by Setta Jay
“Stop. I didn’t do anything, or I’d be in the same boat as you,” Nastia pointed out, but Tasha could tell her twin was hiding something and she was embarrassed. “I just went to his house a few times, looking for more information on the Guardians.”
They stood there for a second as Tasha arched a brow at her sister’s weak and completely fabricated excuse.
Her sister finally groaned. “I need to get out of here. I need to find Brigitte before I deal with the damned Phoenix again.”
Tasha blew out a breath. “Will you do me that favor?”
“What?” Nastia bit out.
“Bastian and I will be pretty much unconscious during the blood bonding. It could be hours. Conn is going to watch over us after Sirena does the ceremony, but I don’t know if I’d hear you through our link. I need to know someone has your back, and Bastian said Sacha would help you with your list.” Her twin started to argue and Tasha raised her hand. “Please. I know you can do this, but I won’t be able to finish the bonding if I’m worried.”
Nastia thought for a second. “Sacha. If he sends Sander here, I will take your Guardian apart piece by piece.”
She smiled. “You know I love you,” she added because she wanted her sister to understand. “I’m not choosing him over you. You’re my twin; nothing changes that. This only adds a person into the mix and he has your back too.”
“Don’t get all sappy,” her twin said, but she had a smile in her eyes.
“It’s all a big change.”
“It is, Tasha, but I also think it’s a good one for you,” Nastia admitted and looked away. “I have to start looking up home addresses for the tailors.” Before she turned to leave her twin paused and frowned. “Is the ceremony something I go to or need to help with?”
“No. Finding Brigitte is the most important thing right now. I don’t want both of us to stop looking for her.”
Her twin nodded slowly like she wasn’t sure what was expected of her. After eying Tasha for a second Nastia finally said, “I’ll be in the office when my new best bud gets here.”
Tasha took a deep breath of sea air and sent a message to Sirena and Sacha, asking them to meet at her location in forty-five minutes. She had links to the Guardians and now they could see her. So, in reality, Sander could see where Tasha was if he was looking. She wouldn’t think about the Phoenix finding her twin by using her location. Her twin knew about Tasha’s links.
It didn’t matter, soon Nastia and Sacha would be out hunting for clues to Apollo anyway, and Tasha needed to shower and get dressed.
She’d made one stop before coming to Nastia and found a dress for the ceremony. She still felt guilty for taking any added time away from the hunt, but this was her only mating ceremony and she wanted to look pretty. Suddenly it really hit that tonight she was claiming her male for eternity. He’d wear a mark that told the world he was hers, and that made her body heat up.
Chapter 29
Heaven Realm
Bastian stood on the rise, looking down at the moonlit lake below. A cool breeze rushed over his mostly bare skin as he watched the fountain of glowing lights. It was like a firework display, beautiful and peaceful. Though he didn’t feel at ease. They still hadn’t found any clues on the God before they’d finished the hunt, and now his mate was getting ready. He hated that she wasn’t beside him and that she was still hurt and that’s how they would be going into the mating ceremony. He’d known the lies would come back on him and they had. He frowned about it now.
His mother reformed next to him. “I just went to see Natasha.”
He faced his mother and his lips curved. “I saw. Thank you for agreeing to watch over Nastia.”
His mother nodded. Blood relatives were not expected at mating ceremonies because the pair would be struggling with the frenzy and the markings sometimes got hotter than family wanted to see. His mother not going was for the best, but he would have understood if Natasha wanted Nastia there. The only reference Natasha had for a mating ceremony was a wedding. Which didn’t really match up, but it was a special event no matter the traditions, and he wouldn’t deny her anything she needed to make it feel perfect.
His mother’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “She looks beautiful. And very in love.” He caught the twinkle in her eyes as she smiled up at him. He couldn’t help the way his chest warmed at her description. She looked down at the lake. “You picked a magical place to do this.”
“She loves it here.”
Sacha smiled again. “I need to get back to Nastia, but I just wanted you to know that she’s perfect and I’m happy for you.” She set her hand on his cheek and he saw the warmth and happiness in her eyes before she ported away.
He stood alone for long minutes, just letting the breeze slide over him.
His mate appeared a moment later and he had to suck in a breath at the sight of her. “You look beautiful, Natasha.”
She wore a strapless white gown and her heavy breasts nearly spilled over the top. The bottom was cut at an angle so that one side was at her thigh and the other went down past her knees. He smiled when he saw her bare feet. “I’m still going to carry you, Psihi Mou. I love having you in my arms too much not to.” His eyes caught on her long black hair flowing free in the wind. He’d never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
Her eyes were busy roaming over his body and she’d yet to say a word. He smiled down at her. He’d worn the black silk pants that were traditional in an Immortal mating ceremony and nothing else. “Natasha?”
Her eyes shot to his. “You look beautiful too.”
He shook his head as he lifted her into his arms. “Males aren’t beautiful.”
“You are.” He heard the smile in her voice.
He carried her inside, happy to feel her against his chest. It took a few moments to deftly maneuver the tunnel and down into the cavern where Sirena waited. His brothers had wanted to be there, but they needed to be out there looking for the God, so he was surprised to see Drake had come and was standing with Sirena.
