Soul Sentinels 3: Nehi and Menna (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Lavinia had never been really scared of death. It was the pain of dying that terrified her, but if she didn’t find the gumption she knew she had buried down deep inside, she knew that she wouldn’t survive this confrontation.

  She thought about how lonely Men and En had told her they’d been, existing year after year, century after century, and millennium after millennium. How could she give up without fighting with everything inside of her when they’d been doing it for years? When they’d been protecting humanity without any reward and saving people they didn’t even know?

  That thought angered her. How they must have suffered night after night fighting the scourge of hell all because they’d made a choice to step in and fight injustice? How was it that they were so kind and loving after dealing with such violence? How could they have continued so long without once giving up, knowing that the evil would never cease coming? How had they dealt with such an existence?

  Lavinia began to get angry on their behalf and when her heart beat faster because of that anger, adrenaline surged through her body. The weakness, pain, and exhaustion was drowned out by the surge of mixed hormones racing through her blood. And just in the nick of time.

  Those eyes were closer than ever before, a mere five feet from where she was standing and although they were at least a foot above her head she was no longer frightened. She was full of anger and determination. It didn’t matter that she had no weapon. What mattered was that she fight until she no longer had breath in her body. Her mates had never once given up in all the millennia they’d been sentinels and even though there were probably times that they’d wanted to throw in the towel, they hadn’t. She wouldn’t either.

  She drew on that anger and thought about her mates. Their kind brown eyes each time they met her gaze. The touch of their lips on hers, their hands caressing her body as they loved her, and the emotional connection she’d had with them before they’d mated. For a brief moment she wondered why she couldn’t feel them now, but it really wasn’t the time to ponder such things. Not when her life could be in jeopardy.

  Lavinia didn’t even notice that anger had waned as she thought about Men and En, and turned to heart-filling yearning and love. That was until the oily blackness around her began to glow softly. She shuddered when she saw the large dark silhouette of a man but knew that no human was standing in front of her.

  When the demon lifted an arm out toward her, she pushed herself against the rock, wishing it would open up so she could slip away, but no such luck.

  The moment she let fear begin to take hold again the light around her began to dim. She took another deep breath, closed her eyes, and prayed as she once more brought Men and En to her mind’s eye. Love flowed into her heart again and she didn’t need to open her eyes to know that the glow was back. She had no idea where the light was coming from, if it was seeping out of her pores or if it was an aura, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was the one generating it as long as she thought about her mates with love in her heart.

  Her eyes fluttered open and she took a step toward the shadow demon, no longer afraid of evil because she knew in that moment she would win this showdown. Good always managed to conquer evil.

  Confidence coursed through her and instead of stepping out of the demon’s reach she met it. She lifted her arm and grabbed hold of the thing’s hand.

  The shriek that left its mouth was so loud her ears hurt and although she wanted to cover them, she didn’t. Instead she lifted her other arm, clutched it around the black oil-slicked hand she was already holding and clung tight. Pain vibrated against her eardrums and echoed in her head, but she pushed the agony aside and moved closer to the demon. It stepped back, trying to get away from her. Its other hand covered one of hers but quickly flinched back. When she was tugged forward, she dug her feet in hoping that by having all her weight pulling against the demon would stop it, but it was stronger than she was and her feet began to skid along the rock floor.

  At first she felt as if the skin on her fingers and palms was searing off and the pain was unbearable, but she held on tight and all of a sudden her burning flesh was awash with a cool balm. Lavinia didn’t know if it was coming from her but didn’t really care. Thick, warm fluid dripped from her ears when the demon shrieked louder and louder. All that mattered in that moment was the love she had for her mates and getting back to them. The light around her grew brighter and brighter, but it didn’t hurt her eyes.

  The demon screamed in pain and rage and she stared at the grotesque black shape and wished she’d never laid eyes on it. There was nothing in that shape that looked devil-like with horns, red skin, or fire, but as she stared at the malevolent shadow and touched its black, slick, oily skin, she knew she was touching pure and utter malicious hatred. She shivered as its emotions tried worming into her body and soul and she knew if she let it that it would be all over. For her at least.

  Once more she closed her eyes and though it pained her to do so, she took a deep breath of the noxious gassy air and centered her mind back on her mates. They didn’t smile often, but when they did it filled her heart with joy and love to see them happy and her body pulsed with desire.

  She pictured Men’s smooth, bald head, his dark skin smooth and gleaming under the lights when they were turned on. She thought of how En’s short black hair felt beneath her fingers and palms, so cool, soft, and silky. Her mates both had dark-brown eyes but when they were directed at her they filled with love and lust. She wished she’d seen how much she meant to them from the start and may not have hesitated over agreeing to mate with them, but that didn’t matter now, because she was their one and only woman.

  She had eternity to look forward to with them by her side, loving her and her loving them in return. Emotion swelled until her heart and soul were so full of love she felt euphoric tears of joy flowing down her cheeks unheeded.

  All of a sudden the screeching noise the demon made waned into the background and she was sure she could hear Men’s and En’s voices calling to her. A loud crack sounded and when she opened her eyes she realized her hands were hovering in midair, clutching at nothing. The demon was gone, exploding into the ether in a rain of ash as the particles floated to the rock floor.

