by Setta Jay
Conn and Uri teleported to the side of the ring and watched mutely as Drake and Vane rolled to their feet to exchange more blows.
Another loud roar split the air as Sirena added, The fact that her blood confirmed a pronounced difference with its reaction to everyone here but Drake’s tells me they truly were destined mates, but it also seems to react differently against the blood of all the mated pairs.
Months had gone by before they found Delia as she destroyed everyone who’d ever worked for Cyril. She’d been picking them off alone one by one for months. It wasn’t until the Guardians brought her in to question her that Drake realized she was his female.
Something inside Bastian clawed at the thought of his mate going through what Drake’s had.
Sirena ran a hand over the back of her neck. The worst is that the mutation is continuing daily. I have no idea what it started as, but in the last weeks, it’s changed enough to cause me to wonder if the change is from her scenting Drake or whether it had been changing from the moment Cyril injected her. I don’t know what the stopping point will be.
She closed her eyes and continued softly in their mind link, I can’t guarantee she’ll even survive another mating. She’s been mated twice, which should have been impossible, but the power is so strong inside her, how could she hold more? Another beast? If she mates Drake, there would be two shifting breeds along with the non-shifting healer blood. If Vane and Brianne hadn’t just successfully become hybrids, I would say it was impossible, but still, we barely got them through that. I don’t know how much more her body can take. Not to mention what the drugs inside her would do to Drake.
Bastian watched her face as she continued to vent her frustration in his mind. Not that Drake cares what the hell happens. The damned dragon thinks he’s invincible. Delia doesn’t want another mating. She wants to leave. In all honesty, I think she wants to die now that she’s had her vengeance on everyone who worked for Cyril.
Bastian didn’t envy Sirena her search for answers, and he wished he could help her. It’s not Drake feeling invincible. He needs to take her pain away, he pointed out. Sirena’s worried eyes met his as he continued. Drake’s not just a leader. He’s a male who thinks he’s failed to protect his female. The only one that’s his.
I know. I’ve tried to tell him that he couldn’t have known she was out there. He just doesn’t hear me.
Everyone in the four Realms is his to protect, you know that. He took that role from the beginning. Not protecting his mate would be more than any male could handle. For Drake it could be worse.
Delia had gone through a lot. What was done to her was something no female should ever be forced to endure. Because of that, she was now forced to cover her entire body with spelled protection to completely mute her scent or it would attract any unmated male to her as if she belonged to them. Bastian would kill any male that came near his mate, and his beast was calm and logical. What would the dragon do?
Sirena looked out at the fighters. Drake seemed to be getting more enraged by the second. If she doesn’t survive the mating, it will destroy him.
And there it was. What they all worried about.
What now? he asked her.
I don’t know. More tests. His sister Guardian sounded frustrated, exhausted. He reached out and pulled her into his chest. She wasn’t one to accept affection easily, but she put her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against him for a moment. She was so much smaller even in heels. A deception of her race, because the diminutive size hid immense power. If anyone could help Delia, Sirena could.
Thanks, she said and took a deep breath before stepping back and offering up a wan smile.
You’re not alone.
She nodded and looked back at the fight. Drake roared, more dragon now than ever before, and it seemed as if everything moved slowly for a split second. Fire spewed from Drake’s lips, lighting the tree line ablaze as his fist split a tree in half. P ported behind their leader and then they were gone. P was likely taking Drake to Hell Realm to loose the beast where it could do the least amount of damage.
Vane and Brianne worked as one to manipulate the air currents, snuffing out the flames with a thought.
Sirena stood silently for a moment, watching them work, and then she was gone. No doubt heading to her lab… to Delia.
Chapter 3
Earth Realm
Tasha walked into her office, gliding straight to the private bar at the other side of the big room. All it took was a single telekinetic thought to trip her private sound system. The bewitching pulse of music flowed around her like the silk of her tunic dress. The decadent black fabric felt like soft clouds flirting with her thighs as she moved into the space bisecting her dark walnut desk with its various video displays and the sunken seating area to her right. She closed her eyes for a moment as she let the music settle her. A few more steps and she was lifting a stopper and pouring soft amber liquid into a crystal glass.
Yes. The hundred-year-old whiskey was just what she needed to relax. She looked out the massive double-sided mirror to the club floor below. Dancers moved seductively on suspended platforms lifted almost as high as her second-floor office, some spinning on poles in graceful arcs. She and Nastia had spared no expense on the place. They spent the majority of their time there, and comfort was much more important than money to them. They’d accumulated plenty of wealth through the centuries.
Other tiered stages set against the wall held mostly nude males and females setting a more erotic tone for the clients. It was a sensual show of skin as they mimicked any number of fantasies, whetting appetites with the heated displays.
Tasha looked out at the crowd of swaying bodies on the dance floor but didn’t really see any of it; her mind was too focused on her twin. She perched on the arm of a chair in the seating area, absently sipping her drink. Nastia had been in a funk for the week since having to dispose of the trash that had entered the club. Sergi and his guard had left on their own two feet, but had an unfortunate accident not long after. The mistress was left alive, but the bastards were no longer a problem for anyone, their demise clean and in no way linked to the club.
