by Setta Jay
She moaned as her heart expanded in her chest. On a heartfelt whisper she agreed, “We fill each other’s holes.”
He threw his head back with a deep shout of laughter. She absolutely loved the sound, and when he gazed back down at her, his shoulders were still shaking. “Yes, and I’m happy to fill your holes anytime you wish it, my Goddess.”
She laughed, understanding why he’d been so amused. She nodded regally. “You have pleased your Goddess well. Your attentions will be required often.”
More laughter rang into the room as he rolled her onto her back, tangling the sheets around them as he kissed her, both still laughing. There were no words for how good it felt to be weighed down by his big body, the soft bed cradling them beautifully. She could happily stay here for all eternity. She’d only shared sleep with her cats. They’d had a bed in her suites for millennia, though often Velspar slept next to her, even when she stayed at Hroarr’s palace. With that thought came sadness and anxiety.
He gazed down at her. “Should we go and get them?”
The softness in his voice eased her. She wasn’t sure how she felt. If only she understood why they’d allowed her þrír to die. If they could have stopped Tyr, why hadn’t they? She rubbed her chest, feeling their regret, but also something else.
She whipped from beneath him with dizzying speed. “Something is wrong.”
She started for the balcony, already pulling power to open a portal.
Pothos commanded, “Wait.”
When she faced him, he was already moving through a doorway. “What is it?” she asked while whipping the doors wide.
“You’re naked,” he growled.
She looked down. She was indeed nude; her clothing was still in Fólkvangr. He stepped out of the room wearing dark leggings, boots and a black shirt that pulled over his chest.
“Lift your arms,” he commanded, and when she did, he slipped another black shirt over her head. The material was soft and light against her skin. The arms fell to her elbows and the bottom came close to her knees. He was kneeling in front of her next. “Lift a leg.”
“I can dress myself,” she argued, but was already moving her legs, too rushed to care that he’d dressed her without her thinking twice. The soft black material slid up her legs, covering everything above her knees as he tucked at the top. She was already opening a portal outside his balcony.
Thank you, she whispered into his mind as they stepped through. The shimmering doorway had opened with an ease she’d never known before, but she didn’t have time to think about it. They came through at the steps outside of Hroarr’s palace. The guards stilled; she wasn’t sure if it was her attire or the massive male at her side. His wings were hidden, but his clothing was that of another world. She infused her voice with power as they rushed the steps. “This is my maðr. You will show him the same respect you show me.”
To a guard at the top of the steps she commanded, “Inform the others of his status and presence at my side.”
“Yes, my Goddess.” The mortal left in the blink of an eye to do her bidding.
My way will be faster. Pothos spoke into her mind and suddenly she was breaking apart. The erotic agony wasn’t there this time. Only a closeness that comforted her as they reappeared in her rooms.
Mist, Hroarr’s pale priestess, and Laire were standing at the side of the massive four-poster bed in white and gold. Her massive black beasts lay atop the blankets, unmoving. When her warrior moved for his weapons at the intrusion, she ordered, “No, Laire.” Her heart was pounding in her chest, her stomach twisting into knots, but she spoke with as much authority as she could. “Laire, this is my maðr, Pothos. He is to be respected as you would me. Now tell me what is wrong with Spa and Velspar?” she demanded of Mist. The pale priestess had healing ability, all the þrír did, so why were they like this?
She felt them weakly sending her calm through their bond along with something that felt like goodbye. The emotion chilled her blood and tore into her heart. She dropped on the bed between them, her fingers frantically running through their silky fur while sending energy. It wasn’t enough; it didn’t seem to revive them at all.
Mist was at her side. The look on her face said it all as she gently whispered, “They collapsed the moment they came back through the portal. We have been trying to heal them, but they have only grown weaker.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this in Fólkvangr!” Gefn demanded.
“At first we thought it was only exhaustion, and we did not want you to worry when you could not leave that place.” She paused. “Later, we were sure you would have felt them. They may have been shielding this from you.”
Pothos was by her side, crouching before Velspar. Mist and Laire tensed, but she raised a hand. “He has healing ability.”
“They could be depleted from all the power they used.” Pothos attempted to reassure her as she felt his power sliding into Velspar. His massive hands were gentle on her beasts, and Gefn put a hand to her heart as she pushed her own ability into him while trying to think of a way to do more. Anything. She would do anything. Tears started choking her.
“Their organs aren’t working like they should,” he said softly. She felt his healing ability and a rush of his personal energies. It didn’t seem to help them. Helpless tears slid over her cheeks.
She felt Pothos’ words through the agony. I want to take them to my world, but I don’t know if moving them through a portal or teleporting with them is safe. She felt the seriousness of his thoughts even if she didn’t know the details.
“Tell me how to help them?” she choked out to him.
His eyes hardened as they tracked the tears sliding over her skin. She didn’t care that Mist and Laire were there to see them. This couldn’t be happening. Her beasts couldn’t have led her to Pothos, to the peace and joy of their bond, only to die for it. Her fingers slid over their faces; their golden eyes were so incredibly dim.
She heard him contacting Sirena. The blonde she remembered seeing in his memories, a sister to him.
