Ecstasy Claimed (The Guardians Of The Realms Series) Read online

  Son of a bitch. Everyone, but Uri and Alex, to Gregoire. Drake demanded.

  Drake continued in the link, Uri, see if Cyril is still with Delia. Maybe she can distract him, keep him off guard. Gregoire paced the balcony of the manor’s media room. His jaw was as tight as his fists. His vision went hazy red knowing they touched her. The bastards were trying to take his mate. He would mutilate those motherfuckers. He tried to breathe through the panic as her link continued to move slowly. It was coming over the sea separating the continents.

  We’re going to Delia now. Alex said to wait one more minute before going to her. Uri’s voice was livid. Fuck that. He wouldn’t wait a second. He didn’t give a shit about Alex’s knowings. Everything in him screamed to go to her.

  Drake and the others started porting onto the balcony behind him. Vane and Erik were with them. “We’ll get her,” Drake said, and his voice was dangerously low.

  He felt when her movements stopped; they had to be rematerializing. Drake put a hand on his arm, and he tried to shake it off. Drake was a strong fucker and so were his other brothers. P took one side, and Drake the other. He fought their hold, knowing they were trying to delay as Alex instructed. He didn’t care if he did damage as he fought them. “One fucking minute. Alex would not risk your mate. What if that one minute means her life?” Drake’s green dragon eyes were dead serious, smoke billowing from his lips. His other brothers were right at his back as he waited, his jaw clenched tight, and his muscles felt like they would tear from his body.

  It felt more like an hour when he heard her voice. Gregoire? Her voice was soft in his head. I feel like I had one too many shots. She was mentally sending him the images from around her. He saw through her blurry eyes the sight of a tree with a distinctive knot. Rocks and mountains in the distance. He sent the images to the others through the Guardian link.

  Then he was gone.

  *****

  Alyssa kept still as they carried her into the mountain. She felt out of it. It was the drugs they’d injected her with. She was just lucky it didn’t knock her out. She must have gotten the needle out in time, or her new powers were combatting it. Thankfully, Cyril’s male hadn’t seemed to realize that she was awake. Unlike her poor friend. She’d had to keep her eyes a mere slit when getting their surroundings. Her neck was starting to ache from being tilted back.

  The Aletheia holding her spoke as they carried them down a tunnel. “I don’t like having the Hippeus here, but Cyril insisted. This could end badly. Nothing has been said that she means anything to the Guardian, but she is Adras’ daughter. They will search harder for her than the others, and the fucking drugs were only to knock them out. I can’t even get a hold of Cyril now, and he said to notify him immediately when we had them. Fuck, all we can do is put them in cells until he comes. I don’t like it.”

  “Do you think he perfected the formula? Is he closing us out? I’ve heard rumors that he took one of the females. No one knows where. Now he wants Mageias with special abilities?” The Kairos whispered the words. Dissention in the ranks?

  I’m here. Explain. Gregoire growled in her ear.

  She thought she heard chatter in the Guardian link and lifted a shield to it. All that mattered was the link she shared with her mate, and she didn’t want to get distracted.

  The Kairos grabbed Rain. I had no choice but to play unconscious or chance losing her to them. She relayed the conversation she’d heard to Gregoire. Special abilities? What did that mean?

  I’ll fucking kill them. Stay with me and tell me everything you see as we get the fuck in there.

  She heard steps, and another guard came up to them.

  “You might be right. I’m going to have a look at some things in the lab. Take her and put them in the cells,” the Aletheia said to the male that walked up. She was shifted into much thicker arms, and it was really hard to lay limp and not cringe at the touch of yet another male.

  Keep still, and don’t do anything until I get there. They don’t know we’re here yet. It was hard to hear the words through the growling. She sucked in all the energy that she could, but the walls and ceilings were coated in metal, so she only got a trickle from the ground. She felt the drugs slowly leaving her body.

  How many? Gregoire demanded.

  The Aletheia just left. One holding each of us. We’ve gone through two doors with key pads. I couldn’t see the numbers without getting caught.