  Lavinia glanced about looking for a way out, but the light glowing from her body was waning. She lifted her heavy feet walking around the large rock room but couldn’t find an exit. Her legs buckled and she sank to her knees with a tired pain-filled groan and although she tried to stop from going any farther, trying to brace her fall by placing her arms out to catch herself on her hands, her elbows buckled.

  She grunted when her chest hit the hard ground and just managed to roll to her side before exhaustion swept over her and pulled her back into the dark abyss of unconsciousness.

  Chapter Eleven

  Men’s heart flipped and then beat fast in his chest. Lavinia was twitching and moaning and he had a very bad feeling she was hurting. A low, rumbling growl of anger and frustration formed in his chest and the sound was soon joined by En’s howl of fury.

  “What the fuck is going on?” En shouted. “We need to call Ra.”

  Men opened his mouth to do just that but the words never made it past his lips. His tongue tangled with his teeth and he gulped audibly when a low white light began to glow around Lavinia’s body.

  It felt like hours since they’d pulled her from the tub, dried her off, and put her in the bed, but he was sure it hadn’t been as long as it felt. Time seemed to pass by so fast he was sure if he blinked he would miss something and yet one minute seemed to take an hour to go by.

  “She’s glowing.” En stated the obvious in a reverent voice. “Do you think she’s doing what the other women have? Do you think she’s fighting the demonic?”

  “That’s the only time Zara and Nina have started glowing like that.” Men clasped Lavinia’s hand hoping she would feel his touch and know that she was with him in spirit if not mind. But then he realized he wasn’t with her in
spirit either. The bond that had snapped into place after he’d made love to and claimed her seemed to be weaker than before. In fact he couldn’t feel her at all.

  “Look, the lights getting brighter.” En shifted position until he was kneeling on the bed beside Lavinia, clutching her hand in his against his chest. “I can feel her twitching.”

  “Me too.”

  “Fuck! You don’t think she’s facing Apep do you?”

  Men shook his head. Maybe it was wishful thinking but from what Nina had told of the damage she’d done to the snake god, it was going to take time for that asshole to heal. At least he hoped it would. The thought of his mate facing such evil was unconscionable.

  He wished he could see or feel what she was up against, but he and En hadn’t had a chance to solidify the mating bond with Lavinia. Yes, the connection had snapped into place, but from what Set and Sab as well as Pen and Paser had told them, he and En would need to make love to and claim Lavinia together.

  He squinted when the auric light around their mate grew brighter, but then all of a sudden it began to wane. Fear permeated his heart, deep into his soul and it took everything he had to contain the roar of fury building in his chest. He wished he could knock himself out and enter the dream world she seemed to be stuck in, but he knew that wouldn’t work.

  He wanted to curse Ra but held his tongue, not wanting to offend or anger the sun god. Whatever Lavinia was facing had to be a test. What he wanted to know was why their deity did such things when they’d pledged themselves to him millennia ago. Why was he testing the very woman he’d sent to them to love?

  “Why is he doing this?” En spat out his question, so in tune with Men that his friend had picked up on what he was thinking, or because they were so alike that they often thought along the same lines.

  Men didn’t bother to reply. He just shook his head. Tears burned his eyes when he saw that the pure white light surrounding Lavinia was almost gone. Did that mean she was losing the battle? Was she on the brink of death? Would he be able to endure such a long, lonely future if she died?

  “Lavinia, fight for us, pixie. I love you so much. Don’t leave me!”

  The muscles in Men’s throat were so constricted with fear and sorrow he wasn’t sure he could even swallow. The tears that had been burning his eyes welled and trickled down his cheeks. He kept his head lowered and his blurry gaze centered on Lavinia, but not because he was ashamed of showing his fear but because he was scared if he blinked she would be gone. Each rise and fall of her chest was a relief and yet he watched for the next one and the next.

  Her whole body jerked and she coughed after she inhaled, her little nose scrunching up as if in distaste. She shivered and trembled as if consumed with fear and the muscles in her body grew tauter.

  His gaze moved to her mouth when he saw her lips twitch and curve up into a smile. Hope pushed his despair aside and after placing his free hand on her chest between her breasts he closed his eyes and prayed. He prayed to Ra, to Amun, to any god who was willing to listen and as the words of his prayer formed in his mind, love for his mate surged anew. As did his faith.

  “Pray,” Men said without opening his eyes and when he heard En’s mumbling voice, he knew his friend was praying, too.

  Men opened his eyes and gasped with relief and joy when he saw that Lavinia was beginning to glow again. He leaned down close to her ear.

  “I love you, Lavinia. Even though you’ve only just come into our lives, you’ve already given me so much joy. I don’t want to and don’t think I can live without you. Fight for us, little one. Fight to come back to us.”

  He felt warmth wash over his body and when he lifted his head he had to squint because she was glowing so brightly it hurt his eyes.

  “Geezus, that’s just…” En whispered.

