by Setta Jay
“Sacha’s fine, and yes, I need you out there quickly,” he stated.
Sacha never complained.
“Keep thinking that. She shows an entirely different side to me,” Brianne grumbled.
He was damned happy to have her back.
“Let’s do this. I need clothes and weapons,” the female Guardian added.
“We both do,” Vane growled.
Drake searched for signs that they couldn’t handle this. They’d recovered so damned fast. One minute near catatonic, the next back to normal, more powerful, and he eyed Vane. The male was showing more dominant tendencies, but Drake imagined that would be normal for a male in his situation. Vane had experienced a surge in power. Things would be off until he found his new place. Drake would need to keep them together; Brianne seemed to calm Vane’s beast. He hoped Vane could do the same for Brianne if she needed it.
If there’d been time, he’d have kept them on lockdown for a while, but there wasn’t.
“You two can work together if Vane can use the wings.”
“I believe I can.”
“This becomes too much, any small chance that the beast will slip its leash, you get your asses on the fucking ground and call me and Sirena.” He’d better not be making a mistake with them.
They both nodded and Drake noticed that Sirena hadn’t said a word. He looked at her now and she was busy studying the two. “I want one more test and to watch Brianne shift back and forth if they’re going out,” the healer finally said with a hard look at him.
He nodded his assent.
Brianne grudgingly agreed. “Fine, but take the damned tests fast. And don’t think you’re off the hook for putting me in this ridiculous hospital gown. We will have words after I’ve snapped Elizabeth like a twig. I feel ready for a fight.” There was an excited glint to her eyes, and Drake nearly shook his head. Brianne had always been ready for a fight. Her battle cries had been heard far and wide at any given opportunity.
“I also believe we need to discuss keeping Vane’s wings a secret,” Sirena said, and Brianne and Vane stared at her as she continued. “I don’t know if the ofioeidis poison caused your connection, but we almost lost you two. If there hadn’t been so many of us pulling you both back from the beasts taking over, you may have ended up completely taken over by them. I don’t want the population thinking this is a possibility for them. I don’t think two less powerful beings could have won that fight. I’m not sure it would even work for anyone else, but the last thing we need are wild Gryphons in the Realm.”
“So we’ll keep the mating secret.” Brianne nodded, agreeing.
Vane’s hands fisted at his sides before he spoke. “For now.” It seemed the male was less than happy with keeping their relationship hidden.
Brianne’s eyes flashed to her mate. “What?”
“We’ll discuss it later.” Vane’s jaw was tight.
“You’re seriously going to get your panties in a bunch over this?” She balked at him.
“Don’t, Brianne. I get it, that doesn’t mean I like it. You. Are. My. Fucking. Mate.” The words were growled out, the beast demanding his claim be known to the world.
Drake’s teeth ground tight. He had more to worry about than the two lovers’ damned bickering. The need to hunt was burning him from the inside. He didn’t take failure well. This was personal to him. Drake alone had been sentry over the Gods’ hiding places and that meant Apollo had been taken out from under his watch.
They’d all known Elizabeth was up to something, but not what. Her plan had been brilliant and it had played out with knowledge only someone close to Apollo could have had, but that didn’t make the loss easier for him to deal with. He would get the bastard back.
He tuned the two out as Sirena moved to take more blood samples.
Drake was done; he needed to take flight. Get the hell out of there. “After Sirena takes the tests, I will give you an area to search.” Before turning to leave, he added, “You should also know that two more of your brothers found mates while you slept.”
Brianne’s eyes brightened. “Who?”
“Conn and, a few days ago, Jax. Sirena will fill you in.”
Alex, Uri and Erik all came rushing in as Drake made for the door.
Alex had tears in her eyes as she launched herself into her brother’s side. “It’s about time you two came back to us!” she said through a watery smile.
“Make the reunion fast and get dressed. I’ll go over the search locations,” Drake demanded as he left the room.
