Chapter 6 Xander
Reiya placed her hand on Xander’s chest. She felt his gentle warmth and a slight tingle at her fingertips. It was soothing, though, nothing that hurt her. She smiled up at him. “I guess you don’t burn me, either.”
Xander’s eyes flickered down at her with an unreadable emotion.
He swiftly reached his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace.
Lowering his head down to her neck, he inhaled her scent.
His arms made her feel like she was snuggling in a warm blanket, her body tingling from his touch.
She didn’t intend to, but she relaxed into his arms. It was such a calming and gentle feeling.
She felt comfortable with him. She heard him chuckle lightly near her ear as he slowly pulled away from her.
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” Xander winked at her and then cleared his throat a bit. “So, that didn’t hurt you at all? How did the hug feel?”
Okay, he was just testing my tolerance to him, Reiya thought to herself with minor disappointment. “It felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket.” Reiya giggled as Chelsie came up and tugged on her arm.
“Reiya, we need to go.” Chelsie glared at Xander and pulled back on Reiya’s arm.
Reiya looked at Chelsie and nodded. “She’s right. I have to get back before my parents discover I’m gone.” She grinned a bit sheepishly at the last part.
Xander stared at her for a moment. His smile faded, and he seemed to be in deep thought. Reiya noticed that both he and Grandpa Sage had a slight glaze over their eyes, and it seemed they were communicating. Xander then refocused on Reiya.
“No … I don’t think you’ll be leaving, Reiya.” Xander reached out and grabbed her hand, firmly but gently.
Chelsie tugged back on Reiya’s arm and shot an icy glare toward Xander. “I’m taking her back home. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll let her leave.”
Xander chuckled darkly and glared at Chelsie.
With an effortless tug, he pulled Reiya away from Chelsie and into his side.
“Easy there.” He took in a few quick sniffs and raised his brows at Chelsie.
“Little water pony, you’re the one who needs to be careful.
” He looked down at Reiya and into her confused eyes.
“I’m sorry, Reiya. It’s best if you stay here.
You know, all the dragon kingdoms will be gathering here over the next month.
This will be a great time for you to bridge the divide with our kind. ”
He was right. When else would she have an opportunity like this? She knew that, with the impending war, they would need the dragons as allies. Although she felt like there was more to it when it came to keeping her there, she couldn’t refute his logic.
“You’re right. This will be a good opportunity to work on relations.
” Reiya looked at Xander and frowned. “My parents are not going to like this, though. I’m not sure how they’ll react to this news.
” Reiya could already hear her daddy. He would be furious.
Honestly, she didn’t think there was any way he would sit idly by and allow her to stay in the dragon kingdom.
“I’ll handle them,” Xander said mischievously, a crooked half-smile on his lips.
Reiya sighed. “If you say so. Chelsie, could you please let my parents know where I am and have some things brought to me? Knowing Brody, he’ll be coming to stay with me.” Reiya looked up at Xander. “I hope that’s okay, but my guardian will also be with me—”
“And me!” Chelsie snorted out angrily. She wasn’t about to leave her friend around all these grotesque serpents.
Xander smiled and nodded to Reiya. “That’s not a problem. As long as you give me your word that you will never leave without seeking permission first.”
Reiya looked at him with wide eyes. He was making this sound indefinite.
“For safety reasons, of course. It’s very dangerous out there right now, Reiya.
Demons are scouring the land in numbers we've never seen.” Xander noticed her shocked eyes and quickly tried to alleviate her worries.
Letting her go back was the farthest thing from his mind, though.
He’d noticed something very interesting about Reiya, and he couldn’t allow her to leave.
He needed to keep her longer, long enough for her to one day willingly choose to stay.
“Reiya, I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.” Chelsie frowned and looked at her friend, who was being held in the arms of a stranger. This whole situation was her fault. She couldn’t help the murderous feeling growing inside her. She knew she hated dragons for a reason.
“Chelsie, I’m not by myself. Go ahead and go.” Reiya reminded her that she wasn’t alone, what with Lee being just a quick shout away.
