A Destiny Revealed

©2013
Adrienne Andersen

All rights reserved.  No part
of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the
author, except where permitted by law.

This book is a work of fiction.  Any
similarities to real people, living or dead, is
purely
coincidental.  All characters and events in this work are figments of the
author’s imagination.

Dedication:

I would like to take this
time to thank my loving family for their support.
My husband
who has sat through so many brainstorm sessions bouncing ideas around, my son
and mother in law for their unending patience and help with ideas, and my
sisters and aunt for reading through the very many drafts of this story.
 Thank you to the friends that helped with Beta reads and kept up a steady
stream of encouragement. Thank you ROMCritters for helping me realize that I
actually could write if I took the time.

A Destiny Revealed:

Dalia went out one night looking for trouble, when she woke
up the next day chained to a
wall,
she realized she
had found more than she bargained for. That night changed
her,
haunted her and she spent years hunting down the man responsible. Plans change
when she becomes the one hunted. The man sent after her is handsome, and sets
her body on fire, but he is an enemy, right?

Bron's task was simple: find Dalia and bring her back to
their oracle. It's his one chance at redemption and his last chance to earn
back the trust of his brothers. When he finds out she is one of their deadliest
enemies he's torn between his duty to the tribe and his feelings for a woman
who fate has marked as his mate.

Chapter 1

           
DALIA WAS IN THE MOOD TO HUNT. She was looking for excitement that bordered
right on the edge of trouble, and unfortunately this upscale nightclub was
sadly lacking. Pompous men in overpriced Karl Lagerfeld suits surrounded
Manhattan socialites with their pin straight blond hair, glittering baubles and
too loud giggles. Were it not for the eagle eye her friends kept on her, she
would have snuck out hours ago.

           
Ana and Camille had dragged her from her apartment three hours ago with hopes
of hooking Dalia up with a man who was not what they termed a 'hooligan'. She
suppressed a sigh, her friends meant well. They just couldn't understand her
aversion to the stuffed shirts they loved to date. The last thing she wanted
was a man who could only converse about which stocks were hot.

           
“Hey ladies, can I talk to your friend for a bit?”

           
Hmm, sexy voice.

           
Dalia gave the brotha a cursory glance. Turning back to her friends, she arched
an eyebrow in amusement. Yeah, he was sexy, but definitely not her type. 
That three piece linen suit he wore put him out of the running. She didn't do
three pieces, at least not after five pm. Bro needed to loosen up.

           
“Can you at least try and have fun?” Ana pushed her shoulder.

Dalia eyed her petite friend and made a face. Ana was five’
five in heels with curves that made men drool. Clubs like Plush were her
favorite hangouts.

           
“I
am
having fun.” Dalia held her beer up in a mock toast. “That cat was
lame.”    

Ana rolled her eyes and grabbed Dalia’s beer from her hand
and set it on the bar.  “Let’s dance.”

           
 Dalia accepted Ana’s hand, her hips already swaying to ‘Lady Marmalade’.
She towered well over Ana, so Dalia didn’t miss the glances thrown their way as
they sashayed through the crowd. Her form-fitting jumpsuit tucked into
knee-high stiletto boots hugged her curves tightly.  She circled Ana,
swinging her long dark brown hair over her shoulder. Her mocha skin was soon
covered in sweat and gleamed under the flashing lights as Captain and Tennille
turned into ‘The Hustle’ and then KC and the Sunshine band.

           
Camile joined them on the dance floor, and Dalia swung her into a low dip. A
week's worth of tension rolled from her shoulders. Now she was having fun. An
hour later, signaling to her friends that she needed a drink, Dalia walked back
to the bar and ordered another Budweiser.

           
“Now, what is a fine sista like yourself doing up in this kind of joint?”

           
Dalia ignored the mocking voice and tapped her foot, waiting on her beer.

           
“So you just gonna ignore a brotha?”

           
“Not interested.” She didn't bother turning from the bar.

           
“Aww now come on, you didn’t even turn and see if you would be interested,” he
teased.

Sighing, Dalia turned and pursed her lips. She grabbed her
glass off the bar and took a closer look. Now, this guy was definitely her
speed. His brown skin practically glowed in the dim lights of the club. Tattoos
started at his neck and disappeared into the collar of his tight black t-shirt,
intriguing Dalia. Clearly defined muscles screamed to be touched. His strong
thighs were encased in a pair of tight bell-bottom jeans. He stood out from the
crowd of suits in the club. Power, subtle and masculine swirled around the man,
giving him an almost dangerous air. He had trouble written all over him, Dalia
smiled.

          
Oh yeah. She was looking for trouble tonight.

How this brotha got past the snooty bouncers at the front
door was a mystery. Dalia decided he was certainly worth checking out. His
chocolate colored eyes mesmerized her, amusement evident in their depths.