He’d like to think their odds had just improved, but the search area was just too big, and now he had two incredibly powerful beings to leash when they did find the damned God.
Chapter 22
Jax’s Home, Tetartos Realm
Five days! Ileana growled into the jungle, fuming. It had been nearly an entire week and nothing. The Guardians still hadn’t found Elizabeth, and Ileana was getting increasingly frustrated and completely wild at continually being left behind.
And the frenzy was driving her out of her mind. Her skin crawled with the need to bite, to claim, to challenge the male, but she hadn’t demanded anything from him. She hadn’t needed to, or there would have been no holding her beast back, even now the cat itched under her skin, wanting out. It was little consolation that he was just as wild with need for her, not when she was the one who kept ending up screwed into unconsciousness. Before she could even speak, he was on her and she’d been too swept away to stop any of it.
She transformed; she needed to run. She’d circled the small island over and over for days. Pissed that she wasn’t searching with anyone. He’d refused to take her in the search with him, said the need would distract him, them both. That it was his duty as a Guardian to hunt.
She growled again. She understood that the frenzy was driving them, and that it would be a distraction. But she’d asked him to drop her off in an area to search on her own, which he hadn’t done, again. She was a hunter and warrior, not some house cat. She had to get off the island.
No more sitting there listening to reports that they’d found nothing until he came home starving for her. He continually arrived and destroyed her with his hunger, eating her to ruthless climax over and over as if he couldn’t get enough, as if her come was the elixir of life. She chuffed in annoyance. But that was the reason she was out on the balcony, furious. He’d destroyed her concentration again and then left while she slept. She woke up alone, cocooned in blankets, covered in his scent. The frenzy was an exacting dictator ruling them both, but he was still going out hunting. She needed to do the same.
And why couldn’t she port yet? She snarled loud enough to loose some birds from the trees. She’d seemed to be getting so much of his power for those first few days. She had all the mental links, was faster and stronger, and then nothing. Nothing more than need.
She was forced to let her cat out more and more in the last days, listening for any clue that the Guardians had found something.
Her new home was a damned prison. She had her things. He’d come back with her favorite blankets and most of her clothes and weapons. The bastard hadn’t even taken her to get them herself. He’d broken into her home and brought everything to her. Before she’d been able to unleash the full force of her fury for his high-handedness, she’d ended up thoroughly ravished against the railing of the balcony.
She blew out a breath and bounded from the patio into the jungle below. She felt him in the link and spent a good portion of her days concentrating on learning to teleport.
Something had to give. She needed to get out there, needed to be a part of the search. She’d thought mating the Guardian would be to her advantage and she’d ended up a prisoner instead.
They’d barely spoken. Sleep, sex, him patrolling and her running had been the schedule of the last five days.
Except for Sirena’s visit two days after Donovan had been taken. Before the frustrating realization had fully set in that he planned to keep leav
ing her on the island every time he left to hunt. She remembered Sirena contacting her.
Ileana, it’s Sirena. Is it okay if I come to you?
Is everything okay? Why would the healer Guardian be asking to come over? She experienced an odd jolt of fear and felt for her link to Jax. No harsh emotion came from the link; he was fine. Ileana frowned at the odd panic.
Nothing’s wrong. Is it okay if a couple of mates come with me? They are excited to meet you and have agreed to answer questions.
Ileana frowned. Why would they care? But she was curious and did have questions for the healer.
Okay. She stepped into the closet to find something to wear. She was comfortable in her nudity, but doubted they would be. She smiled to herself. When?
How much time do you need? We’ll only be able to spend a minute. The female’s tone was tinged with regret, but Ileana knew everyone was in the hunt, including Sirena.
Give me a few minutes to get dressed. She was getting more curious by the minute.
