Chapter 50
CHAPTER FIFTY
Alexa was in the depths of confusion. She couldn’t explain the waves of tingling pleasure nor the vague familiarity of his embrace.
The sensual and electrifying way his tongue caressed hers was making her feel unsteady.
Her body instinctively leaned into him, which deepened the kiss.
In this moment, everything was right. This was where she was supposed to be. Right here, in Ken’s arms.
Her body responded to Ken automatically.
A small moan escaped her as she became delirious from his greedy kiss.
Her fingers dug into him as she demanded more.
What was she doing? Her head started to hurt as it pulsated angrily.
It was like something was trying to break out.
And when the warm light swirled through her dark aura, she panicked.
An obsidian wall of ice sprang up from the ground, separating her and Ken.
She quickly used this moment to wrap herself in a cloud of black smoke and vanished.
“So close.” Ken clenched his teeth together as he prepared to follow her. Right before he went to chase after her, the sound of wails filled the air, the high-pitched screeches rapidly approaching.
“What are you waiting for? Go after her!” Mikah coughed out, wincing in pain.
Ken looked at Mikah. He was in no shape to fight or even escape the incoming droves of shrieks.
He would go after Alexa, but first, Mikah needed help.
Besides, how could he face Alexa if he left Mikah wounded and alone out here?
She would never forgive him. He knew how much this bear meant to her.
Truth be told, the bear was growing on him too.
Mikah’s devotion to Alexa was beyond admirable.
He was someone he could trust with Alexa.
“What are you doing?!” Mikah growled as Ken knelt beside him.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to get our princess back. But you need to be taken care of first. Man, she really got you good,” Ken teased as he wrapped an arm around Mikah’s shoulder.
Mikah snorted, “Look who’s talking.”
“What, this? Just a flesh wound. That right there is deep. Honestly, it needs a healer. Yep! That’s where I’ll take you.” Ken answered the question that had sprung into his mind.
“I’ll heal on my own,” Mikah protested as the wails from the shrieks got closer. “Just get Alexa.” The idea that his princess was confused and all alone was shattering him. He wanted to be by her side, but if he couldn’t, at least Ken could.
“I’m going to. I almost had her.” Ken chuckled as he teleported Mikah quickly before he could continue to object.
Mikah and Ken looked up at the startled faces surrounding them. Ken had planned to get them to Elysia, which he did. Right in the middle of a group of people on an outside patio. He eased Mikah down to the ground and his eyes immediately found a set of familiar blue eyes.
“Ken! What happened?!” Levi yelled as he and Reiya knelt down next to Mikah. He was looking over the wound that was slowly healing on the bear. He quickly assessed the damage and was relieved to see it wasn’t life-threatening. Still … how did he get such a deep wound?
Ken surveyed the area in front of him. It wasn’t quite what he was expecting. He moved his supporting arm as another woman approached them, her blonde hair swirling in the breeze as she knelt beside Mikah. He remembered seeing her before, during the demon war.
“What happened?” Reiya asked. The wound was deep, but Mikah wasn’t in mortal danger. She was asking what she was afraid of … she was asking who had wounded Mikah.
“Are you alright? Where’s Alexa?” Levi asked, looking at the gash on Ken’s chest. It was unsettling. If Alexa was the one who had wounded them both … Ken was the one they were depending on to save her. Would they really have to seal her?
“Alexa sends her love.” Ken chuckled, gesturing toward his wound and Mikah’s. “I almost had her. She was so close.” He turned his attention to Mikah and nodded his head. “Alright, Mikah. I’m going to get our princess. You stay here and get healed up.”
“I’m coming with you,” Levi said firmly, and Ken shook his head.
“You should probably stay here and keep the rest of the family safe.”
“There is no need. Erebus can’t enter Elysia now. The living barrier chooses who it allows to enter, and it is even more powerful now that … now that my grandparents have added their energies to it.” Reiya said quietly.
Ken nodded his head thoughtfully at this.
“In either case, you still aren’t coming with me.
” He looked into Levi’s blue eyes. “I’m bringing your daughter and my mate back, no matter what.
But in order to reach her, you may not like what I have to do.
” Ken’s green eyes then narrowed at Levi.
