Chapter 17
Guardian Compound, Earth Realm
Arriving back at the compound, they found it full of Guardians. Only Drake and Sirena were absent from the war room. The moment Uri announced that Alex was his mate, the entire place went electric with excitement.
“Wow, damn, it’s true, then. Congratulations, man,” Pothos said to Uri before winking at her. Even though she’d never officially met him, he was technically another cousin, the son of Hades. “Welcome to the family, Alexandra. Though, I guess you were already a part of my family.” His sapphire eyes lit as he grinned down at her. He was Drake’s size, and when he wanted, she knew that the son of Hades could pull wings from his back. He looked so much like she imagined his father would look in this era, short black hair, piercing sapphire eyes, and chiseled jaw and body. He wore black gauges in his ears and had a studded belt over his black jeans. Tattoos darted up his neck, and others were visible below the sleeves of his T-shirt.
Vane walked in with Conn as the rest of them were offering their greetings. So many wore surprised looks. This was a big deal. He was the first mated Guardian and it had been to a fugitive Demi-Goddess hiding from exile in Earth Realm. Alex felt a little shell-shocked herself. She saw Conn officially introducing her brother Vane to the others. She wondered how they could get along so easily. Vane had always been such a menace to Conn’s computer systems.
She shook her head, knowing she’d never understand the complexities of male bonding.
Both Sacha and Bastian, the beautiful, exotic Kairos Guardians whose race was known for their teleportation abilities, moved forward. They were reserved, their movements graceful. Regal. As they welcomed her into the Guardian fold, Alex wondered if they were siblings. They looked so similar and could easily be a part of ancient Egyptian royalty with their black hair, dark eyes and tanned skin. Sacha was shorter, with her hair in a long braid, and had delicate features, whereas Bastian was tall and muscular like the other male Guardians. They were kind and soft-spoken, with a respectfulness that seemed a part of their DNA.
Dorian came up next. The Nereid actually looked more surprised than the others, or his was just lingering longer. He slapped Uri on the back. “Damn, who would have thought! I’m happy for you, man.” Dorian wore a bright orange hoody over worn jeans and a green T-shirt. She narrowed her eyes, wondering if the sweatshirt did in fact have muscles drawn on it. She looked up into his smiling face. His blue-tipped blond hair was spiked high on his head, and his aquamarine eyes were stunning. He was tall, like Uri, but a little leaner, not that the male lacked in muscle.
When Conn introduced Vane to Brianne a few feet away, Alex felt tension in the air and frowned. Alex noted Conn’s expression echoed hers. There was some crazy chemistry between her brother and the female Guardian. Had they met before? Brianne had her titian hair up in odd Princess Leia buns. The female Geraki was stunning, with pouty lips and shining amber eyes. Her race was able to transform into an extinct bird of prey, or partially transform so that she could use her powerful wings to take to the air. That explained the brown leather halter top with matching pants. She imagined Geraki didn’t like having their backs confined in any way. Brianne’s earlier whoop of excitement, when Uri announced Alex was his mate, was now subdued. The female Guardian’s entire focus was now solely on Alex’s brother.
Before she could think on it more, Drake and Sirena walked in.
Sander groused, “Why aren’t we doing this in Tetartos?”
Sander had dark almost chocolatey skin covered in tattoos, a shaved head, and hazel eyes that reflected his perpetual bad attitude. She and her brothers had learned a great deal about all of the Guardians in the last centuries. And she had to admit, the Phoenix was not her favorite.
“Because I’m in charge. Sit your ass down. All of you.” Drake’s voice could have chilled the room with its icy irritation, and Alex exuded a lot of restraint in not grinning. Everyone found seats. Uri pulled her chair close so that he could put an arm over the back of it. She took a deep breath and inhaled his wonderful scent. His warmth flowed over her and soothed her as Drake began telling the others about Erik’s horrible situation.
“Sirena believes the moment we get to Tetartos, Erik and Sam’s mind link will fully connect and he’ll be able to locate her… as well as Cyril and Elizabeth.” They would most likely only have one shot to get Sam and the others out and get their hands on Cyril and Elizabeth before the two found a new hiding spot.
Alex had lost all hope of staying clear of exile when she found out they would need to help get Sam from Cyril’s clutches. No way would she or Vane let Erik go alone. They would be together in Tetartos. She only hoped something bad wouldn’t come from leaving Earth because she still felt they were needed in the human Realm.
The whole thing left her uneasy, but she couldn’t see a way around it. Uri had said that Sirena didn’t think she would get any of his Guardian powers, but she held out hope that maybe she’d gain the one that would allow her out of the Tetartos confinement spell. She blew out a breath, because in the end it just didn’t matter if she was trapped in the other Realm. She would deal with any cosmic consequence that came her way from denying a knowing, because there was no way in hell she wouldn’t be there for Erik.
