Tempting Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Book 4) (16 page)

They all sat in angry silence for a few minutes.

“How’s your little wolf?” Gregoire asked, ending the quiet.

“Feisty and smart,” Conn said with a proud grin. “How’s Alyssa?”

“Pregnant and ready to cut off my balls,” Gregoire said with a frown as the other brothers chuckled.

“Where is she?” Conn asked. Gregoire pretty much tied his mate to his side if he could.

Gregoire growled at Dorian. “She said she needed
girl time
with Rain.”

“Hey, don’t get on my ass. They were BFFs well before I was in the picture,” Dorian said and flipped Gregoire off.

Conn itched to finish his work, get that damned reward up, but a thought hit him. “Would Rain and Alyssa help settle the she-wolves? I know Alex is busy, but Rain and Alyssa both grew up here. I want to ease them into life here. I’ll need to introduce them to the Lykos clans, but I’d rather wait until we have their brother before doing it. I thought I’d start with having them meet small groups of you first, and they might trust the females more.”

“If I’m there,” Gregoire said as he leaned against the table.

Conn assumed as much. Any unknown females around his mate would make the Hippeus edgy. “Yeah, I figured, just keep the damned growling to a minimum and don’t fucking snarl.”

The big male shot a glare at Conn and then snarled at Dorian, and Conn didn’t have a clue why.

“Fuck you. It was easier to ask Rain just to come talk to Conn,” Dorian said with a smartassed grin at Gregoire. “It’s not my problem your mate thinks I called them in here so you could get your hands on her.” So that was it. Dorian had called Rain through their mental link, and Gregoire was about to get a ration of shit because Alyssa wasn’t getting time with her friend. Conn chuckled, knowing Dorian could have easily asked the question through the link instead of calling both females in; he just wanted Gregoire to suffer. He looked over, and Uri’s lips were twitching.

Alyssa and Rain walked in. They were nearly the same size. Both a few inches over five feet, with big-assed tits. Rain had shoulder-length blonde hair tipped with a bright purple. She smiled at Dorian and looked like she was trying not to laugh. It was easy to see why. Alyssa was fuming, her long chestnut hair was up in a high tail, and she was in tan short shorts and a pink tank top. She wasn’t showing yet. It was going to be a long sixteen months for her, and it had only just begun.

“Five minutes?” she snapped. “That’s all I get before you find a way to attach me to your ass again?”

Gregoire lifted his hands and gave a fierce scowl to Dorian. “Conn had a damned question,” he said on a growl at his tiny mate. When she got close enough he lifted her up with one big palm under her ass. He took her lips in a long hot kiss that left her beautiful face flushed and Conn gritting his teeth. He imagined taking Dacia’s lips, her virgin fucking lips, and leaving her wanting like Alyssa. Fuck.

Conn heard her say on a husky whisper, “That’s not going to work forever.” Gregoire set her gently on the ground, and they could all see his eyes softening as he tucked her close to his side.

Rain was snugged into Dorian’s as well. He couldn’t wait for that bond with his own mate. His beast snarled at him to claim her.

Rain asked, “So what’s up?”

“My mate and her sisters.”

“You want us to talk to them?” Alyssa asked.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to overwhelm them. They don’t trust me yet, and they don’t know anything about Tetartos.”

Alyssa nodded. “We can come out tomorrow while Dorian and Gregoire are on patrol.”

Gregoire snarled. “No. We’ll come when I get home.”

Alyssa’s eyes flashed up at him.

Rain spoke through the tension. “What else can we do?”

“Right now they probably need a female to answer questions. Sirena’s dealing with Vane and Brianne and the kids. Sacha’s been busy too.” He paused. “Their lives just changed in a big fucking way, and they know there’s no going back. The females can’t find out that there’s a way through the Creators’ confinement spell of Tetartos.” That was secret information only mates and Guardians were allowed to know. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe his mate, who didn’t know or trust him, wouldn’t tell her sisters. “There’s still a lot they need to learn and see, but anything you tell my mate, she’ll no doubt share with her sisters, so keep that in mind.”

“Is there anything else we need to know?” Alyssa asked.

