Chapter 22
Guardian Manor, Tetartos Realm
Alex was exhausted and amped up, all at the same time. They’d gotten Sam out, and Erik was safe. She felt mostly just relieved as they stood in the healer’s office.
“Give me your arm,” Sirena demanded of Uri, and he shook his head as he presented his vein. “We were going to need to do this anyway to have on record for the mating,” the healer pointed out as she took the blood sample. She’d already taken one from Alex.
Sirena had already seen to some of Uri’s internal damage wrought by the explosion, as well as Erik’s burnt flesh, and even looked at the almost healed cut to Alex’s side. Uri had irrationally insisted Sirena look at it even after Alex told him it was fine. He’d scowled at her, arms crossed, until she let them see.
Alex had proceeded to raise her eyebrows when Sirena deemed it was, in fact, fine. Just as she’d already told him. Vane, Jax and Gregoire were also crowded into the room with the healer, awaiting instruction.
Sirena had been divvying up duties to everyone within hearing distance ever since they’d gotten to the large exam room. The space was fairly sparse, as if Sirena didn’t spend much time in her Tetartos office. Just beautiful plastered walls and a desk to one side. There were a couple of cots, one which housed an unconscious Erik; then to the other side were floor-to-ceiling cabinets. She did notice a sink and almost jumped up and down at the thought of indoor plumbing. Alex had all these visions of a primitive Tetartos, so seeing modernization thrilled her beyond belief.
Erik’s brows furrowed even in sleep. She and Vane were both sending their brother energy as Sirena instructed the nurses coming in and out. Alex heard the healer directing her staff to monitor and see to the comfort of the victims holed up in the guest rooms. It made Alex like the female Guardian that much more.
Directing her attention back to their group, Sirena started with the guys. “Vane, I want you, Gregoire and Jax to refuel Erik again.”
The males nodded.
Sirena absently scratched behind Havoc’s ear, the hound having parked himself next to Sirena the moment they’d arrived.
When one healer took a look at the beast and shrieked, Jax had gone out and informed the staff that the hellhound was in fact Uri’s and not to be harmed. She wasn’t sure how that had gone over, but no one had come to see Sirena since.
Apparently Uri had saved the beast’s life, which only added another reason for her to care about her mate.
When Alex started to volunteer to stay and continue helping replenish Erik’s energy, Sirena shook her head. Alex hadn’t even gotten the words out before being vetoed. Sirena gave her a wan smile. “I know you want to help your brother, but I really need you and Uri to continue bonding and get refueled. The more you’re together and allow your minds and bodies to link, the better.”
Vane groaned and huffed, making Sirena shake her head before she continued, “Those females need what you can do for them once Uri is replenished. First, I need you to get their memories of what happened so that I can figure out exactly what Cyril did. I’m also hoping you can do something to dull the edges of their trauma. I hate for them to suffer if we can do something to help them.”
Alex wasn’t sure exactly what that entailed.
At Alex’s confused look, Uri explained, “I’m able to alter mortals’ minds and memories, take the memories, or just blur the lines of the trauma so they’d know what happened, but it wouldn’t feel as fresh. I can add some positive compulsions while I’m in there.” She could hear the exhaustion he felt through his quiet words. She needed to get him refueled.
Sirena moved on. “My hope is that once you have completed the mating ceremony, your added power should allow you to work on Immortal minds as well.” Sirena paused, only to add solemnly, “I believe Erik might need that skill.”
Alex knew her brother was going to be in bad shape, knowing what happened to Sam. If there was even a chance they could help Erik, she would do it.
“For now, I think it’s best to keep Erik unconscious. Maybe for a couple of days to allow him to recover and delay the frenzy he’ll feel when he awakens,” Sirena added, shaking her head.
The sadness Alex saw in Sirena’s gaze echoed in her own. Sam and Erik had a difficult road ahead, and it broke her heart.
“I knocked Sam out with a spell, but they never last long and are a pain to do. I didn’t want to give her more drugs, not knowing what Cyril had been giving her. I got some blood samples afterward and am waiting on the results. You have about two hours before she’s conscious.”
