Chapter 77
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
Nita slowly made her way to the barrier. She might not be Alexa’s official guardian, but it was her job to protect her right now. She had just reached the tree line, close enough to see the shimmer of the barrier through the trunks, when a rough hand grabbed her arm and turned her around.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Justice growled as she jerked her arm away from him.
“What everyone else should be doing!” Nita snarled back at him.
Justice scoffed and narrowed his eyes at her.
“What everyone else should be doing?!” He whipped his hand behind him, pointing at the army in the distance.
“Who among them wouldn’t die for her? Alexa is my family!
Don’t you think I would do anything for her?
But this …” He shook his head. “We all know better. We’ve seen the strength of a tier-one deity.
It isn’t a battle we can win on our own, let alone with him holding a hostage …
my cousin! Don’t you think it’s killing us? ”
“So, you just give up? You just let her march away and do nothing?” Nita answered angrily, and Justice scoffed at her.
“Idiot. Is that what it looked like? That we just shrugged our shoulders and said off you go?” Justice lips curled up as he bared his clenched teeth.
“I WOULD TAKE HER PLACE IN A SECOND!” he growled angrily.
His shoulders lowered and he shook his head.
“But I also trust her. I believe in her. We all do.” He looked at Nita and a sad smile formed over his face.
“If we charge out there to fight, we will make the situation even more dangerous for Alexa. We will be more people she has to protect. It wouldn’t be us protecting her.
We would either end up killed or become another hostage.
” A crooked smile rose over his lips as he looked at her.
“It is a lot tougher than guarding a place, isn’t it? ”
Nita pursed her lips and nodded her head.
Justice rested his hand on her head. “It’ll be okay.
No matter what. This isn’t over. Alexa is the strongest fairy princess to ever exist. And she’s clever.
I’m sure she has a plan.” Justice looked up past Nita at the woods.
He understood how Nita was feeling. He wanted to raise his sword and create devastation out there.
But he would be no more annoying than a gnat to Erebus.
Right now, all they could do was trust in Alexa.
And pray that Ken and Levi returned soon.
Alexa took commanding strides out of the barrier, her head held high. Her eyes were fixed on Erebus and his grip on Raine. She continued to close the gap until they were only a few yards apart. She wanted to slice that crooked smile off of Erebus’ face. His damn, smug, victorious face.
“Look at you … Though I have to say, I think I liked you better when you were dark.” Erebus’ smirk faded as his gaze landed on her neck.
He scoffed, tightening his grip on Raine.
He shook his head and clenched his teeth.
Ken couldn’t wait to mark her. HER! What was so special about her?
Just because she was his mate? Just because of the mate pull, he wanted her?
Well, he would find out himself what was special about her.
Maybe she was what he needed to find happiness.
“Let. Her. Go,” Alexa said, her voice cold. Her eyes met Raine’s, and she smiled. “Don’t worry, Raine. Everything is going to be just fine.” She looked past Erebus and noticed the strange distortion where the grass and background blurred and swayed unnaturally. The cloaked army …
A cruel smile spread over Erebus’ lips as he noticed Alexa’s gaze.
With one hand, he held Raine’s arms above her head, the fingertips of his other hand trailing over her side.
“You have no value to me except as a hostage.” His gaze lifted to Alexa as he moved his head to the crook of Raine’s neck, his tongue tracing over her skin.
She struggled against him, and his cruel smile spread.
“What will it be, Alexa? Should I taste her in another way? Or are you ready to play nice?”
Fucking pig. She watched as his hand began to trail lower, and Raine whimpered.
He started to slide his hand inside her pants, and the temperature around them suddenly changed.
The wind swirled as ice began to freeze his feet.
“Careful,” Alexa said, her tone lethal. “I may not be able to straight-up kill you, but …” She allowed her ice to trail upward.
“I’m sure I can freeze off an appendage.
” His eyes twitched, and he removed his hand from Raine’s pants.
Erebus chuckled sinisterly as a smirk spread across his face.
“No need to get nasty. Unless that’s what you want …
” He held Alexa’s gaze. She looked at him differently than before.
There was no fear in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of him at all, which he found unsettling.
Maybe she thought Ken would be coming to her rescue?
