I blinked in a silent stupor. Nico had agreed? So quickly?
Nico smiled and sat beside me. “You know we’d do anything for you.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been keeping me on lockdown. I didn’t think you’d let me leave,” I admitted.
“We’re trying to keep you here as much as possible, but I know how much the school means to you,” he said.
I kissed him. “You’re the best.”
“I thought I was the best?” Rhys asked and showed Nico the games he’d gotten.
“You know I don’t have favorites,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
“You guys can’t be her favorite, because I am,” Ezio said as he took the open seat on my side, and draped his arm around my shoulders.
I leaned into him a minute, and then straightened, not wanting the guys to get jealous or to be too touchy with a male who wasn’t my mate. It was hard, because I was a very touchy person. I enjoyed hugging or leaning on someone. But, I knew the guys didn’t like when I touched other males too long. So, I was working on it.
“What are we playing?” Fox asked as he walked in, a huge smile on his face.
“Ghost 3,” Rhys answered.
Fox sat between my legs, leaning against the couch, and Nico sat in front of Fox, leaning his head back into Fox’s lap.
“Play with my hair, Fox,” Nico asked in his imitation of a woman’s voice.
Fox ran his fingers through Nico’s hair. “You should condition more,” Fox told him.
Nico scoffed and sat up. “My hair is super soft.”
“Not as soft as Fox’s,” I argued.
Fox stuck his tongue out at Nico.
“You do have favorites,” Deryn accused.
“Pointing out that Fox’s hair is softer than Nico’s is not me picking a favorite,” I argued. “That would be like me saying that Fox’s ears are pointier and you thinking that makes him my favorite.”
“Let’s just all remember, I have the nicest ass,” Deryn said, smiling broadly.
“I have the nicest chest,” Rhys said, flexing his pecs while waggling his eyebrows at me.
“And, I’ve got the biggest—” Fox started to say, but stopped when Tamara and Madison ran into the room.
“Heart,” I ended for him. “Hello, girls.”
They were in wolf form still, which I found a bit odd, but didn’t comment.
They pawed at Deryn, and he let them climb up into his lap. Deryn began petting them, scratching under their chins, and behind their ears. It was adorable to see him so relaxed with the girls.
“Food!” Fox yelled and leapt up. He looked at me with wide eyes. “We didn’t bring you back food.”
“Whoops,” Deryn said. “Sorry. I knew I forgot something.”
“It’s okay. I’ll just starve to death,” I said overdramatically with a whimper.
That earned me three pairs of eye rolls from the mates left in the room. Fox had left to get some food.
I waited for Fox to return before starting the game, so he didn’t miss the intro scenes.
While we all munched on food, we watched the intro. Aliens were angry at us for killing their leader. Now, they wanted revenge. It was our job to destroy them, before they destroyed our world.
The actual game started, so I picked up the controller. Then, immediately groaned. “Forced walk,” I complained.
The guys groaned, hating when the game forced you to walk instead of allowing you to run or jump.
Finally, the game let me have control, and I headed into battle.
“Right!” Fox yelled.
I spun right, slammed my fist into the alien’s face, and then shot him with my shotgun.
“Archers top left,” Deryn called out.
Too late, the line rifle shot to the head killed me.
I handed the controller to Fox, and he took a turn trying to get through the battle.
For hours we played, taking turns fighting enemies, calling out warnings to each other. I hadn’t played games with my clan in months, but these guys were my true clan.
That was how we needed to work together during the battle against Justina and Trident Douche. We needed to work together as a clan.
The girls fell asleep in Deryn’s lap, but he could easily use the game controller by putting his arms around their little furred bodies, so we let them be.
Sharla and Martin came down at one point to collect the girls and take them to bed. Freed from the girls, Deryn got us more food, and we continued with our gaming marathon.
It wasn’t until warm bodies pressed against mine that I realized I had fallen asleep at some point and one of them had carried me to bed. I cuddled up against Nico’s back, while Deryn spooned himself behind me, and fell into a happy and peaceful sleep.
When Adelaide and Emrys came to bond with the baby, Leona asked Emrys to assist us with a test.
Emrys agreed, and the entire house came outside to watch.
Sitting on the grass, I tried to ignore all of the people around me.
“I would prefer if you didn’t ask me to fight him,” Rhys said. “If he does go all out, I won’t survive long.”
Emrys smiled smugly. “Oh, come on. When was the last time you and I sparred? It will be fun.”
“What if it’s all of you against him?” Leona asked.
She sat beside me, facing the guys. I was facing them, too, but would soon turn away to use my powers for her little experiment.
“Dad?” Rhys asked.
“Me, fight you four?” he asked.
Leona nodded.
Emrys beamed. “Challenge accepted.”
Rhys sighed. “Oh, boy.”
Rhys and Deryn removed their shirts, tossing them on the grass near me.
“That’s a lot of muscle on display,” Sharla whispered from my other side. “How is Jolie going to concentrate?”
“I make her turn away,” Leona replied.
Sharla chuckled.
“You two are rude,” I said. “I’m sitting right here between you.”
