Soul Sentinels 1: Set and Sab (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Becca Van

  “Come and join us,” En yelled over the others, patting the seat beside him as soon as she cleared the doorway.

  Zara nodded, smiled, and hurried across to sit next to him.

  “Do you know how to play poker?” Men asked.

  “A little.” Zara shifted in her seat when she caught the others staring at her mouth. She wondered if she had blood on her chin after she’d bitten her tongue, but didn’t raise her hand to check. She didn’t want to call any more attention to herself.

  “How are you feeling, little one?” Paser asked, looking contrite.

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. I know it was an accident. I’ll make sure I stomp or something before coming up behind you.”

  “No need for that, love.” Pen nudged Paser. “We hear and see a lot more than you could imagine. This one had his head in the clouds.”

  “Fuck you,” Paser growled.

  “No thanks, you’re not my type. Now you, on the other hand…” Pen wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Zara, making her laugh. That was until two angry snarls rent the air, causing everyone to stop laughing and turn to watch Set and Sab.

  Set stormed over to Pen, grabbed the front of his shirt near his neck, and tugged him from his chair. “You will not go near her,” he yelled in Pen’s face. He was so close to his friend their noses were nearly touching.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it.” Pen held his hands up at his sides in the classic “I surrender” stance.

  Zara couldn’t believe what an ass Set was being to his friend. The man had known Pen for thousands of years and here he was acting like a damn Neanderthal. She glanced at Sab and saw he was watching her with avidness. When her gaze met his he quirked his eyebrow at her in question and nodded his head toward Set.

  She didn’t need to ask what he meant because she just knew. Zara stood, pushed the seat back, and skirted the table. She tapped Set on the shoulder, waiting for him to look at her. He turned his head and frowned.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Set gave her an astonished look before releasing Pen and glancing around for Sab. He made a rumbling noise when he saw his friend leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. “What are you looking at?”

  “An ass,” Sab retorted, then snickered.

  Set turned and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look all intimidating but it didn’t work. In fact, his stance only seemed to make her angrier.

  “Do you always treat your friends like that?” Zara poked him in the chest and he dropped his hands down to his sides and sighed.

  “No.”

  “You’re acting like a caveman, but I suppose since you were born in that era…” Zara trailed off for more effect and it seemed to work because Set scowled.

  “Excuse me?” Set growled.

  “You heard. What’s with this, ‘you will not go near her’ stuff?”

  Set shrugged and shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather pants.

  “Do you think I’m a slut?”

  “What? No!”

  “So why did you go at Pen like that? Did you think I was going to spread my legs for him? Do you think I would do that for any of the others?”

  Zara nearly smiled when she saw red creeping up his face and the muscles in his jaw started twitching. She was getting through to him.

  “No,” he answered quietly. “I’m sorry if you took…my aggression that way.”

  “You need to apologize to Pen, not me.”

  Set looked at Pen and sighed before threading his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, Pen. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “Sure,” Pen smirked before meeting Zara’s gaze. “You’re a tough little cookie, aren’t you?”

  “Um, no.”

  Mit stood, walked over to her, and slung an arm around her shoulders. “I like you. I hope you’ve decided to stay?”

  Zara could feel Set’s and Sab’s eyes on her but didn’t meet their gazes. She smiled up at Mit. “I like you, too.” She gave him a playful hip bump but because he was so much taller than she was ended up bumping his thigh. “As to the other, that depends.”

  “On what?” Men shouted his question in a playful tone.

  “On those two.” Zara hitched her thumb over her shoulder toward Sab and then pointed at Set.

  “You won’t leave,” Sab said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  Zara looked up at him and hoped she kept her desire hidden when shivers raced up her spine at his heat, scent, and closeness. “Why do you say that?”

  Sab bent down and whispered in her ear. “Because you like us.”

  Zara found herself nodding in agreement before she could stop herself and then muttered under her breath when Sab whooped it up.

  “Shit.”

  Chapter Six

  Set heard the exchange between Sab and Zara and although he wanted to whoop it up with his friend, he didn’t. He felt like a real ass after Zara pointed out what a dick he’d been and wasn’t sure him acting like a two year old would go over well just now.

  Zara smiled as Sab danced around the dining area acting like a clown and he had to clench his hands into fists so he didn’t go over to her and sweep her off her feet, carry her from the room and sequester her in the bedroom so he could have his wicked way with her.

  She turned to face him and walked over to stand in front of him. He kept his demeanor relaxed but inside he was far from. She reached up and cupped his cheek and he couldn’t stop himself from nuzzling into her palm, nor turning his head and pressing a kiss in the center.

  “I’m sorry for being so angry with you.” Zara dropped her hand and he wanted to tell her to put it back.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. I deserved everything you said. I was an ass. I…don’t usually behave like this.”

  “Like what?” Zara asked.

  “Possessive.”

  “You know I’m not a possession, don’t you? I’m a human being and have feelings.”

  “Yeah,” he answered quietly. “I don’t have much experience with women.”

  “But you’ve lived for so long. How could you not have been with the opposite sex?”