Sirena, I need your help… in Thule.
Are you okay? There was worry in the female’s tone. She felt it as the concern of a sibling.
Gefn’s beasts are… not well. I think the pressure in the portal or the act of teleporting their weak bodies will be too much. And I can’t heal this.
They have to have a vet there, P. I can’t leave Alyssa right now.
Era can stay with Alyssa. The beasts are connected to my mate. I need you, he said with a depth of feeling that made her heart ache.
The female only hesitated a moment. Come get me. Era is on her way to Alyssa now.
He stood up from the animals and breathed out with a hand warming her cheek. His brilliant eyes tried to reassure her as much as his words. “I’ll be right back. Send them energy until I return.”
Chapter 21
Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm
Pothos’ heart was beating out of his fucking chest when he reformed outside the Guardian manor walls, the forest behind him. He wasn’t surprised to see an angry Drake standing next to Sirena. The healer was in a black pencil skirt and white top with red high heels, her usual retro look, with her shiny platinum hair in a ponytail. He was grateful to see her, but guilt tore at him for asking this of her. This was a harsh reminder of his new status between two worlds. Taking his sister to a place she couldn’t leave, where only he could protect her, was the worst thing possible.
His female’s worry tore at him. The fucking beasts were dying, and this was his only way to save them. He couldn’t let her lose them. The link they shared with her was strong, and he had no idea what their deaths would do to Gefn.
“P, this pisses me off.”
“Drake, leave,” the healer demanded. The tiny blonde’s violet eyes flashed. Her elven features were hard when she looked at Drake. She’d been a sister to them before they had become Guardians.
The dragon didn’t move though P did hear him grunt when Sirena sent power to stop some organ
from working. He was too anxious to get back to Thule to care what she’d done to make her point. His cousin snarled, “Sirena, you’re too fucking stubborn.” Smoke was already filtering into the air as he turned back to P. “You better be able to get her back. And watch her damn ass every fucking second she’s there.”
Sirena glared up at Drake, violet eyes flashing with another wave of power. “Drake, I don’t have to tell you how much you’re pissing me off. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And making Pothos feel guilty is a shit move and you know it.” She poked Drake in the chest with a sharp red fingernail before adding, “Now go watch over your mate and my patient.”
P nodded at Drake as his gut twisted. I’ll guard her with my life and have her back soon.
You’d better. Because I can’t retrieve her from another fucking world, his cousin snapped.
Sirena grabbed P’s arm. “Let’s go.”
P breathed out before warning her, “It’s a longer ride.” And then they were porting away.
The trip felt like it took a lifetime, but when they finally reformed in the massive bedroom, it was to the sight of Gefn in his tee shirt, wiping the tears from her beautiful cheeks. He was beside her as she took a shuddering breath, still caressing the fur of both black beasts.
His female brokenly whispered, “Thank you for coming, Sirena.”
His sister wasted no time; she was beside the bed in a split second. “Let me see,” Sirena said softly. Her Siren’s voice sent a hint of calming to them all, something he needed because the sight of his female’s tears was enough to bring him to his fucking knees.
He had enough thought to warn Laire and Mist, “No one goes near my sister while she tries to heal them. You will both wait at the door.” When his gaze landed on the two, they moved across the room, wearing matching worried looks.
The big blond warrior’s muscles were tense as he vowed, “She is safe here.” And P felt the male’s sincerity.
P’s heart nearly tore from his chest at his female’s tear-filled words, “Can you help them?”
Sirena looked up with her hands running over Velspar, power flowing into the beast as she gently answered, “I will do everything I can.”
The tension and worry in the ornate room was enough to choke him. And then the cat weakly purred, and he was hit with a blast of sharp relief that allowed him to finally take a damned breath.
“That’s it, pretty girl.” Sirena’s powerful voice swept through the room like a soft blanket. “Let me see your sister and I’ll be back.” A few minutes later they heard the same weak noise from Spa, and his muscles relaxed a fraction more.
Back and forth Sirena did this until P felt power outside the door. He ported there with barely a thought, his wings outstretched as the heavy wood slammed open. His body was a shield between the wildly powerful Hroarr and his sister Guardian.
Hroarr growled low before demanding, “What is this power I feel?”
Mist and Laire turned to their God as Gefn slid to his side.
P’s Goddess answered, “Hroarr, meet my maðr, Pothos. His sister Sirena has come to heal Spa and Velspar.” The tears had dried when the cats started breathing easier, but he could still feel her upset.
The God narrowed his eyes at P. “I was informed he was here, but no one spoke of a female… How did she get inside my palace, sister?”
Before P could answer, the room chilled and his female sent power into her words. “She is of Pothos’ family, my family now, and as such she can be anywhere she pleases while saving the life of the Guardians of Thule.”
Hroarr narrowed his eyes. “My þrír were here attending to them. I was told they were exhausted.”
The pale female in question shook her head. “They have been getting worse, not better. We have barely been keeping them alive, hoping Gefn would come home and somehow help them, Hroarr.”