  Men glanced over at his friend and saw that he had his eyes closed. The moment he turned to look at Lavinia again, he closed his, too. The glow coming off of her was such a pure white it had a tint of light blue to it. He wished he could help her, but there was nothing he could do, but luckily she seemed to be holding her own with that glow thing that mates seemed to have. He wanted to know what it was, how they used the light within to destroy their enemies, but he would have to wait until she was conscious to ask her. There was now no doubt in his heart or mind that Lavinia would win this fight.

  His and En’s faith had been tested. They had come through with flying colors. It didn’t matter that they’d had moments of doubt because that was just human nature. He knew Ra wouldn’t hold it against them. The sun god was just and giving, thankfully.

  Men hoped that Lavinia would be back with them soon. He wanted to love her and hold her for the rest of his life. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her and he would do anything to keep her safe. She filled the dark places in his heart and soul. Ones he never knew he had until he’d met her. He couldn’t imagine not having her in his life and planned to do everything he could to make her happy. She’d taken more than one leap of faith since they’d burst into her life. The first by agreeing to be his and En’s other half only after a short period of time and now with whomever she was fighting. That humbled him like no one had since he’d met Ra.

  She was good for him and En. They’d become confident and complacent, but she’d stormed into their lives and shaken things up, in good ways of course, and she hadn’t even been aware of how she affected them.

  Lavinia was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on, but what amazed him was that she wasn’t even aware of how beautiful she was. To her she was just ordinary. That was so far from the truth it was almost laughable. She was special with her loving, caring heart and even if she wasn’t beautiful he still would have wanted to mate her.

  He’d known that Zara and Nina were loving women and they were nice to look at, but they didn’t hold a candle to his Lavinia. Every time he looked at her his heart filled with emotion and his eyes burned with unshed tears. Her heart was pure, seeing others at face value and never questioning whether they had an ulterior motive. What hurt him though was that she’d had no love in her life and because she’d been hurt before she’d kept her love, her emotions, locked up. Now that she was theirs he hoped she would be more open with him and En.

  He’d seen the lust in her eyes and felt the emotions coming off of her, but they’d been weak and it was hard to get a read on what she’d been feeling, but when he’d claimed her the wash of her feelings had surged into his heart, healing his jaded soul after fighting for so long. She was a balm to his cynicism.

  “The glow’s fading,” En whispered.

  Men opened his eyes to see that En was right. He quickly looked at Lavinia’s chest and held his breath until he saw hers rise as she inhaled.

  En placed his hand on Lavinia’s forehead and sighed with relief. “She’s normal temperature.”

  “Thank the gods. I hate not being able to see what she’s dealing with or who’s helping her.”

  “Me as well,” En said and ran his fingers through his short hair. “Let’s hope she wakes up soon. I don’t think I could stand it if she doesn’t.”

  “She will,” Men reassured his friend. “I have a feeling she came through this test with flying colors.”

  “Yeah.” En shifted on the bed until his back was up against the headboard. “I feel like a real bastard for thinking this right now, but I just want to make love to her and strengthen the bond. We had a taste of it when we first mated her and I feel as if there’s a big gaping hole in my heart now that I can’t feel her anymore.”

  “I know.” Men rubbed a hand over his bald head and the back of his neck. “I feel that, too, but we need to give her time to recover. We can’t just pounce on her the moment she wakes up.”

  “I get that.”

  “We let her set the pace, En. She needs time to adapt. Our mate has had so much to deal with in a few short hours. We’ve been doing this for thousands of years.”

  “I’m aware.” En stroked a finger dow
n Lavinia’s cheek. “She’s a real trooper, isn’t she? Our mate has handled everything that’s been thrown at her with hardly a qualm.”

  “Yes, she has. I think facing the shadow demons was a real eye-opener for her.”

  En nodded. “Most people don’t believe what’s right in front of their faces. They weave tales so things that shouldn’t be make sense.”

  Men nodded. “Maybe that’s the only way to cope without going insane.”

  En grinned. “Yeah. Lucky for us we can remove those terrifying memories for them so they can continue with their lives.”

  “Could you imagine what it would be like if they knew what we faced night after night?”

  En chuckled. “No one would ever leave their houses after dark.”

  “It would be mayhem, that’s for sure.” Men looked at Lavinia when she sighed and hoped she would be awake soon. He needed to see her pretty eyes and make sure she hadn’t been harmed by whatever she had been fighting. Just the thought of her being hurt sent pain into his heart.

  * * * *

  Lavinia surfaced from her nightmare in a rush. She went from being calm and lax to uptight and scared from one heartbeat to the next. She bolted upright, her eyes snapping open as she glanced around the room fearfully. Her heart pounded in her chest and she was breathing heavily. The second she saw En and Men sitting next to her in their bedroom, the terror began to subside.

  She didn’t even notice that they were each holding one of her hands until they both gave her a light squeeze.

  “Are you okay, little one?” Men asked.

  Lavinia licked her dry lips and nodded. Her throat was constricted with emotion and she wasn’t sure she could speak without croaking or squeaking. Tears hit the back of her eyes and she blinked rapidly, but that wasn’t enough to stop them from welling up and spilling down her cheeks.