           
“I’m looking,” Dalia taunted. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to get
interested?”

His smile bloomed showing off perfect white teeth. 
“Let me buy you a drink.” He moved closer to her to be heard over the music.

           
“As you can see, I already have a drink.” She brought the beer up to her lips. She
smiled as his eyes followed the bottle.

           
“I see that.” He cleared his throat. “You want to go somewhere quieter to
talk?” His eyes never left her lips.

           
Dalia snorted and placed her beer on the bar next to her. “Really papi, does
that work on these proper types you find in here?” She shook her head,
disappointed in his game. She sighed. Not everyone could have the whole
package.

Her eyebrows rose when he crowded closer, and placed his arm
around her waist. She held her temper in check as his hand skimmed down and
grabbed her butt. She glanced down at his arm and back up to his face. “You
wanna lose that hand?”

           
He lifted his hands and backed away. “You can’t blame a brotha for trying.”

Dalia turned her back to him, disgusted. She couldn’t
understand what made men think they had the right to touch a complete stranger.
Okay so maybe her jumpsuit was skintight and her assets were on display. That
didn’t mean they could sample the goods without asking. Finishing her drink, she
decided it was way past time to leave.

She moved through the crowd to where her friends still
danced to let them know she was leaving. After much eye rolling and
name-calling she waved goodbye and pushed through the crowded dance floor and
headed to the door.

           
The brisk air outside cleared her head a little, and Dalia frowned.  Her
vision swam and she shook her head. How many beers had she drunk? Taking the
subway was definitely out. It would be better to take a cab. She walked a few
steps and stopped. The handsy cat from inside the club lounged against the wall
as though he waited for her.

           
“I was hoping to catch you.”

She walked past, ignoring him. He moved closer, his steps
matching hers. Dalia waved her hands to shoo him. She was unable to talk, her
tongue felt swollen and she swayed on her feet.

           
“Let me help you.” He grabbed her around the waist to support her.

           
Dalia looked into his eyes. She shuddered in fear at his sinister gaze. Oh God,
she had finally found trouble. Her mind went numb with terror, panic clawing
her insides. Black dots swam on the edge of her vision.

           
Be careful what you wish for.

           
It was her last thought before she blacked out.

DALIA WOKE WITH HER VISION SWIMMING, her head pounding. Her
heart raced as she fought to see through the dark haze. Her breath hitched when
she tried to bring her hands up to her head and found them shackled to the wall
behind her. Fighting panic, she tugged on the chains and screamed as pain
wracked her head.
           

 
“Aahh, it's good that
you are awake,” said a voice from the other side of the room. Although he
didn’t shout, the effect it had on Dalia was the same. Every noise in the dark
room was magnified and pounded into her skull like a hammer.

 
“Why are you
shouting?” she croaked out pass dry, cracked lips. She had no idea where she
was, or how long she'd been there. Despite her determination not to panic, she
couldn't stop her heart from slamming against her ribs.

 “Forgive me, but I did not realize your date had given
you so much of the drug. If you would but wait a few moments some of it will
wear off.” His accent was foreign and unfamiliar.

The jerk from the club! Nausea rolled through her stomach.
He’d drugged her and set her up. Embarrassment and anger heated her cheeks.
“What do you want from me?”

A soft shuffle reverberated and a beautiful man stepped into
view. His pale skin was smooth, his blue eyes cold as ice, and Dalia shivered
in dread. Straight black hair brushed his shoulders. He wore pressed slacks and
a silk shirt with an elegance that belied their surroundings.

“I am called Maksim.” He stepped closer. “I only want to
make you as I am.
Vampire.”
His smile was polite, open
and flashing a pair of wicked looking fangs.

“Fine, you’re crazy, I got that part. Why do you have me
chained?” The confident way he spoke aggravated her. She would be damned if
she'd sit here and let him toy with her. If he was going to kill her, then she
would rather him get it over and done.

“I'm not crazy, my dear. You and your family are a part of a
long history that I want only a small part of. Did you know you are descended
from the Aje tribe in Africa? They were captured and sold into slavery.” His
face lit with a crazed excitement.

“And?
That's old news." Half
of Loíza, Puerto Rico where she grew up could claim some blood relation to
African slaves. Her arms and back ached from being curled on the floor for who
knew how long. She really didn't feel like getting a history lesson from this
maniac.    

“And, your family has access to power I want. Since you're
not inclined to hear any explanations we shall simply get to the point.” Her
captor chuckled.

Dalia squinted as the lights came up in the room. She
gasped; it was a prison, a nightmare, only there was no waking up to escape.
The room was cold and dank. Stone walls surrounded her. The floor was stone as
well and Dalia swallowed back bile as she noticed the drains on the floor. A
lone table loomed in the middle of the room with restraints top and
bottom.