The room shook with the God’s next words. “Where are Reginleif and Geiravor? They should be here helping.” The God’s ruthless power leached into the room, licking at the walls, and P saw the male’s eyes narrow and his nostrils flare as he attempted to see what was going on with the cats. P blocked his view. Hroarr wouldn’t even look at Sirena if P had any say in the matter. She was under his protection.
Mist tensed as she answered the God, drawing his attention by answering his question as to where her sisters had gone. “They went to get healing waters from Fólkvangr and to see if Gefn was finally able to return.”
“Why was I not informed of this?” The male’s voice rocked the ground as he faced the tiny blonde. She didn’t cringe back as P had expected in the face of the God’s wrath.
The sound of boot steps down the hall outside the room interrupted the standoff. “What is it?” Hroarr demanded.
A warrior stepped forward. “A rider from the Norðri Clan, þjóðann minn.” P mentally noted that the words my ruler would never pass through his lips when addressing Hroarr.
There was no mistaking the urgency in the warrior’s stance when he added, “They need your presence.”
The God bit off several curses before turning his attention to Pothos. “Do what you need to heal them and return your female home immediately.” The God’s emerald gaze shot to Gefn. “I will see you both upon my return.” It was a promise and a mild threat, and then the God was gone. It was as if he’d teleported, but P knew it was sheer speed that left him barely a blur.
P didn’t have time to think about the God’s demands. He retracted his wings, happy that his tee magically returned in place. When he saw Sirena’s face, he was instantly alert. “What is it?”
She swallowed and shook her head before schooling her features into calm. “I just need to get some energy.”
P was at her side, sending her personal energies, which made her smile. “I’ll be fine until I can get them from home,” she assured him.
Velspar moved weakly to set her massive head on Sirena’s lap. It took up the entire space and diverted his sister’s attention. She smiled before gently petting the creature.
She did look tired. When was the last time you refueled? he demanded.
Don’t start, she mentally gritted out. His sister was known for working beyond the point where she needed to replenish her strength.
He shook his head before asking, “Are they completely healed?” Spa was inching closer to his sister as well.
She smiled at the beasts before chiding them softly, “Do not overdo.”
She looked up at Gefn and P seriously. “Their organs were so depleted of energy they were almost completely shut down. I repaired the damage and gave them a boost of my power, but they still need a great deal more strength.” His sister eyed him seriously before sending telepathically, Only so much energy seems to get to them when Gefn sends it. Maybe if you create a direct bond with them, the dual points will fuel them faster. I’m worried that their bodies are feeding on themselves. And I can only give so much after all I’ve used checking on Alyssa. If their organs start shutting down again, we’ll be in the same situation. She paused. I need to go refuel now in case you need me again.
He nodded. I need to share blood with them now? P asked. His female sent a blast of appreciation and… love to him. First her tears and now this. She was slaying him. Drinking beast blood sounded disgusting, but he would do anything to never see his female’s tears again. And, fuck, if Uri could bond like this to a hellhound pup, P could bond with the two cats who’d paved the way for his and Gefn’s mating.
Sirena responded, You should have an hour, and sharing it through two cuts should be enough if you add some power to the exchange. He wasn’t sure how the others of this world would react to an otherworldly male bonding with their sacred beasts. He guessed Sirena shared the same concern or she would have spoken out loud.
“Thank you,” Gefn said with feeling before she produced a blue spelled dagger from the air. With a sharp slice of the blade against the flesh of her palm, she vowed, “I owe you a debt. Anything in my p
ower is yours, Sirena.” P felt the magic of the powerful oath settle in the room, settle into his soul. And then his female leaned in and hugged his sister tightly.
Sirena smiled softly. “Welcome to the family, Gefn. When the beasts are feeling better, you need to meet the rest of us.”
Gefn nodded. “I look forward to it.”
“I’ll be right back,” he told her before porting his sister back to Tetartos.
When they reformed, he hugged her hard. “Thank you.”
His sister hugged him back, laughing. “I can’t breathe, P. And I don’t think you’ve ever hugged me.”
He gripped her shoulder to pull her back and smiled down at her. “Did I crush you?”
“Yes. Now get back to the cats and your female.”
He breathed out. “I owe you.” He shook his head. “You know I’m not great with words, but I’m lucky to have you.”
She growled a little. “Go away. You’re going to make me weepy. And I need to go get energy.”
His smile widened. “All this time and I never knew that the way to get you to rest was to tell you how much I love and appreciate you. This kind of valuable information is going to make Drake forget he’s furious with me.”
Her melodic laughter filled the air, making him smile. Shaking her head, she warned, “Don’t make me hurt you. Now go.” And then she was gone, teleporting away.
He sent to Drake, Sirena is home and on her way to get energy. I need to go back to Thule. I didn’t have a choice in asking for Sirena’s help. That doesn’t make it better.
Drake growled. I know. I don’t have to like it, but I get it. Watch your ass.
Chapter 22
Hroarr’s Palace, Thule
The second Pothos reformed after dropping off Sirena, he noted with a glance that Laire and Mist were already gone. Before him stood a beautifully determined Goddess somehow looking regal in his boxer briefs and tee shirt.
“I will do anything to save them, Pothos. I do not care what others of Thule think. Will you do as your sister said? Will you bond with them?”