by Setta Jay
His eyes flashed, focusing on her lips. He seemed mesmerized by them.
“Beautiful,” he murmured and claimed them with his. The bed was so soft beneath her back that she felt as if she were in the clouds. She loved to fly high and sift the clouds through her fingers. She imagined Vane with wings and grinned wider at the image. She wished he could fly with her, but that was impossible unless she carried him.
No, he could never have wings. That was something Apollo had attempted in his twisted experiments so many long centuries ago. Splicing DNA between Geraki and Ailouros races had created creatures that were vicious, dangerous. Griffins were never able to retake human form after they were mutated. They were too unstable to control, so the God stopped trying to combine the animals within the Immortal races. The bastard destroyed them when his experiments failed.
She shook off the depressing thoughts. It was not the time. She and Vane may never be mated, but she could fantasize, and she had, for nearly a hundred years, as they played their games. So long that she couldn’t believe that neither seemed tired of the game yet.
He flipped her onto her stomach and settled against her. “What else do I do in your dreams?” His purred words made goose bumps rise over her skin. He’d asked her that same question over and over, and then given her every hot sexy inch of his beautiful cock every time.
“Whatever you want to,” she said with a smile into the bedding. She felt him tense, not expecting her to give him free rein over her. She chuckled, feeling light and carefree.
“Anything?”
“Yes.” She moaned as he flipped her hair to one side and started kissing her neck.
Before she knew what he was thinking, she was flipped and straddling his hips. His eyes were full of something. Mischief? He nipped at her lip, and then kissed away the sting.
“Then show me your wings.”
“What?” The word choked out. She was shocked that he wasn’t making love to her again or doing something hot and dominant like she loved.
“I want to touch your wings. Change for me.” His voice sounded rough.
“You don’t want to have sex?” She frowned at him. She’d never had a lover stroke her wings. They were strong, big and very sensitive. She wondered how it would feel having his hands on them.
“I’m going to take you again, Brianne. Don’t ever doubt that. I want to see your wings first. I want to touch them, maybe even stroke them while I fuck you from behind.” He purred.
Her breath rocked out. She loved his dirty mouth. Loved the images he painted and just how wet they made her.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, kitty.” She smiled at him.
“Gladly. Now change.”
She bristled at his demand, but her beast was itching to be free. Dying to show herself to the male that had always made her flutter.
She felt the transformation in her muscle and bone, and moaned at the change. Her wings broke free. It felt so damn good when she changed. Her talons wrapped over his shoulders, gently; she knew her features and body changed and grew more angular. Small fangs broke from her gums. It wasn’t a big change, but his breath rushed out, and his eyes heated. Her beast thrilled at the way he responded.
His hands went from her ass to her jaw, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. She leaned into the touch, and her eyes lowered, it felt so good. He bent in and kissed her, his tongue slid over her fangs, and she jolted. She’d never kissed anyone while transformed; it was different, hot. She nipped his lip and grinned at him. He set her down. “Turn,” he demanded and then flipped her around and started petting the soft feathers.
She grinned at his impatience, and then nearly purred at how incredible it felt. Her back arched as jolts of pleasure ran through her wings and over her body.
“Oh, my little lark, the things I’m going to do to you while I stroke these. Mmm, so damn gorgeous. The browns and reds are beautiful with your red hair.”
She was thrilled with how much he enjoyed her other form, but she felt the rush she always got from transforming. She needed to fly.
She was excited, aroused, but more, it was so much more.
She whipped around, catching him off guard and making him growl. “I wasn’t done.”
“Your turn.” She wanted to pet her kitty. She felt the need to play, fly while he ran below her.
He raised an eyebrow and then smirked. “I have ways to work off all that adrenaline.”
“I know you do. Now change,” she demanded.
He winked at her before transforming into his big lion form. She retracted her talons and ran her fingers through his snow white fur. He was so soft. She wanted to rub her body all over him. He was hers. At least here, in her dreams, where she allowed that kind of closeness. It felt like the dream was lasting years. They’d made love over and over, slept within sleep, and now they were sharing their beasts. It was something more than she’d dared imagine, something she would hold close. These dreams were ones she’d conjure over and over again. It was just too perfect.
She felt uneasiness just under the surface, but quickly pushed it aside. This was her time to do whatever she wanted, and now she wanted to fly.
Chapter 16
Kane’s Compound, Tetartos Realm
“The Guardians have a price on my head,” Cynthia said inside Elizabeth’s mind. Kane made sure to share the mental connection when she made contact with the Earth Mageia, just as Cyril had always done. He wanted to know why it had been over a week with no report on her progress in getting him more Mageia.
“I think I’ve found a female with something unique. The ones in the covens are too protected, but I’ve found one on the outside. The problem is that she’s protected herself, and I haven’t been able to get to her. Plus, the other covens are searching for me. The bastards are playing the role of the Guardians’ pets.”
“How long?” He didn’t have the patience to listen to her excuses. She was a bitch that sold out her own to gain her a little youth serum. He didn’t give a shit about her problems.
“It’ll be a week and a half before we’re able to get to her.”
