Tempting Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Book 4) Read online

  Jax?

  I know. I’m out, Jax mentally responded.

  “What just happened? How did you talk in my mind, and what did you do with my sisters?” his female demanded. He heard the fear and outrage in her voice.

  “They’ll be fine; he won’t harm them. Bastian and Jax will explain what’s happening. Right now I need to get out of here.” He couldn’t touch her to teleport her and wouldn’t if he could. He’d heard his brothers explain the sexual agony of teleporting a mate during the frenzy. Apparently the bodies blended, and the experience was more than intense.

  He opened the front door and walked into the fresh night air. She hesitated only a second and followed him out. He knew she would come, if only to find her sisters, but he only cared about clearing his lungs. He took deep breaths; his cock was killing him. “Give me a second,” he said, lifting his hand when she faced him to talk. Her eyes flashed, and he heard her teeth grinding.

  “Take me to my sisters!” she demanded.

  “I know you can mentally speak to them, so you know they’re fine. Likely sick from the teleport, but unharmed.” He saw that he was right, and she relaxed.

  “It was teleporting that made them ill?” she confirmed.

  “Yes, they’ll be fine. We’re Guardians. Our duty is to protect the inhabitants of the Realms not torture them for fun.” Her perfect dark brows furrowed prettily, and he found yet another thing to be enamored of. “It seems there’s a lot you don’t know, princess. I need to go for a run. Run with me.” He set his voice low, cajoling.

  Her breath caught, and he saw excitement light her eyes. She wanted to run; her beast wanted to meet his as much as his wanted to meet hers. “Just know, if your beast touches mine, it’s the same, the frenzy starts.” He would not have her blaming him if that happened.

  “How were you in my mind?” she asked, tense.

  “I found the budding mental link that we have as mates.” He paused. “I can’t hear your thoughts, princess. I can only talk to you.” She didn’t seem to relax all that much. Was probably worried he was lying. “Can you hear your sisters’ random thoughts?” He saw her eyes narrow, assessing how he’d spoken to her. “Look for the link, and you’ll see that’s what I used. See that you can use it too.” He watched her as she stared off.

  Here? Her mental voice was as shocked as the look on her beautiful face.

  Yes.

  We’re connected. Panic.

  Yes, you are my mate. We’ll be even more bound when you accept me, he whispered through the link and watched her lids lower.

  He nearly groaned when she licked her lips. There was an innate innocence about her that he couldn’t deny, and it was getting to him. “Tell me your name, princess.”

  He watched her closely. She was deciding whether to lie. How many more siblings did she have? Were her parents in Earth as well?

  “Dacia,” she said as his brain started functioning again. He liked the sound of it on her lips, would like the sound of his name from her lips more.

  “My name is Conn. Now, Dacia, tell me, are your parents on their way too?” That would explain her family undertones being an unfamiliar scent from any of the other Lykos clans on Tetartos.

  Again she was silent, contemplating. He loved the intelligence in her eyes and the fact that she thought through whether to lie or not, whether her answers would betray any secrets she was trying to keep. She may even be discussing it with her siblings. He wouldn’t get her thoughts until they touched. He should probably explain everything that would happen in the mating, but he was too focused on her features.

  Later, he would explain, once he had a few answers of his own and knew he wasn’t going to be hit with an army of hidden Lykos in Earth Realm. He took another few calming, cleansing breaths of the cool night air and felt the first few drops of rain touch his face.

  “My parents won’t be here.” Something in the way she said it told him more than she probably intended.

  “Are more siblings going to show up soon?” he asked, cocking a brow.

  She narrowed her eyes, and he fucking loved it. “No. I need to run as well, and you can explain to me where my sisters are and what you have planned for us.” She started off down the sidewalk. “This way.” She had such a serious demeanor. Irritation, anger and arousal were the main emotions he’d seen; he wondered if she’d be playful or cautious and calculated in her wolf form too.

