Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Alexa walked over to Bella and patted her shoulder.
“Bella, I want you to meet two men who are like brothers to me. This is Mikah, my guardian, and Brian, the Dragon Prince of the West.” She lifted her gaze up to Brian and Mikah.
“This is Bella, the crystal dragon who removed my curse. She will be coming to stay with us.”
“If that’s okay …” Bella whispered quietly as she glanced up awkwardly at the two men.
“Of course it’s okay.” Alexa waved her off. “Shiva has agreed to help you, Brian. Her only demand was for us to take Bella with us.” She motioned to Bella with her eyes, signaling for him to greet her.
Brian stepped forward and then stopped. “I was going to at least shake your hand, but I better not. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You mean because of the heat?” Bella looked up at him beneath her eyelashes and watched him nod his head. “You don’t need to worry about that.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She looked at him expectantly.
Brian reached out cautiously, taking her hand in his.
The moment he did, he felt frost travel up his arm, layering his skin with ice crystals.
“You’re an ice dragon too?” He looked her over fully, as if seeing her for the first time.
She was shorter than him, with a delicate frame.
Her silver hair shined as it rested on her pale skin.
But what really captivated him were her piercing gray eyes.
Bella released her hand from his grip and shook her head. “I’m a crystal dragon, remember?”
“What exactly is a crystal dragon?” Mikah asked, reaching his own hand out to shake hers.
He grabbed her hand and enfolded his fingers around her delicate wrist. There was a warm, almost serene energy that flowed from her.
It relaxed him, and he took down his guard.
This was not someone who was a threat. He released her hand, bringing his back to his side.
Her gray eyes were still on his, making him swallow uncomfortably.
“Is there something on my face?” Mikah chuckled.
“Or have you not seen someone as good looking as me before?”
“She saw me already. And I’m more attractive than you.” Brian smirked and tilted his head toward Mikah.
“Nice try, Brian, but my ass is more attractive than you.” Mikah grinned widely, flashing his pearly whites at Brian.
“The dingleberry growing on my ass is more attractive than you!” Brian shot back with a chuckle.
“Bella?” Alexa asked, watching Bella blink a few times and shake her head.
“It’s nothing.” Bella cleared her throat and smiled.
“A crystal dragon is a dragon that learns its abilities over time. They are only born with the ability to purify, but as they age, they develop other skills. I’ve learned to manipulate the elements—wind, fire, lightning, water, and ice.
I suspect as I grow older, I will continue to learn more.
I’m especially interested in darkness and flare.
Shiva said I have the potential to master them. ”
Brian now looked at Bella with more interest. “You can fight with all those elements? That is amazing! A dragon like you …” He suddenly got quiet and shook his head.
“You would be safe in the dragon kingdom, though. We would never exploit or use you. I would personally see that you would be treated with the utmost respect.”
“I bet you personally would. Even offering to give her a personal sponge bath.” Mikah chuckled as Brian’s eyes bulged.
“You’ll get used to them. They’re always joking like this.
” Alexa shook her head and rolled her eyes.
She glanced around the area as Brian and Mikah continued to tease each other.
She wondered what Shiva wanted to talk to Ken about.
To be honest, she was slightly annoyed at the goddess for how she had poked fun at her mate.
He couldn’t help what his beast was like.
She didn’t see how any of that mattered.
No matter what his other form looked like …
he was hers. All of him belonged to her.
And soon, she would put her mark on his neck, permanently claiming him as her own.
The question was … what kind of mark would it be?
Would the mark belong to her wolf or her dragon?
Although Alexa had a wolf, she’d never belonged to a wolf pack.
She was brought up in the dragon kingdom and naturally related more to them.
Not that she didn’t relate to her wolf or her relatives, but she felt more of a connection to her dragon.
However, Yuki was not a weak or timid wolf.
She was a dominant dire wolf, and as such, she would most likely want to assert her dominance.
Perhaps a mark on each side of his neck would be best? One to appease both her beasts?
Ken rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. “You’re sure?” He was standing in a green, circular room. It was a place where deities often met that was considered neutral ground.
Shiva scoffed and clicked her tongue in agitation. “Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I’m sure. I’m shocked you didn’t realize it.”
“I felt the one thing, but I knew there was something else there.” Ken groaned and pressed his head into his hand. “What was her father thinking?”
“I was curious about that as well, so I’ve summoned him.” Shiva smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
“Why are you prying into this? What interest is this to you?” Ken raised his head, shooting a dark glare at Shiva.
“Well, obviously I care. I’m sending my sweet Bella there. This is vital information.”
“As a spy?” Ken asked coldly.
“Tsk. You are such a crude creature. I actually love those I take care of. I wonder if you can say the same.” A smug grin rose over Shiva’s face as a man with dark hair and blue eyes appeared.
Levi looked around and his eyes met Ken’s. “Where is Alexa? Why was I summoned?”
“Alexa is safe. She was cursed by Erebus, but it has been removed.” Shiva immediately answered as Ken snorted in agitation.
“Safe. Is she though?” Ken now shot an icy glare at Levi. “You know about her guardian?” He watched as the man sighed and nodded his head. “What in the hell were you thinking endangering my mate?!”
“He would never hurt Alexa!” Levi growled angrily. “I trust him. I’ve watched him grow. I wasn’t sure of him in the beginning, but he’s worked very hard at controlling himself. I trust him with Alexa.”
“How? How can you trust him?” Shiva tilted her head as she looked down at her fingernails. “He is a bomb waiting to go off. Surely you know this.”
