Fated Love: A Vampire Paranormal Romance Novel (The Twisted Destiny Saga Book 4) by Franca Storm Page A

it so carelessly.
    “You may maintain possession of the orb. It is dangerous for it to remain in the castle at present,” Nathanial told him calmly.
    “What?” Damon snapped. “Is this some sort of bloodsucker trick?”
    Bloodsucker? Infuriating. But Nathanial remained calm and composed. He was the Vampire King; he didn’t have the luxury of losing himself to his feelings. “We have been enemies for years. It is understandable that you do not trust me. Consider my allowing you to remove the orb from the premises as a guarantee that she will remain here unharmed.”
    “You don’t need to keep her here. I will keep her away from Ryan myself.”
    “Impossible. The pull between them is too strong.”
    “I can overpower her.”
    Nathanial glared hard at him. “But you cannot overpower Ryan.”
    “You think he would try to go through me?”
    “Yes.”
    Nathanial watched him try to hide his anxiety, but to no avail. The wolf shifted his weight uncomfortably and asked, “Why are you so hell-bent on keeping them apart?”
    “He is married.”
    Damon scoffed. “Coming from the man— vampire —who fucked an orgy of whores night after night when he was married.”
    Nathanial bristled at his comment and couldn’t help commenting, “You wish your sister to be treated as a whore by him?”
    Damon growled low in his throat. “That’s not what he’s doing.”
    Nathanial laughed. “I can smell it on them both. She is nothing but a whore to do with as he pleases. He takes her, but offers her nothing more. A whore , Damon.”
    “They are mates!”
    “That remains to be seen.”
    “I’ve seen it, Nathanial!”
    “I will investigate the claim. But I need time. Take the orb and go. She will not be harmed. She is here under my protection.”
    “Only my King can command me.”
    Nathanial took a threatening step towards him. “Your King is in no fit state to give you an order right now. So you will heed mine. Ryan and I have an alliance. As such, my word will suffice. You cannot deny me and you know it. Do not try. Trying my patience is a very foolish thing indeed. Leave, wolf.”
    Damon growled and stepped back. “If you hurt her—”
    “I have no reason to. Rest assured that I would not hurt anyone whom Ryan cares for.”
    Nathanial watched the surprise flicker in Damon’s eyes.
    “This isn’t just duty to you? You care about Ryan?”
    “He is like a son to me.”
    “I…wow,” Damon gasped.
    His reaction amused Nathanial. “I see you are surprised that I am not the cold bloodsucker that you always took me for. Perception is not always in keeping with reality, Damon. You’d do well to remember that in the future.”
    “But…Cornelius. You murdered him.”
    “A mistake I now have to live with for eternity.”
    “Mistake?”
    “Yes. It should have been Oriana. My perception was skewed at the time. You see the consequences?”
    Damon nodded and Nathanial saw him struggling to absorb his revelations. He’d always seen him as a ruthless demon, but now he was seeing the reality of how things really were. “I will protect the orb and pull my wolves from the castle,” he finally agreed.
    “You and your wolves are welcome to remain on the grounds for as long as you like. Your King has taken his rightful place now. Wolves belong here as much as vampires. But Jada must remain here in secret until I have uncovered the truth about her and Ryan supposedly being mates. The White Realm Princess is still in the Dark Realm and she cannot be made aware of Jada’s presence or her connection to Ryan. It could destabilize her magic—magic that is far beyond even mine. Do you understand the severity of the situation now?”
    Damon swallowed hard. “Yes.”
    And with that he turned on his heel and walked away.
    Nathanial breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Damon understood, hopefully he could keep the wolves quiet about Ryan and Jada. He doubted very much that Ryan had been discreet about what he’d been doing with