Sharla patted my head. “We know, Darling.”
Madison and Tamara played on the far end of the grass with Martin, all three in wolf form.
I turned around, ready to begin, but a SUV pulled up, making us all stop.
“Who is that?” Rhys asked.
“My dad,” Deryn said, and walked towards the SUV. “What’s up, old man?” he asked.
Dan stepped out of the SUV and hugged Deryn. Thor stepped out of the driver’s seat, and Leona tensed next to me. She and Thor were still not speaking, which worried me.
“What are you all doing out here?” Dan asked.
“We’re experimenting with Jolie’s powers,” Leona answered. “Care to participate?”
“Whoa, we are not fighting both of them,” Fox said.
“I’ll gladly participate,” Dan said, bent, and kissed my cheek. “What do you need me to do?”
“Go spar with Emrys and the boys,” Leona said.
Dan cracked his neck from side to side, smiling wide. “Oh, goodie. I haven’t sparred in a few months.”
“Dad, no shifting,” Deryn ordered him.
“Same for you,” Rhys said to Emrys.
“It’s like they don’t trust us,” Dan said with a sigh.
“Children,” Emrys said and shook his head.
“Alright, you six start sparring. I’ll instruct Jolie from there,” Leona ordered them.
“What is she going to do?” Emrys asked, and Dan looked over waiting for the answer, too.
Leona smirked. “You’ll find out.”
I turned around, set my hands in my lap, and closed my eyes.
I could hear them moving around, flesh hitting flesh, but softly, and they even said the occasional teasing remark.
“Enrage Emrys,” Leona whispered.
I opened the bond I had with Rhys, traveled down the dragon’s bond, and searched out Emrys. He was easy to find, since he was king. I sent the wave of red into him, and he r
oared behind me.
The sounds of fighting grew more intense.
“Draw it back and give it to Dan,” Leona whispered.
I drew it all back in, and sent it to Dan, whose bond was easier to find, since I had a bond with the wolves aside from the mate bond.
Dan roared, and the fighting movements increased.
“Enrage Rhys,” she whispered.
“Dan?” I asked.
“Leave him enraged,” she instructed.
I exited Dan’s bond, leaving the red energy with him, and went to Rhys, sending some at him.
Rhys growled, and Emrys cursed.
“Send it to all of them. All six,” Leona ordered me.
I tried to send it all at once, but it was too difficult. So, I sent it individually until all of them were covered in my red energy.
The fighting behind me sounded brutal, and I could smell blood in the air.
“What did she do to them?” Adelaide asked softly.
“Enraged them,” Leona explained.
“Leona?” I asked.
“I want to see how long you can sustain it,” she said.
“They’re bleeding,” I whispered.
“Superficial cuts, Daughter. They’re fine,” Adelaide assured me.
I took deep, slow breaths and kept the red aura covering each of them. The ground started shaking as Fox used his powers.
“Pull it back,” Leona said quickly.
I sucked it all back in, in one sharp intake of breath.
I turned and saw all of the guys stagger forward, then drop to sit on the ground, panting, covered in sweat, and bleeding a bit.
“That…that was exhilarating,” Emrys gasped.
“That was fun!” Dan boomed, smiling wide.
“What were you going to do with the ground?” I asked Fox.
He glanced at me and smirked. “Use some roots to wrap around them to hold them.”
Dan and Emrys exchanged a look, and then smiled.
“So, I…” My words failed to come out of my mouth, my head grew fuzzy, sound disappeared, and I fell onto my back.
Leona’s face appeared over mine, her brows furrowed in worry, and her mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear anything.
Fox’s face appeared, and his hands started glowing as he reached towards me.
A few moments later, sound returned, my head cleared, and I could sit up.
“Whoa,” several voices said as several pairs of hands pushed me back down on the ground.
“I’m fine,” I whispered, but stayed lying on the ground.
“She just burned up too much magic,” Leona explained. “She was just going to faint.”
“Fainting isn’t good for the baby,” Rhys said.
“I’m fine,” I assured him.
“What do you think your maximum number of people is?” Leona asked.
I thought about it. “I’m not sure. It depends on how long I have to hold it. It also takes me awhile to send the rage to each of them, because I have to travel down each bond. Dan and the wolves are easier to get to, but my mates are easiest.”
“That was some intense power boost,” Emrys said. “What happens if she uses it on someone who isn’t a king?”
“Andras took on warrior form during it,” Rhys answered.
They finally let me sit up, and I found Adelaide staring at me.
“What?” I asked her.
“Does distance matter?” she asked.
“Physical distance?” Leona asked back.
Adelaide nodded.
“No. Since she’s using the bonds, the other person can be anywhere in the world,” Leona explained.
Adelaide beamed. “You, my dear, may have just ensured our victory.”
“How?” Sharla asked.
“When the battle starts, if she can send that rage out to the kings and princes, it won’t matter how many of them there are against us. We will use that rage to destroy them all,” Adelaide said.
“I wouldn’t be able to send it to you for very long,” I said.
She turned to Emrys. “How many dhampirs could you have killed during that rage?”
