Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Mikah felt instant relief when he saw Alexa standing there in front of him.
But all he could see was her pain from the moment their eyes met.
His connection to her was intense and all-encompassing, but without the romantic mate feelings.
He needed to be with her, to be by her side.
He knew her feelings—his emotions were tied to hers.
But for the first time, as Xi, Alexa was hollow and absent, and he’d felt empty.
He was no longer closed off from Alexa, and her pain was now his pain. His silly princess. How could she give him such a wounded expression? His body moved on its own toward her. Ken released her from his protective hold, but Alexa remained frozen in place.
Mikah reached up and grabbed his chest, wincing slightly.
Inwardly, he smiled when he saw her run toward him.
He swung his arms around her and laughed at her gasp, having caught her by surprise.
Leaning his head down on top of hers, he continued to chuckle.
“As if I’d still be hurt. Silly princess. ”
Alexa gripped his shirt and leaned into his chest. “Mikah,” she breathed out. “I’m—”
“Don’t you dare, Alexa. Don’t apologize to me.” Mikah kissed the top of her head and smirked at Ken’s snort. Mates …
“Let me see, Lex. Did you get the glass out?” Mikah stepped back and lifted Alexa’s chin, bending down to examine her eye.
“Yes, the glass is gone, but—” Alexa started and paused. The glass was gone, but she had demon energy inside her now. She watched as Mikah studied her thoughtfully. He smiled and roughed her hair up slightly.
We both have some darkness in us now. Mikah winked at her as a possessive arm snaked around Alexa’s waist. Mikah kept his gaze on Alexa’s blue eyes as the family began chattering and closing in.
Lex … does this upset you? Because you’ve never had a problem with me and my darkness. This isn’t any different.
Alexa’s mouth parted in shock. Mikah was right. His darkness was never a concern. He was a guardian. Was it the darkness in her that was really bothering her? She averted her gaze and looked down at the ground.
“You said the glass is gone?”
Alexa glanced up to see Harley hastily making his way toward her. He was the son of an original demon and her cousin Destiny’s mate.
“May I?” Harley asked, glancing from Ken to Mikah and finally Alexa. “I’d like to see.”
Ken glanced down at Alexa and tightened his grip on her waist. Her family were mostly strangers to him, and trust wasn’t something he gave away freely, especially with his mate.
“It’s okay, Ken. Harley is family and I trust him.” Alexa nodded her head to Ken, who had fixed his gaze on Harley and was prepared to attack the instant he felt it was necessary.
Harley nodded at Ken respectfully. “I understand your feelings. Don’t worry.
I just want to help. I have experience with nembrant glass.
” He bent his head down to gaze into Alexa’s eyes, his brows furrowed, and he took her hand.
He stared into her eyes like he was opening a hole with his gaze.
“The glass has been absorbed, and the powers along with it.” He pressed his lips together, forming a tight line.
“Harley, what is it?” Destiny’s sweet voice rang out from where she was sitting right beside Lucie, their beautiful baby bumps showing.
“Alexa’s okay.” Harley turned to look at his mate. He knew she was worried, and he wanted to reassure her.
“What was that look for?” Levi asked, finally moving in closer. He reached out, plucking his baby girl from her mate and into his arms, holding her tightly. It was relieving to have her close and see she was alright. Reiya was instantly there, and she wrapped her arms around her daughter as well.
“My baby,” Reiya whispered as she played with her daughter’s hair.
Harley took a few steps back as the creases on his forehead deepened. Ken was now studying him, as were a lot of the family members.
“Lex, forget about what happened before. I don’t want you thinking about it. Okay?” Reiya leaned her head against her daughter’s. “I’m so glad you found your light.”
“I did … but I also retained the dark,” Alexa whispered.
“About that dark—” Harley finally spoke, redirecting everyone’s attention to him. “Do you think you can summon a ball of it? Just the dark. It may take some focus, but you should be able to do it.”
Alexa licked her lips nervously and glanced back at Ken. The moment he saw her anxiousness, he pulled her away from her parents and locked her in his arms.
“I think she’s been through enough for now. She doesn’t need to perform circus tricks for your amusement,” Ken growled lowly as he held her protectively.
“It’s important. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.” Harley sighed.
“Harley is right. It shouldn’t be too hard, Alexa. Give it a try.” A little boy with dark hair and eyes stepped forward.
“Now now. This is an adult conversation.” A man with blonde hair and brown eyes grinned as he patted the boy on the head.
“Oh, then why are you here? You were getting your butt powdered only yesterday, Jasper.” The little boy snorted in irritation.
“Uh-oh. Abe is cranky. You see what happens when you miss nap time?” Jasper, the vampire prince’s cousin, grinned as Abe rolled his eyes at him.
“It was your turn to put him down for a nap. I don’t want to hear it,” Justice, Lucie’s guardian, commented as he ran his hands through his green hair.
Ken kept his gaze on Harley. He could feel exactly what he was by his aura. It was hard to hide the energy of a demon, let alone one from an original demon. He ignored the others and focused on him. “What are you looking for?”
“Ken,” Levi said in a terse voice. “I know you don’t know these people. But we all trust them. I trust Harley. He wouldn’t ask without reason.”
“I-I-I can try,” Alexa shivered out. After being that deep in darkness, the last thing she wanted to do was conjure it willingly.
“I’m right here, Lex. I’m not letting go of you.” Ken kept his arms wrapped around her waist, determined to support her however he could, though teleporting her away from her many family members was rapidly crossing his mind.
Mikah stepped in front of Alexa and nodded at her. “I’m also right here.”
Alexa held her hand out, and at first, she made a white ball of snow. Staring at the ball, she focused on the dark swirls inside her. The snow slowly turned black, tiny sparks rippling off of it.
“Interesting.” Harley walked up and grabbed the ball out of her hands. He recognized the source of this energy. He glanced up to see Abe staring at it wide-eyed. It was a source that was easily recognizable to those who had felt it before.
“That’s not good,” Abe whispered as he backed up toward Lucie protectively.
The energy source made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in alert.
He didn’t have all his memories and was even missing the memories of one entire lifetime.
But this was a power he knew in his soul. And nothing good could come from it.
“What isn’t good?” Alexa asked nervously.
“It has nothing to do with you. You’re fine. And you have a nice power boost now. It will take you time, but once you learn to utilize it, you’ll be even stronger.” Harley watched as she tilted her head in curiosity.
“Can I still teleport like before?” Alexa asked, and Harley shrugged.
“As of now, no. But later on down the road? Maybe.” Harley watched the impatient green eyes staring at him from behind Alexa, seeking an answer now. “That demonic power didn’t just come from any source. It was infused with the Demon King’s essence.”
“Are you sure?!” Levi said in mild alarm.
“Yes,” Abe answered confidently.
“I’m very sure. I know this energy very well.
It was given by none other than the Demon King.
For him to get involved means he has an interest here somewhere.
” Harley looked over at Destiny and his unborn child.
They were his world. His everything. If he had to, he would disappear with them.
The Demon King’s involvement could only be bad news for everyone.
“That reminds me. I met someone. An old woman. She had gray hair and black eyes. I couldn’t recognize her power, but it was different.
She looked like … I don’t know. Her skin was dull and gray.
But I met her while I was still Xi. She knew about the nembrant glass.
It seemed like she was working for Erebus.
But I just remembered. While my head was hurting, I heard her talking to Erebus about freeing her granddaughter’s soul.
” Alexa’s gaze moved to her uncle Hunter and aunt Freja.
“She said her name is Meryl.”