Dariel Raye’s new release, Destiny’s Favor, is now available for only 99 cents at Amazon

Destiny’s Favor (Orlosian Warriors Bk. 2)

Destiny’s Favor synopsis

His world shifted the moment she was born. Now, nothing can stop him from making her his.

Imagine meeting a man who looks like an angel, wings and all? What would you do if this man told you he existed with only one purpose – to claim you and only you?

Destiny Carter is a feisty, take charge, Rubinesque beauty with a tough façade, who finds herself in that age old quandary, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A string of lackluster relationships leave her hopeless and ready to settle…Until she meets Japheth, the man her fiancé claims is his best friend! Japheth’s arrival is heralded by an attack on Destiny’s life, and instinctively, she knows this is just the beginning.

Born more than 200 years ago, Japheth looks like an angel but he’s far from it. In his world, the ratio of men to women is 500 to 1, and although he’s a superior being, he’s willing to break the most sacred law of his brothers, even drink human blood, to have one meant for him alone.

When he meets Destiny, he knows she’s the one he’s been searching for. To claim her, he will have to betray a friend, risk his life, and hardest of all, humble himself enough to win her love.

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Excerpt

I Hop

J mowed-down the second of the biggest, rarest T-bones Destiny had ever seen. He ate as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Destiny noticed that J didn’t miss a beat in the conversation, yet his plate got emptier and emptier. She found herself staring at his throat, the muscles moving up and down as he chewed and swallowed.

She wondered absently whether it was wrong to be drawn to his beauty when her inner voice kept telling her something about him wasn’t quite as it seemed, but oh, he was beautiful. No other word described him. In fact, he was unnaturally so. No man should have his looks. It just wasn’t fair.

“…don’t you think so, Baby?”

“W-what?” Lost in her own thoughts, she had missed her cue in the conversation. She glanced up, shifting her gaze too slowly from J’s throat to his eyes. His lips were tilted into a smile, and his eyes held a gleam of mischief. He had seen her watching him. Bastard.

Robert offered her a tolerant smile. “I was telling J he’s staying with us. All the hotel rooms in this area are gonna be taken because of the convention.”

Destiny could see the pleading in Robert’s eyes as he awaited her answer. The apartment was his, and while she stayed over with him at times, she had not felt convinced enough to agree to move in with him.

She appreciated him at least giving the impression that her opinion mattered. The keyword there was impression, because he certainly should have discussed this idea with her before they reached the terminal, and certainly not with J’s unsettling gray eyes boring into her. Again, she thought, it wasn’t her place so she didn’t really have a say. She didn’t even have to be here, let alone at Robert’s apartment, and she could always go back to her place if she felt too uncomfortable.

She glanced at him, then back at J. “Sure. Robert and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She showed them a few teeth to seal the deal, then tried to focus her attention on the menu again. Well, there goes steering clear of him.

“Don’t you guys want shakes? It’s a rhetorical question.” Destiny raised her hand to get the waitress’s attention. She still felt J’s gaze on her, but avoided looking in his direction.

“No chocolate for you, Baby. Remember? You’re staying with me tonight, and caffeine keeps you awake.” Robert took a paternal tone, showing off. She wanted to slap the back of his head.

As soon as the waitress came over, Destiny addressed her, drawing the woman’s attention away from J. The woman’s big blue eyed gaze seemed to have lit on him without her notice – like a pin to a strong magnet. Destiny had to raise her voice. “I’ll also have a chocolate shake, please.” She put emphasis on the word “chocolate.”

J laughed and turned toward the waitress, who appeared to be enjoying the exchange. “I’ll have chocolate, too. Do you have chocolate cake also, miss?”

The waitress blushed maroon, her hand going to her chest as she laughed, obviously affected by him. “Lily. My name is Lily.” She pointed to her name tag.

J nodded and smiled before breaking the woman’s apparent trance. “Thank you, Lily. Do you have chocolate cake? I’d like to OD on chocolate. Can you help me do that, Lily?”

“Oh!” She covered her mouth like a giddy teen. “Yes. Yes, I’ll bring your chocolate shake and chocolate cake over. We also have hot fudge and chocolate syrup, if you’d like to add one of those. On the house.”

Destiny’s jaw nearly dropped. What the hell did he do to deserve his on the house?

After Lily took J’s order for chocolate cake and a chocolate shake, she turned to Robert. By then, Destiny couldn’t help sharing a conspiratorial smile with J. His eyes seemed to dance, watching the exchange he’d instigated. She had to admit it. The man had charisma to burn.

“Nothing for me.” Robert frowned, patting his slim middle with his palm as he silently judged them with his eyes. “I’m watching my weight, and I don’t have anywhere else to put it, anyway.”

Destiny glared at him. He was already too thin for his height as far as she was concerned. Her weight topped his by at least 30 pounds. Hearing his comment about watching his weight grated like having lunch with a picky, pretentious size zero model. J, on the other hand, probably shopped in the Big and Tall shops. He was muscular and solid without being bulky, and he couldn’t seem to get enough to eat. Something about a man who liked to eat made her toes tingle, not to mention what it did to her other parts.

About the Author

Dariel Raye is an animal lover, musician, and author of powerful IR/MC (Interracial/Multi-cultural) paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy with alpha male heroes to die for, and strong heroines with hearts worth winning. She is a mezzo-soprano who fell in love with books and started reciting stories at the age of 3. She also plays over 11 musical instruments.

Her stories tell of shifters, vamps, angels, demons, and fey (the Vodouin variety). Dariel is currently writing three series: “Dark Sentinels” (wolf shifters), “Orlosian Warriors” (Vampire-like Nephilim), and “Gateway” (a crossover erotic paranormal suspense with romantic elements).

For more about Dariel, follow her blog or visit her website. She also publishes a new release newsletter. If you enjoyed this book, please post a review on review sites. You can also follow her and contact her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.