Sirena was thorough.
Alex felt the delicious heat coming off her depleted mate, who stubbornly stood instead of sitting in a chair. She shook her head as she looked at the proud warrior that was hers. Her stomach tightened just at the sight of him, still covered in blood and grime, his muscles strong and large even in repose.
Alex looked away. She just might jump him in this very room. She had to get them out of there. Her voice came out a little croaked as she asked Vane, “Are you sure you’ve got Erik covered? I can help when—”
Gregoire was the one to cut her off in his low deep rumble. “Go with your mate. We will take care of Erik.” Something about the comforting assurance in the broody male’s eyes calmed her. He hadn’t spoken much to her, but it seemed he wasn’t the vocal kind.
Vane nodded his agreement. “We’ve got it covered, Alex. Jax owes my ass for taking out a fire elemental Mageia earlier, and once Erik’s refueled and comfortable, I’m on data duty with Conn. I’ll be checking on him, even though the doc says he’ll be out.”
That Vane had jumped headlong into working with the Guardians was a good surprise, although it had her feeling slightly bereft. His eyes held an anticipation that felt odd when they’d just left everything behind. She guessed she should be grateful. It would make the change easier on him now that their old lives were officially over.
It was like Gregoire read her mind as he said, “You have nothing to worry about. I’ve already told Vane that Erik will take my suite. I never sleep here. It’s at the end of the hall from Uri and your suite.”
Before she could think, Jax spoke. “P doesn’t use his suite either, so Vane’s going to be in that one; it’s next to Erik’s new digs. We’ve got the staff getting everything ready.” His wink was pure lasciviousness, which earned a growl from Uri. Jax barked with laughter.
Gregoire shook his head with a tilt of his lips as Uri squeezed her hand, bringing her attention to his beautiful and possessive face. His warmth wrapped around and through her. Alex didn’t know what hit her harder, the gratitude that they would provide what sounded like a permanent home for her brothers, or the fact that they said she automatically got half of Uri’s suite. She shook her head. Everything had happened so fast, logistics of their mating hadn’t even made it into her brain, except in fleeting moments.
“Everything will be fine, little one. Go, take care of your mate,” Gregoire said in his deep, soothing voice. There was a flicker of compassion in his gaze, mixed with those shadows she kept seeing in the depths.
“Okay, if you need us, call. We’ll get refueled, then work with the females.” She tugged on Uri to get him moving.
“Go ahead and leave Havoc with me. If he’s not fine here, I’ll drop him at your suite,” Sirena said as she cooed a little at the animal again.
It was a really odd feeling when Uri communicated emotions and pictures through his link to the animal, instructing the pup to obey Sirena. It was a very different kind of link than what they shared. Simplistic. His skills with the mind were truly impressive, and she enjoyed feeling his powers slowly work their way into her. That was the only way she could explain the sensations in her body. Every time Uri linked with the other Guardians or Havoc, she felt it, and the links were becoming stronger inside her own mind. She’d never been particularly competent with telepathic skills. She could link with her brothers and talk like she had with Uri, because he’d been so close, but that was the extent. Until now.
She tucked into his warmth when they slipped into the hallway.
It was awe inspiring to believe that fate had given her a mate whose powers so completely complemented her own. That Sirena thought she would enhance his abilities made her stomach flutter.
Sirena had high hopes for them, and she seemed to want them to complete the bond soon. Alex had to agree. The healer was fierce but compassionate. She knew the female’s motives were for the better of the races and she respected that.
She wished she knew more about the ceremony. About matings in general. She felt out of sorts and nervous. She understood that they’d have to blood-bond and had to admit that taking blood was never at the top of her to-do list, but she’d manage. She hoped that her powers would really meld and she’d be able to control them as Sirena and Uri thought. She’d been a failure with her abilities for so long her gut clenched that she’d fail with the way they combined. What if she ended up being the only mate that didn’t gain more control of her abilities?
“We have a lot to discuss. After. Right now I need energy and to be deep inside you,” Uri growled. He sent vibrations deep into the bond that somehow made her needy entrance pulse and her knees start to buckle.