Mated to the Chaos (Portal City Protectors Book 5)

by Georgette St. Clair

  She jerked again, her teeth slicing into her cheek and filling her mouth with blood. With a curse, Carlo laid her on his bed, the softness nearly too much in counterpoint to the pain. He leaned over her, his chest pressing against hers again, and she wailed.

  “I can’t claim what I can’t touch, Nanshe. I can’t bring you this sort of pain.”

  “Please,” she begged.

  But he moved again, hovering over her now, but the moment his teeth touched her neck, just a breath, she was split in two. Fire burned her organs, twisting them into molten forms of lava scalding her from the inside out.

  “Dammit, Nanshe.”

  “Please, Carlo. I can’t let this go. I can’t. Not this. It will shatter me.”

  His dark gaze captured hers until he turned blurry, tears filling her eyes.

  “Don’t cry, Nanshe. I’m unable to brush them away.”

  “Please.” She didn’t know what she begged for. An ending, a release, her chance of losing before things really began. She wasn’t so sure.

  “I’m here. Help me as much as you can. Lift your legs, tesoro. Open them wide.”

  She didn’t understand what he was doing. If he couldn’t even touch her, there was no way he’d be able to claim her this way.

  “Carlo—”

  “Trust me, woman.”

  “Stubborn male.”

  “Be thankful that I am.”

  Slowly, she did as he asked, her dress sliding up her thighs. The change in position was soothing, her flesh no longer touching a surface.

  “Dolce dio,” Carlo whispered just before he tore her world apart.

  Silken lips clasped around her pussy, his tongue working furiously at her clit. She had seconds to taste pain before pleasure warred with it. Pleasure and plain. Agony and decadent need. They all combined in waves until she gasped.

  Carlo was determined, an animal loosed as he lapped at her juices, the heat of his tongue so much more than the pain in her limbs. With each stroke, she came back. Layer by layer, he pushed back the past. Ribbons shredded, her cells swelled, opened, until her knees fell further apart to give him better access.

  His growl vibrated over her skin, an anchor to the present, yanking her from the past she resided in. It was brilliant, vibrant, and full of life she never thought she’d live. Cool hair slid across the insides of her thighs as his shoulders pushed just barely under her legs.

  Everything inside her centered on him.

  The trace of his tongue.

  The sizzling desire swirling low in her belly.

  She bucked against his mouth, using her feet to lift closer to him.

  This time when he growled, she sensed his triumph.

  He wrapped his hands around her hips, pinning her to the bed and leaving her open for his onslaught.

  Right here, tesoro. I want to feel you burst apart on my tongue.

  “Carlo.”

  She moaned in his mind and out loud, the twin sounds loud in her ears.

  That’s right. Show me how much you like it. Give it to me.

  He didn’t stop his demanding ministrations, but now he added to it, pushing one thick finger deep inside her and curling it upward as he pulled back out. Over and over, he touched a place deep inside her that made her toss her head back and forth.

  Trembling, the pain reduced nothing, ripped aside by him. Carlo. The man of her yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows.

  Now!

  On his command, Nanshe tensed, her back bowing off the bed, a scream locked in her throat. He rode her through it, fucking her with his finger and adding a second one to send the climax pulsing through her.

  Every time she was tempted to take a breath, he pushed her higher. She rode his face, lost, ignorant that pleasure like this had ever existed.

  And then he nipped her.

  She screamed, unable to hold it back. Power throbbed, swelling around them. The Chaos. It was just as hungry, just as needy to touch him once more. Nanshe fought the wave, trying to pull it back, but it wouldn’t be denied.

  Chaos had missed its wolf, a cry of need wrapped in the threads of what made her a Norn.

  Please. No. Don’t take him from me yet.

  But she was too late. Chaos rolled over Carlo like a lover, joining in the moment of power until Carlo jerked away.

  “No.”

  She reached for him, but he pulled back, licking his lips, tasting her essence, even as he glared hotly at her.

  “I helped you, tesoro. I’m pleased to see you’re still alive.”