  I’m coming.

  As the drugs wore off, she found it harder to play dead. It was difficult not to move her arms and legs… her neck. She wished they would talk more. But it seemed that the new guy and the Kairos were not as friendly. She saw metal bars sliding open. Shit.

  Alarms started a low thrumming in the tunnel, and the male holding her tensed. “Damn it. We knew this was a mistake.” She was dropped to the ground and heard a similar thump as Rain hit the floor next to her. She opened her eyes and assessed where they were. Alyssa opened her arms and used the air currents to slam both males into the cell they had not closed yet. She didn’t want to get locked in now that the game was up and alarms were sounding.

  The weak air currents in the tunnels didn’t stop them for long. She wasn’t a hundred percent yet, but she hoped to fend them off. The Kairos teleported out of the cell and was gone through the tunnel. He wouldn’t be able to port through it, but he would get further down the halls that way. She was left with the other one, a damn Hippeus at least three times her size. His long black hair was trailing down over his massive shoulders, hazel eyes zeroed in on her. The menacing glint she saw was not promising.

  “You feel like playing? Maybe I’ll take you somewhere private to play. I’ll tell the others you escaped.” His grin was full of dark sadistic intent. The look made her nauseated and settled like a stone in her stomach. The big mountain of a male was in her way. He didn’t look right. He was like an experiment gone horribly wrong; his muscles were huge all along his arms down to his hands.

  What the fuck is happening? Gregoire’s voice was dangerously low. Damn it, she had this. She didn’t want her emotions distracting him from finding her.

  I’m fine, give me a second, she sent back, relaxing her limbs and settling her emotions. She was powerful and would wipe the cell with the sick bastard. He was just inside the doorway and coming for her. She ported behind him just as he reached big meaty hands for her. With a push of air currents, she slammed him into the wall inside the cell and quickly lifted Rain into her arms and out of the cell. He turned around fast, breaking her hold quickly. She used her power and pulled the air from his lungs. Soon he was gasping and flailing in the small space as she carried her friend out of the cell and into the hall. She had just settled Rain down and away from the cell door when a female with slick black hair rushed into the hallway. A damn Fire Mageia. Alyssa tried to trap the giant in the cell, using air currents to slam it shut, but his arm jammed it. She heard bone crunch, but there was no closing it.

  What the hell is going on? Gregoire demanded. He was livid.

  Stop distracting me. I need a minute.

  A series of fireballs were launched and hit just inches from her. She pulled the air from one and then ported out of the way of the others. The Mageia had aimed at her arms and legs, not going for a kill shot. That was promising. Priority was getting the fire blasts away from her unconscious friend.

  She teleported behind the dark-haired bitch. The female’s abilities were incredibly enhanced for a Fire Mageia. The bitch’s elbow slammed back and almost hit Alyssa in the face. She dodged and swept the female’s legs out from under her. She heard a roar as she was preparing to suck air from the female’s lungs to get her to pass the hell out. She was breathing heavy and slower with the small amount of drugs still left in her system, and the air currents were weak indoors. Looking over, she saw the giant move in her direction. The low sound of the alarms bleating in her ears and loss of energies from porting was wearing her out quicker than she would have liked.

  She neede
d to make her next moves count. The female kicked up, landing a blow to Alyssa’s stomach, knocking the wind from her. The heavy steps of the giant had gotten closer. He was waiting for his opportunity. Looking around, she saw that the metal doors at both ends were shut. She was trapped with them, so she just needed to take them out. There were only two, and only the giant Hippeus was Immortal.

  She bent at the waist, panting a little. Best for them to think she didn’t have any power or fight left in her. She had successfully maneuvered between them, waiting as she watched the female’s lips lift in apparent satisfaction. “You need to get back into your cage, bitch.” The Mageia thought she had her. Her tightfitting black fighting gear and her slicked-back hair made her appear brutish. Her oversized muscles flexed under the snug clothing, and her features were harsh even with the grin tilting her lips. Alyssa assessed her to be around Rain’s mother’s age and strong. That was likely the reason she was part of the guards and not a lab rat for Cyril. The female’s brown eyes were full of evil delight as she glared at her.

