Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
The wind blew in from the window, making his white hair toss around freely. He stared out a window from a stone castle in the middle of the sea. Erebus turned his head as he heard the sound of someone approaching.
“My lord, are you unwell?” a raspy voice asked cautiously. He noticed how Erebus was leaning against the stone wall in an unusual manner.
“I’m fine. What news do you bring me?” Erebus turned back around to look outside, staring off at the waves in the distance.
“We can’t confirm much. But we do know Ken was there with her as you already suspected.” The voice stopped talking as Erebus turned to glare at him.
“What about the dragon?!” he growled.
“I’m sorry, my lord. We can’t confirm anything there either. But there was a rumor that they didn’t share a room last night. We heard a maid whispering that they were on different floors. The dragons suspected it was because of the woman’s father, though.”
Erebus snorted angrily. “It was because she was spending the night with someone else. I warned her. I guess she doesn’t mind my face that much—” He narrowed his eyes as he looked back at the man. “Keep doing your job. Notify me when you have any new information.”
“Yes, my lord. It’s easier for us now that the dragons have all gathered for their party. We can move about easier since there are so many new faces.”
“I didn’t ask if it was easier, did I? I don’t care. Just watch her. I want to know everything, no matter how insignificant you may think it is!” Erebus snarled as the raspy-voiced man flinched.
“Yes, my lord.” The man quickly bowed and backed away, leaving the room.
Erebus turned and looked at himself in the mirror.
His brows furrowed as his jaw tensed. “What to do … what to do …” he muttered to himself.
Alexa had depleted his powers in her attack on him.
Draining a god’s power was a very rare skill.
It was finally coming back, though he wasn’t at full strength yet.
“Ken …” Erebus hissed, clenching his fists, his knuckles white as his hands began to tremble.
He pounded his fist against the wall, seething.
“You need to suffer. You can’t have her.
Yes, I’ll make sure he suffers.” A cruel smile spread over his lips.
“I need him out of the way. When he’s gone, I can claim my treasure.
” He reached out and lifted a crystal glass in his hand, twirling it in his fingers, allowing it to catch the light.
Then he dropped it. The crystal shattered, little pieces of it scattering across the stone floor.
Erebus reached down and grabbed one of the sharp crystal shards. The jagged edge pierced his skin, and soon, dark crimson liquid trickled from the opening. He moved his fingers as the liquid smeared and dripped over his skin. His lips curled up as he continued to play with the sticky liquid.
“Ah well, a casualty of war.”
Erebus teleported and stared down at an area, his eyes menacing.
At first, he was met with some resistance as he tried to get through the invisible barrier.
But he was a tier-one deity and not a demon yet, and this barrier was created to keep demons out, not him.
Erebus took a deep breath to refocus, and this time he teleported through the barrier, infiltrating the area.
Erebus walked casually up the path leading to the castle in the center. His hair was neatly pulled back, and he walked carelessly, one hand in his pocket, whistling as if he was on an afternoon stroll. When he reached the castle, he heard people talking nearby.
They were laughing and carrying on, oblivious to his presence.
This wasn’t shocking, because he had his energy suppressed.
He heard the words, “Your majesty,” and his eye twitched, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
He turned and walked around to the side patio of the castle where he noticed a small group of people sitting together.
As he approached, a large man quickly stood to his feet.
“I don’t believe I know you,” he said as he stared at the white-haired man.
“Oh, you don’t. And you don’t really need to either.
” Erebus looked the man up and down, then arched a brow at him.
He could feel the light energy that emitted from him and the stench of wolf.
“The fairy king I presume?” The man nodded, and a woman with blonde hair stood beside him.
It was clear the man was trying to warn the woman to stay back.
Erebus lifted his hand and swirled it casually.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt her.
I’m just here to kill you. Nothing against you or your kind.
But I need you dead. It’s the only way to send the Kraken back to the ocean.
Sorry about all this. No hard feelings.”
Erebus chuckled and raised a hand. Black lightning spun above it as he took in a breath through his teeth. A dark aura surged around him as he fixed his gaze on the fairy king.
“Don’t you even think about it!” another tall man shouted, running to stand protectively in front of the king.
“A guardian? I have no quarrel with you. But if you wish to die as well …” Erebus shrugged and smirked, making the electric ball larger. With a sinister chuckle, he launched the energy ball at the two of them. A bright light shot out as the woman with blonde hair jumped in front of the ball.
She held out her hands as she prepared for what was to come.
There was nothing they could do. She knew this from the start.
She already knew how it was all going to end but she’d stayed anyway.
Because if Erebus didn’t attack them, he would have gone after Hunter next.
Her place was with her mate, even in death.
She felt strong hands land on her shoulders as she trembled from the strain.
Even with the power of the Fairy Queen and her guardian, they were no match for Erebus. There was a clear difference when it came to fighting against a deity.
She tilted her head to the side to meet her mate’s gaze, apologizing with her eyes. His arms slid around her waist as he kissed her cheek.