  Her words came across less bossy, more demanding, a ruler to her subjects. He couldn’t help the grin that slid into place, but the sway of tight ass completely derailed him. He ran a hand over his face and nearly groaned as his cock pulsed aggressively against his zipper.

  Chapter 7

  Elizabeth’s Compound, Tetartos Realm

  With Cyril and Kane both dead, Elizabeth was in full control. She smirked at how easy it was once Cyril died. Centuries of being at the bastard’s mercy, as he used her powers for his own ridiculous cause, ended. She could care less about experiments to find a way around the mating curse. She had much bigger plans. Once Cyril died and Kane thinned the ranks of any who would oppose his short reign, she had made her move. He was easily disposed of. Elizabeth slinked one bare leg over the carnage of yet another mutilated warrior who’d displeased her. Cyril and Kane’s most trusted warriors lay broken and violated at her feet where they belonged.

  A hellhound at her heels, she made her way back toward her suite.

  “Take the bodies out of the tunnels. The scent offends me.” She slid her fingers down her lacy dress and watched her second’s eyes heat. Reve nodded, ever obedient at the moment, but she never doubted he could turn on her. She planned to keep him on a short leash; the male was one of only a few Kairos she had. His ability was one she needed. She frowned, wishing she were able to teleport as only Gods, Guardians and Kairos could. The Kairos were, of course, confined to Tetartos Realm like all Immortals, but they could still move inside the Realm with ease. She needed them, or at least one, in case the other Immortals or Guardians ever found her. With Cyril gone, she was the most hated Immortal in the Realm, and her capture would be a death sentence. She may never trust the Kairos that helped her take over, but she would keep him. They’d shared plenty of entertainments already. She grinned at him and saw how much she tempted him. His eyes flashed with hunger and something darker that she’d never realized existed in the male. Oh, yes, he enjoyed the same things she did. Interesting that he’d hidden it, in all the centuries during Cyril’s rule after Apollo’s palace had fallen. All the Immortals were exiled, and those loyal to Apollo followed Cyril in the God’s absence; they’d known the others would never accept them after the things they’d done.

  “Come to me when the task is finished.” She purred at Reve.

  “Yes, Mistress.” She liked the sound of her new title.

  She stretched her arms over her head, and the lace abraded her nipples. She enjoyed the tease as her arms fell, and she took another tunnel. Reve wasn’t the most powerful of her warriors, but he could be enjoyable enough, especially if they participated in some foreplay while questioning the males chained to her wall. She was taking her time with the last remaining supporters of Kane. She wished she’d have done the same with the bastard, but she’d gotten too carried away in the moment.

  Kane had always thought he was superior. They were of the same race, Aletheia. Interrogators, whose main gift was taking blood memories. She had always been more intelligent, with stronger abilities; he just underestimated her.

  His blood had uncovered interesting things. It was amusing that he’d thought she cared about Cyril’s experiments in trying to get mates for the Immortals. That she’d care about some silly hidden Mageia breeding facility. Yes, she would have enjoyed torturing his sister, but she had no use for the children Cyril had bred there. They could have been treats offered to her warriors, morsels of perverse enjoyment. That was the only pity she saw in losing them. Those creatures didn’t affect her goals in the slightest.

  She o
nly cared about one thing, and her plans were already in place. Cyril had been too powerful to take on, but his death had opened up opportunities and options she’d never thought to have. Taking Kane’s memories of the beloved insane sister he hid and the children he informed the Guardians about was surprising, but nothing more. She chuckled to herself.

  She was free now to do as she wished, and she held the power to get exactly what she wanted most. Her cunt heated with how much she was going to enjoy freeing her beloved, but for now she would enjoy all the vengeance she deserved. Kane had given her to his males to punish even before Cyril had died. They’d taken their pleasure in giving her pain, and now she was relishing every scream and memory she reaped from their blood.

