by Setta Jay
Jax, pair with Bastian after you take care of your mate. She knew there was a world of meaning in Drake’s words, was aware that every Guardian knew exactly how he planned to care for her, and she didn’t care.
She vaguely heard more orders, but didn’t care.
Everything else faded from her mind the second Jax caught her up in his arms.
Chapter 20
Elizabeth’s Compound, Tetartos Realm
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed on the chained Lykos. Her hounds crouched behind her as she assessed the unconscious male. He was a little taller than the average Lykos, his muscle thick. Tattoos and ancient symbols covered his body in greens and black, and they mingled nicely with the marks she’d made on his body for the last three days. He hadn’t woken when the burning iron touched him, and it was interesting that his skin wasn’t healing quickly either. She wondered if it had something to do with the drug.
Fahim, head of her Mageia scientists, assured her that the male would be awake today.
“Iron,” she ordered one of the guards as she lifted her hand. She’d be happier to make the male bleed, but she wasn’t taking chances with his tainted blood.
She felt the weight of the metal in her hand and looked at the glowing tip before setting it to the wolf’s nipple. She smelled burned flesh and let it settle longer. Nothing yet. She felt her fury build, her fangs extended, and her hands shook with it.
The male could be holding the key to her lover’s release and he wouldn’t wake.
She heard Reve’s approach and turned to the male. His eyes tracked from the iron in her hand to the Lykos and then back.
She narrowed her eyes. “What is it?”
“More are dead.”
Her jaw tightened and fury ignited inside her. “How many?” Her voice was deadly low, drawing the Kairos’ eyes back to her. She saw his throat work; he was nervous. Good.
She paced as her rage burned to be let loose. Her beasts lifted up and growled low, their crimson eyes moving from the Kairos to her and back.
“All ten along with the hounds you sent.”
She turned and slammed the iron into the Lykos’ rib and heard the crack of bone as his flesh burned. He still didn’t wake and her rage nearly boiled over.
“The same way?” she growled.
“Yes. Heads mounted and bodies burned. Would you like me to start looking for another location?” Her fangs extended as she vibrated. She needed to kill, needed someone to suffer, but she’d already lost too many of her people and even Reve was needed. She couldn’t do the kind of damage she wanted to the Kairos yet. Not until she freed Apollo. Right now she needed the male’s teleporting ability.
Whoever was hunting her was toying with her. Moving under the circumstances would be dangerous. They could pick off the ranks while the move was happening. And what if the hunter found them again just as easily. She’d lost dozens.
“Find a new cave.” She needed time to wake Apollo. He would take care of the hunters.
“Set more traps and have the guards stay in close proximity. No more hunting parties.”
“Yes, mistress,” Reve said, and even the sound of his voice grated on her nerves. She wanted to know who this enemy was. How were they doing this? The original reports said they’d found no more than a few different scents. How were three Immortals killing so many of her warriors? She clamped her jaw down. She’d contact the Tria. She needed something deadlier out in the jungle.
If that didn’t work, Apollo would take care of it. She only needed to buy time.
Harsh roars echoed in the room and her attention snapped to the Lykos as he gripped his head with shackled hands and pounded his skull into the stone ground. His blood reeked from the drug they’d used, and she frowned at the stench, stepping back so as not to get it on her.
“String him up,” she commanded her guards.
Chapter 21
Tetartos Realm
Drake let the winds carry him as he roared into the skies. Today was the day the Lykos would awaken and they’d yet to find him. Drake needed to burn something. He soared lower, tracking all movement on the ground below.
They needed to find the male.
Sirena had ideas that wouldn’t have a chance of working until the drug was out of the male’s system. Donovan could easily have talked by then. Elizabeth was a sick bitch and would enjoy torturing the male until he told her his secrets. He doubted the male would last the three weeks.