Drake explained, “We have no choice but to go in blind. Sirena and I have gone over all the alternatives, but based on Erik’s situation, we’ll have to play it as we go. Sirena thinks he’ll go wild when we get there. We’ll start at the Guardian manor in Tetartos but probably won’t have long to wait for him to link with her. It’s Sirena’s belief that Erik’s been burning through energy attempting to link to his mate in the other Realm, knowing she’s in danger. She thinks that link will solidify fast once they’re in the same Realm. Uri, Alex and Vane will follow him using their familial telepathic bond. After they track him to Cyril’s compound, Uri will give us visuals to follow.”
Everyone nodded. It would be easier if they had images of inside the compound that Sacha and Bastian could use to get in, but they didn’t. Drake explained that even if Uri got views from a guard’s mind, they still wouldn’t know how many layers the Kairos would be forced to go through, and after several layers, the metal would start to drain their energies. The two Kairos Guardians had equally hard gazes as Drake vetoed that option.
“P, Brianne and I will go up to get aerial views for everyone once we have the location. Jax will bring charges; we’ll likely need to blast our way inside. Dorian and Sander, you’ll watch whatever entrance we make.”
The other male’s groan actually made Sander, the ass, grin. What was that about?
“Suck it up, Dorian.” Drake’s hard stare made the male groan again.
“Whatever.” Dorian lounged back, arms crossed over his chest, eyes the color of aquamarines glittering with irritation, while Sander continued to smirk. Okay?
“Sirena will stay back and deal with whatever females we rescue. The rest will follow inside. I’ll send directions on the fly for the rest, since we don’t know what we’re getting into,” Drake said, not appearing overly happy with the plan.
Gregoire, Conn and Jax nodded understanding. Gregoire looked on when a clenched jaw.
After a little more talk, they got ready.
The rest happened so fast it was like a blur. She, Uri and the others, including Vane and an out-of-it Erik, touched down on a beautiful lawn, a courtyard they’d said was at Drake’s manor on Tetartos. Uri quickly procured a spelled vest and was helping her into it. It fit snugly over the black shirt and fighting pants they had picked up at her apartment before heading to the meeting. She felt the touch of Uri’s hands over the fabric, and her nipples responded instantly. The back of his big warm hand intentionally rubbed against them before securing the zipper. The courtyard was full of Guardians and her brothers, but no one seemed to notice.
Uri’s eyes held so much heat she groaned.
Sirena approached them silently and whispered, “You two will need to be careful in there. Until the bonding ceremony is complete, you’ll be hit with bouts of uncontrollable arousal. It could easily distract you.” The Guardian healer lifted an eyebrow knowingly and shook her head before turning her gaze to Erik, sympathy shining bright in her violet eyes.
Well, that explained what she’d already learned of the mating frenzy sapping her concentration.
Alex took a breath as she gazed over at her brother. He was still in his own world as he stood with his big body tense, eyes shut. Her heart clenched looking at him.
Uri pulled her into his warmth, his thumb seductively stroking the skin where the shirt and vest met the low rise at the back of her pants. It was a touch that should have felt comforting, but was anything but. It created images of licking every hot inch of his flesh, like he was a freaking treat made just for her.
Shaking herself out of a bout of sexual ADD, she looked at her brother again. His eyes snapped open; he roared, his fury shaking the ground, and was gone. She tracked and followed in his wake. They hit a shield around the facility, and even though she knew it would happen, she, Vane and Uri all groaned at the impact. She felt Uri giving visuals to the others. Erik was in lion form, growling and roaring at the shield. They appeared to be outside a mountain in the heart of some jungle she’d guess would be in South America if the continents had the same names as Earth Realm.
Her muscles instantly tensed when a knowing came over her. She found the telepathic links to the dragon through Uri and quickly spoke. Drake, we need to be in a location down in the ravine. I have an intuitive ability. I know that’s where we need to make the hole.
Drake didn’t hesitate. Jax will meet you there. She and Uri ported to the area where they needed to blow the hole. Jax was there a second later, laying the charges. She broadcast the information to Erik and Vane as she listened to Uri informing the other Guardians.
Erik was currently banging into an invisible shield surrounding the place. She didn’t see any guards, but they’d have to know something was happening. She felt Uri’s mind caress hers as she glanced to the winged Guardians in the air and had to admit it was impressive seeing Drake in his magnificent iridescent green dragon form. He was stunning. Brianne had released her wings, soaring in the winds. Pothos flew in the opposite direction, displacing the winds with his massive black wings. The whole sight was exceptional, and she felt a sense of rightness for the first time since setting foot on Tetartos.
Family. That thought expanded her heart as she readied for battle.
Blasts rang out, frightening birds from the haven of the jungle surrounding them.