“It’s not like I’m going to hurt her or weaken her by attacking her. ”
“That is my daughter. I don’t want to hurt her.”
“And you won’t. Ever. Because she is mine.” Ken then glanced over at Reiya and all the people standing around. He noticed Lucie, who he had rescued from Erebus. She was heavy with child and was standing next to a couple of men and a young child. “You said Erebus can’t get inside this barrier?”
“No, he can’t.” The woman with blonde hair said as she held her healing hands on Mikah.
Ken watched as another familiar face came into view. It was the man he had gifted as his summon. The man he was connected to … for now. “So then it’s safe for me to mark my mate and connect my summoning abilities to Alexa.”
“Force your mark on her?” Lucie finally spoke up, not liking what she was hearing.
“Alexa would have gladly let Ken mark her before.” Reiya spoke up, defending Ken.
Ken shook his head and chuckled. “I’m not saying that. The worst thing I can force on her is my affection. Maybe kissing her. I’ll do what I have to do to bring her back. But I think I can reach her without marking her.”
“Ken, we haven’t been formally introduced.
I am Lita, the Fairy Queen. You are Alexa’s soulmate.
That means when you mark her, your soul will connect with hers.
In that moment, you’ll have a chance to remove the glass.
It would be safer than the dream world. And it may be your only chance to reach Alexa, so keep that in mind.
Alexa has the power to remove the glass on her own.
As the fairy princess, something like this is within her power.
She just has to discover it. But because she has lost herself, you may need to take things further than you want. ”
Ken nodded his head. “I understand what you’re saying. Don’t worry. I’m going to get Alexa back.” He turned his attention back to Mikah. “Just rest, my friend.”
Mikah snorted and smiled. “You act like I’m on my death bed. Look at me. I’m fine.”
Ken looked closer at Mikah, and he was right. The wound was completely healed. Even with fairy magic … a wound that deep wouldn’t have healed that quickly. Mikah rose to his feet and looked at Ken expectantly.
“Stay here, Mikah. If she runs again, I’ll be able to chase her faster this way.”
“I wasn’t going to ask to come. I know you’re just dying to put your arms around me again, so I’m not giving a lecher like you the chance.
” Mikah smiled and watched as a grin spread on Ken’s face.
“It seems like part of her still recognizes you. She no longer sees Erebus when she looks at you. But maybe it’s because she doesn’t fear him.
She doesn’t see anything different. So her heart may not desire you or she doesn’t have any fears.
My point to this is, be mindful of it when you bring Alexa back. ”
Ken nodded his head. “Thank you, Mikah. Thank you for staying by her side.”
“Ken, I—” Levi started to say, but Ken winked at him with a slight smirk and vanished. A low chuckle left Levi’s throat as he shook his head. “He’s lucky he’s Alexa’s mate …”
Alexa was just focused on escaping Ken and those feelings that she wasn’t sure where she was now. Ken was trying to manipulate her by using the mate pull. She wasn’t going to be tricked.
She looked around her, hearing the sound of water hitting the shore as the wind swirled, bringing a salty smell with it.
She was standing in a valley of dark ferns that traveled up both sides of the hills. Behind her was the ocean playing with the shoreline, and in front of her, a trail led to a dark, cavernous area.
Alexa looked down at her hands and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t dumb. She knew there was something wrong with her.
Her memories weren’t clear. Things she should remember were suddenly fuzzy.
But what wasn’t fuzzy was the stomach-turning pain she felt when she thought about Mikah and Ken.
Her heart hurt as she thought about the injuries she’d inflicted on them.
And she was angry with herself for hurting them, which confused her more.
She raised her hand to hold her throbbing head.
“Well, aren’t you a peculiar one?”
Alexa heard an old woman’s raspy voice beside her. She turned to see someone staring at her through the thick ferns. The woman had long, gray, straggly hair with dull, lifeless skin. Her eyes were completely soulless. A strange power came from her, but it wasn’t one Alexa recognized.
“Ahh, you have the new nembrant glass. I can see the glow in your eye.”
Nembrant glass … why did that sound familiar but also foreign?
“I have glass in my eye?” Alexa watched as a crooked grin formed on the old woman’s face.
“Wow. You don’t remember it? Interesting … good to know. What about your master’s voice? Do you hear their commands?”