  “That’s not going to happen. You’re not male enough to make me.” The Mageia’s dark eyes lit with rage, exactly the response Alyssa had been hoping for. She felt the heat of the flames as she ported just in time. She heard a deep bellow, knowing the fireball must have hit its mark in the giant’s body. Alyssa didn’t have time to waste. She used air currents to knock the big mass of angry Hippeus onto the Mageia. His bulk kept her down and thankfully his body trapped her sideways so her damn hands and torso were beneath him. She wasted no time in pulling the air from the asshole’s lungs. He flailed and turned a deep purple as he struggled for breath. The female pushed and tried to yell beneath him. She had to be getting crushed under all that weight.

  As soon as the flailing grew subdued, she ventured in and grabbed the blade at his side. She didn’t have a lot of time. She didn’t dare squander more energies than needed in case she had to help fight their way out. She was getting a little wiped out. Thank the Creators the male felt the need to carry a large blade. It was a good two feet with a sharp edge to its deadly curve. One cut sliced through the air and hit its mark. Shit, that wasn’t enough, and she was getting squeamish. The second hard cleave separated his head. She’d never had to kill anything but hell beasts. She got nauseated by it, but she refused to balk past the initial shock. He deserved to die for threatening to rape her. She had to fight back the bile, imagining what he could have done to the young Mageia that were taken.

  She shook it off. Her khakis and white top were covered in blood splatter and so was the Mageia’s face.

  The bitch’s dark eyes grew even more deadly as the head stopped at the wall. Blood flowed, and the smell of it was sweetly pungent. The Mageia didn’t speak, just lay there trying to gain her breath. The sound of the alarms and her heavy breathing were all that Alyssa could hear.

  Is everything okay out there? she sent to Gregoire, wanting to be out of there, away from the smell.

  What happened? He was definitely getting more enraged as time passed.

  Everything is fine. We are safe and locked in until you get us out. She didn’t want him worrying. Now that her fight was over, she felt his emotions beating at her. Fury. Panic. It wasn’t good, and she knew he was clearing a path to her.

  She walked around to the female and slammed her head into the ground. She didn’t think she could stomach another beheading, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to leave the female conscious. Her creepy stare was starting to unnerve Alyssa; she was sure that was her intent.

  Uri and Alex might be able to get some information from her, if she lived through being crushed under the giant Hippeus. Alyssa wiped the blade on his clothes and tried to get some of the blood off her face using her shirt before checking on Rain. She was still unconscious, and Alyssa tried to lay her in a more comfortable position before moving to check the cells that lined the wall.

  We’re almost there. Are you hurt? he said, and she heard a blast that shook the ground. She was forced to brace herself against a cell for a second until it stopped. She hoped the ceiling wouldn’t come down.

  No, I’m okay. I promise.

  She reopened the Guardian link, wanting to know what was happening out there.

  She heard Gregoire demanding Jax to get his ass over to blow another door. She grinned at his bossiness, and then cringed. Her ass was going to hurt for a week after this. She didn’t think for a second that he wouldn’t punish her for not getting away when she could. She shook her head and walked to the first cell. She stood by her decision. There was a time to fight and a time that being small came in handy. The Aletheia hadn’t even questioned her lack of fight. She shook her head as she looked in the first cell, two naked females lay asleep on cots. Her heart soared. Yes! She went to another cell and another and counted eleven unconscious females. Not including Rain. She blew out a relieved breath. It was bittersweet. She’d known from Alex’s reports and what the males had said that Delia wasn’t here. At least these females would get home to their families. Hopefully, there were clues here as to where Cyril was keeping Delia.

  Move away from any doors. Gregoire’s voice in her mind sounded like a deep growl. Her stomach fluttered. He was here.

  I’m away.