She slipped on her tight pants. They were hers but had conveniently been spelled against hell-beast blood before making it to his house. She shook her head. The male had nearly lost his mind when he’d seen all the burns on her skin from the hell beasts at Donovan’s. It didn’t matter how fast they’d healed, he was pissed. His protectiveness was an adjustment for her, but her animal loved it.
She pulled on a shirt next. Long sleeved and also spelled. Not one of the short-sleeved ones made it there. She made a noise of irritation. She needed him to take her to get the rest of her stuff not just drop off what he wanted after breaking into her place.
She bounded down the stairs and saw that her company was already outside the glass door. She assessed the females as she opened the protections and the door.
Sirena smiled and held her hand out to the others. “Sorry for the short notice. Ileana, this is Rain, Dorian’s mate, and Dacia, Conn’s mate.”
“Hi.” The blonde with purple-tipped hair greeted her with a welcoming smile.
Ileana returned it and moved aside. “Come in.” She felt vaguely uncomfortable having people in her domain, and the home was. She liked it there.
“Hi. I wanted to come explain about my sister,” Dacia said. She looked almost as uncomfortable as Ileana. She led them into the living area, where there were big comfortable pieces of furniture in mostly tan. They all sat.
“Jax explained.” Ileana curbed the urge to growl thinking about the beast who wanted her male. “Is she doing better?”
“Not really,” Dacia admitted. The dark-haired female seemed quiet. “But I’m sorry she came after you. And thank you for not hurting her.” It all seemed difficult for the female to say.
“You’re welcome.”
“Do you have anything to drink?” Rain asked.
“There’s a bar over there. You can help yourself. I’m not sure what most of it is,” Ileana said and pointed it out.
“You don’t drink?” Rain’s mouth shot open in horror.
“No.” Ileana’s lips twitched. She found the female entertaining.
“Trust me. You’ll start,” Rain said as she headed that way.
It had been a short visit, but she’d found it interesting. Sirena had needed blood samples, Dacia had wanted to apologize, but Rain was mainly just curious and welcoming, and shared a lot in the short span of time. The three had seemed comfortable with each other. More than just friendly, more like family, and it left Ileana feeling like the outsider she’d always been, but for some reason it hadn’t felt right.
Sirena had also confirmed that there was nothing to dull the symptoms of the frenzy. Rain had confirmed that everything Sirena had given her to try for that purpose hadn’t worked. So Jax had been right. She wasn’t the first one to ask for something like that from Sirena. Apparently Dorian hadn’t wanted Rain to see his memories as much as she didn’t want Jax seeing hers.
All in all, that blip of a visit had been the only change to her life in the past five days. She growled in frustration.
She prowled from under the trees onto the warm sand and scanned the rolling waves of blue that led to the horizon, and considered the distance. She’d checked every beach and there wasn’t even a sliver of land visible. Not that she’d really swim it. She wasn’t sure what sea creatures lay out there, but she couldn’t imagine them making the journey pleasant.
She felt the warm sand on the pads of her paws, the cool salty breeze ruffling her fur. Should she just ask Jax to pick her up? She shook her head. He kept finding ways to leave her behind; he’d only find another excuse to leave her.
She had connections to all of the Guardians. In the last days she’d found she was getting used to it. But who would help her? Sirena was the only one she’d spoken to for any length, other than Drake. She and the dragon hadn’t had the best of introductions, and if he was angry then, he was demonic now. She’d felt the power of his voice, the rage, as he directed the Guardians to different areas of the Realm for the last week. No. He’d be furious she’d interrupted the search, for that matter he’d likely be angry if he knew she’d interrupted any Guardian’s search. Sirena was the more intelligent choice.
She kept pacing in the sand for a few more moments before feeling for the link to the healer. She was getting more used to all the lines, but they’d mostly stayed to the one main link, getting information out all at once. She hoped she was feeling the correct one. Sirena, it’s Ileana. Can you come to the island? She gave an image of the beach for the female to teleport to.
