Fated Betrayal: A Paranormal Erotic Romance (The Twisted Destiny Saga Book 2) (4 page)

CHAPTER 4

Ryan’s eyes snapped open and he glanced around anxiously at the unfamiliar surroundings. He hated waking up in anything other than his own bed. It was unnerving and disorientating to his natural instincts. And being in another realm entirely was not helping matters. It was then that he realized he had actually fallen asleep.
For how long?

“Ry, relax,” a familiar voice spoke.

He turned towards the loveseat over by the window and saw Shaye sitting there watching him.

“What’s going on? What are you doing here? Where’s Cora? How long have I been asleep?” he asked, sitting up suddenly.

“Wow, too many questions. You need to calm down.”

“Shaye, I’m not in the mood,” he said as he climbed off the bed and approached her. She was wearing all white—priest-like robes similar to the ones that Vazra had been wearing. “What the hell are you wearing?”

She brushed her hands over her robes. “What’s the matter? Not revealing enough for you?”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure. That’s why I’m asking,” he responded with dripping sarcasm.

“Just trying to lighten your mood. No, one of the servants offered them to me. They are incredibly comfortable. You should get some for yourself.”

“Not my style.”

“Right, you prefer the biker look, just like your wife,” she said, eyeing him in his well-worn jeans and leather jacket.

“Where is she?”

“She’s with her father. He’s teaching her about her power.”

“What? She was in the shower when I came in. I must’ve fallen asleep. Why didn’t she wake me up?”

“Haven’t you heard the expression ‘
let sleeping dogs lie’
?”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Werewolves are
not
dogs, Shaye. How many times do we need to have this damned conversation?”

Shaye held up her hands in surrender. “I’m just saying, everyone knows never to wake a sleeping wolf. She’s been with her father for the last couple of hours. I came up here to talk to you about twenty minutes ago and found you asleep. You must have been tired. You never were much of a sleeper.”

Ryan cracked his neck and let out a heavy sigh before saying, “Yeah, a lot has been happening.”

“I know,” she said, looking at him excitedly. “Congratulations on your son.”

“Thanks,” he said, smiling.

“I thought that would make you smile. It’s what you always wanted, Ryan. A son of your own.”

He nodded. “I know. And he’s a wolf—well—mostly.”

“Let’s hope he won’t be as stubborn as his father.”

“He’ll need to be,” Ryan said, unable to keep the sadness from his voice. “Life…it’s…only for the tough.”

The next thing he knew, Shaye was lunging for him. She grabbed his arm and held on tight for a few moments. “I see why you’re upset,” she said gently as she released him.

“Damn, you read me quickly.”

“It’s because we’ve had several
connections
over the years. It gives me quick and easy access.”

“Just don’t bring that up in front of Cora. She’ll get jealous if she knows another woman can read my thoughts.”

But Shaye wasn’t joking anymore. He could tell by the look in her eyes.

“The waterfall,” she said.

“Yeah,” he murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“It’s because you’ve suppressed your dark side for so long. The magic of the waterfall called it forth in a sudden rush. No one would have been able to prevent it, Ryan. You didn’t stand a chance.”

“I hurt her, Shaye. I mean really fucking hurt her. There was blood…everywhere.”

“I know, Ry. I know. It wasn’t your fault.”

“That guy…David…he said the waterfall just brings someone’s innermost desires to the surface.”

Shaye shook her head. “I know of that magic. It’s more complicated than that, Ry. It brings your most
suppressed
self to the surface. Not necessarily your desires. You’ve lived in the human realm for two centuries and your power is just a fraction of what it was when you resided in the Dark Realm. You haven’t felt the full power of the dark aspects of the wolf for that long. So, you weren’t prepared for it being thrust to the surface suddenly. That’s all.”

“But that darkness is still in me, Shaye. The monster.”

“We all have darkness inside us. But some of us choose to learn how to control it.”

“Cora wouldn’t let me anywhere near her afterwards. She’s scared of me.”

“She was just in shock. Explain it to her, what I just told you. She loves you. She’ll understand.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, maybe she will.”

His eyes wandered around the room and something caught his eye. A mug on the bedside table. He reached for it and inspected the contents. The tea that David had said he’d made Cora. He picked out one of the large, golden leaves and sniffed it. There was no scent.
Impossible.
Everything had a scent. Everything. He brought it closer and inspected it.

“What’s wrong?” Shaye asked.

“This tea leaf doesn’t have a scent.”