“He is her guardian!” Levi growled, and Shiva shrugged.
“Why didn’t you insist on having another guardian chosen?” Ken asked, pinning his gaze on Levi.
“I did.” Levi exhaled loudly and slowly shook his head.
“Reiya insisted that the fairy magic chose him for a reason. It was a battle I couldn’t win against her.
” He turned and looked at Ken. “I’m sure you can understand this more now.
You wouldn’t want to upset Alexa either.
So I watched him and kept an eye on him.
And he has never given me a reason to worry. ”
“He doesn’t know, though.” Shiva shook her head. “You never told him.”
“It’s best he doesn’t know. He had a rough start in life.
He doesn’t need another blow like this. He doesn’t need to have any doubts.
” Levi inhaled slowly, turning his gaze back to Ken.
The Kraken was tense and conflicted, his brows knitted and his mouth pulled into a frown.
“It would hurt Alexa, Ken. This information can’t get out. ”
“It’s Alexa getting hurt that I’m afraid of,” Ken snarled and shook his head.
“You’ve met him. Do you think he would hurt her?” Levi snapped.
“I don’t think he would … willingly. But what if he loses his temper?
What if he can’t control himself? What if he can’t control the bloodlust that will more than likely grow?
” Ken felt conflicted about the situation.
Levi was right. This knowledge could end up hurting Alexa the most because of how Mikah would take it.
He couldn’t bear to see her heartbroken.
“That would never be directed toward Alexa.” Levi insisted. “With Erebus around, we need someone like Mikah protecting her.”
Ken’s eyes widened, and his lips parted in shock. “You’re using your knowledge about him to protect Alexa … even knowing what this could do to him? If something bad happens to Alexa, he will be unmanageable. Will you be the one to put him down?”
“If I have to, yes.” It would be painful, but it was a decision he’d already made.
“And what about Alexa then?” Ken shook his head. “I won’t see her suffer this kind of pain.”
“Well then, I guess you better make sure nothing happens to her. Of course, your track record there isn’t the greatest. We all watched her get marked by the dragon prince in your absence.
” Levi shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Of course, that isn’t exactly how all of that went down.
I’ll need to have a few words with my daughter about keeping her mother and I out of the loop.
” He had turned his head from the scene during the marking, but Reiya’s discerning eye captured the moment, what with her front-row view of the event.
It wasn’t something everyone would notice.
The Great Sage, however, noticed as well … a real mark had not taken place.
“A few words? They better not be harsh words.” Ken glared at Levi, who raised his brows at him.
“Careful. She is my daughter.”
“My MATE. That trumps your daughter.” Ken growled as he faced Levi fully.
“Really? You two aren’t marked yet. Right now she’s under my jurisdiction.”
“I don’t care what mumbo jumbo crap you want to spout off. You upset my mate and we will have a problem.” Ken watched as Leviathan’s cool eyes studied him.
“She might be your mate, but she will always be my baby.”
Ken smirked and folded his arms over his chest. “Well, your baby will eventually be carrying my baby.”
Levi’s dark eyes settled on Ken as a low snarl escaped his lips. “I’ll support my daughter no matter who she chooses as her mate. I know you’ll protect her. But she can’t escape being reprimanded when the moment calls for it.”
“I see. And what about your mate? Would you let her father upset her?” Ken raised his brows as he saw the dragon’s eyes twitch. He knew perfectly well there was no way Levi could stand for someone to upset his mate.
Shiva clicked her tongue loudly, “Well, if you two are quite done, I have a suggestion.” She watched as green and blue eyes stared intently at her. “Doesn’t this sound like something Kali would have information about? If there is a solution, she would know of it. If not her, then Endymion.”
Levi groaned, then slowly nodded his head. “I know. But Selene and Kali aren’t exactly easy to get a hold of anymore. Selene interferes by popping in and out, but she has shielded them and I can’t find Kali or Endymion.”
“I guess I can help. It may take me some time, but when I find her, I’ll see what she knows. What about the other part of him?” Shiva studied Levi as he shook his head.
“I think for now, it’s best that Mikah doesn’t know anything about himself. His heritage and problems …” Levi shook his head. “I will talk to him about it after we find Kali and have more information.”
Shiva yawned and then looked at the two men like they were a nuisance. “Anyway, we can leave now.”
“About the dragon prince—” Levi started, and Shiva scoffed loudly, interrupting him.
“For heaven’s sake, that’s all you guys think about. I’ll take care of it. Well … Bye!” Shiva gave him a fake smile.
“A pleasure as always, Shiva.” Levi rolled his eyes as he turned to look at Ken.
A smirk played on Ken’s lips. “Don’t worry, ‘Dad.’ I’ll bring her back safely.”
“Don’t call me that,” Levi growled. “Just … get her back home safe!” he snorted, disappearing just as quickly as he came.
Ken chuckled and prepared to teleport back to Alexa.
He disagreed with the blue whale, but he had a point.
Mikah as a person wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, he liked him.
And it was obvious he was important to Alexa.
As Alexa's guardian, she was probably the one person he could never hurt.
With that in mind, she would be safe with him.
He could see the logic behind keeping Mikah with Alexa.
But that didn’t mean there wasn’t any danger.
Someone could get badly hurt or killed if Alexa got hurt.
It would be out of Mikah’s control. He had to hope that the dark priestess would have a solution.
He would do anything to make sure Alexa didn’t get hurt, physically or emotionally.
He knew there was more to Mikah. He had one part right. But there was still something that bothered him, and he now knew what it was.