Chapter 64
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
“Well?” Alexa folded her arms in front of her and lifted her chin, glaring at Mikah.
“Well what?” Mikah asked as he shut the door behind him, moving to step around her. She immediately stepped in front of him and placed her hand on his chest to stop him.
“Mikah.” Alexa took in a breath and tried to calm her anger.
She loved Mikah, but he could be so stubborn.
Deep down, she knew it came from his love for her.
She would respect his decision, if it was what he really wanted.
But she was certain that wasn’t the case.
Brandy was right. Mikah was hiding from it.
Maybe he was afraid of having a family and losing it?
But Mikah had so much love to give, and she wanted him to have a full life.
“What are you doing?” Her voice was soft as she gave him a faint smile. “You said you would think about it.”
“Lex … you eavesdropping little fairy.” Mikah prodded her nose and grinned. “This is my choice.”
“I think Brandy’s right. I think you’re hiding behind your duty. I think you’re afraid to have a family. That is why you never wanted to be part of mine. Why you never wanted to be officially adopted. Well, TOUGH! You are my family. We are family. And having a family isn’t a bad thing.”
Mikah chuckled and patted her head.
“Easy, killer. Brandy and I can’t be a thing anyways. Even IF I did want it. Which I don’t.”
Alexa rolled her eyes. “Are you really that dense? She wants you too. You both are in denial. Of course she will never voice it with you acting like you don’t want her.
Why would she put herself out there and risk rejection?
That would make her feel vulnerable and weak.
Use that common sense I know is in that brain of yours.
” Alexa’s frowned. “I want you to have someone, Mikah.”
“I have someone. It’s you and me.” Mikah smiled as Alexa nodded her head.
“It is always going to be us. But that doesn’t mean it has to be only us. I already added Ken. Why don’t you open yourself up to having something more?”
Mikah pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight and resting his chin on top of her head.
“Mikah …” Alexa whispered as she hugged him back.
“Lex, I appreciate you. You know I’m bonded to you on a deep level. I don’t want anything to ever ruin that bond. It’s how I protect you. It’s how I’ll always find you—"
“But Mikah—”
“I know, Lex. I understand your point. But this is what you want. Don’t make your wants my wants.
I appreciate it. I know you want me to be happy.
But let me figure this out on my own, okay?
” Mikah stepped back and noticed her frown.
He chuckled and ruffled her hair. “I love you to death for this, though. I know you’re just worried about me.
And while I will do just about anything for you, I’m not about to take a mate to make you happy. ”
“That’s the thing, Mikah. This is about you not allowing your happiness.
If I am pushing you, it’s because I know you.
I know you need this push. Because for some reason, you’ve locked the idea away.
You’re acting like it’s some sort of forbidden fruit.
” Alexa watched as he started to object.
“I know what you’re saying, Mikah. It’s your choice, blah blah blah.
I get it! Your destiny … okay, Skywalker.
Just make sure it’s really your choice and not the pretend decision.
” She smiled at him and shrugged. “If you change your mind, that’s okay.
If you want it, don’t lose it. Because you only have a certain window of opportunity here.
Remember, eventually, Brandy will take a mate.
Think about that. How would that make you feel?
Just give this the consideration it deserves. ”
“Alright, master Yoda.” Mikah grinned. He glanced behind Alexa and sighed. “It’s about time you got here.” He glanced at Ken, who snaked his arms around Alexa.
“She isn’t wrong, you know,” Ken smirked as he listened to Mikah chuckle. “I know from experience. I was an idiot.”
“Was?” Mikah grinned as Ken arched a brow at him. “You still are.”
Ken chuckled. “I don’t care what I am. I have her.
And that’s all that matters.” He kissed the side of Alexa’s head and inhaled her scent.
“You know, Mikah … I can keep her safe just as easily as you can. And I can teleport to her instantly. There’s no reason you can’t take a mate.
I mean, let’s be honest. I want you to think about this.
” He raised his head and stared into his blue eyes.
“You aren’t celibate.” He watched as Mikah shook his head with a laugh.
“Well, why is there time for that but not a mate? That would be the most vulnerable time you’d be away from Alexa.
And most of those times she’ll be with me.
” He felt Alexa’s elated emotions in his mind.
She liked where he was going with this. And normally he wouldn’t pry, but he felt how important it was to her.
“The bond you have with Alexa will never change, even if you take a mate. And this is different. It isn’t like before, where the fairy princess only had the guardian’s strength.
Alexa has me. If something can happen to her under my watch, it can happen to her under yours.
Even more so.” He saw Mikah looking down, quietly taking in everything.
Mikah took a few moments to process the thoughts swirling through his mind.
“I don’t know what I want to do. That is just how I feel right now.
” He shrugged. “I appreciate your thoughts on this. But … who knows. I’m content the way everything is.
” He forced a small smile. The thing was, Mikah didn’t know enough about himself to even consider taking a mate.
He knew he had a sprite in him that he was constantly raging against. And while it was pretty clear he wouldn’t hurt Alexa, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt anyone else.
Would he end up hurting a mate? This was something he couldn’t talk about.
If he didn’t take a mate, he wouldn’t have to worry about this.
He could satisfy his urges without worrying about subjecting her to danger.
The last thing he would ever want to do is hurt Brandy.
Her beautiful red hair, the way she swayed her hips when she was pretending to be mad …
his mind began to drift. Why was he thinking about her?
Why Brandy? He wasn’t thinking of taking her as his mate.
No, right now he wasn’t taking a mate. Not until the sprite issue was resolved.
And there was still something else about him.
Even without anyone saying it, he could feel it.