“Master’s voice?” Alexa scoffed. “I don’t have a master, nor do I hear any voice.”
The old woman clicked her tongue and furrowed her brows. “It’s because you’re too strong. I’m sure if it was in any other creature’s eye, it would have worked. Maybe if we use more dark power next time,” the old woman rambled to herself as she stared into space.
“Who are you?” Alexa turned to face the old woman fully. The old woman stopped talking and turned to Alexa.
“That is a loaded question.” The old woman shrugged. “You can call me Meryl. And what is your name?”
“Xi.”
“Alexa.”
She heard a deep voice coming from the sea.
Alexa spun around to see a man with white hair that was pulled back neatly.
His eyes were glued to her, almost as if he was expecting something from her.
Her body tightened in anger as she looked at Erebus with a deep-rooted hatred that she couldn’t quite explain.
She launched a barrage of black ice daggers at him.
He flashed out of the way, looking at her curiously.
“Why are you angry with me? I’ve come to claim you. Don’t you feel the need to submit to me?” Erebus asked, glancing over at Meryl.
Alexa continued to unleash her fury of icy spikes at Erebus. Her head throbbed as liquid iron flowed in her brain. She felt like she was being tortured and had to stop to hold her head from the agony.
“WITCH! What is the meaning of this? Why is she attacking me?” Erebus snarled furiously.
Meryl’s lips curled up in a sinister smile and she shrugged. “I don’t know. Xi, why do you attack him?”
“Quit playing games, witch! Or I will—”
“You’ll what? You won’t do anything to me. Because you need something from me. And you have something I want. I’m only helping you for a mutual exchange. I’ll get you what you want, and in exchange, you will release my granddaughter’s soul!”
Erebus pointed at Alexa, who was clutching her head and stumbling backward. “Why isn’t it working like it’s supposed to?!”
“You put the glass in a demigod, you idiot. You just gave her a demonic power boost. But curiously, it has affected her memories. She feels no devotion or loyalty to you. It looks like she has a deep-rooted hatred for you instead.”
“Fix it,” Erebus said between clenched teeth.
“I’m going to have to start over with a new source and try to make adjustments.
” Meryl turned and gave Erebus a cold stone stare.
“Why do you want her under your command? What exactly are you wanting to command her to do—” She blinked at Erebus with her black eyes.
“Pathetic.” She clicked her tongue in disgust. “I see you are at the point of having to force women—"
“I didn’t ask for your opinion on the topic.” Erebus snapped, and Meryl cackled. “You damn witch—” From the corner of his eye he watched as a black blur rushed toward him. He moved just enough that the shard grazed his front, piercing the top layer of his skin. “Alexa!”
“It’s Xi!”
“I see … so, my treasure wants to play, does she? Well then … let’s play.” A dark chuckle escaped Erebus’ lips as he formed an obsidian electric ball in his hand. “I think you need to take a little nap until we can get this all sorted out.”
“I think you need an eternal nap.” Alexa pushed back the pain in her head and composed herself. She raised her chin at the man defiantly, preparing to fight against him.
“Tell me … why are you fighting me? Do you even know?” Erebus watched as Alexa blinked and pursed her lips. Inwardly he smiled. “Don’t you see this is all a trick, my treasure? They poisoned your mind to keep us apart.”
Alexa scoffed. “Idiot. I can hear. I just heard you talking. ‘Why isn’t it working?’” She clicked her tongue and rolled her dark eyes.
“I was talking about an antidote I was having prepared for you.” Erebus tried to manipulate her, but the next second, the ice barrage spiraled at him again. He flashed through the air and gritted his teeth. “Yeah … I think you need that nap.”
“I’ve got things to do,” Meryl said as she disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.
Erebus formed another energy ball, not unlike the ones he had that killed the fairy royalty earlier. “I’m sorry, my gem. I never wanted to hurt you, but you aren’t thinking clearly. Don’t worry. I’ll make it all better.”
Alexa watched as the black spiraling ball came crashing toward her.
Unable to dodge it, she threw up a thick ice wall that shattered instantly on impact.
Closing her eyes, she braced for the collision.
Instead, she felt a strong arm wrap around her protectively as a loud explosion echoed across the beach.