Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Alexa followed Jared to a private area of the castle.
She watched him stop and stand there, facing the wall in front of him.
He stood there for a moment before he quickly turned around, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly.
A small smile rested on his face before he pulled back to look at her.
“Lex, you’re amazing. Brian told us everything.
I can’t tell you how much I admire you. That you’re willing to stay by Brian’s side so he isn’t alone.
This is why I love you. It does really suck, though, and I feel like a piece of my heart is shattered.
But at the same time, I have so much admiration for you. ”
“Wait, Brian did explain that if Ken shows up first, I—”
“Yes, but he hasn’t shown up all this time.
Sweet, wonderful Alexa, you deserve someone who would destroy the world just to be by your side.
” He let his arms drop from her and stood back.
“I just wanted you to know that my love for you isn’t shallow.
I’m here for you no matter what. I just want you to be happy, and I hope that you will be.
I just hope that destiny will bless me with someone like you.
Maybe not as stubborn and more compliant. ” He grinned and winked down at her.
She smiled back at him. She knew he was hurt, but he was doing his best to show his support.
He was a true friend. He was best friends with Nick growing up and always joined him when he visited.
He put his heart on the line, and she never wanted to hurt him.
She appreciated his attitude about this.
But she didn’t really expect him to handle it any other way.
Jared was always a noble man of high standards.
It wasn’t in his character to act differently.
“Thank you, Jared. I appreciate your friendship.”
“You’ll always have it.” Jared’s eyes lifted up behind Alexa and a cheesy grin spread across his face. “Looks like we have an audience, my love.”
“Jared you should drop the ‘my love’ right now. Alexa is my mate now, and I will treat her as such.” Brian walked up and tugged gently on Alexa, pulling her into his side.
“Sorry for eavesdropping. I …” He glanced over at Alexa and raised his shoulders slightly. “I hope I’m allowed to be protective.”
“Me too. I wasn’t about to hear her get berated.” Mikah stepped out, followed by Nick.
“Yeah, it was unBEARable for him to just wait around.” Nick snickered to himself, patting Mikah on the back.
“Oh Nick … you’re better than that.” Alexa frowned.
“Hey, Brian, this’ll be just like when Reiya first came to the dragon kingdom. You’ll take on the role that Xander did and I will take on my father’s role. And Cole will take over for Dex and Troy for Mason. This will be Operation Keep the Fairy Princess Away From Other Dragons.”
“Dude, you sound lame.” Mikah stepped away from him as if the dragon was contagious.
“Dex and Ciana will be arriving soon. Try not to provoke Anna so much this time, okay?” Brian arched his brow at Nick, who held his arms out in innocence.
Anna and Cole were Brian’s cousins from the North Dragon Kingdom.
They were the prince and princess, though Cole would be the one taking over as the next ruler.
“It’s not my fault. She always picks on me,” Nick said, defending himself.
“You two are like kids fighting because they don’t know how to show affection. She is a potential love interest …” Alexa grinned, biting her lower lip.
“HA! Don’t you dare put that voodoo on me. Sure, Anna is beautiful, but she has so many ideas. She thinks and has opinions. It’s a lot.”
“Nick would rather have a blowup doll as his mate.” Brian chuckled and was joined by everyone but Nick.
“Eeewww, I don’t want to know about Nick’s private, um, hobbies.” Alexa scrunched up her nose.
“Now Lex, don’t get jealous of those dolls. They mean nothing to me. Not like you do.” Nick gave her a cheeky smile.
“Hey, Nick, that is my mate you’re flirting with.” Brian tilted his head, looking at his cousin with disapproval.
“Geez, all these new rules now. I can’t adjust this quickly. Where is my buddy Raine at? I can at least flirt with her.” Nick looked around, not seeing her anywhere.
“She will be back in a couple of days. She’s visiting her grandparents in Elysia.” Mikah frowned and grumbled under his breath. “Something we should have done too. It’s going to be so noisy here.”
“Aww, look, it’s Grumpy Bear,” Nick teased, receiving a murderous glare from Mikah.
“You know, I’ve had frog legs before. I bet dragon legs are just as tasty slathered in butter.” Mikah smirked, turning to face Nick fully.
“Shall we see if bear meat all ground up tastes just like a hamburger?” Nick chuckled, taking the challenge.
“Nuh-uh. Nope. We have a party we’re getting ready for, and we can’t have you two children ruining anything.
So, if you want to battle, better make it a cook-off or a dance-off.
” Alexa listened to the two men groan in protest. They were always doing this sort of thing.
They couldn’t wait for a chance to spar against the other.
It was all in good fun, but it was destructive.
“How about a duel at Mario Smash Brothers?” Nick smiled smugly and watched as Mikah’s lips curled upward.
“If you want to taste humiliation, then by all means.” Mikah chuckled.
“I’m in!” Jared stepped forward. “Of course, you both know you don’t stand a chance, right?”
“Oh, look who lost his training wings and is trying on his big boy ones.” Nick nodded over at Jared while looking at Mikah.