  Chaos and Nanshe cried out in loss as he left the room, the door closing with a resounding thud.

  Chapter Seven

  Carlo watched the edge of the Moretti Pack lands with a careful eye, as he’d been doing the last three days. It was much easier focusing on that than the woman in his bed. Room. Bedroom.

  He hadn’t allowed himself to touch Nanshe again. He recognized the touch of Chaos that spilled from her when he took her over the edge. He was lost in her, loving he cries, the intimate way he’d been able to speak into her mind without having to take his mouth off her delicious skin.

  Her body was a wonder, even the small expanse of the space he’d seen.

  He could be honest with himself that Nanshe was a beautiful woman, perfect in ways he never knew were possible. But the Chaos …

  A shiver slipped down his spine at the thought of it. It was just like when he’d shifted the first time.

  Carlo had been cocky that day, certain he’d survive and gain the power of the wolf. Battle and blood were nothing to him and death was impossible. He’d been Family before he was turned in the 50s, accustomed to a life where danger was a part of every day.

  And then something entered the arena during his shift.

  It was insidious, whispering to him of more strength, control, and power of untold measure. It sang to his blood, a homecoming he hadn’t realized he was missing. That was until it slammed into his body, just like the shift, changing him in ways the wolf couldn’t handle. It tore at his mind, too many memories rushing through his head.

  He saw himself in foreign places, living a life unlike anything he consciously remembered.

  Whispered touches. Death. Destruction. Agony.

  It didn't seem like any pain he’d ever want to experience, and he’d fought it with everything he had. All he wanted was the wolf, the life of a Made Man, comfortable with his gun in his hand. What Chaos whispered was hell, and he wouldn’t let it come in.

  He did everything he could to deny it.

  But in return, Chaos took him instead.

  His mind, his understanding.

  To survive, Carlo had lost a piece of himself, and he never knew if he’d ever get it back.

  That same touch reached out for him when he was with Nanshe, and he didn’t give it a chance to take over as it did before. He was determined to never lose his mind again. Perhaps he needed to explain it better to Nanshe—that it wasn’t her; it was what she held within her—but he was sure she would argue with him.

  For her, it wasn’t scary; she knew what she carried. She didn’t understand what it did to him. Not really. How could anyone understand if they hadn’t experienced it? Yes, he’d lived his life wishing he could get what he’d seen younger wolves claim.

  Romano was over the moon with Kalinda, and her higher magical position didn’t bother him. She was his, and she deferred to him when she could. His responsibilities had shifted to protecting her, but he was still the liaison with the Lombardi Pack.

  Dominic had claimed Zoey, and the hard, crushing wolf had gained softness and a child with extraordinary powers. Zoey was a ray of sunshine no one could hide, and though they were still dangerous creatures who could be deadly, she’d influenced them all to take care of Encantado and the mages within it by any means necessary.

  Pasquale, a hidden Alpha in their midst, found his place beside Giuliana. It was fortuitous, since Romano’s move had left an opening in Dominic’s structure where Pasquale could
step in and maintain his own pack at the same time.

  Even Heath, with all the wrongs he’d committed, had found his completion with Asherah all the while reuniting Silva with her sister and revealing the threat to Encantado. Lorenzo may have still been coming to terms with his friend after everything, but the two men were rebuilding their friendship.

  And all of that didn’t even touch the power pairings created between mates as well as friends through association. Silva and Kalinda, Zoey and Romano, Isadora’s mix, and Kalinda and the Trinity Council. Encantado was filled with power mergers.

  Perhaps they should have assumed something was coming. There had to be a reason for all of this, right?

  Carlo snorted, scanning the wolves on patrol—each pair had one in wolf form, the other on two legs with rifles ready. If the same reasoning could be considered, Carlo connecting with Chaos—if it could actually be a good thing—would probably help out quite a bit.

  Yes, he was man enough to admit Nanshe probably saw the power that could be gained their union. The issue was, Chaos already had a snap at him, and it didn’t make him better.

