Chapter 2 Leviathan
“Reiya, pay attention,” Lita scolded. “You barely dodged that last attack.”
“I was paying attention. I wasn’t expecting you to shoot that many flames at once!” Reiya spat back. She steadied herself and launched a swirling pool of water back toward her mother, who effortlessly blocked it.
The two began a powerful dance using their elemental powers, each colliding with the other, both managing to dodge or block the other’s attack.
But then her mother launched a large flame toward her at the same moment she lost her footing and slipped.
She braced herself, closing her eyes and raising her hands to block the burning flames that would soon envelope her.
Reiya sat there for a moment, but the flames never reached her. She peeked over her arms to see why. There, standing in front of her, was Lee, her summon. He had appeared just in time, blocking the flames, and was now looking back at her.
“Are you okay?” Lee asked as he reached down and helped her up.
“Yeah, I just slipped,” Reiya admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He smiled at her warmly and pulled her into his arms. She blushed.
She knew she shouldn’t find him so attractive, but she couldn’t help it.
He was the only man who wasn’t family that was allowed to embrace her.
He wasn’t someone she could have, though, even though she wanted him.
Even though he had the body of a twenty-year old, no one knew how old he really was.
He was a deity and was simply there to protect her and fight alongside her.
Well, however old he was, he constantly invaded her mind, especially her impure thoughts.
She was practically drooling as she felt his hard muscles beneath her hands.
Then, all too quickly, his warmth was gone, and he gently pulled away from her.
“Try to be more careful, Reiya.” Lee smiled at her and turned to face her parents, who had walked over.
“Thank you for showing up when you did. I would have been so upset if I’d burned her.” Lita sighed thankfully.
“Just doing my job. You could have healed her anyway, but I thought it would be best to avoid the injury altogether.” Lee grinned and looked back at Reiya. She was biting her bottom lip, and she looked a bit embarrassed over the whole situation.
“I think that’s enough training for today,” Asher said, running his hand through his hair. His baby girl was almost hurt. That was all his heart could take for one day.
“Well, my job here is done. I’ll be around,” Lee said, flashing Reiya a dazzling smile and a wink before he vanished.
Damn, he’s hot. What deity isn’t attractive, though? She needed to find her mate soon before Lee became a victim of her loneliness. She was already taking advantage of him in her thoughts. Reiya rubbed her face with her hands. Out of the gutter, Reiya.
“Come on Reiya, let’s go meet your grandparents for dinner. They should be home from their trip now,” Asher said, pulling her into his side. He held Reiya on one side and Lita on the other. “Grayson! Brody! We’re going back for grub. Let’s go!”
The two bears shifted and threw on a pair of shorts they’d brought.
“Coming, dad!” Brody yelled. “Come on, Uncle Grayson, I’ll race you. Let’s see if those old legs of yours can still move.”
“Pfft. Whose legs are you calling old?” Grayson smirked and fully sprinted. He laughed as he passed Brody and stopped just ahead of Asher. “Aw, the young cub just isn’t fast enough.”
“You got a head start. Such a cheater.” Brody pouted, following in step next to Lita.
“You should know better. Grayson and your daddy always find a way to try to get the upper hand.” Lita smiled with a shrug.
“My dear, it sounds like you’re insinuating that we’re cheaters.” Asher raised his brows and looked down at his wife.
Lita smiled and looked up at him. “Well, look who isn’t all brawn today?” Lita then swirled out of his arms and took off running.
“You better run faster than that if you want to escape me!” Asher yelled and took off after her.
“What are we going to do with them? Such kids.” Grayson smirked, looking at Brody and Reiya.
They watched Asher catch up to Lita and twirl her in the air.
He held her bridal style as he took off running with her back to the castle, Lita squealing with happiness the whole way.
They always acted like this ... like they were newly in love.
The truth was, their love was that strong, but it always felt like new love.
They burned brightly together, a very powerful couple with a very strong bond.
I want that, too. Someday ... I really hope I find something like that. Hell, I’ll be happy if it’s even half of what they have together. Reiya smiled as she watched her parents disappear from her sight.
“Ray Ray, you want to come fishing with me and Uncle Grayson tomorrow?” Brody asked as they approached the castle.
“I have plans with Chelsie tomorrow, remember?” Reiya watched him roll his eyes and grumble under his breath.
“She always ends up getting you in trouble. Maybe I should go with you. I don’t like it when you two are left alone together.
Yeah, I’m coming with you. I feel uneasy all of a sudden.
” Brody frowned and shook his head. Knowing how Chelsie was, and knowing how mischievous the girls were together, he didn’t like the idea of leaving Reiya alone with Chelsie.
“Brody, will you relax? Go and fish with Uncle Grayson. We can be apart for a couple of hours. I promise you’ll live through it,” Reiya teased, and Grayson chuckled.
“You’re so much like your mother, Reiya.” Grayson smiled at her. She was so much like Lita, which was good and bad. Lita had always managed to get herself in trouble at Reiya’s age.
As they walked into the dining hall, they saw her parents standing next to Nathon and Alice, who were waving excitedly at Brody and Reiya. “Come here, kiddos,” Alice called out.
“Uh oh, Pap and Grandma are up to something.” Brody smiled at Reiya before the two quickly skipped over to them like little kids about to get a prize.
Nathon grabbed Brody in a headlock and playfully jabbed at his side, while Alice put a gentle arm around Reiya. They watched the rough, affectionate exchange between the two men.
“We got you something special. For both of you. Reiya, you can’t use yours yet, but I’m sure it will come into use soon.” Alice held out two small, black, pearl-like things. “Swallow them.”
“Say what? Umm, Pap … I think Grams is losing it.” Brody leaned into Nathon and got a hard pat on the back.
“Do as she says. We were only able to get a small amount of these. We already gave some to Hunter and Chasen, too,” Nathon said, smiling widely.
“We gave some to your parents, and we have one for Grayson, too.” Alice beamed proudly.
“What are they?” Reiya held the black thing up that she was supposed to just swallow.
“Here, Grayson. Take yours and do as you’re told. Swallow it.” Alice placed one in Grayson’s hand. He examined it for a second, looked up to Asher, and shrugged. He tossed the black pearl in his mouth and swallowed it. Reiya and Brody did the same after that.
“What was that?” Brody grimaced and shook his head.
“They were a gift we received from the cave troll. They were his fingernail clippings.” Nathon smirked, looking at the green faces on Reiya and Brody.
“You both are senile, making us swallow troll fingernails …” Brody was starting to feel sick just thinking about it.
“Why did I swallow a troll’s fingernail?” Grayson asked, looking at Alice and Nathon.
“Because now, when you shift back into your human form, you will do so with clothes on.” Alice clapped excitedly.
“No shit, really?” Brody asked excitedly.
“Brody!” Alice hissed.
“I mean … no way!” Brody gave her a wide, cheesy grin. Grandma was the only one who really protested about language. It was common knowledge to watch your tongue around her.
Reiya was smiling, though inwardly she was sad.
It wasn’t something she could use right now, and was another bitter reminder that she couldn’t shift into her wolf.
She tried not to do that to herself. She wasn’t the overly jealous type.
But really … there had to be something wrong with her.
She went ahead and beat up on herself. Why couldn’t she do what every other normal shifter could?
“So, is there anything else to eat besides troll fingernails?” Brody grinned, hoping there was more for dinner. He was a growing boy, after all.