by Franca Storm
Nathanial couldn’t help smirking as he stood at the castle doors, his arms folded as he watched her approach. So feisty. Even angry, she has such a dignity and grace about her.
“It is not funny!”
He forced his smile aside and held out his hand as she reached him. “I was merely concerned for your safety and that of our child, angel. It was a decision borne out of love. That is all. I do not think you incapable of anything.”
Marella grinned as she took his hand. “Well, seeing as though you put it like that, I will forgive you—this one time.”
Nathanial chuckled. And then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I have missed you greatly, Marella. We will not be apart again.”
Marella looked up at him, surprise in her eyes. “Does that mean what I think it does?”
“Yes. I will make you my Queen this night. Of course, only if that is something that you want?”
“Do not tease me. Of course it is. I love you, Nathanial.”
“You are the only woman whom I have ever loved, angel.”
“Finally, you are abiding by true tradition, your majesty,” Haraz told him telepathically as he passed by.
“Such insolence will not be tolerated,” Nathanial teased.
“It is a good thing that I picked such a time of elation for you in which to act as so then.”
Nathanial chuckled and then commanded Haraz out loud, “Prepare the gardens. A private ceremony. You will officiate the joining rites.”
Haraz nodded and sped off in a flash of vampire speed.
“I am sorry we have to rush this, but with everything that is happening, you won’t be truly safe until we join. As soon as the ritual is complete you will have my complete protection. For as long as I live, my Dark magic will always protect you even if you were to step outside of the realm for any reason.”
“I understand,” she said. “Despite my insistence that I can take care of myself, I know that you will always be ill at ease until I let you have your way,” she jested.
“You know me well, angel.”
He took her hand in his and led her through the castle. Past the Great Hall. Past the lounge area. Along the maze of winding corridors until they came to a set of double doors located in a part of the castle that was secluded from the rest. He released her and pushed open both doors.
“After you,” he said as he stepped aside to allow her through.
He heard her gasp in wonder as she took in the room. It wasn’t just a room like the others in the castle. For one thing, it consisted of two floors. It was a little slice of heaven. Sheer luxury. Rich, vibrant colors of gold, red, and black. Gold-rimmed, crystal chandeliers hung from the first-floor ceiling, presiding over the lounge area—a huge seating area complete with black, leather wraparound couches and oversized armchairs. It faced a huge fireplace made from red fire—magical energy, not true flame.
He smiled to himself as he watched her walk through the room in a state of awe. She passed beyond the partition and entered the bedroom. A mammoth, four-poster bed stood in the center. The frame was wrought iron, decorated with golden vines and leaves that snaked around the poles. Silky, red drapes brushed the sides of the bed that was made neatly with golden sheets and covered with decorative gold-and-red pillows that made it look so comfy and warm. She glanced to her right and he chuckled as her eyes widened in shock as she took in the bathroom. Her gaze swept over the sunken bathtub, the mammoth frosted glass shower and the marble wraparound benches.
“What’s upstairs?” she asked, unable to contain her excitement.
He grinned. “The nursery.”
“What?”
“This is our room. I had it prepared to your specific tastes. I had planned to show it to you after we were officially wed, but I couldn’t wait.”
Marella gazed at him in wonder. “You built this entire area just for me?”
“Yes. I told you I would give you everything, Marella. You thought I was merely jesting?”
“I can’t believe it. It’s…incredible.”
“I am glad you like it.” He slid his arms around her waist and said, “I know you are used to the light and you were concerned about moving here. But you will have everything that you had in the White Realm and more. I need you here as my Queen. Permanently. When we do the joining ritual tonight, that is what you will be accepting. You will belong to the Dark Realm, Marella. To me.” He pulled away and said, “I will leave you to decide if that is what you truly wish. I know it is a lot to ask, but it must be this way. I am King and my wife and child must belong completely to the Dark Realm.”
“Nathanial!” she called out as he turned away.
He spun back around. “Yes, angel?”
“You are my home now. There is no decision to be made. I already made it when I allowed you to take me to your bed that first night. I have belonged to you since then, as you have belonged to me.”
He grinned from ear to ear. And then he rushed her in a burst of vampire speed, driving them down onto the bed. He kissed her all over and she giggled. “I love you, angel. I cannot wait until we join.” He straddled her and gazed down at her intensely. “You are mine forever.”
“And you are mine. Now take me, Nathanial.”
He smirked at her. “Oh, I had already planned to.”
CHAPTER 22
“What just happened?” Luca asked as he and Cora rematerialized nowhere near where he’d been teleporting them to.
“Sorry. I was upset as you were teleporting us. I must’ve affected it,” she said, stepping back from him and running her fingers through her hair in distress.
“But I was guiding the teleportation.”
“My magic is stronger.”
“Much stronger, clearly, to be able to change course in the middle of teleporting. Wow.” He glanced around at their surroundings and realized they were familiar. “Is this—?”
“Where we first met? Yes, looks like,” she said sheepishly.
Interesting. He walked over to her as she leaned against the brick wall. A wave of memories came back to him.
