Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Alexa knew that voice. She could see how the light caught his white hair that was neatly tied back.
This wasn’t real, right? She had fallen asleep in the arms of her mate.
Glancing around the room, she looked for Ken, but she was alone here.
She could feel the cool silk sheets hugging her body, the cold air tickling her nose. This felt too real to be a nightmare.
Alexa reached up to feel for her necklace, but it wasn’t there. The nightgown she found herself in wasn’t hers either, the thin silk cut lower than anything she would have picked for herself. Then, as if the room had only been waiting for her to notice, lights bloomed to life along the walls.
They woke one by one, small and staggered like stars set into the dark marble, and the stone was polished so smooth it held every flicker twice.
Beneath her, the sheets were black as spilled ink, the bed built for a king, its canopy hung with sheer drapes tied back as if what lay in it were meant to be seen.
The gown clung to her as if it had been fitted to her exactly, and that thought sat worse than the cold.
Every piece of this place had been prepared for her.
Maybe she was dream jumping and had landed in Erebus’ dream?
She looked up at the deity and caught the slow smile curving his mouth.
“You look confused.” Erebus walked away from the window and toward the bed. When he reached it, he sat down at the edge and watched as Alexa pulled up the sheet to cover herself more. He frowned at this movement as he turned to face her more.
“I see you found a way to remove my … gift … I left you. It was for your own good. I was trying to prevent anyone from touching you. This way I didn’t have to kill them or your family.
Even marked by the dragon, he wouldn’t be able to share your bed.
Am I going to have to kill him now?” Erebus’ brows furrowed as he watched Alexa’s eyes ripple with emotions.
“You are the one who said to let the dragon mark me,” Alexa said through gritted teeth. “And gift? Really? This is how you show your affection to someone? You curse them?!” She watched as his lips tugged into a smirk and he shrugged. “What is going on?”
“You fell asleep. The first time you’ve slept since the curse was removed, right? That’s how the counter curse works. If the first curse is removed, the counter curse automatically activates. Of course, this is just a one-time thing.” Erebus motioned with his hands.
“This is a dream?” Alexa asked and watched as his lips tugged upward.
“No. In a dream, I couldn’t make you pregnant.
But in this hybrid one, I can. If I leave a mark on you, it will show up when you wake up.
” Erebus frowned. “Unfortunately, I can’t keep you here.
You will wake up eventually. But it’s a nice place to talk without getting interrupted by anyone,” he said with a low growl, thinking of Ken.
“What do you want?” Alexa glared at him coldly.
“I want you,” Erebus said plainly.
“No, you don’t want me. You just want to hurt Ken. You don’t care about me at all.” Alexa snorted, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I want him to hurt. But I do want you, and I intend to have you.” Erebus moved his hand toward Alexa, who recoiled from his touch.
His brows furrowed angrily, his jaw clenched.
“Why him? Is it the damn mate pull? Huh? I see it in your eyes that you still want him, even though you were marked by another.” He watched as she flattened her lips into a thin line, her blue eyes piercing his.
“You want to play games with me? Do you think I won’t do what I promised? I will kill your family members. You … you’re still seeing him, aren’t you?” Erebus snarled, his gaze wild.
“I accepted the dragon’s mark like you said. I—”
“I AM NOT A FOOL!” Erebus roared and ripped the sheet away from her body. His eyes wandered over her greedily as his nostrils flared.
Alexa lifted her chin in defiance. She wasn’t afraid of him. She might have been wearing a skimpy nightgown, but she would maintain her dignity. He moved closer, making the bed dip beside her, his eyes wandering over her as he licked his lips.
“You should feel privileged that you can elicit such thoughts from me.”
She felt his hot breath beat against her cheek as his face inched closer to hers.
She moved back, turning her head to avoid his advances.
Her elemental powers were useless, so she couldn’t send an icy wave at him like she wanted.
And while she did feel connected to her beasts, she couldn’t shift either.
She was helpless. She felt his nose trace over her neck, and she raised her hand to slap him.
The sound echoed off the marble walls as the reddening mark appeared on his face. Erebus only smirked and grabbed her hand.
“I anticipated as much,” Erebus whispered as he moved closer to her neck once again.
“Maybe I should leave you with something to think of me … until we meet again.” He flicked his tongue over her skin as she fought to be free of his grip.
He chuckled and pushed his lips into her skin, kissing her gently. “I’m afraid you’re much weaker here.”
“I don’t care if I am weaker here. I’ll fight you anyway,” Alexa growled as she tried to squirm out of his embrace.
“Now now. I’m not going to force anything on you.” Erebus let go of her and frowned. “I won’t force you, Alexa. I’m going to do right by you.”
“And the best way to a woman’s heart is threatening to kill her family,” Alexa snorted angrily as she backed up on the bed.
“That is just to protect you from Ken. My fiery treasure, Ken is dangerous. You think I am threatening, but you have no idea what kind of beast he really is. Until I can kill that mate of yours, I need to ensure that you stay away from him. I don’t want to hurt you of course …”
“You didn’t mind hurting my cousin Lucie.”
“That was before I knew you. I want to be better for you. Change me, Alexa. Stay by my side and show me your light.” He moved his hand over the silk sheets toward her.
Alexa shook her head and sighed. “You’re like a spoiled child who gets everything they want.
If they see another child has something they want, they think they can simply take it.
Even though the spoiled child has everything, he isn’t as happy as the other child with their toy.
I won’t be the toy you take to try to fill your void.
You don’t want me. You don’t know me. You want me because someone else wants me. ”
“I’m not good enough for you, is that it?” Erebus growled and listened to Alexa’s airy chuckle.
“You have ears. Use them. Did you not hear what I just said? It’s a competition for you.
I am not going to be the prize you’re competing for.
Ken is my mate. No one could ever complete me like he can.
” Alexa listened to the low, deadly snarl from Erebus as he snatched her hand and pulled her beside him.
“I’ll save you from yourself, Alexa. I won’t let him ruin you. You are blinded by the mate pull. You’ll see clearer after he is dead.” Erebus frantically tried to reason with her as his hand sifted through her hair.
“You think I’ll forgive you if you kill him? If you kill him, you’d better kill me, because I will make it my life's mission to destroy you,” Alexa snapped at him coldly. He pulled her backward, his hands entangled in her hair, holding her in place as a dark chuckle escaped his throat.
“You see, my treasure? We aren’t so different after all.” A cruel grin spread over Erebus’ face as he tugged her head toward his lips. She tried to pull back, wincing as his grip on her hair tightened.
“Stop it! Let go of me,” Alexa pleaded as his lips inched toward hers.
“Just let me taste you. Be a good girl and hold still.”
She felt his hot breath on her lips as she struggled against him.
Tears welled in her eyes as a small whimper escaped her lips.
He held her captive with a fist full of her hair as his other hand gripped her arms. Her heart was racing as panic began to set in.
She didn’t want this man’s lips on hers. She didn’t want to be so close to him.
Please … someone … anyone … help me. Alexa inwardly begged.
The room suddenly began to shake violently, and Erebus looked up, growling loudly.
“That bastard. He is always interrupting us.” Erebus turned and glared at Alexa. “You want him to come and save you, don’t you? You want to see his face.” His eyes widened, and he bared his teeth at her in a vicious grin.
“Yes … that’s what I’ll do. I’ll send you back to your mate, who is desperately trying to wake you up.” Erebus pushed off and pinned Alexa down on the bed. “But first … I’ll leave a message for the Kraken.” His eyes were wild as his face inched closer to hers.
Ear-piercing screams filled the silent room as crimson drops seeped into the silk sheets.