Tempting Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Book 4) (27 page)

His cock pulsed in front of her, and she licked her lips. “My ass needs a rest, but my pussy doesn’t. The frenzy is intense, and I just can’t get enough,” she said as she writhed on the soft blankets, loving the feel of his eyes on her body. “I want everything you have to give me, any way you want to give it.”

“Son of a bitch. I fucking love everything about you. Your intelligence, your loyalty, how you’re so serious one moment and a wild she-wolf the next.” He ran a shaking hand over his face as he looked at her in awe. “I can’t believe you’re fucking mine.” He pulled her into his arms and took her to the shower and proceeded to bring her off, cherishing her with his hands and mouth as he cleaned and massaged her tender flesh and she clawed for more of him.

Chapter 32

Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm

Frenzy, the word didn’t do justice to the experience. Dacia started getting twitchy at the five-hour mark. Sleep seemed the only real reprieve, but she still found herself over or under him whenever she woke up. Her beast was insane with him. She felt crazy. She’d never been comfortable with cuddling, her beast more snappish than snuggly, but not with him. With him, her beast was wild and greedy and demanding, wanting to touch and be held, to roll in his scent. It was when the frenzy was fed and the female had time to think that Dacia realized she needed something more, or needed to be something more in her new life. Purpose.

“I asked Conn if Sirena might let us visit the kids in Lofodes,” Dacia said to her sisters. Conn had to go to Earth to check leads on the Earth Mageia with a penchant for explosives. Afterwards he said he would be back to train and work with her brothers. Give them some understanding of how things worked in the Realm. He’d been true to his word when it came to them, refusing to introduce her brothers or any of them to the clans before he felt they wouldn’t embarrass themselves or make some terrible cultural mistake. She’d rather he be overcautious than under—he knew the clans, they didn’t—but her sisters were going insane. Especially Mia. She needed to help her sister have a little sanity if she could, and she’d been grateful he’d understood that.

“Conn has too much work to do in the small stretches before we lose our minds,” she said in frustration. Her sisters knew the situation with the frenzy. Zoe grinned and snickered when she made mention of it.

“What’d he say?” Mia asked, and there was no mistaking her excitement.

“Sirena appreciated the offer, and he agreed on two conditions. The first was that Bastian would take us.” Well, he’d take her sisters. At Conn’s hesitation about transportation, she understood the problem. His wolf was riding the edge with her, and another male touching her was about as comfortable for him as the opposite would be for her. She said she’d rather have Rain do it if she was willing, and he’d grinned and kissed her thoroughly enough to leave her panting and clawing for more.

“The other was that Gunn and Hagen couldn’t go. Apparently, we’re less apt to screw up something big than Gunn and Hagen.” She cringed and grinned a little when her sisters laughed.

“Oh, Hagen will be pissed about that,” Zoe said with a happy smile.

Hagen was determined to learn everything he could about the Realm, sure that they’d missed some pertinent piece of information before he’d arrived. Not only that, he constantly checked on her other brothers and their businesses. He met with all the Guardians, even Drake, who hadn’t given a crap who her brother was. Zoe hadn’t been able to wait to share that information with Dacia. Her sister had found it quite entertaining.

“He’s on a full-blown mission. When he’s not studying everything he can find, he’s using the sparring ring or the gym ring like a fiend. Gunn has been right there with him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen those two work so well together,” Isa said.

“They’re busy now. When can we go? I think I’d rather hear the meltdown after I’ve had a bellyful of cupcakes,” Zoe said.

“I second that.” Mia looked happier with the prospect of getting away, less strained than she had in days, and that lightened some of Dacia’s guilt. She’d been feeling terrible. She’d never been so happy, though she still had uncertainties about what was next. In Earth she’d had a plan, was excited for her new purpose, a purpose she’d explained to Conn, not that there was much to tell. They hadn’t had a clue where the Immortals were or if they even lived.