  Actually, he’d been touched twice, and he was grateful it had corrected him the second time. Although, he wasn’t as clear on how that happened. Even when he tried to think about it, the memory was fuzzy, and he only remembered a moment of pain before he focused on getting Zoey and Dominic out of the Chaos Realm so they wouldn't turn out like him.

  Try as he might, he couldn’t see the benefit of taking on Chaos. If he didn’t have to worry about that, he’d gladly leap at the chance to have a mate next to him, to know he would be sharing his life with the other part of his soul, rather than alone.

  But he had no choice, and as tempting as Nanshe was, he’d have to get through this without claiming her. He couldn’t risk it.

  He groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. He’d just be taking himself around a circle thinking about all of this. No matter how he tried to approach it, the one large issue blocked everything.

  Chaos.

  A sudden silence made Carlo stand taller and lift his nose into the air. It fairly crackled, but the other wolves didn’t seem to notice it. They continued walking, but he was on alert. Electricity sizzled across his skin—a warning.

  “Ciro,” Carlo murmured into his comm unit in his ear. It was one of the changes made in agreement with the Alphas of the Moretti, Lombardi, and Moonstone Packs. Each group was on different channels, but they could key in and alert others if they saw danger. The sorcerers and mages were linked with Kalinda, who had Romano at her side if she needed to get to the wolves.

  As another safety, they’d kept Silva with her, the Guardians watching the portal near Scorched Earth, Asherah near the districts with Heath, Kallan and Teague. Zoey was on lockdown with Isadora and Fabiana within the Lombardi lands with her guards and Eiravel and Cynes.

  They were spread thinner than they wanted to be, each protecting their own areas and expanding a bit to encompass the mages, but the Renegades offering border patrol helped.

  “I’m here.”

  “Can you smell anything?”

  Ciro was the best Scenter of his pack, called upon any time they needed to track. When he needed a break for his nose, he’d work with Giuliana in her vintage shop, but he was on twenty-four-hour duty right now, only catching sleep when the other Scenters under him were sure he was covered.

  “Incoming!”

  It was all the warning Carlo got, the comm loud in his ears, before multiple openings appeared in the air.

  “We’ve got portals!” Dominic bellowed.

  “Tell the mages to prepare,” Adonis ordered.

  The comms were alive with warnings, but Carlo couldn’t respond. They were all under attack at once. Large, white masses bled—fucking bled—from the portals, dripping down to the ground. Carlo raced to the front, ready to attack as the masses frothed and bubbled before shifting into tiger-like monstrosities.

  They roared, and every wolf in the vicinity answered with howls. Cats versus dogs.

  Dogs win every time, fur face.

  There was a pregnant pause, a moment of silence and anticipation before the battle began. Carlo acted first, snarling in challenge when he pulled his gun and shot. The bullet whizzed through the air, even as Carlo shot at the next tiger.

  Except the bullets didn’t do the job.

  “Watch out!”

  Carlo leapt back just in time, dodging the clawed swipe of the first tiger he’d attacked. So bullets wouldn’t work. It was good he had more weapons at his disposal. He sheathed his gun, then shifted enough to let his claws appear on his hands. He didn’t want to shift entirely and lose the ability to speak with the others.

  But that didn’t mean he wasn’t without wolves.

  “All soldiers get shifted. Bullets are useless.”

  They moved as one, snarling and snapping at the tigers, as high-ranking males fought with claws and on two feet. Carlo wouldn’t let these things harm his family.

  Stay in my room where you’re safe. And away from the windows.

  “I’m not some weak damsel, wolf. I can fight.”

  Stay in the room!

  “Stubborn male.”

  He chuckled, even as he slashed again. One tiger snapped at him with canines nearly as large as his head. Carlo’s wolf pushed forward in answer. Nothing could beat him; he refused to allow that.

  “Stubborn male.”

  This time Nanshe said it with pride, a roll of desire, and Carlo smiled.

  Absolutely.

  “I’m still coming.”

  That stopped the warm feeling spreading through him, but he couldn’t focus on arguing. His claws were with black blood, but the masses still dripped from the portals. They attacked, but they were moving in and out, racing along the dwelling with their noses to the walls.

