Chapter 74
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
“MIKAH!” Alexa yelled as she sat up. Her forehead glistened as she panted heavily. It took her a moment to figure out where she was. She blinked her eyes and looked around.
“Alexa.”
Lucie reached out and grabbed Alexa’s hand, and Alexa closed her eyes, slowly shaking her head. No. No. No. No. She was in Elysia. Where was Mikah?
Mikah … Alexa rested her other hand on her chest. He’d quit being her guardian. She was going to freeze his brain when she saw him. How dare he?! They were a team!
However, she still felt connected to him.
It was a different light than the guardian one.
It was definitely his, just on a different level.
There was a connection there, though it felt thready and in distress.
She needed to get to Mikah. She looked around, searching for Ken.
She saw her cousin Justice, her cousin Lucie, and Lucie’s husband Derrick. But not Ken.
“It’s okay. You’re back in Elysia …” Lucie watched as Alexa shook her head, becoming more agitated. She turned and looked at Derrick. “Let Aunt Reiya know she’s awake.”
“Lexi girl.” Justice plopped onto the bed beside her and placed his arm around her shoulder. He was Lucie’s guardian, but he was hoping he could still help Alexa by being near her. She was family, and he could already see how distraught she was.
“Where’s Ken?” Alexa whispered.
“Ken and your father aren’t here. It’s okay, Alexa …” Lucie squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her.
“I need to get to Mikah. How long have I been here?” Alexa looked over at Justice, who was patting her shoulder.
“Why don’t you lean back and relax?” Justice said in a calming tone.
“I’m fine! There’s nothing wrong with me. I need to get to Mikah!” Alexa yelled, shrugging Justice off of her. “How long?!” She turned and looked at Lucie.
“Two days.” Lucie watched as Alexa’s shoulders slunk down.
“Two days? Why? How?” Alexa didn’t understand why she was asleep for so long. She looked up at Lucie, who lowered her gaze to the floor. “What did they do to me?” she demanded quietly.
“Grandma has been keeping you asleep,” Lucie admitted in a whisper. She watched as her cousin closed her eyes briefly, fighting to contain her anger. “They were concerned about you. They know … how upsetting this will be.”
“So they keep me asleep? I should be out there getting Mikah back!” Alexa snapped, then took in a deep breath. “Sorry, Lucie. I don’t mean to snap at you. This isn’t your fault.”
Lucie smiled and shook her head. “I understand. I would be upset too. I think Ken and your father are searching for Mikah.”
“I need to call Ken back for me. I can help them find him—”
“No, Alexa. We will need you here,” Reiya said firmly, walking into the room with Derrick right behind her.
“The cloaked army can arrive at any moment. And without your father and mate here, we’ll need you.
Xander is here to help if we need it. But as the future leader of the fairies, you must be here, Alexa. ”
“But Mikah—”
“Has your father and Ken looking for him. Elysia needs you here.” Reiya looked at Alexa and smiled. “I know your heart wants to find Mikah. I want him back here too. But we are leaders of the fairies, and we’re needed here. I know you understand.”
Alexa inhaled sharply and looked down at her hands. She closed her eyes and searched through her summon link for Ken.
Ken, can you hear me?
My love, I’ve missed your voice. I miss your face …
I … I can’t stand this.
I’ll be by your side soon. I’ll find Mikah. Lex, I can feel him. I’ll keep searching until I find him. We’re close.
You can feel him? How?
Through your connection to him. There’s a lot to talk about. I’ll explain later. But right now, I need to concentrate.
Please bring him back to me … Mikah is important to me.
I know, my love. I will find him. I love you. Stay inside Elysia and be safe. If you need me, call out for me.
Alexa felt him close off the link before she could respond.
He must really need to focus, which meant he must really be close.
She silently pleaded they find him soon.
Mikah had always been part of her. She was so young when he became her guardian that she didn’t remember what it was like to not have his light.
But now she felt incomplete. Like something was missing, and it was uncomfortable.
They heard a soft knock at the door, and everyone lifted their gazes. Lita walked in, smiling. A woman with black hair tightly pulled up in a high ponytail walked in behind her. She was tall, toned, with a tan complexion. Her brown eyes looked at Alexa and she slightly bowed her head.
“I heard you were awake.” Lita watched Alexa’s eyes narrowing at her, a look she wasn’t shocked to get, given the circumstances. “Alexa, this is Nita. Nita will be taking over as your guardian—”
“No,” Alexa said firmly.
“Lex—” Reiya began, trying to reason with her daughter.
“I SAID NO!” Alexa yelled angrily. “I have a guardian. He cut the link to protect me. Not because he doesn’t want to be my guardian. He. Is. My. Guardian.”
Lita nodded her head. “Be that as it may, Nita will be taking over his duties for now.”