“What? You can’t smell
anything
?”

No being in any of the realms had a keener sense of smell than a wolf. And the Wolf King himself had the keenest sense of all. If he couldn’t smell anything, there was a problem. There was something odd about the leaf.

“Nothing,” he told her. “David made this tea for Cora. I don’t trust that fucker, Shaye.”

Shaye took the leaf from him. “I’ll have the coven look into it for you.” She waved her hand over it and it disappeared before their eyes. “It’s in their hands now.”

Ryan nodded. “Thanks.” He slumped onto the bed and leaned back on his hands as he asked her, “So what did you come here to talk to me about?”

“The full moon is two nights away. We should leave the day of, so I have time to set up the spell to protect your wolves from Michael and Luca’s anticipated attack.”

“I know.”

“It means you might have to leave Cora behind here, Ry.”

“What?”

“The training with her father will take a while. She can’t leave until she completes it. It’s too dangerous. Once he shows her how to unleash her powers, it won’t be safe until she is able to perfect her control as well.”

“Oh,” Ryan said, taking in the news. “Well, there’s no choice. I must protect my wolves.”

Shaye grinned at him.

“What?” he asked with amusement. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just proud of you, that’s all.”

He cocked an eyebrow.
What is she talking about?

“You really are the Wolf King, Ry. You’re a good leader. You always put your wolves first, no matter what. You
will
win this war.”

Ryan reached out and drew her to him, enveloping her in a tight hug of friendship. “Thank you. You’re a good friend.”

“As are you. You’ve had my back so many times and now I have yours.”

He smiled and pulled back. “I need to get to that Royal Court meeting,” he said, looking through the windows at the sun setting outside. “They’re gathering at nightfall. It’s time. You coming?”

Shaye looked surprised. “I’m not invited. I’m not a member of the Royal Court.”

Ryan chuckled. “I’m asking you to be a member of
mine
.”

“What? You’re serious?”

“Yeah, Josh isn’t here. I could use an advisor at my side.”

She curtseyed in front of him and responded, “I would be honored, your majesty.”

Ryan shook his head. “Hilarious.” He crossed to the door. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 5

“Hold it steady!” Vazra commanded.

Cora gritted her teeth and fought to hold the ball of white light at bay that her father had conjured and thrown her way. It was so powerful that her right palm was shaking under the strain of trying to hold it steady.

“I…can’t,” she struggled to say as it forced her onto one knee.

“You have the strength, Cora. Don’t be afraid. Let loose. Can’t you feel a strain deep within?”

“Yes…it…hurts.”

“Because you are keeping it at bay and it needs to break free. Let go, child!”

“I…can’t…control it.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let me worry about that. Do it, now. Or, we stop this training right now. There is no point if you’re not all in. If you don’t do this your child won’t make it to term. It needs you to do this.
Ryan
needs you to do this. He’s wanted you and a child for three
hundred
years, Cora. Don’t take that away from him now. Do this!”

Her father’s words reached something deep within her. Conviction. She heeded his words.
Let loose. Let it go.
She focused on the painful strain deep within her that she knew was the heart of her power. She closed her eyes. And then, for the first time in her life, she set everything free. She screamed as she felt it surge up and out of her.

“Good! Good, Cora!
All
of it now!”

She did as he asked. And then she opened her eyes.

“Oh my God,” she gasped when she saw the result.

Her father stood, both his palms outstretched in front of him, holding up a shimmering, translucent barrier against hundreds of shimmering, silver balls of light that were pushing against it. She could see the strain on his face, the sweat trickling down his forehead as he fought to hold it at bay.

Their eyes locked and he smiled at her proudly. “You see your power now?”

She nodded in shock.

“Now, I need you to call the magic back to you. Slowly.”

“Okay. How?”

“Basically, do the opposite of what you just did. Instead of casting it away, call it back to you. Slowly, Cora.”

She climbed to her feet and held out her right palm. After a few moments, the shimmering balls of magic started to return to her. She gasped as the first one hit her palm and a rush of energy racked her body as she reabsorbed it. The sensation caught her off guard and she lost control. She watched in horror as the rest of the orbs rushed towards her all at once in a frantic bid to get to her first. She screamed as they neared her.

“Stop!” Vazra commanded.

To her surprise, every single orb ceased immediately. Vazra dropped his barrier and walked towards them. He held out his right palm in front of them. And then he held his left out to Cora. “Come, my child. I will return your magic to you through myself.”

