A Dangerous Fury (The Sentinel Demons Book 3) (4 page)

To her amazement, Hunter Winston actually laughed. Athena’s heart swelled with happiness as she smiled against his shoulder, knowing it was the most magnificent sound she’d ever heard.

A
thena’s eyes popped open suddenly from a deep sleep and she shot into a sitting position. Her heart was racing and her breathing was ragged as she put a hand to her chest, analyzing the information she’d gotten from the Fates in the most vivid dream she’d had in a very long time.

“We don’t have to have sex,” she murmured aloud in her dark bedroom, feeling every nerve in her body tingle with energy. “We don’t have to have sex. It’s temporary,” she repeated louder, astonished.

Her power hadn’t returned to her quickly. Since her sensual encounter in the kitchen with Hunter earlier in the day, Athena had gotten steadily stronger. She’d assumed it was the gradual buildup of her ability from not doing anything to drain her magic. But now, she could feel the energy zinging through her system, every cell starting to fill and swell.

She flipped back the covers and slid her feet to the floor, able to see her purple bedroom perfectly even though there was no illumination in the room.

I just had to trust him with my body, share an intimacy with Hunter.

She slipped down the shoulder of the green silk nightgown she was wearing and breathed a sigh of relief as she noted the mating mark that had appeared on her skin as she slept, knowing what the Fates had told her in her dream had been true.

I’m temporarily mated to Hunter!

A rush of adrenaline pumped through her system as she stood, her body radiating with a goddess energy she hadn’t experienced for thousands of years. The oracles had told her it was time for them to leave this place, and her mating only required her trust in him. Being his
radiant
was temporary, the key to retaining her lost powers. Her submission to him physically had been a test—a sign that Hunter was worthy of guiding her in a world she knew nothing about anymore. He’d be her adviser in the twenty-first century, and very shortly he’d regain his power again. She was hoping, like her, he already had regained his magic.

Athena used her own powers to teleport to Hunter’s bedroom, eager to see if he had a matching shoulder tattoo. Her breath left her body in a rush, and her thoughts were jumbled as she stared down at him, sleeping restlessly. He’d kicked the covers off the bed and he was as naked as the day he’d been born as a human.

God, he’s beautiful.

Hunter wore the blemishes of his human battles with the Evils. He had faded scars on his chest and abdomen, but rather than detract from his allure, it made him that much more irresistible. His strength and endurance were incredible, the flaws a testament to his courage.

Her eyes traveled lovingly down his body, her hand itching to touch his hard, muscular abs and rock-hard chest. He was huge, but perfectly made. Finally, she did reach out her hand carefully, and lightly caressed the faded mating symbol on his shoulder. It was an exact duplicate of hers…tiny twin flames. The mark was light like hers, dim because it was only temporary.

“Athena,” Hunter groaned aloud, his eyes still closed.

Her heart clenched, his voice sounding so tortured that it actually left her chest aching. Melding her mind with his, she flinched as she saw what he was dreaming about…bonding with her as a mate. In his nightmare, she was screaming with pain as she initiated the mating, blood flowing down her thighs as she straddled a helpless Hunter. In his head, he imagined she was sacrificing herself for the Sentinels, hurting herself to be joined with him.

“Hunter,” she said huskily, shaking his shoulder lightly. She couldn’t let him continue to torture himself like this. She was confident that his dream was nothing like it would be in reality. Now, she’d never know, and neither would he. “Wake up.”

Her wrist was caught and held at lightning speed as Hunter pulled her on top of him, still not fully awake enough to know what he was doing. “I’m sorry, Princess. So damn sorry,” he rasped as he shuddered and pulled her unresisting body into his.

She sprawled on top of him while he wrapped one muscular arm around her waist and let his other hand run soothingly up and down her silk-clad back. She relaxed and melted into his gorgeous, nude body, savoring the moment as she gently straddled him for balance. “It was only a dream, Hunter,” she crooned softly against his ear. “It wasn’t real.”

“You’re here. I was hurting you,” he rumbled beneath her, his voice still raw from sleep.

Athena sighed. “You were having a nightmare. I just happened to be here. I had to tell you something.”

For such a big, irascible male, Hunter was remarkably concerned about the pain she might have losing her virginity. He had lived his entire existence experiencing pain and slaughtering Evils. How could he ever think that he had never developed any humanity? Maybe he never showed it on the surface, but Hunter had tender emotions. He’d just buried them incredibly deep, so far down that he didn’t even know he had them anymore.

She wanted to tell him that if they coupled, it would be nothing like he dreamed.

She wanted to tell him that she wanted their real mating so much that her body was nothing but a mass of molten heat and longing.

She wanted to tell him that she wanted him to teach her more about pleasure because she was sure he was the only man who could.

But she didn’t.

Fairly certain he’d be relieved that there would be no mating ceremony, she pushed herself up on her hands, mourning the feel of his bare chest beneath her scantily clad breasts. “You should have your powers back. Do you?”

The moment his hungry gaze devoured her, Athena knew he could see her perfectly in the dark. He
did
have his powers back, and they could leave this place.

“What happened?” He sat up, bringing her upper body against his again.

Athena scrambled off his lap to sit beside him on the guest bed, quickly explaining what had happened and what the Fates had revealed.

“So you don’t have a latent power?” Hunter asked as he ran a hand down his whiskered jaw.

