Chapter 5
Xexon
Dante! Dante!
My mate! I need my mate!
Give him back!
In my true form, the words were a silent scream within my own mind, yet I projected them out in a ripple of an echo similar to how the dolphins taught me to do. Each thought slammed into the castle, rattling the structure.
I didn’t want to hurt anyone or destroy Brasil itself, but if the High King thought that he could take my mate and get away with it, he was sorely mistaken.
I used my large, pointed snapper to tear through the metal netting that surrounded the top of the castle, keeping some of the smaller vagrants out.
It was no match for my strength and was snipped away like string.
With a push, I used my tentacles to propel my large form through the hole and grow nearer to the head of Brasil.
The five kingdoms all congregated here. Even though the other four leaders ruled their respective areas, all bowed to the High King.
He would have been the one to order the attack on my cavern.
He would know it’d be an act of war. I would come for my mate, he knew that.
The High King detested me, for years he’d been trying to find a way to get rid of me.
The creature of the depths with the strength to destroy all of Brasil in a day.
How ridiculous he acted. He should have known I wouldn’t hesitate.
A horde of finned guards poured from the kingdom’s smaller entrances near the bottom, their spears and cutlasses in hand.
Some were formed from the proverbial shark, their row of teeth snapping out as though that should terrify me.
A couple of the others had crackling tentacles, similar to that of a jellyfish, though they were thicker and some had little puckers similar to my own.
I wouldn’t back down.
Dante was within those walls. I could feel the pull of my mate even from this distance.
The pain he had endured. Through our bond, though not settled into a strong link yet, was still formed enough for me to feel a dull ache whenever they harmed him.
I couldn’t feel what was happening, but the agony he was feeling vibrated through the connection and rattled my very core. I needed to take care of my mate.
And kill the High King.
I’d be free of the contract once and for all.
I whipped my body around, slashing my tentacles out at my enemies and cutting them down as they grew near.
Although they needed weapons, my true form was five times the size of any single creature in Brasil.
I could destroy the entire kingdom if I wanted, yet they still believed I was no threat to them. Even after taking my mate from me.
In blinding fury, I killed my way through the guards and down toward the main castle where I knew they were keeping Dante.
I could feel my mate close by. The tight pull in my gut, or at least where it would be if I were in my more human form.
I was led through the tight opening of the castle entrance where half the guards fled at the sight of me.
I should’ve laughed at them, but all I could do was focus in on where the throne room was.
The High King was always very narcissistic and insisted on remaining in that room with his entourage most days.
Blood splattered my tentacles and I was sure much more, but all I could worry about was Dante. They had him for almost a full day while I shook off those measly creatures and got here. What had they done to him in that amount of time?
Without much effort I slammed into the grand doors, sending them flying off in different directions before bursting through the gaping hole and facing off with the High King on his throne. There was a cruel smirk on his lips and when he made eye contact with me, it grew into a wicked grin.
“There you are. Finally.” He cackled, his head tossed back. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to get here.”
“Where is he?”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s having loads of fun right about now.”
As my vision went red, the side doors of the room were thrown in and the crowned princess entered. She had a small snake curled around her wrist and she carried a swirling whirlpool of anger behind her.
“Brother! I demand to know what the meaning of this is!” She barely flicked her gaze toward me, but the snake in her hand perked up and tilted its head.
Why was there a snake here in Brasil? Why did it seem self-conscious too?
The more I watched the creature, the more in tune with my body that I became.
The pull and intensity of my mate being nearby had increased, but only when the princess had entered.
The snake unfurled from the princess’ gasp and danced in the palm of her hand while watching me.
Fuck, was that–
“So it’s true. One of the guards mentioned he was a Monvie.” The High King cackled once more. “Surprises, surprises. Xexon, did you know that your mate was in fact a shifter? And not just any shifter, a Monvie!”
Dante, a Monvie? Were they not extinct?
“What have you done to this poor shifter?” the princess scowled, though her brow was trembling and her hand twitched closer to the swirling pool behind her. She was not simply angry at her brother. Not as siblings normally were, at least. No, this was stronger.
“Xexon needed to be taught a lesson.” The High King shrugged. “So we used his mate instead.”