  Zara surprised him yet again when she leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, being careful of her broken wrist. “I didn’t say I hadn’t been with the opposite sex, baby. Just that it’s been millennia since I’ve had a relationship. So much has changed since then and I feel like a fish out of water.”

  “How long has it been?”

  “About three thousand years.”

  “What? Why would you not want to be in a relationship?”

  “I do, more than anything, but I’m immortal, love. Being one of Ra’s sentinels has its drawbacks.”

  “Yeah, I guess so. I hadn’t thought about it.”

  Set nodded in understanding.

  “It must be hard on all of you. No wonder it’s been forever. The women you’ve been with would have aged where you all stayed looking like you’re in your low to mid-thirties.”

  “Yes.”

  “And they all died.” Sadness washed over her when she saw sorrow in his eyes.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Set squeezed her waist. “Again, you’ve nothing to be sorry for.”

  “So what happens between us if I decide to…accept your claim on me?”

  “Claim?” Set queried.

  “That I’m yours and Sab’s mate.”

  “Oh. Well, I’m not really sure since I’ve never mated before but I presume the usual.”

  Zara ducked her head as her cheeks tinged pink but then she met his gaze again.

  “But won’t I grow old? How could we be…together if you…”

  “What, baby? Don’t shut me out now.”

  “You won’t want to look at me, let alone…touch me.”

  “That’s not true, Zara. The package on the
outside has nothing to do with how beautiful you are. The most gorgeous woman in the world can still be ugly. You have a stunning inner beauty I’ve never seen in someone so young. Your soul glows with love, kindness, and innocence.”

  “Thank you,” Zara whispered, blushing and she glanced sideways. “That may not be such a good thing, from what Ra told me.”

  Set tensed, clasped her chin, and tilted her head up. “What did he say?”

  “That I’ve been marked as a chosen and that I was in danger.” She swallowed nervously and he waited for her to continue. “That the shadow demons wouldn’t give up until they got what they wanted.”

  “Fuck!” Set rested his head on the top of hers. She wrapped her arm around his waist and clung tight. This time when he smelt fear on her he knew it wasn’t because of him or Sab. She was scared that the shadows in the underworld would get to her, but he was going to do everything he could to prevent that from happening. The best solution was to claim her and take a sip of her blood. If he and Sab did that they would be able to follow her anywhere. There was the added bonus of being able to feel her emotions, too.

  When Ra had first turned them all into demigods, he’d shared his blood with them, which had started their transformation. After that had been complete he had ordered them to share blood with each other. Most of the time they blocked the others’ emotions out except when they were fighting off the demonic. The only person he let in was Sab because they were the best of friends. That didn’t mean he didn’t have a strong friendship with the others, because he did, but he and Sab had grown up together and treated each other as if they were brothers. He couldn’t imagine his life without him in it.

  Now he was glad that he and Sab were Zara’s mates because the two of them protecting her would have a better chance than if there was just one, but he was getting ahead of himself. Zara had to agree to be theirs before they could claim her.

  Set was glad that the other sentinels hadn’t heard their conversation, or if they did, it didn’t show. He was happy that they had given him and Zara their privacy but now he needed to talk to them and discuss how to keep his mate safe.

  He looked up and met Sab’s angry gaze and knew his friend had heard everything he and Zara had said. Set knew his friend wasn’t angry with him but at the circumstances. It was unacceptable that Zara was in danger and other than mating with her he wasn’t sure what else to do.

  “Are you hungry?” Set asked before kissing the top of her head.

  Zara sighed and drew back. Set wanted to pull her back in his arms, but he’d made a start at getting to the heart of his mate and didn’t want to stuff that up now by being too needy and possessive. Although that was exactly how he was feeling, he ignored it and let her step away from him.

  “No, but I could use a drink.”

  “What would you like, honey?” Sab asked as he came up behind her.

  Zara turned and smiled at him. “Whatever you’ve got.”

  “We have lots of things,” Set said. “We have all types of alcohol, juices, tea, coffee, whatever you want is yours. All you have to do is ask.”

  “Do you have any chardonnay?”

  “Yes,” Sab replied and hurried into the kitchen. He pulled open a cupboard door to reveal a concealed glass-doored drink fridge which was packed full of alcoholic drinks. Set took the wine bottle Sab handed him and reached up into the overhead cupboard for a wine glass. He handed it to Zara, grabbed four bottles of beer, and headed to the table where his friends were finishing the last hand of poker. Sab brought another four beer bottles to the table and handed them out.

  “Okay, did any of you hear what Zara said Ra told her?” Set asked as he sat next to his woman. Sab had taken the seat on her other side.

  “Yeah, we heard,” En answered.

  “You did?” Zara looked around at the men and then quickly looked away when she started blushing. “That’s going to take some getting used to. What else did you hear?”

  “We weren’t trying to listen to you, little one, we were too busy playing,” Pen said.

  Zara nodded and sighed with relief. Set didn’t have the heart to tell her that all the guys had heard every word they’d spoken. She would realize soon enough how good their hearing was if she hung around long enough.