“Do it.” He was not pleased, but it wasn’t as if they had a working serum, yet. It may take that or longer for Ian and Jayr to figure out what Cyril had taken to the grave.
“I’ll need another vial. It’s much more dangerous now. The price should reflect that.” Her cold voice came through the link and made his skin itch. She and Elizabeth were fucking made for each other.
He shook his head in irritation, not that Cynthia could see it, but Elizabeth could. “No. Get the job done, or I’ll get someone else.” He was bluffing. If finding another contact had been an easy option, he would have had Elizabeth do it before now.
“A week and a half,” she responded.
“Do it,” he demanded and watched Elizabeth smirk at the other female’s task.
“Take her back to her cell,” he instructed Angus and walked away, leaving his second to deal with the bitch. He needed to get reports from Ian on the mating serum so Jayr at the hidden facility could look them over.
Chapter 17
Guardian Beach House, Tetartos Realm
Rain was still asleep an hour later. She hadn’t even woken up when he’d wrapped her back in the blanket. She turned into his chest as he started carrying her out of the cavern. Shit, what did he do with that? His stomach twisted. She was so small and vulnerable, and he would keep her safe. She was his now, and his beast loved it.
She made noises and moved around, snuggling her small body tighter to him. His dick hurt like a bitch, but as much as claiming her scared the shit out of him, he felt oddly content having her in his arms. He moved them out of the tunnel, back into the bedroom, and was hit with the scent of the two of them in the air. The towel he’d used to clean her up was still on the floor. He took a deep breath as he laid her on the bed. She rolled to her side, and he forced his gaze away from her to throw on his clothes. Within seconds he had her back in his arms and
out the door. He wondered if she always slept so soundly. He picked up the bag Sirena left them before walking out onto the warm sand and porting them away.
She let out a throaty moan when they reformed. The same blending sensation hit like a blast, slamming his dick into his zipper. That sexy sound and his own intense reaction told him just how screwed he was. It was going to be torture getting her into the house and not taking her when they got there. She was sore, and as much as he hoped the springs miraculously healed her, that probably wasn’t the case. He needed to rub that cream on her sweet abused pussy, but that thought only made him want her more.
Her ass wiggled in his arms, and he looked down into her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Her voice came out throaty and scratchy from sleep.
“I ported us to the Guardian beach house.”
“Why? How long was I out?” He smelled how wet she’d gotten from teleporting. He stifled a groan and bounded up the steps and through the door.
He picked the first room down the hall just past the kitchen and living room area. They were all big and comfortable, and if she didn’t like it, she could pick another one. He just needed to get her out of his arms before he pinned her to the nearest wall or bent her over so he could see her sweet ass in the air. Fuck.
He nearly choked out the words to answer her questions. “There are more conveniences here. You were out for over an hour.”
She licked her lips, and he was sure she was doing it to torture him. Porting with her was a fucking problem. They weren’t leaving the beach house anytime soon.
“I haven’t been sleeping much.”
Her words hit him hard. There wasn’t any accusation in them. He figured she was still too drowsy for that. All he knew was she sounded sexy as hell, and he was an asshole. She hadn’t been sleeping because of him. He set her and the bag on the bed and stepped back. He couldn’t believe the strength of the mating frenzy.
He stood near the door, trying to get his shit together before he slid off his jeans and climbed on her like a fucking bastard. “Sirena said she put some cream in the bag to ease the soreness.” If things were different, he would spread her wide and apply it himself. He knew his limitations, and touching her pussy when he was that far gone would go from soothing her to pushing his fingers, then his cock deep inside her within seconds.
She sat up on the bed and started rummaging through the bag. She kept the blanket at her breasts. “There are clothes.” She sounded relieved.
He’d rather she stayed naked, but they still had to talk. He sure as hell wasn’t looking forward to it, but he’d said they would.
“Sirena said Alyssa packed you a bag when I took you.”
He saw her lips tilt into a small smile. He knew it wasn’t for him, more likely for her friend’s thoughtfulness. He stared at the small dimple that appeared on her cheek. He wanted to trace it with his tongue. Shit.
“I’ll be on the patio,” he said, turning to leave. He needed to get somewhere her scent didn’t linger. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as before, but he wanted her. Worse after smelling her juices flow after porting her there. Her small body was readying for his possession, and he was dying to be back inside her tight little pussy. He ran his hands through his hair and walked into the kitchen. He hoped she used the cream.
He went straight to the fridge, which was always stocked with beer. He’d need to get some food for her. Immortals fed off the world’s energies, but she wasn’t Immortal, yet. Conn, can you have someone drop food off at the beach house? I’m not sure what Rain likes to eat, so variety would be good.
No problem. I’ll drop it off inside the back door in a few.
Thanks, man.
He pulled out a bottle and twisted off the cap. He stood inside the fridge door, feeling the cool air over his heated skin, and took a few long pulls. He grabbed another and considered what she might want to drink. A smile tilted his lips as he remembered her comparing the taste of his kiss to her favorite sweet wine. He bumped his head into the freezer door, to clear his mind of more heated thoughts. Wine it was. He knew the one his sisters preferred and grabbed a bottle.
