Denying Ecstasy (The Guardians of the Realms Series) (14 page)

“Yeah, I’m good.” She tried for a convincing grin, but the look on Alyssa’s face indicated that her attempt failed miserably. She blew out a breath. It had been a week since her encounter with Dorian. The increasing arousal was driving her crazy and getting painful, but at least Conn helped her move into a small cottage. She loved that it was by a lake and had an intercom to the manor. There was a small kitchen, so she didn’t have to see anyone, and she was settling in for the most part. The tension from the constant arousal was wearing her down. It was always there. That unsettling feeling of being watched was getting to her too. She needed to get Uri to help with a mental shield. Alyssa tried to explain it but wasn’t able to get inside her mind to help her. Uri and the other Guardians had been so busy she hadn’t felt right tracking him down to help her.

“Why don’t I believe you?” Alyssa said, shaking her head.

“How about, fine as I can be when I’m constantly horny and everyone knows it?” Rain tried for a laugh.

“I’m sorry you have to go through this. I hope you make him grovel on hands and knees when he does come for you. Rain, I promise that Gregoire said he’ll make you a good mate once he gets his head straight,” her friend said with a scowl. Alyssa really wanted her mated, and she knew why. She wanted Rain to gain Immortality. No one wanted to watch their loved ones die, and if Rain finally finished the mating with Dorian, she wouldn’t. At least not from old age. A severed head, yes. She cringed at that gruesome thought.

“I’m not so sure, but if he does come for me, it better be on his knees.” Damn. Her attempt at bravado conjured an image of him on the ground with her leg over his shoulder. She nearly groaned out loud, and her face heated. She could see Alyssa turning her back.

Her friend cleared her throat. “Maybe I should have used better wording.”

She groaned. They needed to change to another subject. “Have you heard any more about Brianne and Vane?”

“Sirena says the tests keep changing, but she wouldn’t elaborate. She thinks they’ll be out for at least another week. She keeps getting pulled to help with hell beast and demon-possessed problems. There aren’t enough Guardians to go around. The attacks are just too constant. I hate it.”

“They still think the attacks are diversions?” Rain was privy to information no one other than Guardians and their mates had. It felt good to be in the fold even if she wasn’t mated and might never be.

She shook off those feelings and focused on what they were talking about. As far as they all knew, Elizabeth might be in charge of Cyril’s people, and she was purported to be one scary and sadistic bitch. Through her powers, she had access to the Tria in Hell and a Mageia traitor on Earth. They weren’t sure if she was in charge now and having the hell beasts attack or if it was something more. The unknown was what none of them liked.

“Yeah, but there haven’t been any other abduction attempts against Mageia, and that’s what they were worried about.” Alyssa shook her head, obviously frustrated. “They have the warriors in all the cities on high alert. Sacha said they’ve done all they can to spell an area in Heaven Realm for the souls to stay in, to keep the Hell beasts from tainting the souls with darkness. It would only reincarnate more evil into the human realm. P said that when they check Hell, it looks as if nothing has changed.” Alyssa blew out a frustrated breath. “Conn has Earth Mageia going out and watching their territories closely. He’s also got the covens on alert about Cynthia, the Mageia that was working for Cyril on Earth.”

“It sounds like they’re doing everything they can.” Rain felt tired as they walked up the rise to Lofodes. She needed to check in on her parents, but she dreaded having to pretend she was fine. She didn’t want them to know about Dorian until something was actually happening. At the moment she’d almost rather die of sexual deprivation than have sex with the asshole. She mentally shook her head.

She breathed in the smells of fresh-baked bread as they walked into the city. She’d stop to get some to take to her cottage, but she just didn’t have the energy. She needed sleep, although it constantly eluded her.

“Let’s go to the shop first. It’s too early to be open, and I don’t have the energy to deal with anyone. I just want to do one more run-through.” All her personal things had been moved to the Guardian manor, but she wanted to say goodbye to the shop that had been her home and life for the last five years. The new owner would be there in hours to start moving her things in. Maggie was about thirty, didn’t have a mate, and was excited to have her own business. It made her feel marginally better knowing her baby would be in the hands of someone that loved it. Everything was set. The shop would continue to run without her there to see it.

