Tempting Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Book 4) (25 page)

He nodded and turned to see Mia in Zoe’s and Isa’s arms. He went over and hugged them to him, Dacia getting pulled into the mix. His heart nearly broke when he felt Mia’s small shoulders shake. Her brothers were about to get a lesson on fucking restraint. He didn’t give a shit how it happened.

Females getting hurt was a trigger for him, courtesy of Apollo’s fucking labs. Getting their animal halves and being forced to act like rutting beasts left them all fucked up for a long time. It was so long ago it felt like a blip in his memories, but shit still set him off. Conn had to remember that these males hadn’t been in the labs. They didn’t have a fucking clue what Immortal females suffered while the males were forced to breed them like animals. They didn’t know what it was like to see the females suffer. The need for atonement so many of the older Immortals felt. Failing to protect the females and the young from the many horrors was a nearly soul-crushing experience. Never again. As a Guardian he held enough power that no female under his protection should be harmed. Dacia’s brothers would learn or bleed.

Rage still ate at him. Seeing his mate jump into a fucking pile of claws and teeth unleashed something they wouldn’t understand. He took a couple of deep breaths. There’d been a time when the two wolves would have been a broken mess at his feet.

He inhaled again, and calm finally settled in. Mia relaxed, and he saw Isa give him a look of gratitude. He pulled back and turned to his brothers. Jax and now Bastian stood with their arms crossed, having come after Conn’s arrival. He lifted his power from the two wolves on the ground and demanded in a harsh voice filled with more power, “Shift.” Best they learn just how low on the power scale they really were, at least with him and the other Guardians.

He stood there and watched as the two reformed. Gunn stood with no expression on his face. He kept darting glances at his sisters. Good. He should feel guilty.

Hagen stood there in his loafers and designer jeans. Conn shook his head. The asshole stood there defiantly, his dark hair perfectly gelled like he’d been at a business lunch before his arrival. He had power; it might fly in the Lykos clans but not at the manor.

Conn blew out an irritated breath. Anger still tensing his muscles, he looked forward to a fight. He turned back to Dacia. “We’re going to chat at the ring.” He watched as she bit her lip, and Isa came to her side and nodded. He knew Dacia wasn’t sure she should trust him with her brothers, who were smart enough to stay fucking quiet.

“We’ll be in the courtyard when you’re done talking,” Isa said with a glare at Hagen. She obviously wasn’t concerned with their brothers’ safety. Conn grinned a little at that.

Chapter 29

Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm

“I need a drink,” Isa said as she headed for the patio bar the minute they moved through the walkway that led into the courtyard.

“I do too.” Dacia was torn but more worried for Mia’s need to get away. She trusted Conn, but loyalty to her family was leaving her split. She was grateful to Isa for making the decision simple. Her sister’s guidance and understanding had been helping her through everything since they arrived. She loved her and hoped that she could return the favor one day.

She couldn’t believe things had escalated to that level before she and Conn had gotten there. Hagen had been pissed when he called to her on the family link.

“Sorry. We told Gunn you were out talking to the females when he came in this morning, and then we managed to keep him distracted thinking you were with Rain and Alyssa. We didn’t even realize Hagen was setting himself up to be taken until Jax brought him here. We couldn’t keep him from contacting you, and things escalated. Gunn got blamed for fucking around. I could have killed Hagen for his high-handed asshole attitude. As if he knows what’s best and we should check with him on everything,” Zoe said in irritation, before adding, “I love him, when he’s an ocean away and I see him on vacation.”

The four of them chuckled, but Mia’s was strained. Isa opened wine and was pouring them all some.

“He thinks he understands what’s going on, but he doesn’t. He went crazy when he assumed you were somehow getting taken advantage of by Conn. That Conn had somehow used his power to force you into doing what he wanted… I think it was more than that. I think he’s realized he’s not the biggest fish in this sea, and it’s a hard pill to swallow.”