He set Natasha to her feet in front of the dragon and Sirena. His sister Guardian smiled at them both, but he noted how tired her eyes were.
Within moments his eyes were tracing his mate’s features as Drake ordered him to begin his vows. He lifted the block to his mind to let her know how he felt as he spoke the words in the old language, promising to honor and cherish her in blood for eternity. Sirena took the next step and lifted Natasha’s hand to his chest and let her healing power flow through his mate’s palms into his skin. He was mentally open the entire time, letting her feel what it was like to take the mark of her mated male on his chest. It would never leave his skin. This was the only way to mark an Immortal permanently and he was getting not only two serpents twined together forever, but her name would be just beneath it all. The warmth of the power was intense and the marking sucked the air from his lungs. Her mind opened to him and he felt the sheer heat and emotion of what she was seeing, feeling, as he announced to all that he was hers.
When it was over and he lifted her for his kiss, she returned it eagerly. His tongue tangled with hers and he growled, wanting more of her.
*****
Tasha stilled him when he went to move them from the cavern. “You said that the other mates did a marking and I’ve chosen mine.” She was going all in, and it hadn’t felt more right than it did in that moment, when the reverence of his vows and the emotion were still filling her mind. She’d felt how much he loved her; it was all there, brightly lit and perfect in his mind.
She would give the same to him.
He’d bound her and dominated her, but he never put anything but his hands over her wrists. She knew it was because of the cuffs. He’d been forced to wear them and he’d known she’d gone through the same thing. That was the only reason she could think of for him not even to allow flimsy bindings to slide over that part of her skin, and it was just another reason to love him.
He watched and waited as she recit
ed the vows back in a language she hadn’t used in centuries, one that came to her easily as she promised the same eternity back to him.
Hers.
He was her male.
He would give her children, and he also cared about her twin.
His eyes were warm on her as he listened to the words she spoke.
She took his hands in hers and he watched her with love shining in the depths… until she positioned his hands over her wrists. She let him see what she wanted, what she planned.
Don’t. Not there, he growled in her mind.
The cuffs Apollo had bound them with had been golden serpents slithering over her skin.
These are cuffs of my choosing. These marks will replace old nightmares with something beautiful, Bastian… With these I’m yours. Just as my name on your chest makes you mine. She could hear his heart racing in his chest, his sharp intake of breath, and then she was in his mind again, feeling the intensity of her words as his eyes flashed with emotion.
She nodded without looking at Sirena and knew the healer would do what she’d asked. She had the feeling the healer had known the struggle Bastian would go through, but she’d agreed when they’d met earlier.
The healing power flowed through his hands into her skin and it was hot. She felt arousal flare as the marks pulled from her skin. The second it was done, he caught her in his arms and ported them home to his penthouse.
He was on her in the bed. His mouth on hers, his hands inching her dress above her hips, and then he was inside her and nothing had ever felt so right in her life as him rocking inside her gently, lovingly. He was making love to her, showing her with his body just what he was feeling. How intense the emotion was.
He rubbed his thumbs over her marks and his big body shuddered above her as his hips moved. His lips slid over her neck and to her ear, where beautiful words of love fell from his lips. Her skin flushed and she gasped for breath as he took her over until she was coming around him in a rush. He groaned as his cock throbbed and she felt the warmth of his come filling her.
He slipped from inside her and tucked her into his chest. She listened to his heart as she basked in the warmth of his hold. She wished she could savor the moment forever, but they couldn’t. They needed to finish this.
“I know,” he said and kissed her hair before she realized they were both still wide open mentally and it felt good. She liked the warmth of him in her mind.
“I feel the same, Psihi Mou.” They lay there for another moment before he sent out a message to Conn. We’re ready.
She knew when the Guardian arrived on the balcony where he’d hold sentry while they were lost in the bonding. She felt a hint of apprehension. She knew this part wouldn’t be pleasant.
Bastian leaned up and grabbed a decorative blade from the nightstand.
“It will be fast,” he assured her. “Once this part is over, so is the past.”
She hoped that was true, that the old nightmares wouldn’t hold power after this.
He kissed both her wrists and rolled to his back. He placed a small cut on his chest where her mark was. She kissed the tattoo and looked into his eyes once more before sealing her lips over the wound. He groaned when she licked at the blood and then her forearm was at his lips and she nearly came from the taste of him on her tongue. She didn’t even feel the knife before she was flying.
She saw a flash and his life started unfolding like a play.
He was a small child with gold around his wrists. A jolt racked him as splitting pain filled his head. A larger boy stood above him with disgust in his eyes. A whip lashed, splitting his skin for each time he cried out. Thoughts. No emotions allowed. They were warriors. Weakness equaled death. Those words played over and over in her mind.
Another flash.
The same small boy fighting back pain from the lashes as he huddled in a dark corner, smelling his own blood. A woman in a cloak gliding into the room. She lifted the veil covering her face. Sacha. Her fingers soft over his dark hair as he looked up at her, confused. Her words. “The pain was the loss of your mother, my sister. You’re not weak. You can’t be weak, my beautiful boy. I won’t let you die as well. I will take care of you as if you were always mine.” Anguish and determination in her eyes, but her hands were gentle, loving. “Bury your emotion, Sebastian, but don’t let it die or become only aggression. Just hide it.”