Wine, corkscrew and a glass in one hand, his beer in the other, he headed to the big patio. He took another long drink of his beer after opening the wine bottle and pouring her a glass.
He sat with his feet up on another chair and looked out to the surf. It was calling to him. It always did. He wasn’t sure what to do now that he’d claimed her. He was off patrol, probably until he completed the mating ceremony, but they were inundated with beasts and fucking possessed. He frowned, not thrilled at leaving his brothers to do all the work.
How long could he hold out for Sirena to come up with something to prevent Rain from seeing his blood memories? No one so innocent should see that.
He heard and felt when she came out onto the patio. He got up from his chair as she sat next to him and stared at the wine. She smelled of shampoo and coconut. Her wet hair looked sexy as it fell around her face. She was in a short tan skirt and purple tank top that hugged her beautiful breasts.
He cleared his throat. “I poured you a glass.” Was she remembering comparing him to the wine? He hoped not. “There are plenty of other things to drink. Are you hungry?”
She shook her head as if in a daze. “What’s going on? Now you’re concerned? I really don’t get how you can hate me so much and then flip so fast to being sweet and acting like you give a shit about me.” She didn’t shout, just stared at him, a little wrinkle over her nose.
Chapter 18
Guardian Beach House, Tetartos Realm
Rain watched Dorian, waiting. He was gorgeous sitting in the partial shade, looking out to the beautiful beach. She wondered where exactly they were, but in the end it didn’t matter.
He was in the same clothes he’d worn when he’d barged into the treatment room at Paradeisos. His large body lounged back in the chair. A bottle of beer dangled in one hand. He gazed off for a moment, letting her really study him. His hair was wild and looked wet as it stuck out in every direction. She stared, remembering just how soft those strands were. His entire appearance was deceptive. She wanted to believe that things would go smoothly now that he’d claimed her, but that was a child’s dream, nowhere near realistic. Things were likely to change at any moment. She sat waiting for an answer to her question. She needed to understand what was going on in his mind. Figure out what he’d do next, and be prepared.
“I never fully realized how much it affected you. I was too focused on not allowing the mating to happen; I never took into consideration that you would suffer. I’ve always thought the Immortal suffered the brunt of the frenzy.”
“Why couldn’t it happen?” She knew some, what Sirena had told her, but she needed to know from him.
“There are things you don’t know about me.”
She debated whether to tell him she knew some of it already, but he floundered for long moments, so she prodded him along. “Sirena explained some.”
His head turned to her, eyes flashing darkly. “I should have guessed she would.”
“Considering you were hiding, someone had to tell me what was going on. She tried to explain away your desertion. I appreciated her attempt at making the rejection more about what you’d been through and not so much a complete denial of having me as a mate,” she mused wryly.
She raised an eyebrow, daring him to deny he’d been an ass.
He let out a self-deprecating laugh and took another drink. “If you know, then you understand that I couldn’t keep an Immortal alive. How do I, out of all the others, get a mate? As my mate, your big gift is a target on your back.”
“Bullshit. I was already a target because Alyssa and I are close.”
“Rational or not, nymph, that was a huge part of my staying away.” His eyes pierced her, and they looked ancient in that moment. He dressed like a young male with his bright tee shirts and blue-tipped hair. It was so easy to forget just how old he was.
“Please don’t treat me like an idiot. That might have been part of it, but that’s not all.”
He eyed her and nodded. “There were so many reasons I’d come up with, and that was just one of the big ones. Would you want to take something so rare and precious when you were the reason your friend was never going to have that? Because of your bad judgment? Drake said that fighting in the rings wasn’t a good idea, that getting too close to the Immortals wasn’t a good plan, but I didn’t listen, Cahal died and never gets a mate. But I do? I’m the lucky one? Over my brothers who deserve it so much more?” He frowned and shook his head. He looked back out to the sea and took another long drink of his beer, finishing it and setting it on the table in front of them.
She sat pondering that. She could understand the guilt. He was a Guardian meant to protect, and he would see his friend’s death as his fault. Even if it wasn’t. It didn’t make what he’d done to her any better, but at least she understood where his mind was. It was a lot like Sirena had said. Guilt, fear… Would she have felt the same if she’d gotten Alyssa killed? Maybe. “Would your friend have wanted you to suffer? You didn’t kill him, Dorian.”
He looked at her again. His eyes hard. “I didn’t save him either. He was there because of me. He was killed because of my shitty taste in females. I knew she was a bitch. That she wasn’t a good female, but I arrogantly assumed I could handle anything that came. I never imagined she would work with Cyril. I should have, she was that twisted.” His voice rose with each word. He honestly felt that he caused his friend’s death.
She shook her head, irritated. It was obvious that he wasn’t loosening the hold on all that guilt. Did that mean he was going to run again? Not knowing what was coming was frustrating. “Wow, you’re right. As a God among men, you should have known what was going to happen. It really is your fault that he died because some sick bitch got greedy. I’m sure your friend would love how you’ve honored his memory.”