He’d approached her right here in this little alleyway, telling her that she was his betrothed bride and that she needed to come with him. They’d fooled around a little against the very wall that she now leaned against. And then she’d blown him off, basically telling him to go to hell. And he had gone to hell—there and back—several times ever since as she had continued to deny him and had then mated with Ryan instead. “I’m intrigued. Why would you guide us here, princess?” he asked, his tone playful.
She didn’t meet his gaze as she murmured, “I was thinking about you as we teleported.”
He stopped in front of her and folded his arms across his chest as he regarded her. “In what way?”
She looked up at him then. “In a way that I shouldn’t be thinking about you.”
Is she really saying what I’ve been wanting to hear for so long now? Is this just because she is mad at Ryan? If it was, then he didn’t want any part of it. That was on the empty side. “You are just upset with Ryan. Your judgment is clouded.”
“I want to break the bond between us.”
Confused, he reminded her, “We already have.”
She shook her head. “No. Between Ryan and I.”
What? “Princess, I am aware that Ryan has not been himself lately. But there are reasons. It can’t be helped.” I can’t believe I am defending him right now. But my father would wish it and God knows I have a lot of making up to do with him.
“And I’m aware that you know why.”
“What?”
She stepped towards him, her gaze burning into his. “You know why,” she repeated.
“Yes,” he admitted. “I do. But I am bound by my father not to say anything. I am sorry.”
“I get it. I wouldn’t ask you to. I know you’re trying to redeem yourself in his eyes. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that.” She moved away from him then. “It doesn’t matter. He do
esn’t want me. He wants a wolf as his mate. It’s the way it should be, I guess. I should’ve realized the moment he accepted his duty as Wolf King. And the way he’s treated me? I won’t take that from anyone, especially not my husband. I’m not a submissive wife and I never will be. It’s what Ryan wants, what he’s used to.”
“What about your son?” Luca asked gently, moving a good few feet away from her. He could hear the waver in her voice; he could feel her grief over her broken relationship. He was affected by it and it unnerved him. He’d never been affected by anyone’s sadness or anyone’s emotion before. It was a heady experience. The only thing he wanted was to stop her hurt somehow.
“We’ll work something out when he calms down. I’m learning how to communicate in wolf so it won’t be a problem anymore even if he stays in wolf form forever.”
Impressive. Learning wolf is no easy feat. The language is very complicated. “I see,” he said, ensuring that he stayed where he was. He didn’t want to upset her by getting too close, even though every fiber of his being was urging him to. He wanted to touch her. He always did whenever he was near her. The strain of trying to hold back was more than just a little painful.
A few months ago he would have just taken her despite her objections. But everything was different now. He was different. He loved the girl for Christ’s sake. She was no longer just a power play to him to acquire the Dark Realm throne. He didn’t give a crap about that anymore. There was just her now.
He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn’t realized that she was now standing right in front of him. She tucked her long, black, silky hair behind her ear and asked him, “So, will you help me figure out how to break the bond?”
He nodded. “If you still feel the same way in a few days then, yes, I will help you.”
“A few days?”
“You’re emotional after your fight with Ryan. You need time to gain perspective.”
She moved closer until they were almost touching. “I accept, but know that I’m anything but emotional, Luca. I’m more resilient than you give me credit for. I just see the truth now, that’s all. Ryan questioned our bond tonight and he’s right, we just accepted it. We didn’t even know each other before we jumped right in and blindly trusted fate, all that fated love crap. Now that I know the bond doesn’t really mean forever, I can give him what he wants. To be free of me.”
Luca reached out and caressed her right cheek. “Princess,” he said sadly. “He is just confused. I know this because no one would ever want to be free of you. You are exquisite.”
She looked up at him, her deep-blue eyes intense. She gripped his hand on her cheek.
And then she pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly.
He pulled back. “Are you sure, princess?”
She answered him by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down towards her as she took him again in a soft kiss. He responded, deepening the kiss and pressing his hand to the small of her back to steady her against him. He moaned as he tasted her, exploring her mouth with his tongue, tasting her everywhere. In a sudden burst of vampire speed, he slammed her against the wall, not breaking their kiss even for a second. Her hands slid under his shirt, her fingers on his ice-cold chest sending an exhilarating warmth through his entire body. He rolled his hips, rubbing his erection against her and she let out a little gasp and gripped the lapels of his leather coat, forcing him closer.
“Not here,” he whispered in her ear.
He swept her off her feet and teleported them to his bedroom in his abandoned mansion. He laid her down gently on his bed.
As he shed his coat, he gazed at her lying on the sheets. She smiled shyly at him. He saw the desire in her eyes as he removed his shirt, quickly followed by his leather pants. He watched her gaze sweep over him, over his face and his chest, until it rested on his boxers and the hard evidence of his irrepressible desire for her. She started to peel off her biker jacket and he crawled up the bed to her. She lifted her strappy, white tank top over her head. And then his arms were around her, his fingers working quickly to unclasp her lacy, black bra. He tossed it off the bed and drank in the sight of her appetizing breasts.