“He isn’t coming for you. Neither is your father. Your guardian will be handling them right about now …” Erebus watched as her eyes flickered slightly, and he grinned. “Yes, I know where they are, and about the trap that was waiting for them. Such a shame …”
She gritted her teeth and glared at him. He was quite taken aback by her attitude. He expected her to have a panic attack or something. Something that would be easy to control. Instead, there was a murderous contempt for him in her eyes
For a split second, Alexa thought back to her father, mate, and guardian.
She wondered if they were okay. But she quickly shook her head and focused on Erebus.
She couldn’t let him get to her. She needed to concentrate on the task in front of her.
Her eyes turned to Raine. Right now, she needed to make sure her family was safe, and that included getting rid of the cloaked army.
“Aren’t you worried?” Erebus asked.
Alexa smiled and stared at him. “Aren’t you? With the number of people wanting to kill you … I mean, your world is getting smaller and smaller.”
Erebus shrugged. “My world isn’t getting smaller.
I’m just expanding it in another direction.
But I have found a way to keep me undetected.
Look at me, princess. I’m right in front of you.
But do you sense me? My aura is blocked so no one can.
And on that note …” He dangled Raine as he lifted her into the air with his one hand.
“The exchange … I want your word that you will come with me willingly. You agree to this, and I’ll let her go. ”
Alexa scoffed. “Not so fast. I want the army gone as well.”
“What army?” Erebus chuckled and looked around.
Alexa formed a ball in her hand, yellow with black swirls that spun rapidly.
She launched the ball of energy behind Erebus.
It smashed against an invisible barrier and caused a rippling effect.
The vision of the army temporarily came into view as the barrier swelled in and out from the impact.
She looked over at Erebus and raised her brows.
“Oh … that army.” Erebus shrugged. “They aren’t really my army.”
“Yeah, but I’m betting you can make them leave. Either you make them leave or I’ll eliminate them. But I am not going anywhere with them here.” Alexa watched Erebus’ eyes flicker as he stared at her.
“If I order the army to leave, you will come with me willingly. You will stay with me willingly.”
“Not indefinitely. And by no means does that mean I will share your bed.” Alexa watched as his lips curled up.
“Only willingly …” Erebus listened as Alexa snorted.
“No, Alexa, don’t!” Raine pleaded as she tried to twist free.
“You don’t have a say.” Erebus chuckled as he tightened his grip.
“Enough.” Alexa glared at him and licked her lips.
“You have a deal. But get rid of the army now.” She looked at Raine and gave her a small, reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, Raine. This is my decision.
I just need you safe.” This was exactly what she wanted.
She wanted to go back to Erebus’ place. It was cloaked and hidden away.
This was the first step to getting rid of Erebus.
Erebus stared at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Fine.” He snickered as he walked back a few steps and stared at the army.
“There has been a change of plans. Witch! I know you can hear me. The army is to pull back.” Erebus waited a second and then added, “Especially if you want what I have.” The next moment, the cloaked army vanished in a poof of black smoke.
The nycrops must have had them linked to a sister crystal in order to move a whole army like that.
Alexa saw the grass slowly returning to its original position. She slammed her hands on the ground and her icy magic raced toward the area, freezing everything. She wanted to make sure no one was left hidden. There was no one there. She straightened herself up and nodded at Erebus.
“You have my word,” Alexa said, and Erebus laughed loudly.
“Oh that is the most adorable thing ever,” he declared.
“I can’t simply take your word for it. You will swear it.
” A black crystal appeared in front of Alexa.
“Put your hand on it and swear you will come with me willingly and stay with me. If you go back on your word …” The black crystal glowed. “Then your soul will belong to me.”
“How long? How long do I have to promise to stay willingly?” Alexa knew he was probably planning to keep her around until the nembrant glass was ready for her. She wasn’t stupid. But he was underestimating her right now. She had a plan. A plan that would bring about Erebus’ downfall.
“A month,” Erebus said casually.
Alexa nodded her head. It didn’t matter to her how long, since she didn’t plan on him living the full amount of time anyway.
She reached out and placed her hands on the crystal.
She swore upon it, contracting her soul in a binding agreement.
Once she was done, she looked up, and Erebus released his hold on Raine.
