Ruin the beast king brid.., p.1
Ruin (The Beast King Brides Book 2), page 1
Ruin
The Beast King Brides: Book 2
Charlene Hartnady
Copyright © September 2022 by Charlene Hartnady
Cover Art by Aura
Copy Edited by Brigette Billings
Proofread by KR & AP
Produced in South Africa
charlene.hartnady@gmail.com
Ruin is a work of fiction and characters, events and dialogue found within are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews no part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without prior consent in writing from the author.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
About the Author
Also by Charlene Hartnady
Excerpt of Cursed
Chapter 1
Solstice
Holy shit, I’m in love.
I’ve never felt this way before. Not until today.
Not until right this second. This very moment. There she is. The one for me! It is fate that our paths would cross. She is my destiny. I know it like I know my own name.
I should be happy, but I’m not. This woman is insane. As in, certifiable. That, and evil. The enchantress who has captured my attention is about to murder my best friend’s lover.
In cold blood!
Gabriella is evil, cruel and so beautiful she takes my breath away.
The silky black negligee clings to her body like a second skin. Holy fuck! I can make out every contour of her body. She’s magnificent!
Her arms are spread wide. Her eyes are a vivid green, reminding me of newly sprouted seedlings. They’re glowing brightly, as are her hands. Magic wafts off her skin in smoky green tendrils. Her hair is a fiery red. It’s fanned out about her head, floating on air like the rest of her. Fucking beautiful and terrifying, all rolled into one.
I smell the peppery scent of her magic.
Dark magic.
Lying beneath the sinister scent is something floral…jasmine, perhaps. It awakens my senses and captivates me, just as it repels me.
I want to call to her. To dissuade her from this path of destruction, but I am frozen. I can’t move a muscle. Gabriella has me trapped. Fae are magical creatures, but we’re creatures of light, of healing. My magic is nothing compared to the dark, twisted power she wields. The three of us are as good as statues. Thane, Gabriella’s twin sister, along with Fallon, and me. We can witness, we can hear, but we can’t move so much as a muscle.
Gabriella zaps Bellicent with a lightning bolt. I see Bellicent fly back, landing hard on the grass. Her eye twitches.
Fuck!
No!
Bellicent’s arm jerks, and she moans softly. Thank god! She’s alive. Bellicent moans again as Gabriella lowers herself to the ground.
“You can’t have him,” Gabriella mutters, more to herself. Her eyes are wild. Her hair even more so.
Beautiful in her wrath.
Gabriella is speaking of her father. Or rather their father. All three women are related through Vale, the evil sorcerer who put his foul magic into Gabriella. Now, he is withering away in the home behind us while his daughter is slowly going insane. Dark magic. It’s like a thousand maggots that bury themselves into the flesh. That destroy from the inside out.
The enchantress walks over to Bellicent, who groans loudly. Her eyes open just as Gabriella leans over her.
“He’s mine! You will never have him…or his power,” she whispers into Bellicent’s ear. She’s still talking about their father. She believes that everyone is out to steal his magic. If it weren’t for my superhuman hearing, I would never have made out the words.
This is it. Thane’s female is going to die.
I struggle once again to free myself but not so much as a muscle will twitch. I should be sweating from the exertion. My heart should be beating faster. I’m not, and it isn’t. I’m stuck in all ways.
Bellicent’s eyes are wide. Her nostrils are flaring. She’s breathing heavily. I feel for Thane…for Bellicent.
I’m about to watch my future mate kill my best friend’s partner. I wish I could close my eyes. Wish even more that I could do something to stop this path of destruction. Thane must be going insane. Stuck inside his own body. Trapped, too.
Then Bellicent lunges for Gabriella. She makes a strangled sound as her fangs sink into her neck. Bellicent’s nails have become clawed talons. They sink deeply into Gabriella’s flesh. I hear loud swallowing.
Fuck!
We didn’t think that Bellicent had a vampire side. We were clearly wrong. She does!
It’s Gabriella’s turn to give a strangled cry. It has a startled edge to it. Her magic burns brighter, but Bellicent keeps drinking. The vampiress is draining Gabriella.
No!
Stop!
No!
My future mate. My bride. My soon-to-be everything.
I manage to move one finger. Then another. Then my frozen fireball continues on its trajectory, hitting the barrier surrounding us.
My left leg is free, just as a shockwave is emitted by Gabriella. It is accompanied by a bright white light that blinds me for a second or two. It rips Gabriella and Bellicent apart before hitting me. I am thrown back, and I moan deeply as I land hard.
I can’t move for a few beats. My heart is pounding. When I open my eyes, I am on my back, staring at the sky. It’s a magnificent blue.
It is her. Gabriella is the one.
I knew it.