He licked her left nipple and she gasped. His hands kneaded her soft flesh as he continued to tease her nipples with his tongue, his teeth. He wanted so badly to drop his fangs and sink them into her, but he resisted, wanting only to give her pleasure and not the slightest pain.
He took his time with her, licking, suckling, and grazing every inch of her upper body until she was writhing beneath him and completely drunk with desire.
As he looked into her glazed eyes he knew there was no going back for her. She wanted it. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Hooking his fingers into the waistband of her leather pants, he tugged them down her legs and gently eased them off her. He swallowed hard as he took in the sight of her lying beneath him on his bed wearing nothing but a pair of red, lace panties. She’s a vision. Perfection. He’d seen her naked before in his compulsion-induced dreams that they’d shared when he had tried to force her to let him take her. And he’d gazed upon her shadow self’s body as well. But this right now? This was different. So much better. It was real. She was here with him now. Wanting him. Needing him. Ready for him. He couldn’t believe how responsive she was to his slightest touch. It reminded him just how innocent she really was. She’d only ever made love to one man before.
He crawled down the bed and pushed her legs apart, opening her wide for him. He licked his lips at the sight of her beckoning pink pussy. It glistened with the evidence of her arousal, tempting him, possessing him. His cock throbbed with anticipation as he imagined just how tight she would be, how her velvety walls would grip him when he took her.
She cried out in pleasure as his tongue flicked her clit. He traced small circles around it, spreading her wetness everywhere. He drove her crazy, only flicking her clit ever so slightly every now and then as he teased her.
“Luca!” she panted. “Please.”
He smiled to himself and pulled back, wanting the first time she came to be when he was inside her. He wanted to feel her come apart around him.
He shed his boxers and straddled her, resting his elbows either side of her head. He drew her gaze to his and watched the intensity flash in her eyes as he slowly inched his cock inside her.
When he was buried deep, he took her in an all-consuming kiss as he pulled almost all the way out and then thrust back into her hard. She moaned loudly into his mouth. His touch was wild, his hands sweeping over every inch of her body as he thrust into her over and over again.
“Oh my God! Yes, Luca!” she cried out breathlessly.
He felt her starting to meet his thrusts, driving him deeper and harder. She screamed as he hit that sensitive spot deep inside her. He watched her throw her head back and her body convulsed around him as her climax hit her. Her grip was exquisite and too much to handle. He grunted as he came along with her, releasing himself inside her.
He pulled out and collapsed onto the bed beside her. “I’ve been waiting so long to take you like that, princess. And it was worth every second of the wait,” he said as he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. They lay together in peaceful silence for a while before Cora suddenly pulled away and climbed off the bed hastily.
He watched her start to frantically pull on her clothes.
“Cora, relax.”
“Relax? We need to get to the White Realm gates immediately.”
Luca was very aware that she didn’t look at him. His heart sank.
She was panicked and he knew it wasn’t merely about the mission. It was about what they’d just done. She regrets it? He slid off the bed and pulled on his boxers. He wrapped his arms around her and said, “It’s okay, princess.”
“Okay?” she thundered, breaking his grip and reaching for her last item of clothing—her leather jacket. She shrugged it on and avoided his gaze again as she said in a pained whi
sper, “I’m married. I shouldn’t—we shouldn’t have.”
He could feel her guilt crashing over her like powerful waves from where he stood. And it incensed him. They hadn’t just fucked; he’d made love to her. It had finally happened and he wouldn’t let her just dismiss it as some dirty act now. “You wanted me, Cora.”
“I—I made a mistake.”
A mistake? I don’t fucking think so. “Ryan slept with another woman!” he roared before he could stop himself. Oh shit! Shit! Shit!
This time she did meet his gaze. He saw the disbelief in her eyes, the hurt. “That wolf girl?”
Luca nodded. “Several times.”
He saw her flinch at his words, the tears glistening in her eyes and he hated himself for having been the one to cause it. But he wouldn’t let her just dismiss him again, not after what they’d just shared.
She held his gaze but no words escaped her lips.
Oh no. What have I done?
CHAPTER 23
Ryan sprinted down the corridor. The blare of the alarm thundered through the compound.
As he neared the front doors, a thunderous explosion blew him back.
He grunted as he landed painfully on his back, smacking his head on the concrete floor.
Before he could recover, an army of vampires, all battle-ready with their twisted, demonic features reflecting harshly off the fluorescent lights, barreled through the doors. They spotted him immediately but they turned away, heading in the direction of the corridor instead.
I don’t fucking think so!
He scrambled to his feet.
He leapt through the air and landed ahead of them, blocking their way. He let out a ferocious roar. A battle cry.
And then they all rushed him.
He gripped the arms of the nearest two and flung them into the army behind them, forcing them back. But, being vampires, they recovered quickly. He was a whirlwind of fists, elbows, claws, and kicks as he beat them back.
A blade scraped across his right arm and he hissed as he felt the burn. Silver. Enraged, he grasped the culprit by the neck and wrenched his head from his body with one powerful jerk. He burst into a fog of dust and it obscured his vision. It gave his enemies the advantage for a moment, which they took full advantage of as six of them jumped on him, driving him to the floor.