She approached him and pressed her right palm to his left.

“Brace yourself.”

“Okay.”

She watched him concentrate and his hand tremble. The orbs came towards his right palm slowly, forming an ordered line. Unlike her, he didn’t even flinch as each one passed through his palm and was absorbed by him. She felt a rush of energy hit her from his palm against hers as he passed the absorbed magic back to her.

“Just breathe and accept it. It is your magic, Cora. It belongs with you. Do not treat it as an invasion. Welcome it and it will stop being uncomfortable,” he coached her.

She nodded her understanding and followed his instructions. Before long, she no longer felt the uncomfortable rush of energy. It became a welcome tingle of sensation instead. She smiled happily; she was proud that she had accomplished
something
at least.

When the last orb of magic had passed back to her, her father released her and grinned at her. “You’re doing well.”

She made a face. “I guess,” she said, not believing him.

“It takes
total
concentration to master complete control over your power. It takes practice. I wanted you to draw it back to you and absorb it so that you could start to learn how to be at one with it. Your magic is not a separate entity from you. Normally, you would not need to draw your power back to you in the event of a battle situation.”

A round of applause came from behind her suddenly. She spun around to see Ryan smiling at her and clapping. Shaye stood beside him and nodded her respect.

“Impressive,” Ryan said, stepping into the throne room.

Cora smiled shyly and then shook out her hands. “They burn,” she told her father.

He chuckled and took them in his and rubbed them gently. “Just as when a student first picks up a guitar and the strings make their fingers bleed until they build up calluses, the same applies to using your magic. The more you do it, the less you’ll feel the burn.”

Vazra moved away as Ryan approached. Cora saw him hesitating, unsure whether to touch her, it looked like. She offered him a smile and it reassured him enough. He wrapped his arms around her and she melted into his embrace, releasing a peaceful moan as she laid her head against his chest.

I’m sorry
, he told her with his thoughts.

I know.

Shaye told me the truth about the waterfall. It doesn’t bring out your desires. It brings out what someone has been suppressing the most. Yours was your unexplored sexuality. I guess you’ve been holding out on me.

Cora chuckled aloud.
Looks like.

And mine was the darkest part of the wolf.

I thought you were in control of that?

Not of the darkest part that is rooted in the Dark Realm. Living in the human realm for so long, I haven’t had to deal with it for two hundred years. I’m out of practice. So, when it rose within me tonight thanks to that awful magic, I wasn’t strong enough to push it back down. I will never hurt you like that again. Please believe me. I swear that you are safe with me, my love.

I know, Ryan. I’m sorry I reacted like that earlier. I was just shocked.

You’re sure?

Yes, I promise.

Good, because I couldn’t bear it if you were afraid of me.

“No, baby. I love you,” she said aloud as she tightened her hold on him.

“Next time, check with me before you touch anything that doesn’t look
normal
to you,” Vazra said with a wry grin.

“Definitely,” Cora agreed.

“Shaye, nice to see you again,” Vazra said politely.

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“She is here in an advisory capacity to me,” Ryan announced.

Vazra nodded. “Very good. A nice choice, Ryan.”

Shaye beamed at the compliment.

“Shaye, you are a very accomplished witch. Perhaps you would like to assist me with Cora’s training after tonight’s meeting?”

Shaye hesitated. “Her power is…beyond mine, your majesty.”

Vazra waved his hand dismissively. “I will be here as well. There is nothing to worry about.”

Cora pulled away from Ryan and took Shaye’s hand in hers. She smiled kindly at her and said, “You should join us. Ryan speaks highly of your magical abilities.”

“He does?” Shaye questioned, shooting Ryan a glance. “And here I thought he was always intimidated by my magic.”

Ryan scoffed. “Intimidated? Imagining things again, are you, Shaye?” he teased.

“You’d better get used to being around magic, baby,” Cora said.

The three of them laughed.

“Glad to see the newlyweds have made up,” a voice came from the door suddenly.

They spun around the see David striding into the room. He now sported a tailored, navy jacket over his white shirt, which was now fully buttoned up, presenting a much smarter, clean-cut look for the meeting ahead.

Cora saw Ryan’s eyes narrow and his entire body tense. She knew it was the wolf reacting instinctively, responding territorially to the threat that he thought David posed.

Thankfully, before things could get out of hand, Shaye stepped forward, gripped his shoulder and flashed him a warning look. He nodded at her and drew in a calming breath.

