Unexpected: Forever His (Book 1)

Chapter 26: Caresses of Death

I blinked away the sleep, although it had not really found me that much that night. I had felt his hands on my skin, the feeling so real, only to wake up and realize I was alone. The mark on my neck seemed to vibrate and at times it ached and I wanted desperately to remove it when it hurt the most.

I shivered as another chill ran the length of my body and I stood up and headed towards the bathroom. I needed a steaming hot shower and maybe something to eat.

I flipped the light switch on in the bathroom and stepped in and cut the hot water on and waited for the steam to hit my face. Glorious feeling. I inhaled it and let the warmth overtake my body.

I lifted my garments over my head and tossed them into the basket to the side and stepped into the shower and reveled in how the hot water hit my skin in a massage that felt so wonderful and needed.

After my body felt much better, I turned the water off and grabbed the soft terry robe beside the shower and pulled it around my body.

As soon as I stepped back into the room, I froze. His power and aura were staggering and the air was heavy, but I managed to speak. "You are not welcomed here, wraith."

His laughter swirled around me. "I believe Dante might think differently now that he has once again accepted Corrina as his Luna."

His words sliced through my heart and I almost wavered as I fought to keep my balance. "You're lying, Donovan. I am Dante's queen. I have his mark on my neck." I lifted my hand to it and felt the vibration again.

His laughter once again hit the atmosphere. "The fact that you believe he meant that is so disheartening, daughter. Dante wants no part in war or in a prophecy of a queen who will be more than him. He is a born leader. Do you honestly believe he would stand by your side as you are the ruler of the universe?" His sarcasm was thick and heavy. "Come now, you must know that you can put your power to much better use as first Princess of the Wraiths, and then Queen once you are married to Alexander." He laughed again. "You should see him. Once Greta convinced him of his place, he has really become magnificent. Required very little training. I quickly chose him to be my...I believe the word werewolves use for it is enforcer; however, I prefer the term annihilator."

I shivered as he stepped behind me and brushed his fingers through my hair.

"Your mother is growing very impatient for you to be with us, Kayla. How much longer will you deny her the bond with her daughter that she so desperately craves?"

It was my turn to laugh. "If she so desperately wanted one she would not have fallen prey to your wiles and had a child with you." I quickly spun around and pushed his hand away from me with more than my physical force which caused him to hiss and he glared up at me. "What bothers you more, Donovan? The fact that I was raised by a man who was very much my father in every sense of the word or the fact that I am going to be your undoing?" I took a threatening step toward him to show him I had no fear and continued. "I will be the Queen the world needs. I will restore a blanket of peace to the world. You will be nothing more than a purposeless soul by the time I am finished." I stepped closer still and heard the hum exude the air around us and Donovan held his ears. "And Greta will regret the day she chose a wraith over her daughter and Isaac."

He looked at me only a second longer before he seemed to not be able to tolerate the hum any longer and he receded out of the window. Once he was gone, I felt the atmosphere relax, along with the rest of my body.

I stepped to my closet and pulled out a lavender silk peasant blouse and my dark denim blue jeans and finished the look with black flats, a half-up curly do and just a touch of my peach lip gloss. I glanced down at myself and then at my reflection in the mirror. A sort of glowing elegance seemed to radiate from me and it made me smile as I glanced to the bite on my neck. Dante's bite. No one could take that from me. Not Donovan and especially not Corrina.