Another flash.
Bastian at eight or ten. He fought with the grace of an animal, beating his opponent with swift blows of a wooden staff. He spun and kicked, avoiding inflicting any real damage. A trainer not much older than him demanded he stop holding back. His temper flared, but he kept it in. His opponent wasn’t as skilled. It was a poor match. Bastian danced around until the trainer hit him in the face, demanding he finish it. Weakness equaled death and the small boy’s face said he knew it, felt death coming for him. Bastian dropped the staff. He stoically accepted the beating of the guards as he spit blood and was railed at for not finishing the boy. A swollen and battered head rolled beside him. Unseeing eyes stared back as Bastian’s broken body started healing.
Another flash.
Sacha stealing into the room after getting rid of the head and holding him tightly against her warm chest. “You will never prevail. You only paint a target on your head for this,” she said and swore under her breath. “The child died, Sebastian. If the time comes, let it be swift and at your hand. Give mercy by letting it be yours. Someday we will get out, I promise. You do what you must until then.”
Flash after flash of similar memories. Of his mercy. Of him teaching other boys to hide any signs of weakness. More flashes of Sacha secreting to his side and holding him when he was tormented.
A flash of him reaching majority. Seeing Sacha in the corridors and not being permitted to speak to her. An image of her with a male guard, his hands on her as she looked as if she wasn’t there. The rolling hatred and disgust. Red-tinged vision. Him jumping on the male and fighting him while the other guards shouted in amusement. Bastian spinning with brilliant fighting skills until he finally ripped the guard’s head from his body.
Another flash.
Pain. Punishment for what he’d done to the guard. Blood and torn flesh as he blanked it out. Being forced to see Sacha bloodied next to him. Fury. Rage. Hatred.
Flash.
A secret meeting. Conn’s face. Sacha’s and Uri’s as they planned their escape. How to get others out.
Flash.
The cuffs falling from his wrists. Raging emotion. His first taste of freedom. The white lights of the Creators in his mind, assessing his worthiness. Their warm approval. His body jerking with a blast of power that felt like it was breaking him open and making him again. Better. Stronger.
Flash.
Battling beside his mother against Hell beasts. His need to protect. Her hard glare and flash of disappointment when it was done. “You cannot shelter me, Sebastian. We are Guardians. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It means that this duty is what matters most now. I must be just another Guardian to you. Brianne or Sirena would have bloodied you for not trusting that they were handling their job. And if it had been Uri, I would have been forced to prove myself just the same.” Frustration. Protectiveness.
Flash.
The first time he sees Tasha and the emotions in his mind.
More flashes, all of her. Of every moment he fell just a little deeper in love with her. Of her on the rise dressed in white. Their mating. His mark. Hers. Intensity. Love.
She came back to herself with him above her. His eyes were dark with emotion and then his lips were on hers. She knew he was fighting the remnants of her memories as much as she was trying to let go of his. Ending with love helped, but it didn’t change the horrors of what she’d seen in his youth, or what he now knew of hers.
Chapter 30
France, Earth Realm
Nastia felt a pang of guilt hit. “Should I have been there for her?” It was killing her not to ask someone, and S
acha was available although the damned Kairos was so quiet it was like she wasn’t even there.
Should she feel guilty? Sacha was Bastian’s mother and she wasn’t at the mating either.
“Not necessarily,” Sacha said.
“What does that even mean?” she bit out.
Sacha’s lips twitched. “Mated pairs generally see nothing but each other during the ceremony. It’s beautiful, but I’ve always thought it was very personal, and when a mated male is marked, it’s almost sexual, so blood relatives are not truly expected to be there. It depends on the pair.”
“Sexual?” She stared at the Kairos. Screw that.
“Yes. Apparently getting tattooed as a mated male arouses the beast in them.” Sacha’s eyes twinkled in amusement.
Now all she could see was Sander’s tattooed body. Would he get hot if she basically tagged his ass? He’d be hot no matter what. The Phoenix was by far the most beautiful male she’d ever set eyes on. She was sure fate was screwing with her. Maybe he was really covered in boils and drool and she was just oblivious because of the whole mating thing.
“Natasha will be happy. Matings are a beautiful thing.”
Nastia suspiciously eyed the Kairos and thought she saw her lips twitching again. She wouldn’t talk about Sander if that’s what Sacha was digging for.
They slipped into yet another home in the dead of night to get a tailor out of bed. Sacha stood by the door with her arms crossed over her chest as the small human screamed when woken up. Nastia raised a brow at the screech and took control of his mind. “Have you made any suits in the last month for a white guy about seven feet tall?” He didn’t need to answer because she was seeing the thought in his mind. In this case there was one guy and the image was not of Apollo. Damn. “Are you the only one that takes clients?” He was. He owned the shop and took note of all the customers.
She nodded at Sacha to get out and misted as she fogged his memories and watched the guy drop his head back on the pillow.