The question was, what did she do now? She couldn’t spend her life between Conn’s bed and visits with her sisters. Children… But that could take over a decade, and she kind of hoped it did. She wasn’t comfortable around children. Maybe that was a little of the reason she wanted to go back to Lofodes with Isa. She knew her sisters would all know how to interact with the kids. They’d raised her and loved it, but Dacia was different, not as playful. Maybe that’s all it boiled down to, learning to play? Simple play, not the kind her wolf liked with Conn, that was for damned sure. She knew she’d feel better seeing examples from her sisters. She could learn; she was intelligent. She would buy books, and her sisters would be there if she needed guidance or instruction.

“Why the frown?” Isa asked.

“I just have things to figure out.”

“You will,” Zoe said with a push of feeling. “You’re strong, smart, and you have us, don’t forget.”

Dacia smiled at her sister. Yes, she had them. Family.

“I believe I’m to play escort,” Bastian said, porting right next to them. Was there a small smile on his goateed mouth? Only a hint of expression, but it was more than she’d seen from him since they’d arrived. Dacia couldn’t look away as Zoe sidled up next to him.

“You realize there are certain expectations associated with the term escort, handsome. They may involve cupcakes and what I’m willing to do for them.” Zoe grinned and winked at him. There was heat, but mostly playfulness from her sister, and Dacia swore she heard a chuckle from the male. Low and silky. Even Zoe’s eyes widened at the Kairos, and her face flushed happily.

“I knew you’d come to love us,” she said with certainty.

“You four keep things entertaining,” he said.

“Don’t forget me,” Rain said, waving and walking up with a big grin. “Alyssa’s working on new lingerie designs for a private client, and Alex just got done kicking my and Sam’s asses around the ring for over an hour each. I could use an outing… and maybe an ice pack, the hot shower didn’t help,” she said with her hand on her neck. The blonde was in jeans and a light pink sweater that somehow went well with her purple-tipped hair, and Dacia couldn’t help but like her. There was just something about the female that made her at ease.

She cocked her head, thinking about what Rain said. Dacia remembered that Sam was mated to Alex’s brother. She hadn’t spent as much time with Alex or Sam; they were always gone. They’d been welcoming, but were much more quiet and polite in their initial meetings, distracted.

“You spar?” Dacia asked, curious at that new bit of information.

“Yes, I wasn’t born learning to fight like Alyssa, and neither was Sam. Alex’s a total bad ass. That probably goes with being a Demi-Goddess as much as ingrained training, but either way, she’s incredibly skilled and agreed to teach us. We’re pretty pathetic, but I feel like I’m starting to get a little better. You should join us. We use the indoor ring with padding, instead of the dirt one down the hill.”

Dacia had seen the big indoor gym. It took up half a wing of the manor, which made it hard to miss, but she’d yet to actually use it.

“I want to,” Zoe said in excitement.

“Me too,” Mia said, just as happy. They’d been subdued in their wrestling, spending the majority of their time outside running and getting the lay of the land and the beasts surrounding it.

“Okay, we were going to try to meet again tomorrow. Sam and I meet even when Alex can’t, but she does make an effort to beat the shit out of us at least a few days a week.” Rain laughed.

Dacia felt a new excitement brewing. Alex and Uri patrolled together. She wondered at partnering with Conn one day. She wasn’t sure if he would want that, or if it’d work, but she liked the thought of having possibilities and purpose in her new life. She just needed to learn what those were and decide what she could excel at. She didn’t think it would be helping with Mageia children or with the healing, though she had some small skill there.

She knew Conn spent over half his time in an office dealing with business and something to do with the Mageia in Earth and then patrolled when he could.

She’d just stopped doing the desk research work with her sisters; she wasn’t sure she’d want to do that again, even if he was receptive to her help. The Guardians were busy, which meant there had to be any number of tasks she could assist with or learn to take over, but fighting seemed like a skill she and her siblings should all hone. This Realm was not as tame as Earth.

She felt good, lighter, when they finally teleported away.

Chapter 33

Elizabeth’s Compound, Tetartos Realm

Cynthia.

