by Setta Jay
Uri choked out a laugh before directing his words to Sander. “Havoc knows to come back when you’re done.”
Uri ported away the second the beast came to bump into her legs while his bright red eyes lifted to hers like he wanted something.
“It’s a pet?” she said, shaking her head at the animal.
“Uri’s. And the only way you’re getting out of here, so start making friends.”
The animal huffed a breath when he rubbed his head against her hip and she wrinkled her nose at the sulphur scent. She closed her eyes at the new low she’d obviously hit as she scratched behind the animal’s ears.
“If this is a joke, I will want blood,” she warned the Phoenix in a deadly tone. He’d already torn her world apart, and her ego was shot to hell as it was. This would destroy it.
Sander eyed her and leaned down. Grabbing her by the hair, he took her lips in a demanding kiss. Her hands went to his back and pulled him in so that his hard cock was up against her stomach. She’d never get used to the insane pleasure that consumed her with just his touch. She moaned and slid her hands to his ass before lifting up into the kiss; she wanted control of the big male.
He broke the kiss with a low growl and she was pleased to see the flames in his eyes. “Let’s go, so you can get to fucking my brains out, nasty girl.”
Chapter 16
Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm
Hades was becoming adept at using the Internet. He clicked through page after page, getting redirected every few moments to something new. The problem was the sheer amount of information there was to learn.
This new world was so much more than he’d ever imagined. The humans had become resourceful in their endeavors. They’d made the most out of not having any power and invented incredible things that he found intriguing; high-rise metal buildings, cars, airplanes, electricity and the Internet were only a few of the amazing advances. He wanted to explore it all, let his wings take him where they would, but in Earth Realm he’d agreed to keep his wings hidden.
He still couldn’t believe the compromises he’d made.
He kept checking for Apollo, each time getting nothing but silence, which made the back of his neck itch. The bastard was taken days ago, could he really still be unconscious? Or was something blocking their link somehow? Hades couldn’t even get a read on where he was.
He needed to be free of his son’s constant watch. Pothos spent his time looking over his shoulder and it kept Hades from searching for what he really had to find. He’d looked up some things when his son was busy, but he’d had no luck.
Searching for his name had caused some amusement; the humans had vilified him more than any of his siblings. He shook his head, smiling at some of the things he’d read of their mythology.
“Have you seen these?” he asked his son with a smile.
“Yes.” Pothos grinned, still watching every move Hades made, every click.
What he searched for, his son couldn’t know about. Not yet. Not until Hades decided it was safe.
“What are you hiding, Father?”
Hades leaned back in the chair and eyed his son. “What makes you think I’m hiding something?”
“I know you.” Pothos leaned forward and sighed. “Tell me this isn’t about Apollo. That you haven’t contacted him and didn’t tell us.”
“I still can’t get through to him,” Hades said seriously. “Now, tell me why you weren’t chosen to lead the Guardians.” He needed to change the topic and this was one that had been bothering him.
His son raised an eyebrow and a hint of a smile tilted the child’s lips. “Are you insulted on my behalf?”
“Yes.” He was.
“Then you don’t know me well, Father. Leading is Drake’s strong suit.”
“Yet the Guardians flocked to you when he was compromised.”
His son shook his head and tilted his chair back as he spoke. “We’ve been fighting together for a long time and they know Sirena and I are the closest to Drake.”
Hades snorted. “That female is a menace.”
Pothos’ head shot back and laughter filled the room. “That’s only because she doesn’t like you.”
He smiled and admitted, “Possibly.” He was enjoying his freedom and this time with his child. They’d grown apart those last decades before he was sent to sleep. Now he understood why. His son had gone against his wishes and found a way to call the Creators back. He had his son’s memories of everything that happened. The Creators had also sent him to sleep with the knowledge that Pothos had argued he not be punished with the rest of the Gods. His parents had reasons for all things, but sharing the information that his son had championed him had been a kindness.
If his son had trusted him to handle the other Gods, it would have all ended differently, but Pothos hadn’t known his plans, he hadn’t seen that there was another way. His scenario may have been bloodier, but Hades, Aphrodite and Athena had been implementing an option that didn’t include him being kept in a box for millennia.
He had to admit that the new world was mostly thriving without any interference from Deities, or the Guardians for that matter. And he wouldn’t fault the boy for doing what he’d thought was necessary in order to save the world. Hades might have done the same in his position.
“So you just allowed Draken to rule? It was that simple?” He frowned in disbelief.
Pothos’ eyes lit with more mirth. “We still fought like we had when we were young. That first century was full of challenges.” He was smiling again.
Pothos and Draken had always been close as children. They were of a similar age, and with all the time Hades and Aphrodite had spent together, it was normal they would have formed a bond. It may be part of the reason Draken was Hades’ favorite nephew.
“And Draken won.” Hades scoffed at the idea that his son couldn’t have beaten the dragon.
“We didn’t fight for rule.” His son’s eyes lit with amusement.
“Then why?”
“Because we could. To test the limits of our new power. And when I had an idea he didn’t like.”
He processed his son’s words and nodded. Pothos had always been the more powerful, but the male always leashed it tightly.
