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

trying to teach her.
    “You’re not concentrating,” Michael accused, lowering his palms as he released an exasperated sigh.
    “I’m doing my best! I don’t have centuries’ worth of experience at my back like you two do!”
    “You’re not doing your best. And our experience is irrelevant. You are a natural sorceress. You already have the abilities but you are squandering it on your fucking emotions!”
    Nathanial stepped in between them. “All right. Both of you calm yourselves.” He looked between them and saw them both take a threatening step forward. “Immediately!” he thundered.
    They both froze at his words.
    He grabbed their hands and teleported them outside the wolf compound. They materialized on the other side of the gates.
    “Luca!” Nathanial bellowed out into the night suddenly.
    He saw Cora jump in surprise as Luca suddenly materialized in front of them.
    “Father, you called?”
    Nathanial spoke to Michael first. “Join Haraz now.”
    Michael nodded and teleported off to fulfill his King’s orders.
    And then he turned his attention to Luca. “Michael is too easily frustrated. His hatred for Cora assures that. At this stage of her training, she now needs a friendly face. You.”
    Luca smiled warmly at Cora. “That I can provide.”
    He reached for her hand, but Nathanial pushed him back before he could make contact. “Full concentration, Luca,” he snarled. “She needs to be ready or your mother will kill her! Do you understand the severity of the situation?”
    As he expected, his words affected Luca and he immediately snapped into focus. “Yes. What do you need from me?”
    “With Michael’s help I have already taught her how to deflect black magic. But her biggest problem is that when she wields a certain level of power, a dark element calls to her.”
    Luca nodded. “Yes, not uncommon.”
    “It’s not?” Cora asked them.
    Luca shook his head. “I’ve dealt with it too.”
    “Not very successfully,” Nathanial chastised him.
    “That was by choice,” Luca protested. “I mastered the ability to control it centuries ago. I can whenever I want to. Just like you, father.”
    “You have never told me this.”
    Luca smiled. “Is that pride in your eyes?”
    “Perhaps.”
    A look passed between them, a silent hope that perhaps one day they might be able to find some common ground after all.
    Low growls rumbled beneath their feet. The wolves.
    “They can sense me,” Luca said.
    “You tortured their Alpha. They hate you and Nathanial didn’t give me time to warn them before he called you here,” Cora said.
    “Sorry,” Nathanial offered.
    “It’ll be okay. Josh will calm them down. Let’s just get started.”
    “Prepare yourself how I showed you,” Nathanial commanded Cora.
    She did as he asked and moved her feet shoulder-width apart. She shook out her arms and then held them both before her with her palms facing outwards.
    “Good,” Nathanial praised. He nodded to Luca. “You take right. I’ll take left.”
    Luca positioned himself a few feet back from Cora at her right side. Nathanial took position opposite him with her between them.
    “Cora, I want you to unleash the full force of your power at both of us. In two directions. If you can control the dark unstable element within, you will succeed. If not, then you will only be able to strike one of us. Remember, the key is to maintain a clear mind, focusing only on the task at hand. You must transcend your emotions,” Nathanial instructed her.
    “Okay.”
    “Luca,” Nathanial called.
    “Got it,” Luca said, raising his palms before him in a defensive gesture. A red glow shone before him, a shimmering wall of protection. “Shields up.”
    Nathanial followed suit, erecting his own wall of protection with a shimmering, black glow. “Now, Cora!” he commanded.
    She steadied herself and then both her hands shot out either side of her. Silver light burst from them, firing at both Nathanial’s and Luca’s walls