“A day ago they weren’t even aware that other Immortals were living in Tetartos.” He paused. “Dacia said they didn’t know they were supposed to be exiled. Her parents escaped Apollo’s training camp as kids and ran. They had no idea what happened to the Gods and Immortals. Her parents were obviously a mated pair, but one of them was more. I’m betting one of her parents was descended from Apollo or maybe Hermes.” They all straightened up. “I need to see if Sirena can figure it out. They’re not full Demi-Gods, but they have abilities that other Lykos don’t. Dacia can do some mental mind-control shit. No way she’s full Lykos. Her power is strong. I’m not sure they know why that is; they wouldn’t have anything to compare it to.”

Apollo hadn’t fathered many offspring, at least not that any of them were aware of. Two to be exact, which wasn’t common knowledge. They’d never come across any children from Hermes. Gods didn’t produce offspring easily. He’d never thought about it before. Hadn’t given a shit how Athena and Aphrodite ever had children. He’d have thought the Goddesses would have had the same difficulty finding appealingly powerful males that his sister Guardians had. Maybe his sisters’ problems stemmed purely from the animal DNA they held. Sirena had once explained that even the Immortal races without actual animal forms had a beast inside them.

“Well, that adds another factor,” Uri said.

“Yeah, I’m not sure how that will figure in when they meet the Lykos clans. If they end up being someone’s mate, it won’t matter. There may be some petty jealousy over power. Just in case, I want to give them some time before taking them to Thalassa.” He needed to let them meet others of their race, but he was feeling protective as shit, not just of his mate, but the other she-wolves were his now too. He’d let them get used to things at the manor, maybe a trip to the other cities. If the females didn’t find a mate, he’d keep them close. No one would use his new family against him.

Chapter 17

Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm

Dacia’s mind kept wandering back to the pool. She couldn’t cut off the image of Conn’s fiery gaze on her as come slid down his chest and stomach. Over his fingers and cock. That one image kept replaying in her head.

“So we’re not technically prisoners. Do you think they’re trying to lull us into a false sense of security?” Zoe asked.

“Probably,” Isa responded.

She’d been with her sisters since her and Conn’s strained exit from the pool cavern. He’d taken her to the suite and spent a little time with them, but she knew he was feeling the need as much as she was. He’d left, and her sisters took her to look around.

The minute they got back into their room, Dacia missed the courtyard, but Mia had wanted to come back.

The suite was nice, not overly large. There was a living room-kitchen combo done in browns, with stone floors, and on either side was a bedroom and bath combo. She and Isa were sharing one room, and Zoe and Mia had already taken the other.

“There’s no food in the fridge.” Mia slammed the refrigerator door in disgust.

“Probably because we don’t technically need food,” Zoe offered.

“Who said anything about needing? And if that’s true, why the hell give me a damned spatula?” Mia waved the utensil in the air with a repulsed look. “I just feel like doing something, and cooking was my plan. Why even have a damned kitchen!” She slammed more drawers and cabinets. “There’s not even anything to drink,” Mia growled, well on her way to a bitch fit.

“Bastian showed us a main kitchen downstairs,” Zoe said.

“Yes, he did.” Mia’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going to raid it. Who’s with me?” She asked as she walked to the door and threw it open with more force than needed.

“We need blue face paint.” Zoe snickered, but Mia didn’t even acknowledge it, she just kept on her tangent. “He said to make ourselves comfortable. I’m not comfortable without booze and food.”

Dacia glanced at Isa. Zoe was already heading out the door with Mia, and Isa just nodded. She was worried about their sister; they all were.

Dacia hadn’t seen anyone in that section of the house yet, but the place was huge. Conn said they were in the guest wing, and if the sisters wanted their own rooms, there were plenty. They didn’t, at least not yet. She took in a deep breath, just walking a hall without some male looming, tempting her, was nice. The kitchen wasn’t far, just down the stairs on the first floor; below that were the subterranean rooms that her sisters said they’d used earlier to refuel.

The place was impressive, more like a high-class hotel than a home. Gorgeous plastered walls with sconces and expensive carpets running over the stone floors. She looked in a passing mirror. Her ponytail was askew, and she wasn’t sure she cared enough to fix it. She was still wearing the same tee shirt and yoga pants; at least she was comfortable. Conn’s flannel was safely in her closet and she was thankful for the much needed reprieve from his scent. She hadn’t put it on after their time in the pool, and her wolf, thank the Creators, hadn’t fought her. She took a deep breath. Her sisters were dressed about the same. They’d probably been getting ready for bed when she’d sent the call for help.
How long ago had that even been?
she wondered. Time zones were different here. She didn’t think it had been a full twenty-four hours yet, but it was just moving past dusk.