But, as David tried to approach her, to hug her, Ryan stepped into his path. Cora rolled her eyes at his overt possessiveness.

“David, thanks for assisting my wife earlier,” Ryan said, taking a step closer to him, forcing him to step back.

David smiled politely and held out his hand to him. Ryan’s eyes flashed. He clearly didn’t like the prospect of shaking his hand.

It took him a moment, but he managed it anyway.
Good job, baby.

She watched as he reluctantly took David’s hand.

But, as soon as he did, he hissed and drew back quickly.

He eyed his hand and growled in fury.

“Sorry,” David said, gesturing to his ring. “I forgot this was pure faerie silver.”

“Oh my God!” Cora exclaimed, reaching for Ryan’s hand. There was a first-degree burn across the inside of his fingers. “Are you okay, baby?”

He pulled his hand away. “I’m fine. It’ll heal.”

“David! I told all members of the Royal Court not to wear
any
silver!” Vazra reprimanded him.

“I sincerely apologize. I was preoccupied with the events of earlier tonight. It must have slipped my mind.”

* * * * *

Ryan’s eyes narrowed in fury. His good hand clenched in anticipation of a fight. That fucker had done it on purpose. He was sure of it. And he wanted to rip his head off for it. But, he couldn’t murder one of Vazra’s Royal Court members, especially not right in front of him. It’d probably incite a goddamn war, or something.

“Ryan, let me see,” Shaye said, suddenly stepping between him and David.

When Ryan refused to give her his hand, she grabbed his wrist roughly and forced it into her view. Cora came to stand beside her and her eyes widened in shock when she saw how bad the burn was. Shaye waved her hand over it and then drew back.

“There. Good as new,” she said.

“Wow,” Cora breathed, impressed.

“Thanks,” Ryan told Shaye.

“Of course.”

Before he could return his attention to that asshole, David, Vazra gestured for him to follow him over to the Sacred Table of the Royal Court.

“Your seat,” Vazra said, gesturing to a seat at the head of the table.

Ryan was surprised.

“You are the Wolf King, Ryan. That seat is reserved only for guests of royal blood.”

Ryan nodded and took the seat. Vazra sat at the other head of the table, opposite him.

Cora took a seat on one side of Ryan and Shaye took the other. David moved to sit beside Cora.

“David! Your seat is here, beside me!” Vazra ordered.

David nodded dejectedly and followed his king’s orders immediately, taking the seat on his left.

They all looked up moments later as two women walked into the throne room.

“Asha, Guardian of the Dragons,” Vazra told Ryan, Cora, and Shaye.

Ryan grinned as Asha growled at him in greeting, at a pitch only the two of them could hear on account of their animal-like supernatural heritage. He returned her growl and she winked at him. The woman was a sight to behold indeed. He had never seen a being like her before, not even in the Dark Realm. Her hair was a ferocious scarlet, so long that it fell just below the back of her knees. She wore a golden bustier that pushed her tits into a bountiful cleavage and exposed her tight abs. A golden skirt barely covered her ass and looked like it was made of something similar to chainmail. The same material stretched from her wrists all the way up her forearms. And her boots matched the color of her hair and extended halfway up her thighs. But despite her obvious attractiveness, Ryan already had the hottest woman in the room—in all of the realms, actually—so it did little to affect him at all. He didn’t give a crap. The only thing that drew his attention were her strange eyes. Her pupils were burning flames of orange and red, flickering constantly, signaling to everyone that she was a dragon with the ability to shift into a human-like form when necessary—such as meetings of the Royal Court. As big as the throne room was, Ryan doubted very much that it would be able to hold an actual dragon. She took a seat beside David.

“Marella, Head of the Coven of White Witches,” Vazra said, gesturing to a woman wearing a floor-length, silver gown. Matching silver gloves extended all the way up her forearms. A headband of diamonds adorned her curly, white hair that cascaded about her face. Her eyes were a deep royal blue. She took a seat to Vazra’s right, indicating that she was his right-hand woman.

“It is an honor to meet you, Ryan Winters. I knew your mother, Oriana, well. She was my mentor.”

“Thank you,” Ryan said politely.

Vazra gestured to David. “You have already met, but let me introduce him formally. This is Davidas, Guardian of the Fae.”

David rose to his feet suddenly and said, “Before we begin, your majesty, I would like to acknowledge the very welcome return of Princess Cora.” His eyes fixed fiercely on Ryan as he added, “I, for one, have taken great
pleasure
in her return to her rightful place here in the White Realm.”