Dacia shivered. Conn had been Godlike. She was still in awe of what he’d done out there. Her body was achy and needy again. The pure power in his voice was enough to set her on fire, and he hadn’t even had to touch her brothers. They’d all instantly obeyed his command. Even she had, and that should have scared her, but it hadn’t; her beast loved it. It was more than respect or awe. When his power slammed them down on the ground and left them there submissive to him, she’d been struck by how truly incredible he was. He hadn’t hurt them, even in all that rage. She imagined Hagen hated being pinned. Gunn too, but the show of power only made her beast push to be at his side.

She took a breath. What slayed her was his tenderness with Mia. She was falling in love with him, maybe already was in love, hearing his thoughts and feeling his unfailing certainty that she was everything he’d ever wanted in a mate for reasons beyond their animal lust. It was so soon it didn’t seem right or real, but that had to be it. She wanted all of him, wanted to stand at his side and never let him go. He was hers, and as unsettling as it was, it felt right.

She felt guilty for being so lost in her own world. Mia looked miserable, and her heart ached.

“Are you okay?” Dacia asked her sister, feeling bad that she was so happy when her sister was so damned miserable. She needed to find a way to help her.

“Other than being humiliated? Yeah, I’m good. I’m exhausted from the emotional craziness. I need to get my shit together, but I can’t seem to do it. It’s like I need an Immortal version of Midol. I’m up, I’m down, and I’m not sleeping well. The sight of them fighting made me so upset I lost my mind. I never jump in, but I hated seeing them snapping at each other over something that wasn’t even their damned business. Hagen was making it out like you were a just some weak victim and Gunn was a piece of shit for not locking you in your room for your own good. I wish he would have stayed in Earth; I wanted to take a chunk out of his ass.”

“I was right there with you,” Isa said to Mia with conviction in her voice. Their small sister seemed to relax at that along with Zoe’s wholehearted agreement that Hagen was a high-handed asshole and Mia was well within her right to be pissed.

“How are you doing?” Zoe asked with interest and wagging eyebrows.

Dacia smiled at her sister. “Good,” she said, smiling and feeling the flush of heat in her cheeks. She couldn’t wait for more time with her mate, and she hoped to hell Hagen wasn’t a big pain in the ass when it came to Conn.

“Tell us everything.” Three sets of bright curious eyes focused on her, and even Mia smiled encouragingly.

*****

Conn took off first his flannel and then his tee. He was happy his anger was distracting his dick.

“What the hell did you do to my sister?” Hagen snarled.

“I’m pretty damn sure you know what she is to me, and don’t fucking snarl at me, pup. You’re standing because I allow it.” Calm smiling Conn was gone. “I’m also going to let you fight it out in the ring with no powers. I’m being a damned saint right fucking now.”

He heard Jax laugh as Conn turned to the brothers. Gunn was still being quiet, but he’d shucked his shirt and readied for the ass kicking he knew he deserved.

“So you abuse this power often by fucking innocent females?”

“If you disrespect my mate one more time, I will rip something off that’ll be painful as shit to grow back. You don’t come here and start tearing shit up. This is my fucking home. I know damned well that you knew what was going on before you decided to show the fuck up.”

“They said you were honorable,” the bastard growled.

Conn blew out a breath and looked at Gunn, who was just standing there waiting, listening to his brother, but not saying shit. He turned to Jax.
What the hell am I missing?

Jax raised a brow.
I saw him on the surveillance, sitting there like Gunn had been. You were busy, so I went to check it out. I realized you had another fucking relative and brought him over.

Conn considered it.
Did he try to fight it out?

Some.
Jax shrugged.
He got butt hurt when he realized it wouldn’t fly. I’m thinking he’s having a come-to-Jesus moment where he realizes he’s not top dog.
Jax grinned at his own joke.

So a pissing match with his brother and snarling that I’ve taken Dacia against her will because he’s feeling helpless in protecting the others.

That’d be my take,
Jax answered. Bastian just nodded and stood quietly to the side.

Hagen took off his shirt and stood there. He was a little taller but just as muscled as Gunn, maybe six foot three or four to Conn’s six six.

“Let’s get a few things straight before I give you your beatings. One, you don’t hurt fucking females; I don’t give a shit if it was an accident. You can’t control your animal enough to know when one of your own damned sisters jumps in a fight, then we’ve got a problem. If that’s the case, you’ll be getting a shitload of training on fucking control before you even see the other clans. Two, your sister is mine. Mine to protect, and you do not get to tell her shit to do. She deserves more fucking respect than that from you assholes. You get me?”

