Chapter 59
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Alexa woke up to the sun shining on her face.
Her brows furrowed in confusion as she blinked her eyes open.
She was cocooned in warm, comforting arms and could feel his breath tickling the hairs on the back of her neck.
But how did she get here? The last thing she remembered was sitting in the bathtub, leaning against Ken’s chest as he washed her.
Ken stirred slightly as he felt her move. He tightened his arms and buried his face deeper in her hair. Alexa smiled as she felt him. A wave of tingles erupted over her body. She couldn't think of a better way to wake up.
Ken leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Good morning, my love,” he whispered.
“Good morning,” she yawned. She smiled as she felt his hot breath against her neck.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he moved his nose in her hair.
Alexa turned to look at him. “I’m ok. How did I get here?”
Ken smiled. “I carried you here. You fell asleep in the tub. You didn’t even wake up as I put clothes on you.”
Alexa bit her lip and winced. That wasn’t how their first night back together was supposed to go. “I’m sorry.”
Ken’s smile faded as he leaned in close enough that his lips brushed against hers. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You’ve been through a lot. I’m surprised you didn’t collapse earlier.”
Ken’s eyes glowed as he pressed his lips against hers.
She reached for his cheek as she lifted her head to welcome his kiss.
They both gasped at the contact and the sparks that followed.
Alexa wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him closer.
Her heart was beating fast, her head spinning.
She knew that she would always love Ken.
It was him and only him … forever. They still needed to mark each other.
And after spending a healing day with her family, she felt better.
There was still pain inside her. She’d lost her great grandparents, and she would never forget the people she hurt as Xi.
But she wanted to be close to Ken. She didn’t want there to be anything separating them.
And once they were marked, their bond would be forever binding.
Alexa couldn’t resist as she slid her hands over his chest and across his toned abs, her fingers curling around the smooth muscles. She could feel his heart thumping as she teased him. A low moan of approval slipped from his lips as they moved against hers.
A low, rumbling noise broke the silence, and Alexa’s cheeks heated up in embarrassment. Ken chuckled and pulled away from her. “Let’s get something to eat, and then I can give you a full tour of the place.”
Alexa’s eyes lit up at that. “That sounds great. I want to see everything.”
“And I want you to get familiar with everything. This is your home too.” Ken pulled her up to her feet. Alexa held her hand out as Ken stood in front of her.
“Could you hold me for a minute?” she asked quietly.
“You don’t ever need to ask that. I’ll hold you for eternity, and it still won’t be enough,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.
Alexa took a deep breath as she snuggled her head into the crook of his neck, paying close attention to the way her hands felt against his hard chest. Electrifying tingles erupted from her fingertips, and she could hear his heart beating and smell his scent.
She’d missed this so much, and she wouldn’t let anything come between them ever again.
“I love you, I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.” Alexa felt his chest vibrate with laughter.
“I love you too,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “I think you’re always going to cause me problems. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. Trouble me. Just never disappear on me.”
Alexa giggled and bit her inner lip as she looked up at him. “Deal.”
After Alexa had changed her clothes, Ken led her through the long hall and down the stairs. Then he took her down another hall that led into a large dining room. Mikah, Terra, and Jasper were already down there. There were also a few servants that were bringing food to the table.
Alexa stared at the servants with her mouth slightly open. She looked up at Ken to see a slight smile on his face. “Those are mountain nymphs …”
“I figured your bear would be more comfortable here if the servants were all fairy kin. I also hoped it would make your transition easier too.” Ken watched her expression change as she looked up at him.
“You did all this for me?” Alexa listened to his light chuckle as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “When?”
Ken cleared his throat then and looked up at the ceiling. He pointed at some of the fixtures on the walls, “Some of those belonged to kings of the past. Oh, and that over there is one of the tridents of the sea king.” He pointed to a gold trident with red rubies on the handle.
Alexa pressed herself into his chest and waited for his eyes to meet hers again. “When?” she whispered.
“Since the first day … I discovered you were my mate.” Ken looked down at her and watched the confusion wash over her eyes.
“But you said you were going to stay away from me. You were going to avoid me …”
Ken cleared his throat. “Yeah, I know.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“At first, I was doing it to cope. Then I told myself I was hiring fairies to support them, and by supporting them, I was supporting you.” He let out a heavy sigh.
“I knew I needed you. I just wanted you safe and protected. But deep down I guess I always planned on coming for you. I never wanted to admit it, but—” He glanced up at the fairies.
“There’s the proof that it was always my plan. I was just fooling myself.
“I was lying back then …” Ken confessed. “It was always you and me. And I’m sorry I made you wait for so long. I’m sorry I stayed away.”
Alexa thought about it for a moment. “I can see now that maybe you were doing it for me. You tried to protect me. But you should have consulted me from the beginning. You left me alone, Ken, and I felt unwanted. Like I wasn’t good enough for you.
And I felt that hole even more so when I was Xi.
” She looked into his pained eyes. “I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you—” Her words were stopped by his lips.
Ken kissed her to stop her from apologizing.
He was wrong. He’d made the decision all on his own.
She didn’t owe him an apology. He was the one who owed it all to her.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I was wrong—foolishly wrong.
I caused you pain that left a scar inside you.
I can’t change the past. But I will do everything to make amends in the future.
