The Reluctant Savior (Etherya's Earth #4)

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner

A complex heroine who doesn't believe in love must choose to save the realm...

Evie, daughter of virtuous Princess Rina and malicious Deamon King Crimeous, is a woman torn in half. The first centuries of her life taught her fervent lessons about pain and suffering. For ages, she suppressed her mother's noble blood, crafting a reality where she was alone and drifting…until an ancient prophecy calls to her, possibly creating a purpose for her squalid existence.

Kenden has commanded the Slayer army for a thousand years. Strong, cunning and loyal, he longs for the day Crimeous is defeated and he can settle down to build a family. Focused on conquering the Dark Lord, he’s stunned when Evie makes a brazen demand that must be fulfilled before she chooses to fight with them.

Although incensed by Evie's ultimatum, Kenden has never desired a woman more than the flame-haired vixen. Though she stirs his ire, he also has a deep well of compassion for the beauty who suffered so much trauma centuries ago. Together they train, and by night their connection grows, building toward the moment when they will battle her father. But, in the end, Evie has a choice and struggles to espouse righteousness over malevolence. For, when one's worst fears are exposed, the evil is so much easier to embrace...

Evie threw back her head, laughing at whatever the man was dribbling on about. Although quite handsome and a Vampyre soldier, she was bored to tears. Immortals always seemed to do that to her: endlessly bore her out of her ever-loving mind.
There were only a few who could keep her attention. One whose attention she was trying to procure at this very moment. Surreptitiously searching the large banquet hall, she wondered if he was observing her with the hulking man. Just in case, she slid her palm over the Vampyre’s broad chest, eyebrow lifting in a silent invite to ask her to dance later.
The Vampyre smiled, his fangs glowing in the soft banquet lighting. She couldn’t remember his name but didn’t really care. Names seemed to have meaning to everyone for some damn reason. Didn’t they know the futility in that? Why the inhabitants of this awful planet thought that their lives had any significance was beyond her. What a waste of time. It would be easier if everyone realized that their existence was squalid and pointless.
Sipping her drink, she chewed the crunchy ice as her eyes darted around the room. Her brother had gotten married earlier today. The idiot was so in love with the spunky Vampyre princess that she fought not to barf in his face when he was reciting his vows.
Darkrip used to be quite evil, as she’d seen firsthand during her early years in the Deamon caves. Having their father’s blood course through his veins ensured his malevolence. But he’d also had such goodness, trying to keep their father from raping and torturing her and her mother, Rina. Although he’d been unsuccessful, she appreciated his pithy efforts. Evie guessed she was happy for him. If he wanted to attach himself to one vagina for the rest of his life, good for him. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, she reminded herself of her vow to never settle down. How positively uninteresting.
Not to mention that she didn’t really buy into the whole “kids and family” reverie these immortals seemed to be increasingly employing. Her half-sister Miranda was head-over-heels for the Vampyre king, the warrior Latimus had turned into a lovesick sap over his bonded mate Lila, and now, her brother was in love too. Good grief. They’d all gone mad.
Evie loved adventure. Living in the human world for the last eight centuries had afforded her lots of that. Along with handsome men, great sex, luscious wine and beautiful excursions. Why anyone would want to tie themselves to another person for eternity was beyond her.
Oh, and then there was the little tidbit that any children she spawned would have her father’s villainous blood. No, thanks. She had enough shit to deal with, controlling her evil half, already. Bringing another progeny into the world would be extremely foolish.
Narrowing her lids, she regarded Arderin as she danced with her brother atop the wooden dance floor. Lord, he was terrible. Thank god the spirited beauty was leading him. Her abdomen was slightly distended in her gorgeous white gown, causing Evie to shake her head. Darkrip was a fool to procreate with her. But it was his life, so she let him be. Hopefully, the little brat wouldn’t be as depraved as their father. Only time would tell.
“Did you scare Draylok away?” a baritone voice asked behind her.
Hating the shiver that ran down her spine, Evie turned to gaze upon the man she’d previously been searching for. “Was that his name? I couldn’t remember. I was too busy admiring his other…attributes.”
Coming to stand beside her, Kenden arched a russet-colored eyebrow. “He’s known to be quite a catch. Not only is he one of our best soldiers but he’s single and looking to settle down.”
Evie scrunched her features. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll make sure to avoid him at all costs.”
His velvet laugh surrounded her. “Yes, we wouldn’t want you to get emotionally involved with anyone you seduce.”
“Oh, Kenden,” she said, turning to face him fully. “You think you have me pegged. It’s so ridiculously unbecoming. Perhaps that’s why you never get laid. I think you need a nice woman to fuck this serious streak out of you. It’s quite unattractive.”
She was lying through her teeth, of course, as she found the Slayer commander insanely gorgeous. There was something about his mop of chestnut-brown hair, angular features and blazing white teeth between his full lips. And those eyes. They seemed to melt like milk chocolate left on a hot stove. More often than not, she found herself drowning in them.
Determined to keep the upper hand, she licked her lips, slowly and seductively.
“If you want a fuck-buddy, just ask me. I’ll come looking for you once I’m done with the Vampyre soldier.”
Those striking eyes narrowed. “That’s the difference between you and me, Evie. I don’t do fuck-buddies. I believe in monogamy and relationships and feelings. You use seduction as a weapon. It’s off-putting and extremely unattractive to me. So, I guess we’re both repulsed by each other.”
“I guess so,” she snapped, breaking her gaze from his to stare at the dance floor. Sipping her drink, she contemplated his lie. He was fiercely attracted to her—this, she knew to be true. As the daughter of the Dark Lord, she could read images in others’ minds. Kenden had so many images of fucking her that he could probably start his own porn site.
She had no idea why he fought his desire to sleep with her, knowing that he wanted it so badly. It seemed futile to her. They obviously would do the deed one day. Two people who possessed so much pulsing energy between them were bound to. She’d learned this over her many centuries of seducing men.
Never had she had to work so hard to get a man in her bed. It infuriated the hell out of her. What a cruel joke the Universe played on her, instilling such intense yearning for a man who was determined to fight his attraction to her so vehemently.
But Evie was nothing if not resilient and she loved a challenge. She would have him in her bed and inside her deepest place one day soon. Getting the upper hand on men had become an obsession of hers. It somehow allowed her to process and move on from all the grief and pain from the rapes and violations in her youth.
The arrogant and handsome Slayer commander had another thing coming if he continued to delude himself. Determination and will were her greatest strengths.
Gathering her wits and giving him her most glorious smile, she said, “Well, now that we’ve established our revulsion of each other, do you want to dance?”
White teeth gleamed as his full lips curved. Chuckling, he took the drink from her hand and set it on the nearby table. Clutching her hand in his firm grip, he said, “Why not?”
With his muscular frame, he led her to the dance floor.