by Setta Jay
“Yes,” he ground out, finding it better to give them something to take back even though he wanted them gone. “And she was speaking in mine. Our abilities will continue to blend as we bond.”
“When will this bonding be complete?” Reginleif spouted before frowning. “Will she get wings? Where are your wings?”
He chose the questions he was willing to answer. “My wings are hidden. And I don’t think she’ll get them, but I can’t be sure. Our bonding is unique.” That was an understatement. They were of two different worlds, but Sacha hadn’t gotten wings after her mating to his father, so it was a fairly logical assumption that Gefn wouldn’t get his.
The green-haired one was the quietest, watching, assessing him while Mist took a turn drilling him for answers. “You said before that your souls will be tied together. What does that mean?”
“It means that she and I will share a bond for eternity.” He wasn’t sure how much to divulge. He wanted less questions, not more. They kept stealing worried glances at his female, which would have been endearing if his cock wasn’t ruling his mind.
“Will you have to stay together at all times?” Mist frowned.
He shook his head. “No. We’ll feel the other and know the other’s location.”
The three shared a look before Gefn spoke. “I feel his emotion. And he mine. Similar to the bond you have with Hroarr, only more detailed.”
Reginleif asked, “What are the negatives of this bond?”
He answered through gritted teeth; the frenzy was already twisting in his gut. “If one of us dies, if the bond is severed, it usually leads to madness.”
*****
“Madness?” The trio of females’ mouths gaped. Gefn stilled, believing his words to be true. When her priestesses had died, it left a hole inside her, and their bond hadn’t been anywhere close to what she already shared with Pothos.
They all took a long moment to absorb that information. The three females were aware of what Gefn suffered when she’d lost her three, but she needed them to understand, to explain this to Hroarr. “The bond between Pothos and me is already stronger than anything I have ever known, and it is still growing and changing.”
They nodded while taking deep breaths.
Mist asked, “Do your Gods also have bonds with select Immortals as we have with Hroarr?”
“No. We have family connections.” He paused, apparently thinking before adding, “But the strongest bond we have is the one with our mate.”
He was creating his own place inside her, one that held immense pleasure, but also held the potential to destroy her. That fact didn’t jolt her nearly as much as the fact that she could destroy him as well.
The fear that she’d fail him as she’d failed her females nearly paralyzed her. Her cats sent her soothing emotion at the same time Pothos did. She breathed through it and refused to let that fear rule her. It was a useless emotion since she knew deep inside there was no going back. The bond was already there.
A glance at him showed the tension in his massive muscled body. She could smell his addicting scent and was forced to bite off a curse when it sent a surge of lust coursing through her body. The frenzy was a nightmare.
Once the bond is finished, the lust will calm, will it not? she gritted out. Fate had already dealt the card.
Yes. I’ll always want you, but it won’t rule us like it is now.
The trio of priestesses had gone silent. It was time they left her to ask him more about what they needed to do. In private.
Gefn commanded the trio, “Tell Hroarr that I am well. And ensure he maintains peace with Pothos’ family. He will not be pleased about Kara, but knowing ahead of time should help. We need answers from her. Now leave us and Do. Not. Return until the morrow.”
Chapter 13
Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm
Hades stepped down the dimly lit hallway beneath the manor. His nephew’s deep bellow drifted to him from the last door of the tunnel. The blond dragon was standing by the cell they’d fashioned for the Goddess Kara, while addressing Sander. The dark-skinned Phoenix nodded his assent to whatever Draken had said while folding his thick tattooed arms over a sleeveless white tee shirt. The males of this time had the worst taste in clothing. His son included. Hades preferred silk dress pants to the harsh material of jeans or the confining material of the tee shirts.
His wings twitched at the thought of being contained and clothed over. He only did so when following his nephew’s ridiculous rules in the human Realm. And only then to please his female, not the dragon. He played nice for Sacha and Sacha alone. At the moment he was agitated, but he’d promised his female that he would not interrupt his son. He agreed that Pothos needed to focus on any threats, and he begrudgingly admitted that his telepathic check-ins could cost his son an edge if the Thulians attacked. The only thing easing Hades’ nerves was knowing that Pothos could leave the Realm if he needed to.
Smoke lifted from Draken’s lips as he continued speaking to the other male. “Uri will bring Havoc here to transport her to Earth Realm for the exchange.”
Hades moved to the side of the cell to glance through the hazy blue confinement spell to the sleeping Goddess beyond. The dark-haired female lay flat on a narrow bed in the copper-lined room. The Guardians had moved her once. Only because the copper had been draining her powers too fast to allow her to regain consciousness after the injuries she’d sustained in battle with him. Now she was back in the copper room.
When Draken’s words sank in, he balked. “You must be joking.”
Smoke filtered to the ceiling, a sign of his nephew’s annoyance.
He glanced over at the dragon and demanded, “Have you attempted to teleport her normally?” Using a hellhound pup was the Guardians’ secret way to get people out of the confinement spell around Tetartos Realm. Anyone could get in, but supposedly the only ones allowed to leave were Guardians and Gods. Hades had never had reason to test his ability to take anyone out of the Realm, but surely that was a more dignified avenue.