“I don’t accept you,” Alexa said firmly, glaring at Nita.
“I understand, princess. It is still my job to protect you no matter what,” Nita said in a clear voice.
“This is the next guardian?” Justice quirked his brow and stared at the woman.
“Yes, Justice. She is the guard guardian of Elysia. Nita, this is Justice, Lucie’s guardian.” Lita watched as Nita nodded respectfully.
“I know who the fairy guardians are. Even if they don’t take the time to learn who the guard guardian is,” Nita said, glancing sharply at Justice. There was a hint of hostility in that remark that didn’t go unnoticed.
“It’s harder to keep up with all the guardians now.
Back when I was the fairy princess, there were only three guardians.
That was the standard. There were never more than three at a time.
But that has changed now. We have evolved.
We now have several guardians and some of them have taken mates.
” Lita looked over at Justice with a small smile.
“Though I think my grandson should have introduced himself to you a long time ago.”
“Oh, wait. You’re Captain Try Hard, right? I remember now.” Justice said innocently, but Nita’s gaze sharpened as she glared at him. “I mean, we were never formally introduced, but I remember seeing you train. Grayson said you live and breathe being a guardian.”
“As a real guardian should,” Nita said indifferently.
“And what is that supposed to mean?!” Justice growled, standing up defensively.
The two guardians’ auras swirled in the air, clashing against the other.
Lita smiled as she remembered when Grayson met the guard guardian of Elysia.
They’d had an intense stare down. Then, when Dylan and Grayson first met, there was a lack of trust between them.
It was a guardian’s nature. To be suspicious first and overly protective.
“Nita has trained hard and has really stepped into the role after the last guard guardian stepped down.” Lita listened as Justice chuckled.
“Funny how that works. Live and breathe being a guardian, but it isn’t forever for the guard guardians.
They can step down. Of course, not the ones who guard the royals.
We’re with them for life. We don’t take the easy road when we get older.
” Justice put his little jab in, but Nita completely ignored him. Instead, she was looking at Alexa.
“It’s nothing against you, but I have a guardian. And he risked everything to protect me. I can’t and I won’t accept anyone else as my guardian but him,” Alexa said, her voice firm yet kind. She had nothing against Nita, but she wasn’t her guardian. That spot could only belong to Mikah.
“Alexa, Nita will be following you around for now. Even if you won’t accept the guardian bond, it will be her job to protect you.” Lita looked at Alexa, speaking in her usual no-nonsense voice.
Alexa sighed. She wasn’t going to win this one.
“Fine,” she said, her tone resigned. “But I won’t accept another guardian bond.” She then looked at Nita. “I can tell you take your job very seriously. However, I don’t like to feel smothered. And …” Alexa shook her head. “It just feels wrong. Because Mikah …” she trailed off quietly.
“I’m not trying to take your guardian’s place. You are bonded. I understand that. I’m just here to protect you until you get him back.” Nita smiled at Alexa, reassuring her. “I understand the situation. I just want to keep you safe.”
“Thank you,” Alexa said sincerely. Alexa knew Nita meant well. But she had a guardian. She didn’t need another one.
Reiya walked over and pulled Alexa into a hug. “I know your heart hurts, my sweet daughter. But we will do everything we can to get Mikah back.”
Alexa looked over at Justice, who had an amused look on his face. “What?” She asked him.
“Oh nothing … just thinking is all.” Justice’s lips curled upward.
“About?” Lucie asked as Derrick rubbed her shoulders.
“Well, just curious to see how Nita does being the guardian of Alexa. She is used to being the guardian of a place. A place that isn’t disobedient, stubborn, or runs away. One that doesn’t get into trouble.” Justice looked over at Nita. “Now you’ll see what a challenge they actually are.”
“Hey!” Lucie snorted as she shot daggers at her cousin.
“You know it’s true, Luce. And I know you can hear your husband agreeing with me.” Justice looked up at Derrick, who chuckled quietly behind Lucie.
“He’s right,” Derrick said slyly as he slid his arms around Lucie, gently rubbing her baby bump. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You better say that,” Lucie teased.
“Whether I say it or not, you already know how I feel.” Derrick kissed her cheek and pulled her into his arms. “Come on. I know your feet are sore. I’ll massage them for you.” He kept his arm around her as he guided her out of the room.
“Yes. I’m off duty!” Justice rolled his shoulders back and stretched his arms upward. “Time to find Aedan and beat him at some games.”
“Such a tough life …” Nita scoffed quietly.
“One of the perks when they have a mate. Trust me … they don’t want you around during private time anyway.” Justice winked at her as he walked out the door.
“Alexa,” Reiya said, and her daughter shifted her focus back to her. “I have some things to tell you about Mikah.”