“You…” she gasped and backed up a step, looking down at Dante.
Fuck, they didn’t–
“You–!”
The High King only continued to laugh as the guards surrounded him, protection from me. Though even as my vision blurred further, my mind comprehended the quick movement of the princess.
A horde of guards rushed in from behind her, weapons drawn. She flicked her fingers through her whirlpool, brandishing a silver blade adorned in emeralds. With one quick move of her wrist, she chucked the sword at her brother.
The High King was so busy laughing at his own actions that he hadn’t seen the weapon nor was he able to stop it in time. It sliced right across his neck, decapitating him.
His guards whipped around at the sound of his head rolling, but the princess’ own guards lunged forward, stabbing each of them through the chest.
The shock of it all froze me in place and my vision cleared, my mind unsure of what to do next. The High King was dead. That meant the princess was to be the new High Queen. And Dante was in her hand. She held all of the power, yet he didn’t so much as twitch with fear during the entire scene.
Dante just continued to watch me, slithering ever so slightly. Was he missing me as much as I had been him?
Slowly, as the guards stepped down and the princess gave quick orders for the room to be cleaned up, I moved down toward the floor. With each second that passed, I shifted a little more into my more human form, the room growing larger in my eye as my body shrunk down.
“Protector, I must apologize in my brother’s stead. We of the five kingdoms do not want to start a war with you. The Monvie, your mate, is safe within these walls once more. I wish that there was anything that I could have done to have stopped what had happened.”
Dante slithered across her hand as she outstretched her arm toward me. When I lifted my own human hand, Dante made quick work of moving over to me. To have the touch of him on me once more, even the smooth scales, I shivered and tried to hide a smile.
“Lord Aephrim was in on it,” I stated even though my eyes were glued to my mate.
“Understood. We will punish him according to our laws.” Evieraz nodded.
Her words about Dante’s stay still stuck in the back of my mind but I did the best I could at hiding my emotions. At shoving the thoughts down until I choked on them. Dante needed me now, not my anger. He needed my compassion and help.
“I hope this also means that you will still continue to honor the agreement of protecting Brasil?” Evieraz asked tilting her head.
“If you can keep the peace, I will honor it.”
“I do not want it to be merely a contract of servitude, either. Xexon, I wish for us to be partners in protecting this kingdom. You and your mate are welcome to come and go as you please, and keep a small detail under your watch to protect us while you are away, if need be.”
“That’s more than generous, my High Queen.”
“Please, enough with the formalities. You are not a subject here. As far as it concerns me, we might as well be equals.”
I tilted my head, unsure of what to say. That was an odd thing to say, for sure.
“I will see to it that all of the men that have harmed your mate are dealt with.” She continued.
Evieraz nodded to a guard that opened the side door once more and the guard that had captured Dante in the first place was dragged in.
His body was thick with crimson veins that pulsed along his neck and arms, leading down to his exposed groin.
“It appears as though your mate has some bite in him.” The High Queen chuckled. “Though since he is unsure of how to wield it yet, he did not finish the job. I thought you might like to do the honors.”
Everyone stepped back, dropping the poisoned guard to the hall floor. Dante curled up my arm and twisted around my shoulder. I swear I could hear a soft whimper leave his small mouth, his eyes locked on the guard.
It was enough for him to take action. I scuttled over to the guard and lifted him with my two human hands, my tentacles wrapping around his neck and tightening.
“I would make it a slow and painful death, but it looks like you’ve been suffering for a while now.” I grinned. “At least I will get the satisfaction.”
A quick squeeze and his neck cracked beneath my grip, his eyes popping wide before the life blinked out instantly.
Dante squirmed around my shoulder until I dropped the guard and he could slither around my chest and up and around my own neck.
“It looks like he is ready to go home.” Evieraz chuckled. “I hope we can meet soon to discuss our agreement further. I would like to make amendments to the contract.”
“I would like that as well.”
She gave me her hand and I took it, bowing slightly to give her my respect.
With that, I took my mate and disappeared from the throne room, making my way out of Brasil without anyone stopping me.
Dante was still in snake form and clung to me the entire way.
All I could think of was that we were finally together.
No matter what happened back there within those walls, I would remain by his side and help him in any that I can. Always.