You’ll have me around so much you’ll grow sick of me. ”
“That’s all I want. If it’s even possible.” She grinned at him and listened to Mikah’s laugh. For a moment, she’d forgotten about the others in the room who could hear their conversation.
“It is possible to get sick of Alexa. I can tell you that much. You’ll be begging me to babysit her before too long.
” Mikah shoved a sausage link into his mouth as he smirked at the two on the far end of the room.
No matter how quiet they spoke, they were all creatures of exceptional hearing.
Nothing was private unless it was in a soundproof room.
Ken chuckled. “I could never get sick of you. That’s because I’m a better man than your bear.” Ken smirked at Mikah, who snorted.
He and Alexa walked over to the table and took their seats across from Terra and Jasper.
Ken looked at Terra. She seemed at ease and relaxed, even speaking normally with Jasper as if they were close friends.
He could see the way Jasper’s eyes followed her, watching her as if there was nothing more precious in the world.
And to Jasper, that would be true. What was more precious than your mate? Nothing Ken could think of.
A commotion was heard in the kitchen area, and everyone raised their gazes toward the closed doors, which soon burst open. A fiery, red-headed woman stormed over to the table. Her green eyes scanned the table as she moved closer.
Mikah instantly blocked her path, not allowing her to get any closer to Alexa.
“Is there a problem?” Mikah asked, and the red-headed woman scoffed at him.
“Yes, there’s a problem.” She tilted her head over to the side.
“Who’s the one in charge here?” She then pinned her green eyes on Mikah.
“Is it you? Listen, BUB, you can’t just decide last minute you want double the food and expect it instantly.
It doesn’t work that way. We need at least three days’ notice.
But you want us to bring you another delivery today? ! Who the hell do you think you are?”
Mikah chuckled. “Do you have any idea who you’re working for?” He smirked and raised his brows at her. He was quite amused at the audacity of this woman.
“Hell if I care. I don’t care who you are or what you do with your orders. Shove the vegetables up your ass for all I care. Just don’t demand more because you decided to host an orgy all of a sudden.”
Mikah chuckled and tilted his head back to Ken. “If an orgy is going on, why was my bed so cold last night?”
Ken went to stand, but Alexa put her hand over his to calm him down.
She could see the anger in his eyes, which was completely unnecessary.
“Sorry for that. It’s probably my fault the order was increased.
This was a last-minute decision. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
We really could use the extra food here, but if you can’t fit it into your schedule, maybe we can work something else out. ”
The red-headed girl shifted around to look at Alexa.
Her brows furrowed as she studied her. She then looked up at Mikah, and it was easy to see the lights come on.
“The fairy princess …” She pointed at Alexa and then Mikah.
“Your guardian …” The redhead rubbed her chin.
“Aren’t you a bit lost? This isn’t Elysia. ”
Alexa rose to her feet, and Ken immediately stood with her. She walked around the table toward the young woman and Ken followed her with a possessive arm on her waist. “I’ve never met a druid before. You can shift into different animals, right?”
The redhead nodded as she stared quietly at Alexa.
“I’m Alexa.”
“Brandy,” the red-headed woman said, finally lowering her voice.
“Sorry about all that. It’s just that we’re really busy.
And this means double the workload for me.
The elder just accepts the extra workload like it’s nothing.
Even unreasonable demands.” She looked at Ken as she pieced everything together.
“But I can see why he agrees to these demands now. I didn’t realize we were working for a deity. ”
“And no one else better realize that either,” Ken growled lowly in warning.
“We don’t talk to anyone else, so it isn’t a problem.” Brandy looked up to see a crooked grin on the man in front of her. “What?”
Mikah laughed with a shrug. “I was just wondering if all druids acted like you or if it was because of your hair color.” He watched as her face changed to a shade the same color of her hair.
“Mikah!” Alexa scolded. “Don’t mind him. He’s just teasing you.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ll have one of the extra deliveries to you this evening.
And I can continue to trickle in a new load every day.
Does this work?” Brandy watched as Ken nodded his head, and she exhaled the breath she was holding.
The last thing she needed was to piss off the fairy princess, her guardian, and a deity.
The elder would never have let her hear the end of it.
She took a few steps backward before she turned on her heels and left through the kitchen doors.
“Well, she was rude as hell.” Jasper snorted as he bit into a piece of toast.
“I think she was rather amusing.” Mikah grinned as he stared at the closed kitchen door.
“Let’s finish breakfast and I’ll show you the grounds.” Ken watched the wide smile spread over his mate’s face.
“How about you show me your beast too?” Alexa watched as the smile faded from his face.
“I guess I can, if you really want. But you aren’t going to like it.”
“Of course I will, because it’s part of you.” Alexa smiled up at him reassuringly.
“Well, I do want you to see my form before I mark you. In case you change your mind after seeing it and run.”
Alexa giggled, shaking her head. “Quit being silly. You’re stuck with me forever.”
Ken leaned down and lightly brushed his lips over hers.
His beast had always been something he was self-conscious about.
The other gods found him hideous. Deep down he was afraid his mate would as well.
He didn’t shift into a cute little teddy bear.
He was a monster. He was afraid she would only see the monster in him after this, but she needed to see it.
He and his beast were one, just like Alexa’s dragon and her were one.
Not like her wolf, which was another consciousness.
Mikah rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Alright, time to unleash the Kraken!”