I could sense it from the moment I saw her. Now I know for sure.
Her power. I felt it. I felt it at a level that only my true fated mate would have access to. I only hope that she isn’t dead.
“Gabriella!” I manage to choke out.
Chapter 2
Fallon
Stop her!
No!
I struggle to free myself. It doesn’t work. I’m stuck in this frozen stance. I can hear Bellicent drink from my sister in loud, greedy gulps.
Please!
“Gaby!” I scream her name inside my head. I fight harder, but nothing happens.
Then Bellicent and my sister rip apart. White light hits me with a shockwave of power. I am flung back. My arms cartwheel. I fall hard onto my back. I’m winded for a few moments. Pain blossoms.
My back.
Agony.
I moan again as I roll onto my stomach. I want to get up to check on Gaby, but I can’t. I’m in a world of hurt. My sister had sent one of her fireballs my way. It hit my back. I can still smell the charred flesh. It’s my own flesh. I gag. I’m crying in earnest. Hot tears are running down my cheeks.
“Gaby,” I moan. “Gab…, please!” I gag again. It’s both the smell and the pain. Bright and searing. It won’t let up.
“Easy,” someone says. He’s behind me. He lays a gentle hand on the side of my arm. “Your sister is fine. Gabriella is sleeping. Her heart rate was thready and weak, but it’s already improving. She’ll be fine.”
“Thank god.” I’m still crying. I wish I could stop. It’s both with relief because my sister is going to be okay and in pain. So much pain. It feels like I’m still on fire.
“My name is Solstice. I’m a fae. I can heal you. Is that okay?” His voice is masculine, but it holds a gentle quality.
“Yes.” There is a pleading edge to my voice. “Please help me,” I sob.
“Breathe deeply. In and out. It’ll tingle. It might feel a little warm.”
“O—okay.” I sniff, trying hard to stop the tears that are still coursing down my cheeks. I can’t remember the last time I cried like this. It’s all too much at this point. My father, Gaby, what just happened…all of it. Too damned much. A person can only take so much before they crack. Here I am, having a meltdown.
I groan low when I feel it. ‘Warm and tingling’ is right. It soothes. Gives me immediate relief. “Yes,” I whimper. “There…right there. A little to the left… Oooooohh!” This is utter heaven. I almost forget all my troubles. All my cares. I forget my shithole of a life while he’s doing whatever it is that he is doing. “Go lower…lower…yes! Yes! There…don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop!” My hands clutch into the grass. My eyes are squeezed closed. My jaw slackens for a moment from sheer relief. The tingling and the warmth keep flooding me. First into my back and then right through me.
It suddenly stops. I want to moan at the loss. I don’t. Thank god! I moaned enough already to last a freaking lifetime. I try moving just a little. My back feels… It feels normal. It feels amazing.
“Oh, my god! You’re…” I start to say as I turn. He’s right there. Inches away. Those eyes! Holy shit, but they’re beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like them. Various shades of purple all swirling together around his pupils. “You’re amazing,” I whisper. “That was… It…”
He smiles. The guy has three dimples. Two on one cheek and only one on the other. The asymmetry is appealing in ways I never thought possible. His lips… I swallow thickly.
He stands in one graceful motion, taking his cap off and running a hand through his hair. “Glad I could help.”
I see his pointy ears. Even those have an appeal. It’s the fae. Solstice, he said his name was.
I clear my throat. “Thank you,” I tell him, clambering to my feet. I look over my shoulder, and my shirt is ruined. Completely destroyed. “This is my favorite shirt,” I mutter. Then I note that my skin is unmarred. “Wow! Not even the smallest of scars or anything,” I whisper as I look over my shoulder, all twisted up like a pretzel.
I realize that I’m talking to myself. Solstice is helping his friend. He’s got his hands, palms out, just an inch or two from his burned chest. I watch in amazement as the skin slowly heals. From open, blackened wounds to minor damage, then from scars to smooth skin.
In that instant, I’m reminded that there is also good magic in the world. I had begun to despise all forms of sorcery. Then I see my sister.
“Gaby!” Shit! I go over to her, and just as Solstice said, she seems fine. Her chest is rising and falling in a slow, deep sleep rhythm. She has two small holes in her neck. They’re scabbed over. I feel a pang, and my chest tightens.
“Oh, Gabs,” I murmur. “There has to be a way to save you,” I say to myself. I’ve spent days researching. I haven’t been able to find anything.
“I agree,” Solstice says, making me jump. He gets down on his knees beside me. His eyes are filled with concern. Why does he even care? Gaby tried to harm his friends. What am I saying? She did harm his friend, and she tried to kill Bellicent.
He must catch the quizzical look I’m sure I’m sporting because he says, “You’re probably going to think I’m crazy, but Gabriella is my mate.”