Give me one second. Is everything okay? the female asked, concern clear in the healer’s mental tone, and that particular emotion stilled Ileana for a second. It was as if she cared. Ileana shook it off, the female had only met her once. She didn’t count the battle at Donovan’s.
The link gave off a warm comforting sensation that she’d forgotten in all the centuries since her parents’ death. All she truly remembered of that link were those last gut-wrenching words, bursting pain, and the cold buzzing silence that followed for so long after they were gone.
Jax formed in front of her, a wild look in his eyes. “Are you hurt? What’s wrong?”
She growled at his audacity in coming to her now. She changed form to stand in front of him, not liking his towering position.
“Am I a prisoner?” she asked, an air of calm fury in her voice.
He growled at her, “You called her to get a ride off the island?”
Sirena ported to their side. She looked first to Ileana and then to Jax, and the healer’s lips started twitching.
“Yes. Someone has to have need of a hunting partner.”
He growled low and his eyes flashed. “Not one you’ll be hunting with.” His jaw clamped down before he spoke again. His eyes tracked over her naked body and she felt it start responding to him. Damn him, her annoyance dampened some. They’d fed the need only an hour ago! The breeze blew some of his scent away and she breathed easier. “You also can’t teleport,” he snapped.
“So. I’m perfectly capable of running over any terrain. You’d know that if you’d just taken me with you.” The male had no idea what she was willing to suffer for the hunt. She’d run over jagged rock many times and survived it just fine. The blood and pain would always go away once the cuts had a moment to heal.
They glared at each other for long moments. Her muscles vibrated as she forced her animal to back the fuck off. She wasn’t backing down, and she wasn’t ending up in bed.
At the moment she didn’t care if he took her with him and they were forced to fight the frenzy the entire time or she went with Sirena and hunted with someone else. She needed to do something. They hadn’t found the wolf in a week. She wouldn’t sit back any longer and wait as time dwindled away.
*****
“I’ve got this, Sirena,” Jax ground out. His kitten was going to drive him out of his damned mind.
“You’re sure?” He saw his sister trying not to laugh as she looked at a nude, pissed-off Ile
ana glaring him down. She was comfortable in her nudity, so it hadn’t surprised him to see she hadn’t bothered with clothing. He could see the tracks in the sand. It seemed she’d spent some time out on the beach formulating the plan to get his sister’s assistance.
He nodded to Sirena and she was gone. Ileana didn’t argue. He clenched his fists. No, his mate would just call Sirena again if he didn’t take her with him. The stance, her fierce look… it got to him, but they didn’t have time. He’d had her an hour ago and he needed to hunt now. They were running out of time. He worked until he couldn’t force the need back, then he came to her, took her hot little body, lapped up all her sweet cream and nearly purred every time she passed out with his dick still riding her. He slept very little, but it didn’t seem to matter since she fueled his body like nothing ever had. All he seemed to need was her, but he needed her often, wanted her often.
He eyed her. She was beautiful and fierce. Also smart. She’d proved that in the wolf’s cabin, when she’d left to allow him space to search for clues. Then there was the vulnerability, her memories, and how they ate at his gut as she snuggled against him in her sleep. Everything about her brought out the beast, made him crave more of her, all of her. The need to protect her from herself was harsh, driving him to new heights of sexual excess where she was concerned, knocking her sweet ass out and leaving her safe and secure in his bed.
He’d tasted the vengeance in her dreams. There was no way in hell she’d hunt with anyone but him. Could he deny her this? Hell yes. He could leave her ass there in his bed, but it was a temporary fix. She’d be able to teleport at some point. If she found Elizabeth without him, would she risk herself? That was a possibility he wasn’t willing to chance. His eyes trailed over her beautiful storming eyes and smooth flushed cheeks. He ran a hand over his face. When had he turned into such a fucking pussy?
He’d let her hunt, but it would be at his side, no matter how damned impossible it was to concentrate on anything but her ass.