She absently swirled her drink before taking another, longer sip, savoring the slow glide down her throat.
Nastia was probably in a private room with some boy-toy groupie who liked her brand of entertainment. Or so Tasha hoped. Her twin had been riding a fine line before the bastards set her off, and Tasha didn’t want to think about what other trouble her sister could find to blow off steam.
Lights changed below as a scene began playing on the main stage. Peter and Rachel were already there and positioned in front of the seating area. Peter stood in front of her, spotlighted nicely with his hard muscular form encased in tight leather pants. He was dominant in every aspect of life and the beautiful nude female bound for him had been his submissive for many years. Rachel’s curved body was pulled taut and vulnerable for her male. The audience only added to her arousal and was one of the reasons Tasha hadn’t hesitated in hiring them at a lucrative price. Peter rubbed oil over Rachel’s flushed skin, his eyes focused intently on her as if she were the only thing in the world. Utterly devoted to her pleasure. It was an intoxicating sight.
Tasha envied her. Males had been entranced by her and Nastia’s appearance for years, but there was a difference in being looked at as a desired possession and being the object of such delicious love and caring. To have the obsession of a powerful male who wanted to give as well as take. What would it be like to have a male with the ability to dominate her in such a way? One who could master her body better than her own hand?
She shook her head and took another sip of her drink before setting the glass down. She needed to check on Nastia not think of fanciful things.
She rose to exit the privacy of her office, not looking forward to what she’d find Nastia doing. She’d barely heard the click of the door behind her when she felt the wards in the club trip. She turned quickly and opened the door a
gain so that the security would see her re-entering her office before she broke into millions of pieces and teleported down among the moving bodies below. The wards were set to power spikes. The stronger the power, the heavier the jolt she felt. This one was distinctive and she had a feeling her twin would be out in the open shortly. That suspicion hadn’t been unwarranted. She felt Nastia’s corporeal form slide beside hers in the shadows.
Seconds later the Immortal stepped from the foyer into the main room. The male moved like a big cat, graceful, confident and deadly. Dark tattoos adorned his caramel-colored skin, snaking up his neck and down his arms, peeking from the edge of the white tee shirt he’d obviously ripped the sleeves from. A picture of a fast motorcycle was the only thing on the front. His leather pants had those knee guards on the sides for riders who liked to take the curves fast. The desire for speed was something Nastia had in common with the Guardian. Why did he keep showing up there no matter that they’d left him with memories of bad drinks and a much more unpleasant setting? She mentally frowned in annoyance.
It’s only been a week this time, her twin mused. Was there a hint of anticipation in her tone? As far as Tasha was concerned, his quick return wasn’t a good thing.
Sander, the lone Phoenix of the twelve Guardians of the four Realms.
In all their centuries of research, they’d only actually encountered this particular Guardian a few months ago. That wasn’t necessarily surprising, the mortal Realm was large with any number of cities with clubs like theirs, if that was truly his pleasure. Tasha had a bad feeling it wasn’t the reason he kept coming back.
His eyes weren’t even focused on any number of pleasures. They were fixed on the darkened corner where she and her sister were nothing but shadows. He was dangerous. He had to sense them even though he shouldn’t be able to. They didn’t even have a scent when in this form.
Christ, she hoped her sister hadn’t been playing bigger games with the male.
What have you done? she bit out.
Nothing that he would remember. Her twin’s words didn’t bode well. Tasha couldn’t imagine the male enjoying her sister’s brand of entertainment, not for a single second. Avoiding him was what they needed to do.
Is he remembering? That was disturbing.
No. I don’t think so.
Something wasn’t right. Damn it, Nastia. Tell me what you’ve done? she demanded. Tasha had no desire to fight the Guardians in order to maintain their freedom in the mortal Realm. If they were discovered by the leader, she wasn’t positive Nastia could fog the dragon’s memory, and getting on the Guardians’ radar was not something she wanted to deal with. They couldn’t fog them all. Especially since her skills in that area were lacking.
She watched the male run a hand over his bald head, still looking in their direction.
It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Tasha didn’t like the hint of excitement in her twin’s tone.
Through the centuries she and her sister had learned everything they could about what had happened after their escape from Apollo. They’d encountered other Immortals and silently spied on the three siblings who had acquired a lot of knowledge on the Guardians throughout the centuries.
Later, they’d spent time with Mageia, blending in with them, learning their secrets and how the Guardians worked with the magic-wielding mortals. Mortals who thought the Guardians were the only Immortals in existence, when she and her twin knew better. Their spying had told them the other Realm held the Immortals who’d once been on Earth. It made her wonder what exactly was going on over there. Why were the Guardians keeping the secret? Tetartos had a confinement spell, so she and Nastia had never ventured in. They did know that the Guardians offered Mageia significant benefits for moving there, painting a lovely picture of untouched beauty, where they could freely practice magic and learn even more. They’d be given homes, and luxuries were imported from Earth Realm. But why?
