing rhythm. She screamed wildly. Her sharp nails dug into his neck. Her legs tightened around him and a moment later, she hurtled over the edge, coming hard.
He reached between her legs and pinched her clit. She tried to jerk away, but he held fast, and continued fucking her hard.
“Come for me again,” he commanded, smirking at her.
“I… can’t. It’s too… intense.”
“You can. And you will,” he growled, quickening his pace, all of his fingers torturing her clit.
A moment later, she actually did, shrieking out into the night.
Ryan roared and she felt him release himself into her, coming with her.
He didn’t give her the chance to come down from it, before he pulled out. Fixing his pants, he smirked, as he watched his cum trickling down her inner thighs. “I like that.”
That comment had her realizing what the hell he’d just done to her. Her eyes narrowed in fury. “Shut your mouth.”
He smiled with amusement. “Is something wrong?”
She fixed her pants and patted down her hair, trying to shake out the just-fucked look. “You treated me like… like a—”
“Like what?”
“Like a fucking animal. Like a whore.”
“Well, if the shoe fits.”
She took an angry step towards him. “Stop it, Ryan! I explained what happened! It was him, not me!”
He looked her up and down with disdain. “I tasted him in your mouth. If it was really innocent and you were just acting as you claim, explain that. You can’t, Cora. Luca would’ve been convinced just by having your lips on his. But you let him taste you!”
“You weren’t there! You don’t understand!”
“You’re lucky Nathanial was there when I showed up. If he hadn’t been, I would’ve showed both you and Luca exactly what I fucking understand. I would have fucked you right there on his bed and made him watch as I did.”
“This isn’t you, Ryan.”
“This is me when you fool around with another man!” He gestured angrily in the direction of the forest. “Head back to the wolf compound. Now.”
“You’re not coming?”
“I’ll follow behind. You know, just in case you encounter some random guy on the way who you feel like fucking as well.”
Cora seethed with anger. Her fists clenched, shaking with intensity. She stepped into him and spat, “Fuck you.”
And then she disappeared in a flash of white light.
18
Nathanial sat beside Marella in the bedroom that Ryan had set aside for him at the wolf compound.
Marella was tucked up in bed and he stroked her hair, watching as her eyes grew heavier by the moment. She was exhausted. He’d made sure she’d eaten something in the mess hall. He’d realized, from the fervor of her appetite, that Vazra had been denying her food, while he’d held her captive. He would pay dearly. The bastard would suffer for all that he had done to her.
“Would you like anything, angel?”
She shook her head and offered him a weak smile. “Just stay with me.”
“Of course. I have no intention of letting you out of my sight again.”
“I am sorry, Nathanial. I never should have—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “You are here now. We are together. Our child is healthy. That is what matters.”
He leaned back against the headboard, his hand still stroking her hair, his eyes never leaving hers.
“You are tired, Nathanial. You expended a lot of power to help Cora. You need to return to the Dark Realm to recuperate.”
“I will be fine for a few more days.”
She laid her hand on his. “You are a different man now. I knew it the first night we were together. You helped Cora tonight.”
“Well, I could not risk her power falling into the hands of my archenemy now, could I?”
“We both know it was more than that. You care, Nathanial.”
“It is possible that I am guilty of that.” He leaned into her and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. “You are so full of light, angel. You carry it with you everywhere.”
She nuzzled against him and they relaxed into one another.
Marella murmured, “I fear that Ryan may be following in your earlier footsteps. I am worried.”
“I am aware.”
“Will you help him?”
“Is that your first official request of me as your mate?”
“He will not listen to me, or anyone else. But he will listen to another Dark Realm king.”
“I will see to it, angel. Do not fret.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” He gathered her in his arms, gently pulling her against him, her back to his chest. His hand splayed across her belly. “I hope our child has more of you in her, than me.”
Marella chuckled. “She will be perfect.”
“I do not doubt it. Sleep now, angel,” he implored her, as he relaxed against her and closed his eyes.
19
Ryan watched silently from the doorway, hoping his wife wasn’t attempting to do what he feared.
She’d be crossing a major line if she was.
What little hope he’d had was snuffed out the moment she lifted Orion from his crib.
“Let’s go, my sweet boy.”
He stepped into the room with a warning growl. “Go where?”
She spun around with Orion cradled in her arms. “I don’t want to be around you.”
Ryan felt like she’d just slapped him across the face. He forced himself to maintain his composure. He needed to try the diplomatic approach first. The alternative would cause some major fallout. “There are plenty of other rooms in the compound that you can take. I’ll get another one set up for you.”
“I need space.”
“There’s plenty of space.”
“Not here, Ryan.”
So much for diplomacy. “You’re my wife.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
“You’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting? Do you remember what you did to me earlier? What you said?”
“There’s blame on both sides of that.”
She scoffed. “Typical.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You can never be wrong. Everyone else is, but not the almighty Wolf King.”
“I’m not wrong about what went down earlier. I’m not gonna apologize. You should, though.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve changed, since taking on the role of king.” Her eyes flashed. “I don’t like what it’s done to you.”
“Right back at you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your magic? Your growing power?”
“Ah, I see. You feel threatened, because my power eclipses yours now. Unlike when we first met, you no longer hold all the cards.”
“No,” he growled, pissed at her accusation. Threatened? No fucking way. “The magic has changed you. You’re not the sweet, innocent girl I fell in love with anymore.”
“You mean, I’m no longer the weak, naïve girl you could easily keep under your thumb.”
He blew out a breath of frustration, tugging at his hair. “I’m trying to talk this out with you, but you’re making it impossible.”
“Because I’m not
blindly agreeing with you and falling in line.”
He glared hard at her. “I’m really fucking concerned that what you’re about to do is going way beyond not falling in line.”
She clutched Orion more tightly to her. “I need some distance.”
And there it was. Confirmation of his suspicions. The diplomatic approach was shot to hell.
“You were gonna take him with you.” He had to hear her admit it.
“Of course. He’s my son.”
Fuck. She had no remorse. It was clear that she thought it was her fucking right. Well, she was in for a hell of a shock.
He stalked towards her, his hands shaking with fury. “You were gonna take my son! You were gonna sneak him out of here behind my fucking back!”
Orion started to cry at the sound of his irate voice.
“Stop it. You’re scaring him,” Cora cried.
“Put. Him. Down.”
Instead, she pulled him tighter to her. “No. I’m not leaving him here.”
“Yeah, you fucking are.”
She tried to move past him, but he blocked her path. She tried again, but he was too fast for her. “Ryan, stop this. It’s only for a few days. You’re busy right now anyway.”
“I’ll always make time to take care of my son, Cora. I don’t give a crap how busy I am. He always comes first.”
“I am his mother!”
“But he’s his father’s son! He’s more wolf, than sorceress. You know it.”
“Shut up!”
“Put him down, or I swear to fuck—”
“What? What exactly are you going to do?” she challenged.
She’d pushed him. That was it. He’d asked her several times to put their son down. Now, he’d have to make her. Folding his arms across his chest, he caught Orion’s eye and commanded, “Shift.”
Cora’s eyes went wide. “No! Stop! Don’t, Ryan!”
The time for diplomacy was long past. He ignored her pleas and focused on their son. “Shift, Orion. Just like Daddy taught you.”
Orion’s claws dropped from his hands and feet.
Cora hissed and grimaced as they inadvertently scratched her arms.
“You might want to put him down now.”
She shook her head. “No. He’s my son.”