Hades had allowed him to hide it, because it was always better to keep true abilities to oneself. Something Hades’ siblings had rarely done. Zeus and Poseidon in particular liked to flaunt their powers, making it easy to plan an attack.
Hades shook his head.
Athena was the only other sibling he’d had anything to do with and she had a temperament much like the tiny Sirena. Needless to say he’d kept his distance whenever possible, which was why he really didn’t know much about her children, Alexandra, Vane or Erik. The three were all aligned with the Guardians, so he’d get to know them now. In fact, two were even mated and showed a definite increase in power because of this phenomenon.
He toyed with the keyboard, clicking on another page as he considered everything.
“Draken’s female is dangerously powerful.” If power increased with a mating, he wasn’t sure what the two would become.
“I know,” his son admitted gravely. “But I also know Drake will help her to control it.”
Hades leaned the chair back thoughtfully. “I want to know more about what happened right after I was sent to sleep. There’s nothing on the Internet about Tetartos or the Immortals. Where is that information?”
Pothos eyed him suspiciously. “The Archives are manned by Mageia in Lofodes.” One of the cities in Tetartos.
“You tasked mortals with watching over centuries of history?” He frowned.
“Immortals were never very good at the job and, at the time, we were looking for tasks for Mageia who agreed to relocate here. Only a small fraction found Immortal mates and that left generations of mortals needing something to fill their lives.”
So much had changed. Tetartos had been nothing but beasts when Hades had been sent to sleep, and now it had cities of i
ts own.
“Take me to these archives,” he demanded of his son.
Chapter 17
Drake’s Home, Tetartos Realm
Drake trailed his fingers over his mate’s back and side, over the curve of her hip, noting smudges of clay that hadn’t been washed away in the lake. He felt eased for the first time in over a month. The beast still wanted out, but it was pleased with the fact that Drake had claimed her. At least for now. His life force still pushed toward her as she slept sweetly curled into his chest. He’d been watching her for an hour already, guarding over his female’s sleep. Ensuring her nightmares didn’t come tonight at least.
P, what did Hades do with her beasts? He’d been contemplating it for the entire hour.
He only said that he released them, his cousin ground out.
Drake didn’t like the sound of that. I knew he was more powerful than the others, but how is that fucking possible?
He said he was only able to do it because they hadn’t bonded like a normal shifter would have. He said the beasts wanted to be released.
And you believe that? Drake growled.
I don’t know.
Where the fuck did he send them? Did he offer that much?
When I asked, he said he freed them into Heaven Realm.
Drake resisted the urge to run his hand along his neck. He wouldn’t move and disturb his female’s sleep. She hadn’t truly rested since any of this started. He shouldn’t have questioned P yet, but he couldn’t let it go and he wouldn’t sleep tonight.
He blew out a breath. He was relieved that they were gone, but he was bothered that Hades was strong enough to do something like that. He’d seen what the male could do in battle with a soul, but to actually call to the beast half and selectively remove it seemed an impossible task. He just held onto the fact that the God had never truly done anything heinous, like his siblings. At least not that Drake knew of.
Has he connected to Apollo yet?
No. And I get the feeling it’s making him as uneasy as it’s making us.
Any idea what he’s hiding?
Not yet, P bit out.
He took a minute to think about that before asking, What more do I need to do for Delia? He needed to heal his mate. He hated that she had to cover her skin.
Hades thinks that putting her in his stasis unit should purge her of any leftover shit from the drug, including the pheromones.
What do you mean “should”? he growled into the telepathic connection to his cousin. Delia snuggled closer, making a soft sexy noise before setting her small palm to his chest. He felt soothing energies coming from her and stared down at his mate. His fingers went to a lock of hair that had fallen onto her cheek. He rubbed the soft curls in his fingers before gently moving it back, mesmerized by the female in his arms.
Exactly what I said, P answered and Drake felt his cousin’s frustration as he confirmed, “Should.”
So he’s guessing? Drake snarled.
Apparently so. He said the units weren’t just meant to keep the Gods asleep, they were designed to also purge the dark energies that most of the Gods were addicted to. He said that if it could purify them, it should be able to heal Delia.
Fuck. What if it can hurt her? She’s not a fucking God.
No. She’s not. But she’s powerful, and it wasn’t designed to do harm. P sighed. You’re connected to her, so you’d know if something’s wrong, right?
He didn’t like fucking guessing when it was his mate they were talking about.
His cousin finally sighed in frustration. I don’t have another option. She can wear the mud until we come up with something better, but Hades seems to think her blood won’t do anything to you because Cyril tested it, his cousin ground out, obviously just as irritated with Hades’ way of thinking. He said logic dictated that it was fine. But he didn’t take into account long-term shit Cyril wouldn’t have known.
Drake’s muscles tensed against his will, just hearing Cyril’s name. Not even a second passed before he felt his mate sending more soothing energies and then nuzzling her cheek against his chest as she slept. Fuck, she was perfect. He wanted to kill Hades, but at the same time, he owed that asshole for taking care of one problem. Not having the beasts had given her so much relief and made this possible. He’d deal with the rest when she woke up.