  * * * *

  Zara barely heard a word the others said as they talked about the demonic shadows and how to deal with them. She’d finished her glass of wine and only after taking the last sip, remembered that she’d taken pain medication earlier and probably shouldn’t have had any alcohol. Her wrist was throbbing something awful and her fingers felt hot and cold at the same time. She was also beginning to feel sick to her stomach. Sweat beaded on her brow and upper lip and she clutched at the edge of the table when the world spun around her.

  “Zara, what’s wrong?” Sab placed his hand on her lower back and it was only then she realized she had leaned over until her forehead was resting on the cool wood.

  “I don’t feel so good.” She moaned and clutched at her churning stomach.

  “You need to rest,” Set said as he shoved back his chair.

  Zara groaned when her seat was pulled away from the table and she was lifted up against a warm, muscular chest and into strong arms. Just before she covered her mouth she managed to speak one word, “Hurry.”

  She closed her eyes when Set rushed out of the room at an amazingly ridiculous speed. If she hadn’t been feeling so bad she would have laughed, but right now she was scared if she opened her mouth she would spew everywhere. She didn’t think Set would appreciate her covering him in vomit and she didn’t want to do that to herself either. When Set stopped she opened her eyes to see he was lowering her to the floor but he knelt down too and sat her on his lap. She wanted to tell him to get out but when she opened her mouth she was glad her head was already hovering over the open toilet.

  Zara heaved until she had nothing left in her stomach. Her torso muscles were sore but it was her wrist that was plaguing her. The pain and heat coming from it was too much to bear and she suspected was the reason why she was feeling ill.

  “What made you sick?” Sab asked as he reached over and flushed the toilet.

  Zara hadn’t even known he was there but wasn’t really surprised. Sab and Set helped her to her feet and after she rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth, she closed her eyes and stood swaying, feeling incredibly lightheaded.

  “My wrist. There’s something wrong,” she managed to whisper and then groaned when she was lifted from her feet. The pain was traveling up her whole arm and was now digging into her shoulder.

  “Fuck,” Sab yelled. “Look at her neck.”

  “Summon Ra,” Set commanded.

  Zara didn’t know what was going on but she had a feeling whatever it was couldn’t be good. Not when Set and Sab were calling for the sun god. Whatever she had or was wrong was spreading and quickly. Her entire body was on fire and aching, and yet she felt like she was drifting in the skies. It was like her body and spirit were slowly separating. That thought sent terror racing through her mind and she thrashed, trying to push the hands on her away. She was being held down but didn’t know by whom.

  Images and nightmares plagued her. Glowing red eyes, dark shadowy figures and no matter how hard she tried to escape them, she couldn’t. Zara felt like she was being consumed in darkness from the inside and she had no idea how to fight it.

  Then all of a sudden peace washed over her and the image of Set’s and Sab’s faces were foremost in her gaze. Love she’d never known or felt filled her heart and she reached out toward them.

  All her uncertainties about being theirs washed away and she knew in her heart without a shadow of a doubt that they were meant to be together.

  * * * *

  The moment Sab saw the dark tinge moving up her neck he felt stark terror invade his heart. He didn’t know how, but he knew the demonic had somehow gotten to their mate. The moment Set ordered him to call for Ra he spun on his heels and ran as
if his life depended on it, and since it was his mate who was in the grips of Apep’s shadows, it may very well. He had no idea what would happen to him and Set after laying eyes on Zara, not that he cared for himself, but he loved his mate so much already.

  He skidded on the sand colored tile floor, raised his head toward the pyramid shaped glass and prayed Ra would hear him. There was no sun shining down through the water and glass but he hoped there was enough light in the sky for Ra to hear him. Not once in the thousands of years of existence had Ra heeded a call in the dark hours of night, but he couldn’t give up. Sab prayed like he had never prayed before.

  “Please Ra, god of the sun, hear my call. My mate is being consumed by the demonic. I beg of you to save her. I don’t know if I could go on if she were no longer by my side.”

  Sab felt Ra’s power race over his skin but he remained on his knees and kept his head lowered. He would never presume to look into the face of his deity without permission.

  “Rise, Sabu. We must hurry.” Ra placed a hand on his shoulder and the room disappeared. When his blurry vision cleared he was kneeling by the bed that Zara was lying on. He pushed to his feet, sat on the edge of the mattress at her side and took her small fragile hand in his. Set had her head cradled in his lap and was stroking her hair.

  “Keep your hands on her,” Ra commanded. He moved closer to the bed, kneeled on the mattress and placed his hands on her body. One on her forehead and the other on her stomach.

  Sab held his breath when Ra’s hands began glowing. Zara moaned and tried to roll away but with the three of them holding her down, she didn’t stand a chance. When her body grew taut and she shuddered beneath their touch, he gritted his teeth against the fury and fear he wanted to bellow to the skies.

  The light coming from Ra’s hands was so bright he had to close his eyes, but he kept a firm hold of Zara’s hand and the other on her thighs. He could hear Ra chanting or muttering but it was in the language of the ancient gods and he couldn’t understand it, but he could feel the raw power emanating from his deity.