Her entire plan was pitted with too many what ifs. It hinged on one of Conn’s sisters-in-law being Donovan’s mate. The possibility was there, she’d said. Females only mated more powerful males and Conn’s she-wolves had God’s blood. The fact that Donovan and his brothers were all powerful sons of a mated pair made them a strong potential, but Conn would be rabid if one of the she-wolves was the Lykos’ mate. If the male even lived past the three-week mark, he would have suffered hell at Elizabeth’s hands.
They needed to find the male much sooner than that.
Vane and Brianne are awake. Drake felt Sirena’s excitement in the link and he transformed to free fall, porting and reforming outside the manor.
“What’s happening?” Drake demanded as he strode into the hall where Sirena was standing. She’d called him in.
“Brianne called me through the link.” Everyone had been out patrolling, including the healer. “They woke up at some point between my check-ins. Brianne said the memories were slow at first. The links seemed foreign for a time.”
“Why didn’t you call immediately?” he growled.
She lifted her chin and stood taller. “I was shocked and anxious to see what was happening. Brianne sounded confused.”
He glared for a moment. “Did you explain the situation to her?”
“Yes.”
“They know they’re mated?” he growled.
“They were already aware of it on a base level, but they were still a little stunned at the confirmation.”
“They’re back to normal?” he demanded.
“Brianne seems herself. Vane seems different… more dominant. It’s probably from all the power and the added beast.”
He nodded and walked down the steps.
He heard them talking as he neared the room. Relief hit his gut, and he rolled the tension from his shoulders. The Guardians were his, and the females had wormed into a spot in his cold heart, one he’d never admit to having. He hadn’t liked Brianne being laid out.
He heard the female Guardian snapping at Vane. “I can’t believe you bit me.”
The male’s words were pitched lower, definite. “I told you what would happen when we were in the dreams. The moment you asked me to make love to you, it was over, lark. You were mine whether it worked this way or not. I’d already decided we weren’t fighting it anymore, and I don’t remember you fighting it. You loved having my teeth and cock.”
She growled, but there was more arousal than heat in her next words. “You decided we weren’t fighting it anymore?”
Drake’s lips actually twitched for a split second. Brianne had always had a wild streak; he didn’t envy Vane there. He scented their arousal, but there was no time. He needed to get back to the hunt, but not before seeing them, finding out what he was dealing with and whether he could release their chains.
“Good to see you up,” Drake said as he strode through the spelled door that was keeping them locked in. They were still in the hospital garb. Vane wore only thin pants, and Drake was happy to see he’d interrupted before they’d shredded them. Brianne shifted in Vane’s arms. “We’ll deal with how you fucked up later. I don’t have time to knock your fucking heads together right now.”
Brianne frowned, but nodded. She’d known she was on his shit list before Vane completed his claim on her. She’d been ordered to stay away from the male and his siblings and she hadn’t. Instead she’d been lovers with the male for a century and it had almost cost her everything. He made very few orders, and he expected them to be obeyed.
> Sirena made a noise of annoyance. He knew she wanted him to let it go; she felt Brianne’s reasons along with the outcome made it all fucking better. He understood that the female Guardians didn’t have many options for lovers, not ones strong enough that their beasts would accept them, but he’d ordered all the Guardians away from the male and his siblings. They’d been off limits at the time.
He didn’t need to look over to know Sirena’s eyes were full of disapproval.
Brianne had gripped Vane’s arm. The male had started growling and stepped forward, the bulk of his shoulders tense. He hadn’t liked Drake saying they would be punished, that Brianne would be. Drake eyed the male; this is what he’d needed to see. There was a hint of the feral male he’d been when they’d woken up nearly a week ago; the question was whether Vane could control it. Brianne growled, “Enough!” Vane’s gaze went to her. That seemed to be all it took to get the male level again, the sight and sound of his mate. Interesting.
Drake gave the male a hard look once the cat focused back on him. Vane may be powerful, but not so much that Drake wouldn’t gladly show him who was in charge. Vane had already been working for the Guardians and now he was mated to one. Blood or no blood, he was one of them, and he would do as he was told.