The jingle of the bell sounded as she and Alyssa entered. She took a deep breath, smelling the soaps and lotions she kept on the shelf by the door. As she looked around at the books and magazines she’d personally sorted and shelved, it all felt different. She expected to feel a little sad, but she wasn’t. It was like her mind had already moved on. The place felt empty, odd, like it didn’t belong to her, even for another hour.

“How are you doing?” Alyssa asked, and when she turned to her friend, she saw the concern in her pale green eyes. She felt uncomfortable.

“It’s weird. I thought I’d be a little sad after spending so many years running it, but I’m more anxious to get the hell out of here. I guess it finally hit me that it’s not really mine anymore.” She knew the road ahead wasn’t going to be pretty, but she would overcome and make the most of whatever happened. That damn Guardian better watch his back.

She felt a sharp pang in her womb and her hand went to her stomach. Sirena had warned her that might happen. It was wonderful new symptom had been happening with greater frequency in that last couple of days. She walked to the back of the shop, not wanting Alyssa to see her pain. It settled after a second and she took a deep breath. Once she got it together she came back out and saw Alyssa’s flushed face.

“What’s the matter?” Rain was worried.

“It’s nothing. I get weird feelings every once in a while. I need to ask Sirena about it or maybe even Alex. It’s just bizarre surges in my body that catch me by surprise. It started happening after the mating. I think it’s our powers melding, I feel so much stronger now.” Alyssa smiled.

“What did Gregoire say?”

“It hasn’t come up. He’s been busy, and when we get time together, there isn’t much talking.” Alyssa laughed as she waggled her eyebrows. “Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal; it doesn’t feel bad.”

Rain swore Alyssa blushed that time. Rain grinned and shook her head as she continued to do her last check on the store.

She moved through the space as quickly as she could. She didn’t feel right being there, and that threw her. “Hey, do you feel like walking through the park before stopping at my parents?” She left the key on the counter and locked the door from inside before closing it behind them. “You know, actually…” She blew out a breath. “I don’t think I’m up for visiting my folks today. I just saw them a few days ago, and I honestly don’t even know what I’ll say when they ask how things are going.” She needed to get things straight in her life first. “I guess I just needed an outing, since now I have no desire to do anything we planned.” She threw her hands up and shook her head. She was so out of sorts.

Alyssa grinned at her. “Do you want to go somewhere else? Maybe we should go get some spa treatments at Paradeisos? Tynan has intense security there now, and it would be more fun to get pampered there than at the manor.”

“That sounds amazing, but do you really think Gregoire won’t lose his mind if you go there?” It was just what she needed, but Gregoire was beyond possessive of Alyssa, and she figured that option would get shot down quickly.

“He won’t be happy, but he can’t argue that we won’t be safer there than we were coming here,” Alyssa said with a grin.

Rain let her mind go back to the sight of the gorgeous sea around Paradeisos. The water there was magnificent, and being at an island resort meant for pleasure, she wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable walking around completely aroused. She bit her lip. Could she find a male to relieve some of the desire there? She hadn’t considered it before, but Sirena had yet to come up with anything that helped the symptoms, and taking care of it herself wasn’t really working anymore.

“I just told Gregoire. Let’s go grab some swimsuits from the house, and I’ll take us. He growled and postured, but my other option was taking you home and going to help him. That set him off even more. In the end he’s having Uri tell Tynan to expect us. I’ll be paying for taunting him later.” Alyssa’s skin flushed, and she chuckled. Rain wondered just what the hell they did at home, but she quickly cut those thoughts off.

“Where’s Gregoire now?”

“Dealing with demon-possessed on Earth, and he’s got a few more hours patrolling after. He’s going to let me know when he’s done.” Alyssa frowned.

“Why the frown?”

“It’s the same thing I’ve been struggling with. I feel like I should be doing something to help. I have my business, and I have plenty of lingerie and clothing orders to keep me busy, but with everything that’s happening, I feel like I should have some purpose like Alex. Fighting isn’t an option in Gregoire’s mind, and I don’t have any abilities that would help Sirena. I just feel guilty. Especially with Vane and Brianne out of commission. I don’t like feeling like I’m falling short.” Alyssa rubbed the bridge of her nose. “What would you do?”

