Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Alexa stood looking out over the balcony.
It had been a week since she became the intended chosen mate of Brian.
The dragon party wasn’t a party in the traditional sense.
It was a mating party. A time when dragons from all across the kingdoms gathered.
They stayed together for one month, two months, and sometimes three months.
It really just depended on what was planned.
It was a time designated for dragons to find their mates, chosen or fated.
An acceptance kiss was given publicly by all those of higher rank.
It was their custom to have their dragon deity, Leviathan, oversee the union and give it his blessing.
Things between her and Brian had been the same.
Brian was a bit anxious about the upcoming event.
To be honest, she was too. She made a point to go out the first night and tell the darkness what was being planned.
She hoped he heard her, but even if he hadn’t, by that night, the whole kingdom was buzzing with the news.
Everyone knew that Brian was taking their deity’s daughter as his mate and was excited about how strong their kind would become.
“Lex.” Reiya walked out and stood beside her daughter looking down at the preparations.
“You know I don’t want to force this on you.
I was just thinking that this would be the best way to get the Kraken’s attention.
” She slipped an arm around her daughter’s back and let out a quiet sigh.
When she’d first heard the idea, she was against it completely.
However, after thinking more about it, this was a good opportunity.
If there was a time Ken would show up, it would be before the acceptance kiss.
“If he doesn’t come for you, this will give you an opportunity to move on. None of us expect an instant connection. Even after you’re marked, it will probably take time. If he wasn’t a close family friend, your father and I would never have agreed to this. It’s only because of who it is.”
“Mom, I understand. I realize what it is you’re all thinking.
Brian and I have discussed this all week.
In the end, this is something between us and not anyone else.
” Alexa turned her head to look at her mother.
“If Ken doesn’t show up, there is no way I can refuse the mark at the last second, is there? No one would allow it.”
“I’d allow it. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You are my first and only concern. I’ll take you to Elysia if I have to. I really don’t care who it upsets.”
Alexa smiled and shook her head. “You’ve worked so hard to bring dragons and fairies together. I can’t do something that would put a wedge in there again.”
“Sometimes bridges need to be rebuilt again with a better foundation. You don’t need to worry about politics.
At the end of the day, your father is their deity and they won’t turn their backs on him.
” Reiya reached up, tucking her daughter’s blonde strands behind her ear.
“I do think that you and Brian could be happy together. If you can’t have your fated mate, I couldn’t imagine a better chosen mate. ”
“I know, Mom. If I have to give up on Ken completely, I know Brian will always be good to me. I don’t know if Brian and I can ever connect on an intimate level, but I know we would always be good to each other. We trust one another.”
“That part would come with time. Trust me, love will blossom when it is taken care of and watered properly. Right now, Brian still has others he can be around. But eventually, that will change. That will be a very lonely time for him, and he’ll need you.
It might be hard, but that is when he’ll need you the most. Though he may try to push you away because of his own pain. ”
Alexa nodded her head slowly. It was unacceptable for something like this to happen to Brian.
At least Mikah should always be able to be around him, and her parents should be able to as well.
But one day, his own parents might not be able to.
It was heartbreaking for something like this to happen to Brian.
Xander was innocent and so was he. It wasn’t like her family to not keep trying.
There had to be something they could do for him.
A curse from a deity wasn’t exactly the same as a witch’s curse.
Still, she felt like they owed it to Brian to exhaust every possible solution. Even if it was a long shot.
“I feel like there is more we can do for Brian’s situation. It seems like nothing else is even being looked at.”
Reiya smiled and squeezed her daughter in a side hug. “I love you, sweet girl. I feel the same way. We just want to take action and fix it. And research is still being done. But your father said that Shiva is the only one who can fix this.”
“Well, can’t he at least try to contact Shiva? There must be a way.”
“Maybe one day there will be. We won’t give up.
But there isn’t a fast solution to this.
” Reiya turned to leave but then stopped.
She turned her head slightly with a small frown.
“Lex, if Ken doesn’t come, you will be expected to move into Brian’s quarters.
” She watched her daughter’s eyes widen and she quickly waved her hands.
“Now we aren’t saying you have to do anything, but the prince’s marked mate should be sleeping in the same room as him.
We can put a sofa bed in there, though.”
Alexa shook her head and turned around to look out over the tents being put up. “It doesn’t matter, because it’s not going to happen. Ken will come.” She was convinced he would show up.
Reiya looked at her daughter sadly, nodded, and returned back inside.
She was also hoping that Ken would come out.
In fact, she was banking on it as well. A fated mate was one thing, but a fated soulmate was another.
Alexa and Ken were bound together on a deeper level.
One even greater than what she had with Lee.
This worried her, because she was afraid of how Alexa would handle it if Ken didn’t show up.
“My fairy, there you are.” Lee reached out, wrapping his arms around Reiya and pulling her into his chest. He held her close in the quiet hallway and leaned his head down into her neck.
“He would have gotten word about this, right?”
“Yes, all the other deities know. And with this much talk going on, he would have gotten word of this. But Ken is clever. He may put this to the test, thinking it’s a trap to lure him out. It might take him until the last second to appear.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Then we both agreed and know this is best for Alexa. This is something that can benefit the children mutually. Brian will need a mate, and Alexa will need to let go. Of course, that would be easier if the asshole would just show up and reject her.”