Yes, Mistress.

It’s time. Use the artifact and do every step precisely as I’ve instructed.

Elizabeth hadn’t wanted to do it so soon, but her skin crawled, a warning that something big was coming. She needed to make her move.

So far the new caves were acceptable, though there were still additions she’d demanded her males make to her rooms. The only good part was that she was a continent away from whoever had been impaling her warriors’ heads.

Protection spells and traps were set in the new location. It wasn’t far from the cave systems they’d once lived in when Cyril was in charge. That made her feel more secure. She doubted the Guardians or other Immortals would ever think to look a mile away from one of their old compounds. Reve had been quite smug at his own perceived genius in securing it. She would allow him his arrogance until his usefulness ran out. She didn’t plan on needing him for long.

Chapter 34

Conn’s Home, Tetartos Realm

Dacia had spent the last few days in the gym, sparring with the other females, and she loved it, and she could tell her sisters enjoyed the excursion and comradery of it. It was odd having friends. They’d always just had each other, but being around Rain and the others felt… nice.

Now she just felt anxious, but she wasn’t sure what exactly was triggering it. Probably just the nerves associated with what she was planning to do. The step she needed to take. She was tucked into Conn’s side as she stared off into the dark. The sound of the river and birds echoed in the night. She loved it out there; his home was hers.

She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent she loved and craved.

What hadn’t been nice or comfortable was being the only mate that hadn’t gone to the last Guardian meeting. She understood. She’d been the one who’d needed time to come to terms with having to keep things from her sisters, essentially taking on new loyalties to a mate over her family. It wasn’t something easily done, but she was going to do it. Not being at that meeting felt wrong on a base level she couldn’t get past. Her sisters wouldn’t fault her, and he’d said the things they hid were for the safety of others; she could do that.

Dacia cuddled further into Conn’s side and looked up at the stars. The rooftop patio was her favorite spot in the house. They’d had wild sex in every section of the house, including on the stairs leading up there.

She trailed her fingers over his tattoos. “Do these have meaning?” She’d wanted to ask more than once, but questions seemed to get lost in the frenzied need constantly riding them when they had moments alone. He’d shared about his search for Cynthia and the ridiculous leads he had to follow, but he was keeping other things to himself until she said she was ready.

“Yes.” He looked up at the stars and seemed to be thinking. “You know I was in Apollo’s labs.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway. “Yes.”

“I wasn’t there for long. A few years. Long enough to get my beast and be used as a breeder for a while.”

She stilled, realization coming hard. She knew in theory that he’d been there, but hadn’t truly considered what that really meant.

“I fathered six children before the mating curse stopped it from happening again. Conceptions suddenly stopped, and we were all beyond grateful for that.”

She swallowed hard, and her heart stopped.

He absently rubbed her arm as he spoke. “I never even saw the children. Their own mothers barely saw them after birthing them. That was the way of shit there. Not long after our reprieve, Ares and Artemis came in and completely annihilated the camps that housed the children. Some of the mothers were there too.

“I had Sirena use her power to tattoo the wolves as a reminder. So I’d never forget having my choices taken. What we all suffered. The females worse than the males. They were forced to breed, and then the children they carried were taken from them. For the females to come out of it as strong as they are now is amazing. No matter how hard I fought and worked in secret to get us free, I was still a part of it.”

She’d stopped breathing at some point while he was lost in the words.

“That’s what your brothers need to find a way to understand. They need to know that the males in the clans won’t care if they hurt a female on accident. It’s a trigger for a lot of us. We failed to protect the females, the young… Don’t get me wrong. Not all Immortals are shining examples of the races. Some are fucking dicks, but if Mia had gotten hurt around the clans, your brothers would have lost the respect of the majority of the males. They’re young, comparatively. They need to learn so they don’t fuck up.”

She felt sickness in the pit of her gut. “Are there still females in the clans that you fathered children with?”

He paused and she knew. It made her heart actually hurt: she felt like she was bleeding out.

“Yes.”

*****