“We’re fulfilling our destiny. I have no regrets.” The man squeezed his mate tightly as she completed her preparations. This was their mortal end, but their energy would live on.
Erebus scoffed. They were just delaying the inevitable. They were no more of a bother than a fly. A pest but nothing more. The strange light was odd, though, because it was holding off his attack but not striking back.
The bright, brilliant glow swirled rapidly and then suddenly vanished, allowing the dark storm to consume them.
The evil energy engulfed them. Within moments, it was all over, and three figures lay lifeless on the ground.
“Ah, well … casualties of war.” Erebus shrugged off the extra loss of life like it was nothing. Suddenly the area around him began to tremble angrily. A yellow film covered Elysia and forcefully repelled him out. Curious, he tried to move toward the barrier, but it lashed out at him viciously.
“A little too late to up your defenses now. Idiotic fairies.” Erebus laughed and vanished, black smoke enveloping his body.
Brian was practically sulking as they sat in the lounge.
They’d dropped Bella off with Grandpa Sage an hour ago and he was acting like he was in pure agony.
Alexa couldn’t feel sympathy for him. At least his mate was in the same building.
Hers was somewhere in the demon realm where she couldn’t reach him.
If anyone should be sulking, it should be her.
Alexa looked up and saw her mother walking with her Uncle Brody and Aunt Chelsie.
“Mom!” Alexa hopped out of her seat to go to her. It wasn’t often that her parents weren’t together, and she was curious about where her father was. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s out searching for someone who should have the answers he’s looking for.” Reiya glanced up as Mikah and Brian joined them, standing next to Alexa. “When did Ken leave?”
“This morning.” Alexa sighed.
“It’s babysitting time again for us guardians.” Brody chuckled and Mikah snorted.
“This is nothing new for me. You usually have it easy, since Levi barely leaves her side.” Mikah watched Brody shrug his shoulders.
“I deserve to have it easier now. You have no idea how rough this one was when she was younger. We’re actually lucky that our fairies have such strong mates, Mikah.
Because of this, we get more time to relax.
Once everything is settled with Erebus, you’re going to have a lot of free time on your hands.
You may want to pick up a hobby, or a woman. ”
Mikah looked away, unamused. Brody laughed and shook his head. “Hey, I know how you feel. I never planned on taking a mate either. It just happened. You don’t have to force anything, but don’t block the chance from happening either.”
“I understand. I’ve already had this conversation with Alexa. I appreciate it. Like I told her, right now it isn’t even a thought. I just want Alexa safe. That’s my only concern.” Mikah looked over at Alexa in time to see her roll her eyes. He smiled and winked at her.
Suddenly Reiya and Alexa simultaneously collapsed onto the ground. Brody and Chelsie went to Reiya, and Mikah grabbed Alexa’s shoulders, holding her against his chest.
“What’s going on?” Brian asked, seeing the wave of pain and disbelief wash over all their faces.
“No … please, no … NOOOOOOOO!” Reiya screamed as she grabbed her head. “I can’t.”
Levi appeared instantly, feeling his mate’s distress. He knelt down, wrapping his arms around her, and then turned to look at Alexa. She had her head buried in Mikah’s chest and was quietly sobbing.
Three strong lights had vanished from the fairy world.
Alexa began to tremble as a soft sound drifted in through the open window.
Tranquil voices hummed on the breeze, mourning the loss of the fairy royalty and guardian.
Their songs offered their condolences and captured their own pain. Her eyes burned from her tears.
“I can’t believe they’re gone.” Brody sniffed as he embraced Chelsie. All fairies and guardians were able to feel the tragic loss.
Levi stroked Reiya’s hair as he held her close. She wasn’t saying a word but was quietly crying. There was no need for words right now. The agony they were all feeling was evident. He could hear the fairies singing their mournful song.
Their lights hadn’t faded … they were gone. Alexa wouldn’t see them or feel their warmth ever again. It was all because of her. Her tears soaked Mikah’s shirt as she softly sobbed into his chest. “This is all my fault.” Her inside squeezed as the raw pain washed over her.
“Shh, Lex. This isn’t your fault,” Mikah crooned to her, wetness gathering in the corners of his reddened eyes.
Such a pity. This is all your fault. They’re dead because of you. You made me do this to curse Ken back to where he belongs. Such a pity. You only have yourself to blame.
The cruel voice sliced into Alexa’s mind, as if the words themselves had edges.
The pain filled every corner of her skull, then gathered into a single point behind her eye, turning like something lodged there had awakened.
She grabbed her head and screamed. Her grief had nowhere to go, and the voice gave it a direction.
What surged out of her was not sorrow anymore. It was vengeance.
A bright glow surrounded her as Mikah gripped her tightly. Red drops trickled from her eyes as her magic tried to reject the glass. Grandpa Sage and Bella stepped into the room right at that moment.
“No! She’ll hurt herself! You have to do it now, Bella!” Grandpa Sage yelled as the bright glow exploded, sending everyone to the floor.
Mikah lifted his head as his own blood dripped down his face. His gaze immediately swept the room, searching for Alexa.
“LEX!”