The witch hunts of old had been quite the motivation for mass relocation. Still, many Mageia had stayed and more were born every day. The race seemed to be evolving from humanity.
She and Nastia had somehow missed being sent to the other Realm millennia ago. They still weren’t sure exactly how that had happened, but they’d nearly exiled themselves once. They’d teleported to the edge of the Realm and felt the intensity of the spell surrounding it before they’d stopped the forward motion just in time. They refused to be trapped by anyone or anything again. They would never lose their freedom.
Tasha was sure the air was thick with the scent of alcohol and arousal as Peter and Rachel put on their show. She couldn’t scent anything in this form, but Rachel’s head was thrown back in ecstasy as Peter used his fingers to toy with her, getting her more and more aroused with every pump into her body. She could hear the female’s throaty moans even over the pulsing beat of the music.
The Guardian wasn’t paying any attention to that.
Tasha noticed Brigitte moving through the crowd; the Mageia would have felt the ward being tripped, would have known a Guardian was in their midst and would attempt to make him welcome. There was no doubt in Tasha’s mind that he knew the other female was approaching, but he didn’t move his gaze. If anything, his frown deepened to something else, something that made Tasha’s non-form itch. She felt her twin’s form fluttering oddly as they flowed so close to each other, and she knew Nastia was far too intrigued by the Guardian.
Another jolt hit as the wards were triggered a second time. Damn it. It was another powerful signature and it felt odd. She focused on the door to the foyer and would have sucked in a breath if she were solid.
The reaction was swift and intense. Unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
Tasha? Her twin’s voice was drowned out by the sensation of Tasha’s body trying to solidify without her willing it. She was shocked, but managed to keep from reforming, something that had never happened to her. She ported to the office just as beautiful dark eyes focused in her direction.
She reformed, sucking in a deep breath.
“What just happened?” Nastia demanded as Tasha attempted to understand what the hell was going on with her power.
She didn’t answer her twin, she was too intent on the screens on the wall by her desk. She couldn’t take her eyes off the image there. The new male was beautiful. He was a Kairos, who were a race of teleporters, she could feel it in the power that played over her skin, the intensity that almost forced her to reform against her will as if she needed him to see her. It didn’t make sense.
“Did you feel anything from the Kairos? Bastian.” She knew his name, knew all the Guardians’ names, whether they’d seen them or not. She watched as he turned to Sander, giving the camera his back for a second, but his shoulders looked tense in the sleeveless leather shirt. His thick arms were bunched and his fists balled as he looked around the room. Long midnight hair was roped to sit in a controlled tail down his broad back. She wanted to rip off the binding and run her fingers through it, just to see if the silky mass was soft. Her nipples were almost painfully tight as she imagined him over her, the long strands loose and caressing her skin as he devoured her aching flesh.
She felt dizzy as she tracked every inch of his wide back leading to narrow hips. She wanted to sink her teeth into his leather-clad ass. He was easily a foot taller than her and that was something she liked. She’d feel small next to him. He turned again; now both Guardians were looking at the spot they’d just left. Her ears were buzzing as she ignored her twin’s questions and focused on the short goatee framing firm beautiful lips.
Brigitte finally made her way to them only to be waved away by the Phoenix with a dark scowl. The female Mageia hesitated a second, eying the males with a hint of concern before leaving. No doubt she’d be checking her own surveillance to see what they were doing.
Her breathing finally evened out as the two Guardians scanned the room once more. Were they looking for them? She got the distinct feeling they’d known she and Nastia were there even
though that shouldn’t be possible. It hadn’t been the case with the other Guardians they’d encountered in their centuries of hiding in plain sight.
Nastia’s voice was getting louder, more demanding. “What did you feel?” A frown marred Nastia’s forehead as her gaze went back to the screen, watching the males exit the club and frowning. Why had they left so soon?
“I almost reformed.” She wanted to know more about the male, but her power… Why had she almost regained form? Had it been because of the male? “It didn’t happen to you?” She eyed her sister.
Nastia crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her before answering. “No. I’m going to follow them.” Her sister disappeared without another word and Natasha went back to the footage. Replaying it to see him again. It was unsettling. Her power had never reacted that way. Ever. She itched to follow, to track him, slide close enough to encase his beautiful olive skin in her mist, grazing over and around him so that she felt every last inch of him in every cell of her being. She jolted at the intensity of that insane thought. What the hell.
She rewound the feed and watched him move. Another predator, but even more graceful than Sander had been. And he was without the dangerous pissed-off vibe that radiated from the Phoenix. She shook her head, wondering, not for the first time, why her sister was so intrigued by the other male. It had to be the darkness inside. If her sister was playing with that male, there could only be trouble, and she had a feeling that he was the reason for her sister’s occasional disappearances. She needed to find out for sure.
She ran her hands through her hair, pushing the unbound mass over her shoulders. This wasn’t the first Immortal she’d encountered, but he was the only one who’d ever affected her power… her pulse, when not even a God had been able to shake her control.