“This is exactly the ridiculous behavior that got us into this shit,” Brianne ground out.
Vane cocked a brow and his stance eased. “You’re welcome,” he drawled.
She bristled, but her eyes were light, filled with emotion she probably didn’t know she was showing. Drake watched the two. They really were perfectly matched… and strong. Their power seemed to roll around them in currents. It had a different tone, a balance to it that only came from fully bonded pairs.
“Can you control this power?” Drake needed to know if they could be set loose without getting lost in the beasts they held. He needed them out there as soon as possible, but that didn’t mean he intended to jeopardize anyone else in the Realms.
Both looked at him and their eyes went glassy, seeming to assess something. Vane stepped further ahead and looked off for a second; his eyes were bright. “Yes. The beasts are separate. I can call to one or the other…” Moments slid by as Drake watched them search within themselves.
“I feel it too,” Brianne announced. No worry, more considering, then awed. She shook her head as if surprised at all that was going on inside her. “Damn, it’s intense. The connection. The power,” she murmured as she looked off.
A split second went by before Vane did something reckless as shit.
Wings flew from the male’s back, big and strong, the feathers a match of browns and red that looked nearly identical to Brianne’s as the tips grazed the floor. The wings unfurled, large and strong enough to carry the male’s weight. Fangs slid from his gums and sharp talons formed from his fingers while his eyes glowed an otherworldly green. Drake balled his fists and waited as Brianne gasped. The question now was whether the asshole could force the beast back now that he’d freed the damned thing. This was the new beast he’d acquired as Brianne’s mate, not the lion form he was born with. The move was foolhardy, one that set Drake’s teeth on edge. Power wisped around Vane as Sirena sucked in a breath behind him.
Drake looked to Brianne, watching her for any indication that she was worried, or that Vane was having trouble managing it, but she didn’t appear concerned anymore, arousal heated the room and he heard a low hum coming from them as Vane retracted the wings. Drake was mildly impressed if not furious.
“I asked if you could. Not for you to do it!” Drake growled.
Vane pinned Drake with a hard stare. They were going to have some time in the rings after Drake locked down Apollo. Vane had changed, and his beasts would need to see that Drake was stronger. “I knew I could control it. I wouldn’t have risked it otherwise.” There was a wildness in his eyes, a cocky surety that was an amped-up version from before. Drake felt Vane and Brianne’s connection as an almost palpable thing. Vane had controlled it, hadn’t been lost to the new beast.
The male’s muscles relaxed and he spoke again. “My cat’s there too. It’s snarling, but it seems more like jealousy that the other beast got to come out to play and the cat didn’t,” Vane said thoughtfully. “I dreamt even when I felt awake and hazily aware. There was a seemingly never-ending fight, but now they’ve separated into different areas, almost like claiming territories,” Vane said. Frowning, he looked at Brianne, who seemed to be thinking as well.
“Yes, it was the same for me. I can feel them pacing, but they’re not beating the shit out of each other anymore. You’re right; it was like being trapped, seeing this room and at the same time watching the beasts fight it out. FYI, my bird feels quite pleased with her perch in there.” Brianne beamed at her mate and he tucked her close.
Vane shook his head, smiling. “I’m sure she is, lark.”
Vane’s sister had been right. Alex had said it would take time for the two beasts inside them to settle into territories.
Drake considered them again. Both appeared able to keep it together, enough. He knew he was probably reaching, but he needed more fucking people out in the hunt. If Vane wanted to assert dominance, something he hadn’t done before, then Drake would give him a beat-down, but he didn’t have time to deal with that shit now.
“Do you need the fight now?” he asked the male.
Vane grew pensive, but finally said, “I can hold them off.”
“Good. Too much is happening.” If it was an epic fight, which it could be, Drake wanted to enjoy it. P was his closest match in the rings, it was always good and bloody, but with Vane it would be a challenge he’d yet to encounter and his dragon was clawing for it so much that his lips tilted and he saw a light in Vane’s eyes as he did the same.