Gunn eyed him, and Conn got a hint of respect from the asshole who’d been cock blocking at every damned turn. He wouldn’t put up with these assholes thinking they had any say in what Dacia did.

“Three, you try to treat anyone here like they’re your personal valet, you will get a lesson on manners. Anyone working here is under our protection. Do not test me on that; I’m not the only one that’ll school you if they think you’re not being a fucking choirboy where the staff’s concerned.” He saw Gunn nod, and Hagen gave a jerk of his head. “Four, you stay here because your sister is mine. She is the
only
reason you have that privilege. Do not forget that. Treat her as anything but a fucking queen and I’ll find you less than pleasant accommodations. Five, Mia’s having a tough fucking time of it; you’d know that if you were more worried about your sisters. You will apologize. Just so we’re clear, I don’t give a shit that you’re having a tough time. You can grow some balls and deal with it. I’m not going to coddle your asses. You’ll learn or you take a beating until you figure out how good you’ve got it. I’m not your daddy and neither are the rest of the Guardians. You want respect? You damned well earn that shit.”

Gunn nodded, and Hagen just stared at him, trying to figure him out. The asshole had lived his entire life thinking he was the top of the food chain, and he was getting a rude awakening. Conn wasn’t going to hold the asshole’s hand. Life here could be fucking good for them; Gunn was getting a taste with Pela, and Hagen would fucking figure it out soon enough.

“Gunn, get in the damned ring.”

Gunn walked in shoulders high, no hesitation, and Conn admitted that he might like the idiot. They danced, and Conn knocked him on his ass over and over again. The brother got one hit to the gut that Conn hadn’t blocked. He bloodied the bastard enough to get the point. They went enough rounds that the wolf’s eyes were shining, and Conn knew the bastard was enjoying the excursion.

“Out,” he told Gunn. “Hagen, get your ass in here.” The other male entered with graceful strides. He’d given the male time to watch. He’d never been one to strip a warrior of all pride; he’d given the other male a chance to get a taste of how Conn fought. Not that it was much of an advantage. Conn was a warrior in Hades army well before the pup was ever born. Fighting was in his blood, and he adapted to his opponent’s skill.

They circled and Hagen lunged. Conn sidestepped it. He watched Hagen strategize and lead with a jab one way and a low sweep of his foot that had Conn spinning and jumping to avoid the takedown. Hagen had some martial arts training, and he was fast. They moved, and Conn anticipated hits and kicks. A few landed, but he still bloodied Hagen’s face to match Gunn and ended up without even a mark. Hagen had a few bruised ribs. The male would be fine, he was breathing harder than Conn, but that wasn’t surprising. Conn sparred with his brothers. Fighting an Immortal, even one with some God’s blood, wasn’t a challenge for him. He usually pitted himself against Jax, who was fast and strong. You had to move your ass and have fucking endurance to spar with a warrior-class Ailouros, and Conn got off on that. His new brothers-in-law were getting the beating he would have gotten if he was going against Drake, something no Guardian enjoyed. It was character building, he mused and grinned to himself. This was a valuable lesson they needed. They had skill and some raw and rare power from the small amount of Apollo’s blood running in their veins, but that didn’t mean shit in a world where males loosed their beasts freely and often.

Chapter 30

Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm

Her brothers were bloody but not so broken they couldn’t walk as they strode into the courtyard. She expected pissed-off expressions, but they seemed calm instead, and she wondered what had happened. Bastian and Jax weren’t with them. They seemed to come and go.

She didn’t care about the other Guardians. She was too focused on Conn. He was holding his shirts instead of wearing them, and her heart sped at the sight of his tanned chest and the dips and valleys leading to the vee of his narrow waist. Damn it. Why hadn’t he covered up? Her cheeks and chest instantly flushed, and his eyes snared hers when she took in his unmarked face. Her eyes didn’t settle there; she couldn’t help sliding them down his bare flesh. The damned frenzy was out of control. All she wanted to do was run her fingers all over his body. He came straight to her, and her breath caught at his intoxicating scent.