Emrys shrugged. “A hundred? Maybe more.”
Dan nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’s all we would need,” Adelaide said.
Leona looked at me and smiled. “That may work. Fox will be with her, so he can heal her if she uses too much magic. And, if we give her a crystal with some extra magic, she can last even longer.”
“I’ll start storing energy now,” Emrys said.
The baby started kicking, but for once it wasn’t painful.
I rested my hand on my stomach, smiling as he kicked my hand. “The baby agrees with this plan.”
“Let’s hope we don’t have a battle until after he’s born,” Rhys grumbled.
We all knew that we rarely got what we wanted though.
Chapter 24
Rhys
Jolie’s training intensified once Leona and Adelaide hatched their plan to have her enrage us on the battlefield.
I didn’t like it. I was too worried she would overextend herself and cause harm to her and the baby.
But, I was outvoted, so I let the topic drop.
The rage boost would be a huge advantage to us when we fought against the enemy. There was no doubt about that.
“Come here,” I requested of Jolie when she came back in from one of her trainings.
She plodded over to me, her movements slow due to her ever growing belly and her training. “Hm?” she asked.
I wanted to pick her up, but her belly was so large that picking her up caused her pain now.
“Let’s go shower,” I told her. “You’re covered in sweat, dirt, and grass.”
She nodded, and headed towards the stairs, gripping the rail.
I walked a step behind her, ready to catch her if she stumbled, but she made it to our floor without incident. I ushered her into the bathroom while I got a change of clothes for the both of us.
When I returned to the bathroom, clothes in hand, she had started the water, and managed to pull her shirt off, but then sat on the toilet’s closed lid.
“Need some help?” I asked.
She glared at me, but nodded.
She didn’t like asking for help. She didn’t like needing help. My little fighter tried so hard to do things on her own, to keep from being a burden, but thankfully she had learned to accept our help recently. I helped her get the rest of her clothes off.
I stripped, noticing her watching with lust in her eyes. We hadn’t slept with her since we found out she was pregnant. It bothered her, but she understood our reasoning. We wanted to sleep with her. We wanted to do a lot of things to her, but our baby was much too aware for us to be able to enjoy doing any of those things while he was inside of her.
I nudged her into the shower, she sighed, and stepped inside. After stepping under the warm water, she started to reach for the shampoo, but I pulled her hand back.
“Let me,” I whispered.
“What?” she asked, slightly delirious from fatigue.
“Let me wash you,” I said and smiled. “You can barely move and you need a good scrubbing.”
“Okay,” she said and stepped back.
I lathered up her hair, pushed her a step back into the spray of the water, and rubbed her hair as the soap rinsed out.
Then, I used the bar of soap to wash away the dirt and grass from her skin. She had closed her eyes as soon as I started lathering her hair, and they were still closed as I finished washing her.
“Want to sit in the shower for a bit?” I asked.
Her eyes flew open and she nodded vigorously. She had tried sitting in the shower a week ago, and had been unable to get up, yelling for us to help her stand with flushed cheeks.
I helped her sit down, and then sat on the opposite side of the shower, my feet next to her hips.
She leaned her head back against the tiled wall and closed her eyes. “I miss you,” she whisp
ered.
“I’m right here, baby.”
She shook her head. “I feel like you’re far away. Like we haven’t spent much time together. I know we’ve been together most days, but that’s just how I’m feeling. I know it doesn’t make sense, but…”
I moved to sit behind her, slipped my arm around her sides, and pulled her head back to rest against my chest. “I’m sorry. I love you.”
She sniffled. “Pregnancy hormones suck.”
I held in my chuckle, not wanting to upset her because Mother had warned me about this possibility.
“You just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it,” I promised her.
“This,” she whispered, snuggling my arms tighter where they lay just beneath her breasts.
“Would you prefer this in our bed?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I like the warm water.”
I sat still, relaxing at the nearness of my mate. She had been through so much, and I feared what lay ahead of us would cause her grief as well. There was always the possibility of casualties in war, and you never knew who would be the one to die.
When she had thought Dan was dying, it had torn her apart. She had been breaking bit by bit until they assured her he would be fine. She hadn’t believed them until his stomach had fully healed, though. I’d felt her pain, her sorrow, and knew if she lost Dan or the other kings, she would grieve heavily.
Not having grown up with a true father, she viewed them as fathers now. And, they loved her like a daughter.
Dan and Father had pulled me aside the day we had experimented with her power on them.
“She cannot die during our battle,” Father said. “If she does, the battle will be lost.”
“Because the four of us won’t be able to contain our grief,” I agreed with a nod.
Dan shook his head. “No, because you four, and the three of us will not be able to contain our grief. If she dies, the seven of us will fall as well.”
I looked down at my mate, the small, adorable gamer girl that she was. She held so much power over kings and princes, and she had no idea. One girl’s death would be the death of the city.
That was why she was to be protected at the house. That was why I had spent a few million dollars to hire contractors to add defensive weapons to the house.
I would not lose her.
Royally Enraged: A Reverse Harem Fantasy (Her Royal Harem Book 4) Page 16