“Are you saying that you know Gaby? Are you dating?” I’m frowning heavily. “I don’t mean to be rude, but she’s never mentioned you.” This can’t be right. They were flirting earlier… but mates? “When did you mate Gaby? Why don’t I know about this? We live together. I’ve been monitoring her every move for a few weeks now… Well, monitoring her every move as much as possible.”
“We’re not mates yet…but we will be if I have anything to say about it. If she’ll have me.” His cheeks turn pink, and he gets this vulnerable look.
“How long have you known her?” I ask him.
“Um…” He licks his lips. I follow the movement, quickly lifting my eyes back to his. I suddenly wish I’d thrown a pair of jeans on. Sweatpants are comfy, but they’re also super frumpy. I look down at my sister lying there in her silk negligee. Her hair is thick and long. It’s also straight as a pin, whereas mine is wavy. It tends to get frizzy easily. She looks amazing, right down to her perfectly manicured toenails. My hair is scrunched into a bun on the top of my head.
I pull myself from my thoughts because who gives a shit right now?
Not me!
None of that is important. Not now. Not ever. I’m used to being overlooked because I’m the frumpy twin sister. I’m the quiet one. The one who is lacking, compared to Gaby. It’s something I came to terms with a long time ago. Who gives a shit how I look? Gaby needs my help right now. I need to pull my head out of my ass. I have plenty of great attributes.
Puh-lenty!
“How long have you known my sister?” I ask Solstice again when he doesn’t answer. How long have they been together without me knowing? Gaby and I live together. My mom left us the house when she died two years ago. We couldn’t bear to sell, so we both moved in. It works. We normally get along really well. I love my sister. I swallow down a lump, keeping my eyes on the fae’s purple orbs.
“We only just met today, but she’s my fated mate. I—”
“You’re kidding, right?” his friend chokes out from behind us. I turn and see him cradling Bellicent in his arms. What he said pretty much sums up what I am thinking. I raise my brows at Solstice.
“I’m not kidding, Thane. I’m fucking serious!” Solstice looks down at Gaby. “When that shock of white magic hit me…like a lightning bolt…I felt it,” he says, looking at my sister like she is responsible for the sun rising every morning. “I didn’t just feel it in my heart.” He touches his chest. “I felt it in my soul. We are fated to be together. I trust destiny. It’s as simple as that.”
I laugh because… Hello, crazy person. Maybe they are suited. Both nuts and both utterly beautiful. They’d make some pair.
“I, for one, felt it on my ass because that’s where I landed. Are you sure you were hit in the soul? I think you might have hit your head instead,” I say.
Solstice gives me this look. “I did not hit my head. It’s how it works with my kind. Especially since I am a beast king.”
“You’re the fae beast king?” I ask, my eyes bugging out. My mouth might have fallen open as well. Why is it so hard to believe? He looks the part. He’s larger than life in all ways, starting with his biceps. Those babies are biiiig. I’m looking him up and down like he fell out the back of a bus, but he deserves it.
Solstice nods. “Yes, last time I checked, I was the king. That means that I can’t just choose whoever I want. It doesn’t work like that, especially for us fae. We are shown our match or, very rarely, our matches if there is more than one.”
“More than one fated mate?” I shake my head, making a noise that betrays how idiotic I find that concept.
“What? It happens.” He shrugs. “But, as I said, it’s rare. I am lucky I found Gabriella. We are meant to be together.” His eyes burn with sincerity. “It’s just a matter of time before the madness starts to descend. Of this, I am sure.” He looks at her with puppy dog eyes.
“Madness? We don’t need more of that,” I say, more to myself because I’m not really sure what he means by that.
“I found her. I’ll make things right somehow, and then we can be together.” He’s looking back down at her. There’s something special about a huge male specimen, complete with tattoos, getting all sappy over a woman.
Lucky Gabriella.
“You’re sure?” Thane asks. “She’s a fruitcake.”
I instantly feel guilty for calling my sister lucky. She is anything but lucky.
“It’s not her fault,” I say. “She wasn’t always like this.”
Thane ignores me. “I thought you had to have sex with a woman to know for sure if she is your mate.” He is frowning hard.
How does that work? Sounds interesting.
Pull your head out of your ass, Fallon!
“I normally do, but with Gabriella…” Solstice is shaking his head. “Don’t ask me how but it wasn’t necessary. I’m a hundred percent certain that she’s the one. There isn’t so much as a doubt in my mind.”
“No offense. Please close your ears to what I am about to say,” Thane says to me before locking eyes with Solstice. “She’s an evil bitch with about a hundred screws loose. You might want to run. This is your opportunity. I suggest you take it.”