“That’s what gives me hope. He hasn’t rejected her yet. He must want her, right?”
“Reiya, he might be afraid it will be too hard to reject her. Plus, he’s afraid of Erebus finding out. I don’t think we can hang onto him not rejecting her as hope. Honestly, Brian is a better guy than Ken is. I told you about his past.”
“I don’t think that’s who the Kraken is anymore. He shouldn’t get judged by who he was. The half-demon Abaas did some horrible things in his past. But now he is reborn and an adorable bear cub. Though I couldn’t imagine being an adult stuck in a child’s body.”
“Think of all the things you knew about but would have to miss out on.” Lee winked and grinned down at Reiya, who giggled up at him.
“Yes, things like that would be tough, I think. But he seems to be adjusting well. My family is coming to visit later during the dragon party. They don’t want to come during the first week since it can be a bit crazy. Especially with dragons finding their mates.”
Lee nodded his head and pursed his lips together. “You know I have to oversee the acceptance kiss. I don’t think I can watch that with my own daughter.”
Reiya laughed and looked up at him. “Just close your eyes then. No one will be looking at you. But hopefully, you won’t have to. With any luck, Ken will realize this is his last chance and come.”
Lee groaned and scowled.
“You’re not going to like anyone she takes as a mate. No one will ever be good enough for Alexa. But Ken is her fated mate, and we both know he can protect her.”
“On that you’re right. He is very formidable in battle.
He is one of the rare deities that actually has experience with killing another deity.
” Lee knew that Ken was strong enough to protect Alexa.
The problem would be when Alexa wasn’t around Ken.
It was the same problem with him. He could protect Reiya and Alexa, but it was the moments they weren’t around him when they were most vulnerable.
Sooner or later, they would find Erebus.
But until they did, he was a threat to Alexa. It was a chance they couldn’t take.
Lita and Lucie, the other fairy princess, had both had the same premonition about Alexa …
that she would be killed by Erebus. Since then, a lot had happened.
Erebus was under the impression that Lucie was Ken’s mate.
He’d kidnapped Lucie and held her in a tower.
It was Ken who found her and saved her. This further convinced Erebus that Lucie was THE fairy princess, unaware that for the first time ever, there were two.
When the fairy magic sensed the danger of losing their princess, it awoke in Lucie.
Lucie’s father is the son of the fairy queen, Lita, and because of this, she was chosen to carry on in the event of Alexa's death.
Premonitions could change. The demon war was proof of that.
Dragons had become allies to the fairies and had helped fight in the war.
Demons did not take over Elysia. Instead, they fell during the war.
Reiya had changed the future. The first vision she had never happened.
She won the dragons over, became friends with the four dragon kings, and was mated to their dragon deity.
There was a good chance the premonition about Alexa was already changed.
Everyone was still cautious about it, though, just in case.
“Reiya! Levi!” Brody yelled from down the hall as he waved his hand. “Weston and Jade have arrived.”
“Oh yay!” Reiya clapped her hands together. “I’m glad they were able to come already. It’s going to be like old times again.”
Lee chuckled. “No fruit fights this time.”
Reiya clicked her tongue and grinned at him. “Well, if you’re afraid you might lose this time, my love, I can spare you.” She listened to his warm, light chuckle.
“You just love trying to provoke me, don’t you?”
Reiya bit her bottom lip and raised her shoulders. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Xander and Lila are already with them. They’re in the fellowship room. Are you two coming?” Brody tilted his head and nodded in the other direction.
“Should we let Alexa know they’re here?” Lee asked. At the same time, footsteps rushed toward them, coming from the other direction.
“Nick is here!” Alexa squealed as she dashed past her parents.
“I think she knows.” Reiya giggled as she intertwined her fingers with Lee’s, and they walked down the hall together.
Alexa sprinted through the castle. She saw Brian, Mikah, and Raine talking with two other people. One of them was Jared, who looked a bit irritated. She imagined he was well aware of the mating situation. But it was the other young man that Alexa had her eyes on.
“Nick!” she squealed.
“Sexy Lexy!” Nick reached out and lifted Alexa, spinning her around. “Damn, you get more gorgeous every time I see you. I hear you’re taking Brian as your chosen mate. You know, I’m pretty sure you would have a much better time with me. Think about it.”
“How could I rob you from all the dragon ladies who will be after you during the dragon party? I could never do something like that,” Alexa teased playfully as her parents walked up.
“Nicolai, it’s been too long, young man. You really should come and visit more before you take on the heavy burden of the crown.” Reiya arched her brows up at him and folded her arms over her chest.
“Aunt Lila and Uncle Xander already scolded me over it. I promise I will visit more.”
“Good. Make a point to do so.” Reiya giggled and looked past them at the closed door. “Jade and Weston in there already?”
“Yep, Mom and Pops are in there with Uncle Xander and Aunt Lila.”
“You kids have fun but stay out of trouble,” Brody said as he opened the doors, letting Reiya and Levi walk in first. He followed them in, closing the doors behind them.
“Well, he said to have fun first. And we need just a bit of trouble for that.” Alexa grinned as she listened to Mikah’s low growl. “Don’t worry, Mikah, it’ll be fun trouble that you’ll participate in as well.”
“Great. Can’t wait.” He snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Lex.” Jared’s eyes met hers, a small frown forming on his face. “Can we talk?”