  She frowned, again regretting getting too excited when she’d had Kane at her mercy. After taking his blood memories, she’d been swept away with the thrill of his punishment. Raping his mind and body had nearly made her climax. She’d even had Reve fuck her with the scent of Kane’s blood in her nose and the feel of it on her naked skin. She’d fed every inch of his flesh to the hell beasts the Tria, demon spawn in Hell, had sent for her use. Relishing every slice of the blade pushed her excitement too far, and she hadn’t even realized it until his head had fallen beside her body as she came around Reve’s pulsing cock.

  She moaned at the memory and watched as another of her new warriors lowered his head as she passed. She fingered a long red curl as she assessed his big body. “Come,” she demanded and watched as he took a deep breath but said nothing as he followed her.

  Her plans were underway. Cynthia, her Earth Realm contact, was retrieving what Elizabeth had instructed her to get. The Tria, the three demon spawn bastards imprisoned in Hell Realm, were providing her hell beasts and anything else she needed, assuming she’d follow through with her promises to them. With all her tasks in play, she had the freedom to enjoy her position of power to her utter satisfaction. So many at her mercy, knowing they’d never be accepted in the Immortal cities after serving Cyril. She pushed her fingers to her clit as she made it to her room. Yes, power was intoxicating.

  Chapter 8

  Earth Realm

  Dacia kept a mental touch on her sisters, wanting to ask questions beyond whether they were okay, but needing to block their chatter while she assessed the male behind her. Giving the Immortal, Conn, her back, she waited, testing him. What would he do? Her instincts told her he wouldn’t harm her; no, the danger he posed was of a completely different sort. Even if he tried to attack, he could easily overpower her whether she fought back or not. She knew that she was outmatched. She just needed to track him, watch him, understand him. The sexual intensity was beyond her experience, her comfort. He was intoxicating her.

  She didn’t doubt that he believed that she was this mate, this rare gift he spoke of. What did that really mean? That her wolf hadn’t lost it’s mind? She wanted to trust her senses again, and the rain-filled air had tamed some of the wild lust. The climax had helped, but not being consumed by his scent was even more cleansing. She enjoyed every drop of water over her face and arms and wished she were already running in wolf form.

  Her instincts had always been strong. She’d always thought it was her animal seeing or feeling more around her than her sisters’ did. That same awareness had helped her avert accidents and kept them away from humans that she knew weren’t right, dangerous, or disturbed. When she wasn’t more than a small child, Isa and Gunn had investigated her impressions. It took only a few instances for them to trust that she was just more sensitive than the rest of them. If it was her animal giving her the added intuition, she wasn’t sure if she could fully trust it now. Her wolf was infatuated by the male moving up beside her on the walkway. That was a mild description of what she felt coming from her beast, but it was the best she could come up with.

  Are you okay? she asked her sisters, filtering out her brothers for the moment.

  Isa, her eldest sister, spoke, sounding worried and furious at once. Yes, are you okay?

  I’m fine. She was trying to process all that was happening to her, but more worried about whether her family was safe wherever they’d been taken. Do you know where you are?

  Isa hesitated before speaking again. No. All I know is we are in no way a match for them. Their power is just too strong. Fighting them would be dangerous. They didn’t harm us the first time, but might if we attempt it again. Our full combined power was nothing to theirs and not worth using again. The smartest thing we can do is gain as much information as we can and watch. The dark one, Bastian, says you’re Conn’s mate and started explaining what that is… Did he hurt you?

  No. He didn’t hurt me. She was embarrassed at just how much her sisters would have scented in the room, without the other one, Jax, announcing it. She clenched her teeth.

  Mia, are you okay? Dacia asked.

  Yes. Mia sounded embarrassed. Dacia’s smaller sister had laid claim on Jax in the middle of the fight. Said, “Mine,” so loud they’d all been caught off guard. Bastian said I’m not going through the same thing as you are. Don’t worry about me. How are you, really? Mia asked.