  Another blast hit, and a cloud of dust filled in the hall as the door was slid aside with a harsh grind of metal on stone. The noise made her shiver.

  She stood next to Rain’s unconscious body as she watched her mate walk in, Dorian tight on his heels. She had never seen a more gorgeous sight in her life. His muscles were flexed, and his eyes were like green jewels as they scanned the area and landed on her. She ran to him, and her breath caught when his strong hands lifted her into his arms and crushed her to him, his angry face right in hers. Her legs automatically circled his hips. His hands were in her hair, pulling her lips to his. I’m going to beat your ass till next week for this shit. His tongue plunged deep, devouring her as he growled in the link, You’re covered in fucking blood. His feral gaze met hers as he bit the words out that seemed so highly offensive to him.

  It’s not mine. She settled her arms around his neck and savored the kiss. There are eleven females in the cells.

  I’ve got Alyssa and Rain. The females are here. He informed the others.

  Conn replied, I’m in the security room now. No self-destructs. Facility looks cleared. They didn’t put up much of a fight. With Cyril dead, they scattered, but we caught a couple.

  The broke the kiss, and she saw Dorian cradling Rain’s small body against his chest. His jaw was tight as he walked passed them and out the door. She snuggled into Gregoire’s neck. She heard talk as more Guardians filtered in to get the women out. She looked up and saw Bastian and Sacha each carrying a sleeping female.

  He walked her around the bodies, and she heard his teeth grinding again. She looked into his eyes. “You got Cyril?” Alyssa was both shocked and excited when she realized what Conn had said.

  “Not us… Delia.” His eyes shadowed as he said the word. Her stomach clenched, knowing what was coming would not be good. “She killed herself. Uri and Alex were with her through most of it.” His jaw tensed even more as he shook his head.

  “We need to get the hell out of here. There is going to be a lot to clean up. A lot has happened, and you are going to explain every damn minute of what the fuck happened.” She relaxed into him. She needed to refuel.

  Chapter 42

  Guardian Compound, Tetartos Realm

  She was taken to Sirena and checked out. The healer had taken a blood sample to be safe, but said the drugs she detected would have only caused sleep, just like the Aletheia had said in the tunnel. Gregoire had taken her straight home from Sirena’s office and scrubbed every inch of her body, in record time, telling her all the things he wanted to do to her when he got back to her. Telling her how fucking scared he’d been and how the sight of blood on her and the fucking dead body near was something he never wanted to see again. He told her he didn’t care t
hat she’d done it for her friend and that he still planned to beat her ass blue for scaring the shit out of him. He checked her for damage. His jaw had been clenched tight, and she’d ached to touch him, hold him, but knew he was needed to help the others and he was barely holding on.

  She’d grabbed some sewing, and he’d taken her to the compound, and still he’d remained quiet. Her heart clenched for him, knowing he’d been holding on by a thread, tempted to leave his brothers to do all the work while he stayed with her. His emotion was boiling through their link without his even knowing. Before he’d left, he lifted her in his arms and devoured her lips like a male on the verge of going to battle.

  He’d been gone a few hours, and it felt like years. She’d get bits of information through the link, but nothing solid.

  Alyssa was strung tight as she waited in the Guardians’ media room with Sam in a chair, a nearly passed out Alex lying on a couch with Havoc, and she in another chair, curled up sewing. The insecurity she felt with the female wasn’t as strong. There was still awkwardness, but that would change as they got to know each other. Alex had barely spoken. She couldn’t imagine what the female had gone through in Delia’s mind.

  They stayed together, some DVD playing in the background so there wasn’t dead silence. Sam had put something on about female friends going on a road trip to stalk a guy at a wedding. Alyssa sewed while they waited.

  She’d only detoured when going down to check on Rain. Her friend was fine but sleeping off the drugs. Sirena said she would be out for at least a few more hours. Sirena had people monitoring her. If she woke sooner, they would inform Alyssa. She planned to head back down in a couple of hours anyways, just to make sure Rain didn’t wake up alone.