“Go get it set up, Mikah. I’ll show you children how to really play the game. But I want to talk to Lex here for a moment. Alone.” Brian cleared his throat a bit.
“Let’s go, Mikey. The new love birds need a moment.” Nick turned around and looked at Brian. “Use protection bro. If you need the love, use the glove.”
“Gods, Nick. I wonder why we’re friends sometimes.” Jared walked past him, followed by Mikah.
“Oh come on, guys. Wait up! That was a good one.” Nick trailed off as he jogged after them.
Alexa shook her head and looked up to meet Brian’s serious eyes.
“Brian?” she asked, tilting her head, a small smile on her face.
He leaned his head down on top of hers and let out a loud sigh. “Are you ready for this? The act we’re going to have to put on?”
“My mother did it. Your father did it. I think we can manage. This isn’t weird for me. Is it for you? I mean, okay, so the acceptance kiss will be a bit—”
“Awkward?”
“Yeah, but Ken will come. So try not to overthink that, okay?”
Brian chuckled dryly and shook his head. “Try not to overthink it? My favorite fairy, you understand what type of performance this is, right? It’s hard not to think about it and the consequences afterward.”
“But you trust me …”
“With all my heart.”
Alexa smiled and reached out to grab his hand. “Then there’s nothing to worry about, my temporary love.”
Brian laughed and pulled her in for a warm embrace. “Lex.”
“Hmm?”
“For what it’s worth, I hope he does come for you. You deserve to have whatever you want. I don’t think he deserves you, though.”
“Who does deserve me?” She looked up at him and watched a crooked smile reach his lips.
“I don’t think there is a man out there who deserves you. At least not one I’ve met.”
“Well, you haven’t met Ken.” Alexa bit her bottom lip and smiled up at him.
Brian shook his head and smiled. “You know, sweetheart, you may meet Ken and be completely disgusted by him. You’ve only been told he’s your fated mate. You may not like how he looks or how he talks. What happens if there’s no attraction? What if you don’t feel the sparks with him?”
“I’m not asking for a perfect mate. I just want my mate and my fated mate at that.
He was made for me. I don’t need to know any more than that.
” She watched a small flicker of sadness reach Brian’s eyes, and she quickly bit her tongue.
Here she was, spouting off about her fated mate when it might be something Brian would never have.
She could be his only chance at having a mate.
“But my Uncle Brody and Aunt Chelsie are not fated mates. Just look at those two and how crazy they are about each other. It just goes to show you can have a deep connection with someone who isn’t your fated mate. Those two were obviously made for each other.”
“You know, Lex, when my aura started getting stronger, my biggest fear was that it would be too strong for my fated mate. I tried to push that thought from my head, like it was silly to even think that. And now, that is exactly what I’m being told.
That my fated mate will not be able to be near me.
I’m still adjusting to this news and wrapping my head around it.
But I’m not going to let it bring me down.
I’m going to keep fighting for my future.
Even if I have to hunt down Shiva myself.
” He looked at her and placed his hand on her head.
“So don’t give me those eyes. I don’t want you to feel sorry or bad for me.
And when Ken comes to claim you, I don’t want you worrying about me. Okay?”
“I won’t. I won’t worry about you because I’ll be right beside you fighting for a solution. And together, we will find one.” Alexa reached up and pulled his hand off her head. “But for now, you have a battle to fight in the game room, and your opponents are all claiming victory.”
“Of course, we both know there can only be one left standing when all this is finished.” Brian flashed a mischievous grin.
“The real question is, which one will it be?” Alexa tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Brian chuckled. “I guess now is the time to show you my true strength as the Dragon Prince of the West.” He tucked her arm around his and led her down the hall.
Alexa smiled and bumped into his side playfully. No matter what, she would always be there for Brian. There had to be a solution out there, and they would find it. And who knows, maybe Ken would know of something. She would ask him when he came for her. Because he would, right?
“What would you do, huh? If you wanted to be with someone so badly that it was tearing you apart piece by piece. I don’t know what this is going to do to me.
I can’t take it. It’s slowly killing me to stay away from her.
But damn it, what if something happens to her because of me?
I can’t lose her. This takes me back to the fact that I can’t have her.
This is hell.” Ken set his jaw as his chest heaved angrily.
He had never experienced such torture as he was now.
He loved her. He needed her. But he didn’t want to risk losing her.
He was spiraling right now. The thought of another man claiming her as his mate was bringing him waves of anguish … and anger.
“Have you ever thought that you’re letting Erebus win?
By staying away from her, you’ll destroy yourself.
This is exactly what he wants. I’m going to speak freely with you.
” Terra braced herself as she prepared to yell at a deity who could crush her in a millisecond.
“What the fuck are you doing?! You are a damn god. Take your mate and protect her, and quit being a dumbass. Once she is claimed, it’ll be too late.
You can figure the other stuff out later.
But right now, there is no later. She is about to be marked by another.
” She flung her arms out and glared at him.
“Don’t lose her. Don’t lose your light, or darkness will claim you. What are you waiting for?”