“Why are you here, Hades?” Draken snapped.
“I came to see if she was awake.” And his Sacha had wanted to see Gregoire and his pregnant female. The growling Hippeus, half warhorse, had been trying Hades’ patience, so Sacha had recommended he check on the prisoner.
“She’s not. And I’d rather she stay that way,” the dragon growled. Which was obviously why she was back in the power-draining copper room. Draken added a second later, “It will make for an easier exchange.”
He had to agree that an unconscious Goddess would be much simpler for him to deal with, but it was sure to rile the Thulians. That thought actually brought a smile of anticipation to his lips. He only hoped Hroarr would initiate a battle this time. That would be just the thing to alleviate the tension of his son still being in the other world.
Waiting was not something he found appealing. The fact that they were on the Thulian’s time frame at all aggravated him to no end. The bastard hadn’t even waited for a response to his demands. The only real plus was getting his hands on Apollo. That was if Hroarr made good on his deal, and Hades didn’t trust any Thulian.
Hades eyed the Goddess. She was in the same icy blue dress she’d worn the day she’d attacked him. “Why did you bring her to this Realm in the first place?”
“Hades, you’re trying my patience. The last thing I was going to do was keep an otherworldly Goddess in the Human Realm.”
Hades admitted Draken had a point. The protections here were much better in Tetartos, and there were billions of mortals to consider in the other Realm. His nephew was nothing if not overcautious.
“You already transported her warriors to Earth?” he questioned.
“No. Testing how we’d get them out of here didn’t make any fucking sense,” the damned Phoenix snipped sarcastically. The annoying male had been the Goddess’ primary guard because it seemed he was immune to her energy power, and the babysitting duty hadn’t improved the male’s attitude.
>
Hades shot the irreverent male a glare. It was tempting to show him his place, but Hades had no doubt that would upset Sacha, so he abstained, barely. When he felt her amused gratitude through their connection, it made him smile.
“So the warriors were transported to Earth via a dog?” He raised his eyebrows. “You should have asked me for assistance.”
More smoke rose to the ceiling when Draken spoke. “If I was unable to get one of them through the confinement spell around this Realm, then I doubt you’d have better luck.” The dragon held up a hand when Hades went to speak. “I know you’re a fucking God. Fine. By all means, go help Uri port the rest of the warriors. He’s only able to have Havoc take one at a time.”
Hades raised a brow at his nephew. “This is how you ask me for a favor?”
The Phoenix had the nerve to snort.
Draken growled, “That was not me asking for a favor. I don’t need you to do what Uri is already doing. But if you have no intention of being useful, then get the hell out of my face.”
Uri arrived before Hades could respond. The large black pup stayed at the dark-haired male’s side, eying Draken through red eyes. Hades felt another smile tip his lips that the animal seemed to love everyone but the dragon.
Uri’s silver eyes swirled in obvious agitation as he addressed Draken. “We may need Hades after all.”
The pup bumped Hades’ side and he looked down with a raised brow. Did the beast have no care that he could destroy it with a thought? He shook his head at the adoration in the animal’s eyes, and with a sigh he patted its head. Sacha’s amusement filtered to him, letting him know his kindness had been worth it.
“What is it?” Drake bit out.
“I just got reports of massive hell beast hordes in all the cities of Tetartos.” The Aletheia Guardian’s silver eyes flashed with irritation. The main Guardian telepathic link was not being used because no one was certain if or when Pothos’ Goddess would intercept any conversations through them. That left individual links. Uri must have been too close to bother contacting the dragon that way.
He didn’t have time to muse anymore when they all felt the ground jerk beneath their feet. He checked Sacha immediately, finding her unharmed, but surprised, as all three males tensed. “What the fuck was that?” the Phoenix bit out.
Drake spoke as Sacha informed him of the same thing. “It was Alyssa and the babe.”
“Is she okay?” Uri demanded.
Draken nodded. “They’re all fine, but we have more damage to the manor.”
The dragon’s eyes shot to Sander. “Stay guarding the Goddess and tell me if she wakes.”
The Phoenix’s eyes shot with flames. “I hate this fucking babysitting shit.”
Drake was already walking away. “I don’t care. Uri, you and Alex go to Limni. I’m going to check on Alyssa before I head out.”
Hades heard his nephew telepathically contact Sacha through the link he and his mate shared. I need you in Ouranos. We have hell beasts in all cities. And take your male.
As if Hades would be anywhere else, but he smirked at the dragon’s ingenuity in not requesting his help.
He would destroy the beasts for his female as he waited for the air to signal a portal. Then he would have his hands on Apollo. Or a battle with Hroarr. Either way he would have an outlet for his agitation, and that pleased him.
Chapter 14
Fólkvangr, Falls of the Dead – Thule
Sweet fuck.
They couldn’t do this forever; it was to the point P couldn’t even look at his female without his cock aching. And the priestesses had barely been gone a minute when he started feeling her pain through their bond.