Hopefully whatever Mia found to cook would mask the scent lingering on her clothes and in the hallway. Maybe then the memories would stop plaguing her. She wanted more, and her beast was a snarling irritated bitch because she wasn’t getting it.

She heard Isa talking to her brothers in the link again. Hagen, her eldest, demanded updates constantly. Dacia didn’t envy her sister having to deal with him. They were the ones in an entirely different Realm, with no way back home, staying with males who they didn’t trust, but hadn’t harmed them. They were the ones uprooted. The bitterness of not having a choice was strong. The fact that the Guardians seemed to be following the duties set by the Creators didn’t make swallowing it any easier. Listening to her brothers’ demanding snarls grated.

They took the stairs and stepped into the massive commercial kitchen. Stainless steel appliances and big counters and cabinets filled the room. It was spotless and seemed deserted, but not empty. Mia started rummaging through things like she owned the place. No one was there to stop her and probably couldn’t if they wanted to. Her sister was on a mission. “Someone find me some booze. I need a drink.” Strung out didn’t fully describe her, and Dacia felt much the same.

Isa just sighed. “Mia, honey.”

“Not now. I know Conn explained that my attraction to that damned cat is normal since he’s so powerful. That we’re not used to being around males that our beasts find acceptable, but if that’s the case, why not Bastian? Why isn’t he tripping my beast up and making me feel like a raving lunatic with a branding iron?” Mia blew out a frustrated breath as she set items on the big island. “I’m glad he told me what the hell was going on, but why is it only me?” And there it was, her big eyes were filled with tears of frustration, and Dacia’s heart clenched. She couldn’t remember ever having seen Mia like this, or any of her sisters. Zoe went and hugged her tight as Mia settled in and took a few deep breaths to get it together.

“It’s not just you, love. I would gladly strip Bastian down and lick that sexy male from head to toe. It’s new. What Conn said made sense. I’ve never experienced it either. I’m pretty sure I’d feel the same for Jax if your beast hadn’t scared the shit out of mine,” Zoe whispered, and they all chuckled lightly as they stood there, Isa rubbing her back and Dacia playing with her hair. Touch. Comfort. If they had nothing else, they at least had each other in their new world.

Mia grumbled, “Knowing is not making it go away, and I recommend everyone keeping their tongues off Jax. My beast has lost its fucking mind.”

“I think you just need to take Jax for a spin. Once he stops fearing for his life, I say go for it.” Mia pushed Zoe into the cabinet for her smartass comment, but at least she was laughing again.

“You think I’m joking, but to see a male that powerful so uncomfortable makes me feel a little at home,” Zoe admitted with a grin. “It’s a new adventure. One we may not have picked, but I, for one, am not complaining about the view.”

“We’re all feeling it, honey,” Isa admitted. That looked to be the extent Isa was willing to admit. “Let’s get this stuff and go to the room. It’s been a long day, and we need rest and to be prepared for anything.”

They all nodded, and Zoe spoke up again. She was wired. “I say we do some recon, test the boundaries. They said we’re not prisoners, but we’ve yet to see these cities they’re all talking about, and I want to see just how dangerous the beasts are for myself.”

Dacia pondered whether that was wise.

They rummaged through more cabinets and found a pantry with wine, which they promptly uncorked. They grabbed another bottle, not enough to provide the slightest buzz, but they liked the taste.

As they were gathering their bounty, she felt him. Before his scent hit, the feeling of his presence settled over her. She turned and saw him standing in the doorway, both forearms braced on either side. She took a deep breath and fought the urge to go to him. She saw the top of a Nutter Butter package peeking from his pocket and frowned that the cookies in the flannel he’d given her had been lost at some point after the explosion. She suddenly craved a taste of them.

“I see I was late in getting your kitchen stuff,” he said with an amused grin. “Bastian is transferring everything now, but knock yourself out if you want anything from here.” His eyes softened when he glanced at her sisters. No heat, luckily for him. Her beast might have bit off his dick if he looked at her sisters with interest.