A power was swelling inside him that he had yet to tap into, partially because it was different from the guardian power he had.
And he wasn’t sure what it was or what it all meant.
Maybe after he knew everything … maybe then he could decide what he wanted.
But for now, he was fine leaving things the way they were.
Brandy walked up the path under the moonlight.
She played with her fingers as she chewed on her inner lip.
The evening was incredibly boring, as expected.
What she didn’t expect was to be bombarded by the elders.
It seemed Noah and his family were putting pressure on the elders to encourage her to take him as her chosen mate.
Noah’s family was very prominent among the druids.
They owned several businesses and took care of their community.
On paper, he was a great catch. But as a person, he was dull.
He wanted things done a certain way. Even his forks and spoons had to lay on the table a certain way.
And she could only imagine how sex would be.
The same missionary style every night. Just the way he wanted it, until death did they part.
Her mind wandered. How on earth could she go back to dull and boring now?
After being with Mikah … the sex between them was anything but boring.
She sighed as she practically dragged her feet along, feeling suffocated. Forced to play a part she didn’t want to play. Maybe she should take a mini-vacation and just go someplace quiet, where she could collect her thoughts.
She stopped walking, her hands trembling.
She was so angry. How dare that asshole put her in that situation?
Noah knew damn well what was going to happen tonight.
He dragged her there after setting a trap for her.
Then the elders told her that she should feel privileged that Noah had chosen her.
That there was not a finer bachelor among the druids.
Fuck them! She winced as she remembered how she went off on all of them.
She rebuked them all and even told off the elders.
“UGH!” Brandy rubbed her forehead and shook her head. “You’ve got to control your temper, Brandy.” She couldn’t believe how her night had gone. Taking a deep breath, she tried to bury her anger and focus.
“No, it’s that fire that I find attractive.” Mikah chuckled as she snapped her eyes up to his. “I saw you standing here and thought you might be changing your mind about joining me tonight.”
“No, I’m not. In fact, quite the opposite. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you. I had a frustrating evening and I need your assistance to let it all out.” Brandy watched as he eyed her, taking a step toward her.
“Is everything okay?”
His voice was soothing, and seeing him was already making her feel better.
“It’s just … druid stuff. Tonight, I was pressured by the elders to take Noah as my mate.
And I kind of told them all off and threatened to cut out my womb if they continued to pressure me.
” She shrugged and watched a storm flash through his eyes.
“I think I need to get away for a few days. Give them time to cool off too.”
“Stay here.” Mikah watched her mouth part in shock. “I won’t be here, but you can use my room. Stay here until I come back … and then even after I come back, if you want. I don’t mind sharing a bed with you.”
“Really? You don’t think I would be imposing? It would just be for a few days …”
“When I return, you’ll need to stay at least another day—well, to pay me back properly.” Mikah grinned as he reached out and pulled her into his chest. “So … you have a lot of frustration? Sounds like we have a sleepless night ahead. My favorite kind of night.”
“I hope you can take the workout I’m going to give you.” Brandy listened to Mikah growl as he began tugging her up the path.
“Damn, you’re making me excited.” Mikah grinned down at her.
He’d never reacted this way to other women before, but something about her drove him wild.
He craved her on a level he couldn’t—wouldn’t allow himself to understand.
He just knew he needed her. He needed to feel her against him.
Now. “Of course, I owe you a punishment as well …”
“I hope it leaves me too exhausted to even think.” Brandy was glad she had Mikah for tonight. Whatever their relationship was or wasn’t, she would enjoy their intimate time together. It was a great distraction, and he was incredibly satisfying.
She let Mikah lead her in through the back door and up the stairs to his room. He guided her in and shut the door.
He began stripping his clothes, then stepped toward her, his gaze predatory as he reached for her.
“Show me what you’ve got,” Mikah growled, and crashed his lips against hers.
The morning light shone into the room as Mikah got up to close the curtain.
He turned and smiled at the redhead curled up on his bed fast asleep.
They’d barely slept at all, and his body was protesting being awake.
But the sensual storm between them last night was well worth the exhaustion.
A content smile rested on his lips as he quietly showered.
He glanced at her one last time, watching her peaceful body as she slept.
A body he’d explored and tasted every inch of last night.
For a brief second, he wondered if they could be more, but he quickly pushed that thought aside.
There was too much going on for that to be a thought. He sighed and left his room.
Mikah came down the stairs to see everyone was already standing in the main room.
They’d agreed to head to Elysia first thing in the morning and spend a couple of days there, though Ken was trying to convince Alexa to come back to his home to spend the night, since there was more privacy for them as a newly-mated couple, without interruptions.
Alexa said she would play it by ear. Secretly, Mikah hoped they would.
With Brandy staying there for a few days, he wouldn’t mind taking advantage of that situation.
“Alright, are we all ready to go?” Ken asked, and Mikah nodded his head, Jasper and Terra as well.
“I told Brandy she could stay here for a few days.”
“She can stay as long as she wants.” Ken shrugged like it cost him nothing, and Alexa grinned at Mikah with her eyebrows raised.
“Don’t go thinking more of it than what it is.”
“Whatever, Mikah,” Alexa teased. “Let’s go. We have to hurry before the bears eat all the breakfast.”
Ken chuckled and nodded his head. “Alright, let’s go.”
A moment later, they were all standing inside the castle in Elysia. Alexa looked up to see all of her family in the room, but something was wrong. Their faces looked worried and drained. “What happened?” she asked, looking at her mother.
“Alexa.” Reiya walked over to her, with Lee by her side. She reached out and gently took her daughter’s fingers.
“It’s Ryker. He’s gone.”