  I’m fine. My beast wants him, is going crazy for him. I don’t know what it all means, but he’s saying the same thing. He says if I touch him, it’ll start a mating, and it sounds permanent. We’ll go into a sexual frenzy, and he’ll claim me as his. Animalistic is the only word that’s close to fitting… Do you feel in danger there? Dacia asked.

  Isa answered again, No. That’s the odd part. Be watchful and try to get as much information as you can from him. We’ll be doing the same. And, Dacia, be careful, come to us unless you can get free.

  Yes, her other sisters chimed in.

  She heard her brothers’ fury and their bellowed demands, their oldest in Italy and Gunn on the other side of the country wanting answers. Dacia left them for Isa to deal with. She just couldn’t pay attention to their meltdowns. Not when the entire time she’d spoken to her sisters the majority of her mind and senses were trained on the warm male next to her. Her wolf pushing and fighting for her to get closer to him.

  She relaxed marginally, knowing that her sisters didn’t feel in any danger where they were. What if her wolf was right? She’d felt like she was losing a piece of herself when she thought she couldn’t trust her instincts, her animal. She experienced a small tinge of hope and relief that warred with distrust and anxiety. She’d been so worried it was all compromised, and then where would she be?

  Dacia tracked Conn’s movements; everything tuned to him without conscious thought. She knew the quiet stride of his muscled legs as well as each intoxicating exhale of breath that made his wide chest rise and fall under the two shirts. Even lost in her own thoughts she tracked that and the placement of his arms at his side, casual, walking at human pace, but with banked power licking at her side. So much heat.

  “What do Guardians do?” she asked as he paced next to her on the sidewalk. It was important to learn as much as she could.

  They passed more Victorians, bigger than hers, set back from the tree-lined street. Some had lights still on in upstairs rooms, but soon they would blink out and the humans would fall asleep. She remembered watching them holding hands and strolling in the opposite direction the last night she’d been there. Her fingers flexed at her sides. Was such a simple touch with a male such an enjoyable experience? She’d assumed it was more a comfort, like her sisters cuddling, not something to heighten arousal, but she couldn’t imagine anything so simple with the male beside her.

  The rain was steady, just enough to blanket her overheated flesh and charge the air, as much as his scent electrified her body. She was watchful, on guard. She felt as if something big was coming, but she knew it was already there in the form of the male next to her.

  His deep sexy voice took her out of her thoughts. “We make sure bad little she-wolf’s aren’t trying to take over the world.” Something in his tone made her ache, low where she was already so wet. His teasing grin tilted his
firm sexy lips, and all she wanted to do was take a nip.

  “You have my sisters.” She nearly growled the words, a reminder for herself as well as him that this was serious.

  “I know you’re keeping tabs on them. They’re safe.”

  She wanted to close her eyes to the wicked glint in his eyes; it was even more tantalizing. He was the most beautiful male she’d ever seen, and it was distracting.

  The desire to touch him was strong, but manageable when she fisted her hands and felt the bite of her nails against her palms. He may look casual, but she wasn’t ignorant to his flared nostrils and the clenching of his own fists at his sides. He was fighting it as much as she was. He could have touched her at any time, yet hadn’t. She tilted her head as she studied him. Even after attacking them, he and the other males hadn’t taken retribution, though they easily could have. It could have been an excuse to do what he said he wouldn’t.

  If, in fact, she was his mate, one that was as rare as he’d said, and that a simple brush of his skin against hers would set off a frenzy of wild sex, why refrain? Why not just take what he wanted, what he was capable of doing whether she acquiesced or not? His restraint confused her. Why was he giving her a choice? To soften her for some reason, maybe toy with her? Gain her trust? That was not something she would give easily. Or was it a game, the excitement of the chase? That could easily be it. She didn’t believe for a second that he wanted her to demand he put his hands on her, a male so strong wouldn’t be happy with anything less than begging. She frowned.

  What didn’t match that particular theory were his actions in her room. He’d used his power to give her relief when holding out could have potentially served him better. She hated to think she would have begged any male for an orgasm, but she’d never been so completely out of control, so consumed; she might have.