  “They are searching. Keep them away from the houses!”

  He gave the order but wasn’t sure what they were searching for. Ciro slid into the battle, his blue eyes snapping with power as he tackled a tiger and wrenched at its head until it popped off. Carlo mirrored him, grabbing another one that tried to come for Ciro, and tossed the tiger through the air.

  “Alpha?”

  “I’m protected,” Arturo replied gruffly. “They haven’t gotten to me, Carlo. Romano said they are attacking the Mage Council Headquarters, too, and they are called Hollows.”

  Carlo swiped, jumping over the back of a Hollow and landing on his back. He strained, stabbing claws into its throat until it fell forward to the ground with a skid.

  “Hollows?”

  “Heath has fought them before. When he saved Asherah.”

  That was news and insured they knew where this was coming from, but what were they searching for?

  Carlo switched channels for a moment. “Romano?”

  “A bit busy trying to keep my head on my shoulders, Carlo.”

  “Yeah, well join the party. The Hollows are searching for something.”

  “What?”

  “I spoke English, I’m sure.”

  “Fuck. Heath, they are searching.”

  Carlo heard a yell just before a Hollow clamped onto his shoulder, ripping and tearing flesh. He fought against crying out, his vision going blurry for a moment as the coppery scent of his blood filled the air.

  With a roar, Carlo punched the side of the Hollow’s head, slamming again and again until black blood and brain matter sprayed all around.

  “Heath says to get to Asherah. He’s already on his way there.”

  “I can’t leave my Alpha!”

  “If it’s Skuld, she’s got three wants: Silva, Asherah, or Nanshe, if she knows she’s here. Silva and Asherah if she doesn’t. We’ve got to protect them.”

  Carlo grunted, switching back to his pack channel and ignoring the throbbing in his shoulder. It would heal soon enough, though it would be faster if he shifted. But he wouldn’t risk not being able to speak right now.

  “I can do it. But
it’s going to hurt.”

  What?

  He didn’t get the clarification. Fire spread through his blood and over his shoulder, compounding the shock of the initial wound tenfold.

  “The price of healing it. You’ll feel it much more and all at once. All the pain of the energy and healing that is normally spread over time. You’re welcome, wolf.”

  All at once the pain disappeared and he was whole again. You can heal the body?

  Nanshe hesitated a moment. “My mate, and only non-fatal. I would not be able to stop you from dying.” Her voice was tired, layered with pain.

  That drained you.

  “It was worth it.”

  Carlo growled, thankful, and felt like more of an ass for turning away from his mate. He sent that feeling over their connection, knowing it wouldn’t be enough.

  “I don’t hate you for your fear. I know it intimately. But sometimes we have to do what we are terrified of the most. I cannot give you any other assurance.”

  Another Hollow attack stopped his response. The things kept coming. Ciro and Carlo streaked toward where Arturo was camped, slashing and punching as they went. He had to hand it to the Scenter; he was much more than his nose. The blue-eyed blond was stocky and compact, just over six-feet tall, and was enraged. They twirled around each other, moving in sync.

  Ciro’s talents may be wasted on just covering tracking.

  “We’re coming, Alpha.”

  “We’re in the open now. They’ve broken into the house.”

  Nanshe?

  “I’m moving, coming to you. They don’t want me.”

  How do you know?

  Silence met his question, and he had to rely on his mate. She knew more than she could share, and he wouldn’t be able to focus if she went under right now trying to tell him.

  Get to Arturo.

  “I’m already here.”

  And she was. Goddess, she was. Her white dress flared around her, her hair slicked back and into a bun at the top of her head. The red of her eyes glowed as she hovered over the ground, her arms outstretched, and her mouth open in a silent scream.

  She was magnificent.

  All around her and Arturo, the Hollows decayed. They simply turned to ash. Every time they attempted to attack, parts of them faded into nothingness. The area of her decay only went so far, and he saw the drawback of her gift instantly. She had to stay at Arturo’s side for him to be protected, and the surrounding space was about ten feet.