He turned and lifted Gefn into his arms. His mouth descended on hers as their bodies slid through the water. Wild gusts of wind swept over them, and he growled in frustration. The pain he’d felt from her was replaced by pure pleasure, easing some of the tension in his muscles. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and he reveled in the feel of her flush against him.
They couldn’t carry on like rabbits while so much was happening between their worlds.
When she mewled against his lips, he gave up thinking. A soft hand slipped between them, wrapping around his cock as he devoured her mouth. He lifted her ass higher, loosening her grip as he positioned her over his cock. Before he could sink into heaven, he was hit with a blast of compulsion, and suddenly he was breaking apart. They were breaking apart, teleporting until his female hit the barrier like a damned wall. He felt her panic as he moved halfway through it before locking them together and taking them back to the pool.
When they reformed, his gut twisted for a split second more until his need to get to Earth suddenly eased. He breathed out, his hold on her too tight, so he forced it to loosen a fraction.
“What was that?” He felt her concern in her breathy words, but he couldn’t answer, he was busy checking his links to his family. They were all scattered around Earth. In various Realms, but otherwise accounted for as he demanded of Drake, Is something wrong there?
Alyssa’s baby blew another hole in the manor, but they’re all okay. I’m on my way to see her now. How did you know something was happening?
He gritted his teeth. I felt it. I’m not sure how, but Gefn and I teleported until we hit the barrier to this Realm. He breathed through the disorientation and lust coming from his female. He set his forehead to hers, holding her close. His hands were shaking. He wasn’t sure if it was from feeling her anxiety at their near separation. He shook his head as he demanded, Is that everything?
There was a pause as P and his female stayed locked in their embrace. She rubbed circles on his back before tucking her head under his jaw. He knew she was shaken as she listened to the conversation.
Drake took a moment. There are hell beast hordes in all the cities of Tetartos, but we have it covered. You teleported without willing it?
Yes. He’d felt a similar compulsion once before. When he’d been in the garden with his female. It had hit him around the same time his father had pulled at his fucking soul from a damned world away. This time Hades wasn’t doing anything. His father had been silent, a fact he was grateful for.
Do you still feel compelled to get here?
He took a breath. No, but what the fuck? And then he added with conviction, I’m not leaving her here. He couldn’t.
There was another pause for the dragon. I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t like it. You’ll be vulnerable if you blood bond with her there. Drake was right. It was tradition to have someone guard your back during a blood bonding for a reason. They’d be lost in each other’s strongest memories, unconscious and vulnerable to anyone who came upon them, which was all information he hadn’t had a chance to explain to her yet.
But there wasn’t another damned choice but to do it at this point. They couldn’t stay here forever, too much was at stake. He breathed out before explaining to Drake what he’d learned about the runes of protection from his mother. It would hopefully ease his cousin’s mind about P’s safety when it came to blood bonding where they were.
The dragon paused. You’re sure that’s what they are?
I am, he growled, knowing the dragon was concerned for him. Drake wouldn’t trust a thing any Thulian said, but P had felt the truth in his female’s words. He added, The priestesses were here a few minutes ago. Gefn told them how Kara came to Earth and about my father’s connection to Agnarr. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Hroarr very soon. He paused, not liking any of it. The timing. The urgency. He shook his head and continued, And the frenzy is a constant battle now.
How constant?
Only a few minutes before it starts back up again. Neither of us can concentrate long enough to have a full conversation.
Fuck. I still don’t like it, P.
I know. Just keep my father occupied for the next few hours.
Damn it, P, the dragon growled. Tell me the minute it’s done. And fucking be careful.
I will
, he assured him before cutting off the conversation.
Gefn lifted her head to look at him. “Why is he worried? What did he mean by vulnerable? And P?”
“P is the short version of my name. Pothos is a little dated in our world.” He smiled a little before moving on. “I told you that the first step is the vows and markings. He’s worried about the second step, which is blood bonding. That’s likely the part that’ll get you out of this Realm, but it’s also a time when we’ll be unconscious together.”
“Why? What do you mean by blood bonding?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“It means we share blood.” Her nose wrinkled as he moved on to the more important part, the part he doubted she’d like any more than he did. “When that happens, we’ll be thrown into each other’s strongest memories. And we’ll be completely unconscious for however long that takes. For my brothers it was hours.”
She stopped breathing and he felt the wind chill around them. The pool cooled by degrees as he watched her. Sadly the cold didn’t ease his cock as much as he would have thought or hoped.
“Why is this necessary? It is barbaric.” He felt her hint of panic and anger mixing together. “My memories are mine.” Her tone had iced as much as the air around them.
“I am not looking forward to you seeing mine either. There’s a possibility that it won’t work the same for us. We might not share memories. We’re of two different worlds.” It was true, but he had a gut feeling it was needed. He’d always trusted his instincts, and he wouldn’t start doubting them now.
“There is no way to connect our souls without sharing blood first?” she demanded with her chin raised.
*****
Everything inside Gefn had gone icy at the thought of Pothos seeing her memories, her nightmares, her greatest failings. She would share that with no one.
“I don’t have the power to connect our souls.” His regret and frustration was as unmistakable as the truth in his words.