“I don’t know, Lis. I think it only needs to be what works for the two of you. Don’t judge your relationship by what others are doing.” She shook her head. “Gregoire has been fighting and patrolling for centuries. Alex, too, in her own way. If you decide you want to fight, start practicing and see where it goes from there. Gregoire’s different than Uri, though. If anyone laid a hand on you in battle, he would be there taking them out before you had a chance to. Maybe with time he’ll get control of some of that, but I don’t know.” She smiled sympathetically at her friend. “If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way. They’re all so busy, but I have no skills that would help any of them.”

“I’ve already asked if I could spar when they train. He said he’ll take me and teach me the techniques. My father was possessive of my mother, but Gregoire is on a whole other level. I always have to reel him in,” Alyssa said, frowning again.

She loved that her friend had so much fight in her now she was able to rein in her big Hippeus mate. Rain grinned as they walked outside of the city’s protection spell so that Alyssa could teleport them away.

Alyssa shot her a glare.

“I know, when he didn’t want you even petting Havoc, I started understanding how much of a handful he was going to be, but you’re holding your own, and I’m proud of you.” Uri’s pet hellhound was just a pup, and Rain still remembered seeing Gregoire stiffen when Alyssa petted the animal. He’d looked so out of sorts when Alyssa shot him a glare. It was actually about then that Rain finally started warming to Alyssa’s mating with the Guardian. Her friend and Gregoire had started out rocky, but in that moment she’d seen how much he cared and struggled with his impulses. It was that tiny glimpse that gave her hope that he would be good for her friend.

She nearly sighed out loud. Dorian and she were starting out rough too, but that didn’t mean they would end up anything like the other mated pairs. Her friend was happy, happier than she’d ever seen her, and they’d been as close as sisters since they were children. Rain had a feeling that kind of happiness was nowhere in her near future.

Alyssa’s voice snapped her away from her angry thoughts. “Are you ready?”

Hell, yes, she needed a little pampering, and she firmed her resolve to take whatever else came with it.

They ported to Alyssa’s home and were changing into bikinis within minutes. She grinned to herself as her friend flitted through her work room looking for cover-ups. It paid to have a friend that made clothing and was roughly the same size, because she had no desire to make another stop to get her own things.

“We’ll only have a few hours, but we can always go back again tomorrow,” Alyssa said as they were leaving the house to teleport over to the island.

“I honestly just want to swim.” She sighed at the thought of warm sea water soothing her arousal. She shot Alyssa a knowing look and winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“You better. Gregoire will lose his mind if I get even a scratch. Those damn serpents better back off.”

Alyssa’s frown made Rain laugh. Something about sea beasts always made her friend edgy.

Seconds later she was breathing in sweet sea air, and she felt lighter with the bright sun warming her skin. She let out a little noise of happiness and grinned at Alyssa. “Thank you, this is perfect.” They’d landed on the big stone patio and were immediately greeted by a tall, dark-haired female.

She smiled genuinely at them. “My name is Cassia. I’m Tynan’s personal assistant. He asked that I make sure you were given anything that you like. He will meet us momentarily. Did you have anything you’d like me to plan or would you like a drink first?”

“I would love a swim and a cocktail,” Rain said and looked over at Alyssa. “Please have them make it a really big glass of something fruity with plenty of alcohol.” What she planned required more courage than any small drink would provide.

Chapter 11

London, Earth Realm

Dorian, Bastian, Conn and Jax had gone from Tetartos, fighting hell beasts, to a big nest of demon-possessed reported on Earth.

They were in a dark alleyway not far from a nest of ten or more possessed. The other Guardians were divvied up in two other locations near Pakistan with the same number of possessed to deal with.

“What the fuck is going on? We’ve been all over the place for weeks,” Jax complained. The dark-haired Guardian wore a scowl. His bright blue eyes flashed with the same annoyance and watchfulness Dorian and others sported.