Too bad he had a Realm to protect and a damned God to retrieve. He used his ability to free the shackles at Vane’s and Brianne’s wrists and ankles, satisfied they weren’t a threat to the Realm. The metal clanked to the ground.
Brianne’s eyes shot to him. “What’s going on?”
“Erik and Alex?” Vane demanded, and Drake narrowed his eyes at the male.
“Not now, cat! Your siblings are fine,” he snapped, having taken all the challenge he could from Vane at the moment. Smoke billowed from his lips. “They’re hunting. Elizabeth stole Apollo from his hiding place.”
He heard Brianne suck in a breath and the tension thickened. “You’re kidding?” she shot out, and Drake felt her power move around the room as if seeking the object of her fury. “How?”
“Among other things, she knew where the Deleastis Rod was hidden,” he snarled, assessing the female Guardian as he dropped that bomb on her. He was still furious that Elizabeth had outsmarted him. The air stilled for a split second, her power searching out an outlet. It wasn’t raw and unfocused like it had been when the two had first awoken.
“It wasn’t destroyed by the Creators when they dissolved the cuffs Apollo used to imprison us?” Brianne snarled and Vane tucked her into his side. Comfort she accepted almost subconsciously, her body leaning slightly into the male as her fury rolled through the room. Her mate growled low and his eyes flashed, but Brianne didn’t shove the male away. She wasn’t asserting her warrior abilities with the male like she’d done countless times with all the male Guardians in the early centuries.
“We’d all made that same assumption when it wasn’t found. It seems to have been created from a different material than the cuffs.”
“Where is it now?”
“We retrieved it along with Cynthia.”
Brianne snarled, “Good. At least one bitch is down. Only one to go and I can’t wait to make that happen. At least you saved me a morsel.” Her voice was deadly as she grinned. They all wanted Elizabeth dead, but Drake hoped to hell Brianne wasn’t intent on killing the God too.
“You can’t kill Apollo,” Drake warned. The Guardians were bound by the Creators not to kill the Gods. The Great Beings had assured them all that one day t
he Deities would be needed. The Creators were never coming back, for reasons they hadn’t shared before leaving the Realms in his hands. He was on his own, and now he had an even more powerful Guardian under his command, more like two, since Vane was one of them now. Drake hoped it never came to a battle between him and Brianne for Apollo’s life. He eyed the two in front of him. They could be assets in the hunt, but it could all turn into a clusterfuck in the end if he didn’t keep them on a damned leash.
“What else don’t we know?” Vane asked.
“Elizabeth has her hands on a Lykos who can possibly free Apollo from the spelled unit. Are you two strong enough to hunt?”
“Yes,” Brianne and Vane both said at once, serious. Good.
He nodded at them.
Sirena added, “We’ve been using the Rod in the wild areas. Sacha and Sander are using it right now in the grid they’re searching. It’s far enough out that were hoping only Immortals belonging to Elizabeth will be in the vicinity. It’s a gamble, but we need to work fast at finding Elizabeth. We had little choice but to use its power to try to lure any Immortals that may be hunting or patrolling outside her protection spells. We don’t want them finding out the artifact still exists; the Rod was used to lure too many of them into Apollo’s prison.”
“I remember,” Brianne growled.
He nodded his understanding; she’d been lured with the artifact.
That didn’t mean Drake cared what the Immortals in the Realm thought of his tactics. His job was to protect them any way he deemed fit. That was the reason Sirena urged him to have Bastian and Sacha handle diplomatic matters.
Brianne and Vane nodded as Brianne started pulling her long red curls from her face to knot at the back of her head. “Fuck. You made Sacha partner with Sander? Shit. I’m going to hear about that. We need to get out there.” Brianne groaned. Sacha and Brianne had patrolled together for centuries.