“The Fates didn’t mention it. All I needed was to regain my full powers again. I have the ability to force the Evils back to their original state. They’ve spent centuries gaining power from unclaimed
radiants
, something that shouldn’t have happened. I can’t destroy them, but I can make it easier for my Sentinels to crush them.” She’d always been incapable of killing off the Evils because they were a creation of the gods. It’s the reason why she had fought back by establishing a force of Sentinels.

“We can leave?” Hunter asked gruffly.

“Yes. I’ll need your guidance because I’m not familiar with the planet anymore. But we can join the fight, and we can rescue Kristoff.” Athena was terrified by what her Sentinel king might be suffering at the moment.

“So our bond is only temporary?” Hunter questioned gruffly. “You weren’t really ever meant to be mine?”

Athena took a deep breath, wondering how to explain. “We are meant to be mates, but only if both of us really want to be joined forever. I’ve been allowed to continue alone to the Elysian Fields when my work is done if I wish it.” She already knew she’d be going to the gods’ paradise after the battle between Sentinels and Evils was over. Hunter had never wanted a mate. He’d been feeling the mating instinct, but it should be gone now that they were temporarily joined. Funny, but hers hadn’t disappeared or lessened one tiny little bit. In fact, she was pretty sure she could still feel Hunter’s, too, although she was trying hard to keep her promise not to delve into his emotions or thoughts.

“I’ll protect you,” Hunter swore solemnly.

Athena smiled, wondering how Hunter would feel when he realized that she could probably kick his ass. She might be limited when it came to killing Evils, but her power as a goddess was indisputable. There were several ways her earthly existence could be ended, but she was almost impossible to kill. Still grinning, she simply replied, “Thank you.” After all, he
was
going to be her guide in a strange new world.

“I have all my powers. Actually, I feel stronger than I was before. But I don’t think I can transport us out of here,” Hunter grumbled.

“I can do it,” she answered softly, slipping her hand into Hunter’s and visualizing his home from his memories. “Are you ready?” Athena knew she sounded breathless, excited about leaving her prison after so many thousands of years.

He nodded and the two of them disappeared.

Neither one of them saw the mansion crumble to ashes the moment after they left, the realm that Athena had spent thousands of years as a prisoner disappearing forever.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

If Hunter had expected his mating instincts to disappear after the information Athena had given him, he’d been mistaken. They were just as strong—maybe even more urgent—than they’d been before.

Dammit! Shouldn’t those feelings be gone? We’re officially mated.

He materialized nude in his own bed, watching Athena become a solid form right next to him. Sweet Jesus…the woman needed to put on some clothing. The emerald green nightgown she was wearing didn’t hide a single one of her assets. It just hugged the beautiful naked body that was beneath the thin material, tempting him to rip it from her curvy form. He’d give his right nut for just one night with her. Hell, maybe he’d give both of them. Once Athena was gone, he wouldn’t have much use for them anyway. He hadn’t even been tempted to screw a woman since he’d become a Sentinel. Now he was fucking obsessed with taking Athena. He wanted to bury his cock so deeply inside her that nobody could ever pull them apart. His dick had ached and throbbed from the moment he’d woken up beside her after his painful journey to her home. And it hadn’t stopped yet. Walking away from her after watching her come in the kitchen had taken every ounce of strength that he had. His only motivation not to nail her against the kitchen wall was the fact that she was way too good for him, too damn pure for a messed-up individual like him. He almost felt like he was committing a crime by touching her.

She was pure light; he was darkness. The two should never mix.

Mine.

Hunter shifted uncomfortably and pulled his black sheet over his rampant erection. He wished somebody would inform his cock that a goddess like Athena would never belong to him.

“This entire room is black.” Athena’s voice echoed in the silent room. “And there’s nothing except a bed in here.”

He was a Winston, a billionaire. He’d bought a large home, but he’d done very little with it. He spent almost no time here. He was usually either killing Evils, or undergoing punishment for doing it without provocation. “It was black when I bought the place.” Honestly, it suited his mood most of the time, and he’d gotten a black bed and bedding to match.

“I could decorate a little for you while I’m here,” Athena said enthusiastically.

He opened his mouth to argue, but she’d sounded so happy that Hunter didn’t have the heart to tease her about her colorful decorating. Visualizing purple walls and ornate furniture, he simply shrugged. What did it matter? It was just a place to sleep for him.

Shooting a glance at the blinds, he noted it was dark outside. “It’s hard to believe only one day has passed in the human realm.”

“It’s midnight, the next night after you left,” Athena confirmed.

Shit! Hunter felt like he’d been gone forever. The struggle through Athena’s guardian forest had seemed like an eternity, but she’d told him that time virtually stood still during his ordeal. The wards were no more than illusions with teeth and claws, but it had felt pretty damn real to him and he’d have the scars to prove it.

“Should we pay a visit to Zachary and Andrew?” Athena asked curiously, as though she wasn’t sure what they should do now that she was here.

“In the morning. I doubt they’d be happy to see us right now. They’ll be asleep with their
radiants
,” Hunter grunted. “And you better get used to calling them Zach and Drew. They don’t use their full names.”

Athena nodded. “That’s how Kristoff referred to them. But I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for me to call them by their shortened names. I was afraid it might be disrespectful.”