Raine ran to Alexa and wrapped her arms around her. “Alexa.” She sniffled as Alexa hugged her back.
“Raine, go back inside the barrier. Everyone is worried about you. I’m going to be just fine. Tell them not to worry about me.”
“But Lex …”
“Go. Please.” Alexa looked at her cousin, whose eyes were watering. Raine nodded, reluctantly releasing her hold on Alexa and walking back toward the barrier.
“Alright.” Alexa watched as Erebus stepped up to her. He placed his arm around her, gripping her shoulder.
“Time to go to your new home,” Erebus said as black smoke engulfed them.
Alexa felt the cold smoke embrace her skin and she closed her eyes. This was just the first step of her plan. And she only promised to go and stay willingly. She never promised that she wouldn’t try to kill him …
As she felt herself being teleported away, an energy rippled inside her. A powerful light began to flicker in and out. She reached her hand up and gripped her chest as she vanished with Erebus.
The blue light engulfed the room and embraced Mikah. The energy swirled out of Levi and into Mikah, awakening an energy inside him. As the light faded, it revealed Mikah’s blue eyes.
“Levi!” Mikah choked out as he held onto the limp body against him.
“There … all is as it should be. You’re Alexa’s guardian again,” Levi coughed out.
“Levi …” Mikah cradled Levi’s body in his arms as he lowered him to the ground. “You’re going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.” He looked up frantically at Ken, who had a very solemn look on his face. “Heal yourself! Why aren’t you healing?!”
A loud explosion echoed through the chamber, and sparks flew across the room. Ken stepped through the shattered bars, having finally smashed through them. He came closer to examine Levi, and then his eyes traveled to Mikah.
Mikah gripped Levi’s bloodied hand, squeezing it.
“You’re going to be alright … You’re going to be alright …
” Levi was the closest thing to a father he’d ever had.
He’d watched over him and guided him. He’d saved him.
Levi had saved him from being a slave for the dark elves.
He’d saved him from that hell when he was a child.
Because of him, he had Alexa, who had saved him from the pain of being alone.
Levi squeezed Mikah’s hand and smiled at him. “It’s alright, Mikah,” Levi whispered weakly. “I’m proud of you … my son. I love … you …” That was the last thing Levi said before his hand went limp and his eyes closed.
“Levi,” Mikah whispered as he squeezed his lifeless hand. “LEVI! Don’t you dare die on me! Don’t leave me with that guilt! Levi!” Mikah yelled, shaking Levi’s shoulders.
Ken stared down at Levi’s still body, frowning as he raised his hands to cover his face. He took in deep, steadying breaths as he fought to hold his composure.
“Damn it, Levi! How could you be so weak?! How could you allow someone like me to kill you?” Mikah spat out as tears streaked down his face.
“Alright, enough of this. We have to head back.” Ken snorted and turned to look at the door.
Mikah snapped his head in Ken’s direction. “We aren’t leaving him here like this!”
Ken clicked his tongue. “Of course not. It’s time to leave.” He stepped up to Levi and swung his foot, kicking him in the side. “Get up. I can’t believe you finally developed a sense of humor, and it is morbid.”
“Ouch!” Levi coughed out and opened his eyes.
“Well, I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed.
I thought you would finally call me dad,” he said as he sat up, smiling slightly.
“Sorry about that, Mikah. I know that was wrong to do. I was honestly so exhausted, I just needed a minute to recharge, and —” Mikah crashed into Levi, wrapping his arms around him.
Levi smiled and patted Mikah’s back. “It’s alright, son. I’m okay.”
“Luckily!” Ken snorted. “He’s only alive right now because of a miracle.”
“Because of my fairy.” Levi smiled, looking up at Ken. “My fairy magic woke up and it connected me to Reiya. Her powers entered into me, healing me. I’m sure it completely drained her.”
“Fairy magic … it’s pretty clever, isn’t it?” Ken smirked at Mikah. “Smarter than our puddle pirate.”
Mikah pushed away from Levi and wiped his eyes. “Thank you both for coming for me.”
“Of course. We will always come for you. Besides … Alexa can’t live without you.” Ken chuckled, and then he saw Levi’s eyes widen.
“Alexa …” Levi heard Reiya’s voice in his mind. “We have to get back to Elysia. Now!”