Title: Imperial Twist
Author: Jessamyn Kingley
Series: D’Vaire #16
Genre: M/M Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy
Release Date: March 19, 2020
Even for those determined to succeed, Fate is no guarantee.
Imperial Duke Damian Draconis has always known he would have two mates. His whole life, he’s yearned to prove to his parents and the world that such a match is not doomed for failure. His household is brimming with happy couples, and he wants the same joy in his heart—but on his own terms. Consumed with his desire to challenge the unfair assumption that his goal is foolhardy, he’s convinced it takes only determination to succeed.
A walk into a dingy coffee shop proves that Fate does indeed have two men in mind for him, and Damian moves forward with soaring resolve. Though all is not as it seems, with some convincing on Damian’s part, the three men come to an agreement to proceed. But right from the start obstacles make themselves known, pushing them to the brink.
Damian soon learns that what you want isn’t always what you need, upending all he thought he knew. He never imagined nor is he prepared for the way his true mate lights up his soul. In the end Damian will find that determination is not everything, and sometimes you must ignore what Fate wants if it means following your heart.
“Aren’t you scared someone is going to bust into the kitchen and steal Chrys?” Praxis teased in between bites of eggs and bacon.
Damian gave his youngest sibling a hard glare, though it was difficult to keep his smile at bay. He liked the cheeky kid that had somehow grown into a well-adjusted teenager despite Andriana’s and Gelon’s influences. “You do realize that you’re insulting your own dad-mate, right? He’s going to be here.”
When Praxis had grown close to his father and Costas, he’d borrowed the term Trystan D’Vaire used for his own parent not related by blood—the former Emperor Conley. “No way, because he’s a financial duke, and you’re the one in charge of security. Besides, you literally never leave Chrys alone.”
“Right, like I follow him and Elf into their room at night.”
Praxis laughed so hard he snorted. “Gross. No, I mean like when he leaves the house. You’re always with him.”
“He’s not going anywhere this morning.”
“What if he wanted to?”
Chrysander said nothing as he grinned around his coffee mug. There would be no help from that quarter.
“You know what? I think there’s too much of an age gap between you and me to have sibling rivalry, and yet you’re always crawling up my butt about something. What gives?”
“I’m the youngest and you’re the oldest. It’s my job to annoy you.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks. I’m an overachiever.”
“I know it. You got top marks in every subject this quarter,” Damian commented proudly. Not only was the kid friendly and nice but wickedly smart.
“Yeah, somehow Dad-mate has helped me not suck at math.”
“You didn’t suck—you didn’t have any opportunity to be taught what you needed until you arrived here,” Niko corrected.
“Sometimes you’re too nice, Dad.”
“He’s always too nice. It’s one of his many fine qualities,” Damian retorted.
Damian stood and stuck his plate in the dishwasher. “Chrys, call or text me if you need to go out.”
“Yeah, so Damianos can crap his pants as he races out of the coffee shop,” Praxis teased.
Because it annoyed him, Damian ruffled Praxis’s hair. The fourteen-year-old predictably slapped at his hand. “Exactly. I’m going to leave Elf in charge around here since the rest of you like to run amok,” Damian joked as he saluted His Majesty. He strode over to the threshold of the living area and stopped when he heard Praxis’s chuckle. “And Costas, you can give Tiri a dollar for giving me the finger.”
“He really does have eyes in the back of his head,” Praxis said as Damian got his feet moving again. He didn’t need to see behind him to know what Costas was doing. Damian had learned everything about being a duke from Costas, and they’d been side by side from the time he and Chrys were a century old. It was comforting to know your family so well you could guess correctly about their actions even when you weren’t facing them.
It was probably foolish, but Damian couldn’t bring himself to leave his communication device at home as he waved at the duke that manned the desk outside the condo and stepped into the elevator. Being the Imperial Duke is too much a part of who I am to simply clock out when my duty for the day is done, he thought as he rode down to the garage level. Since he was so often with Their Majesties, he rarely drove. However, he kept a few snazzy beasts for when the mood hit, and he chose the black Ferrari for his jaunt to the coffee shop.
Damian gave his youngest sibling a hard glare, though it was difficult to keep his smile at bay. He liked the cheeky kid that had somehow grown into a well-adjusted teenager despite Andriana’s and Gelon’s influences. “You do realize that you’re insulting your own dad-mate, right? He’s going to be here.”
When Praxis had grown close to his father and Costas, he’d borrowed the term Trystan D’Vaire used for his own parent not related by blood—the former Emperor Conley. “No way, because he’s a financial duke, and you’re the one in charge of security. Besides, you literally never leave Chrys alone.”
“Right, like I follow him and Elf into their room at night.”
Praxis laughed so hard he snorted. “Gross. No, I mean like when he leaves the house. You’re always with him.”
“He’s not going anywhere this morning.”
“What if he wanted to?”
Chrysander said nothing as he grinned around his coffee mug. There would be no help from that quarter.
“You know what? I think there’s too much of an age gap between you and me to have sibling rivalry, and yet you’re always crawling up my butt about something. What gives?”
“I’m the youngest and you’re the oldest. It’s my job to annoy you.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks. I’m an overachiever.”
“Yeah, somehow Dad-mate has helped me not suck at math.”
“You didn’t suck—you didn’t have any opportunity to be taught what you needed until you arrived here,” Niko corrected.
“Sometimes you’re too nice, Dad.”
“He’s always too nice. It’s one of his many fine qualities,” Damian retorted.
Damian stood and stuck his plate in the dishwasher. “Chrys, call or text me if you need to go out.”
“Yeah, so Damianos can crap his pants as he races out of the coffee shop,” Praxis teased.
Because it annoyed him, Damian ruffled Praxis’s hair. The fourteen-year-old predictably slapped at his hand. “Exactly. I’m going to leave Elf in charge around here since the rest of you like to run amok,” Damian joked as he saluted His Majesty. He strode over to the threshold of the living area and stopped when he heard Praxis’s chuckle. “And Costas, you can give Tiri a dollar for giving me the finger.”
“He really does have eyes in the back of his head,” Praxis said as Damian got his feet moving again. He didn’t need to see behind him to know what Costas was doing. Damian had learned everything about being a duke from Costas, and they’d been side by side from the time he and Chrys were a century old. It was comforting to know your family so well you could guess correctly about their actions even when you weren’t facing them.
It was probably foolish, but Damian couldn’t bring himself to leave his communication device at home as he waved at the duke that manned the desk outside the condo and stepped into the elevator. Being the Imperial Duke is too much a part of who I am to simply clock out when my duty for the day is done, he thought as he rode down to the garage level. Since he was so often with Their Majesties, he rarely drove. However, he kept a few snazzy beasts for when the mood hit, and he chose the black Ferrari for his jaunt to the coffee shop.
Jessamyn Kingley lives in Nevada where she begs the men in her head to tell her their amazing stories which she dutifully writes it all down in what has become a small mountain of notebooks. She falls in love with each couple and swears whatever book she wrote last is her absolute favorite.
Jessamyn is married and working toward remembering to start the dishwasher without being distracted by the scent of the magical detergent. For personal enjoyment, she aids in cat rescue while slashing and gashing her way through mobs in various MMORPGs. Caffeine is her very best friend and is only cast aside briefly for the sin better known as BBQ potato chips.
She loves to engage with readers at her website and facebook.
Imperial Twist #16
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