How long did he say she’d have to be in there if we do it?
He wasn’t sure. Somewhere between an hour and days, P growled in the link. And that was just him guessing again.
Drake breathed through his frustration.
And you should know, we agreed not to put Hades back in stasis if he helped you.
Delia cuddled closer and it took everything Drake had not to make his annoyance known, but he wouldn’t disturb her again.
He played you, Drake bit out. And I did not agree to that. Though wouldn’t he have done anything to ease her pain? Fuck yeah, he would have.
He did and you didn’t, but it’s done, P responded calmly. Sirena couldn’t ease Delia and we couldn’t calm you the hell down. Alex made the point that we only have the one working stasis unit since Apollo’s was destroyed when the mountain came down. She voted that we use Hades’ unit for Apollo when we get him back and allow Hades to stay loose. And Sander added a contingency that Hades wear some sort of tracker and pull his weight. Work with us…
Drake closed his eyes and shook his head. This was going to be a pain in the ass.
I’ll deal with this when I get back. No one is to come to my home; we’ve removed her spelled mud, he ground out. His home was carved into one of the highest mountain ranges and completely secluded from any other home within a couple hundred miles.
By the way, how is she doing?
She’s sleeping now. She’s relieved with the beasts gone. Losing them hasn’t seemed to affect her abilities. Which was interesting on its own. Nothing like this had ever happened, so he had no idea whether those abilities would stay with her or start to slip away.
Sirena says she’ll need blood samples from both of you after Delia uses the unit. That way she can see how your blood reacts with your mate’s and determine if the pheromone levels are normal.
I’ll know, Drake growled. But I’ll have Sirena confirm it. That’s if we do it at all.
So you can tell the difference, then?
Of course I can. She’s my damned mate. And he had the strongest senses of any Guardian. The pheromones were distinct. Not necessarily unpleasant, but not nearly as fucking enticing as what hid beneath.
She sighed and squirmed, making his cock jerk against her.
I’ll check in later, he told his cousin before giving his waking mate his full attention.
Chapter 18
Drake’s home, Tetartos Realm
Delia woke slowly, savoring the sexy scent of her male all around her. He smelled so good she couldn’t help but nudge his chest with her nose before taking a small taste. She trailed her lips and tongue over his hard muscle and reveled in the vibration of his approving growl.
She was addicted.
Obsessed.
Her palms lifted to caress his wide chest and then down his thick biceps as she licked his nipple. His breath groaned out, so she did it again before taking a nip, loving the taste of his skin. She moaned when his heartbeat picked up its pace and suddenly teasing samples weren’t enough. With a burst of strength she rolled him to his back and straddled his hips.
From this vantage point she could see her magnificent prize. She sucked in a deep breath, taking more of his scent into her lungs. The sight of her mark on his skin along with those enthralling jewel-colored eyes captured her in some kind of spell.
She felt a shudder run down her body at the sensation of his thumbs drawing circles on her hips. His touch was intoxicating. It felt like a dream.
Instead of a lonely eternity of bone-chilling cold and constant internal battles, she was free to accept all the warmth and pleasure he was giving her now.
Her life was hers an
d so was her dragon. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back. His cock was so hot and hard between her thighs, she couldn’t help but move her pussy over it. She needed… Soft pants left her lips as her movements grew greedier. It felt so good, but this wasn’t what she wanted. No, she needed more; she had to learn every dip and rise of muscle, every sweet sensitive spot that made him lose control.
Yes. She wanted him wild. She gazed back down at her beautiful male.
His eyes were narrowed on her flushed cheeks and parted lips. “My mate wants something.”
She groaned and the pure sexiness of his voice, it was too much when she was already so incredibly needy. Her voice came out a sultry rasp. “Taste.”
He growled when she leaned in to kiss his neck. Wild telekinetic ability slipped free as if it were hands. She used it to hold his wrists against the bed and loved how his muscles tensed, but he didn’t fight her. She licked the tendons at his throat and that one taste made her crave another. She lifted up to sample his lips before continuing her exploration. It was a desperate mating of their mouths that he leaned into and managed to control without even using his hands. She was dizzy with it by the time she broke away to caress every inch of his throat and chest as she moved down, straddling one thick thigh, rotating her hips as she licked and sucked her way to her prize.
“Take what you want, temptress. But do it quickly, because I won’t lie still for long.” His deep growl echoed to the ceiling when she let out more telekinetic fingers to trail over his skin. His own ability slipped free, tempting her the same way she was touching him. Invisible hands ran over her skin; wrenching moans slipped free as her hips writhed wildly. She ran her cheek against his cock before taking it into her mouth. She sucked the tip only to do it harder the second time; he was addicting.
Hers.
More power slipped from her in intense waves that curled beneath him, lifting them both off the bed. She felt his ability strengthen and fuel hers as they lifted higher. Her fingers curled around his hips to grip his firm ass as she sucked him deeper. He hissed and she felt an invisible grip in her hair controlling her mouth up and down his cock as she gasped in their mental link. She let her own ability caress every inch of his strong body.