Chelsie snorted at this thought. Lizards of a feather flocked together. Leviathan was a dragon, even if he was a deity. Where did his loyalties really lie? Who would he choose, Reiya or the dragons? She frowned, defeated. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She squinted her eyes shut and, with a deep breath, ran toward a nearby pond. It was going to be hell when Reiya’s parents found out. They would come for her, especially when she told them Xander wouldn’t let her leave.
Xander kept Reiya tucked under his arm. “Come on, Reiya … you hungry? Let’s get you something to eat and maybe we can get to know each other better.”
Reiya looked up at him. There was a vulnerability in his eyes.
Despite the situation, he didn’t seem like a bad guy.
He let her feel like she chose to stay here on her own, when she knew that wasn’t the case.
It was either choose to be here willingly or stay here as a captive.
She had just chosen the easier route. However, it really was a good opportunity to get to know the dragons.
All the kingdoms would be there, so if she could get on their good side, maybe they would ally themselves with the fairies.
She knew she would never get a chance like this again.
So, for the sake of her people, she decided to stay as a willing captive.
If that was what she had to be in order to help her people, then so be it.
This was the first time she’d really acted like a future leader for the fairies.
Surprisingly, she wasn’t afraid. She felt comfortable around Xander, and she trusted Grandpa Sage.
She might as well try to enjoy this experience and see where the ride took her.
Though, it was funny … she went from being locked in one cage to getting locked into another. At least it was a change of scenery.
She’d heard before that time flowed differently in the dragon kingdom.
She wasn’t exactly sure how it worked or how it was different, but the rumor was that it could flow faster or slower.
Because of that, it was easy to lose track of time, since you never knew how much time had actually gone by.
It seemed like she would be finding out.
Reiya and Xander sat at a table toward the back of the party area.
It was a bit more secluded, so it gave them a bit more privacy for talking.
She didn’t miss the cold glares she got from various people, but she could understand them.
After all, she was being very casual with their royalty.
Grandpa Sage was also giving her a lot of attention.
She had the feeling she was being envied hard right about now.
Xander looked up behind Reiya and a smirk rested on his face. She turned to look to see who he was looking at. There was Lee, walking toward them, and he was shooting a deadly glare at Xander.
“Lee!” Reiya jumped up and leaped into his arms. She normally wasn’t so forward with him, but her safety net had finally arrived. She was surprised he didn’t show up sooner. If she ever really wanted to leave, he was her trump card for getting out of here.
“Reiya.” Lee scooped her up in his arms and smoothed her hair back with his hand. “Are you okay?” He looked over her gently, watching her nod with a smile on her face. Then, he returned his icy glare to Xander.
“What game are you playing?” Lee growled out lowly to Xander.
Xander smiled widely. “Levi … so you finally decided to grace us with your presence. You know you’re supposed to be present during this event, since it is a big deal.”
Reiya noted the exchange. The men knew each other. Xander also called him Levi, which meant they were close. He told her that she could call him Levi, but she had adopted the nickname Lee, which he permitted as well. It felt more personal and intimate, her endearing name for him.
“Xander …” Lee growled again. Reiya noticed the tension in his arm as his fists balled up. It looked like he was trying to show some restraint and control his anger.
“I thought it would be nice to keep such a beautiful fairy around. I think if anyone can sway the hearts of our kind, it’s her.
” Xander winked at Reiya and then stood up.
He walked up to Lee, who still had an arm around Reiya.
“Also …” He reached out and pulled Reiya from Lee, then rested an arm around her shoulders and smiled.
“Look, Levi. I can hold her, and it doesn’t bother her. ”
Lee looked at Xander's arm around Reiya and his eyes grew dark. “Careful.” His voice was quiet, dripping with a lethal warning.
The atmosphere became very intense. Reiya felt Xander's hand tighten on her shoulder as the two dragons pinned their gaze on each other.
Their eyes glazed over as they silently communicated with one another.
She could feel the anger rising. Xander's joking demeanor was soon gone, his lips forming a snarl at Lee.
“Come come, my dear. You come with me. Don’t worry about these two. They are always like this. You know what they say ... the closer you are, the more you fight.” Grandpa Sage walked up and plucked Reiya away from Xander’s side.
Reiya’s head was pounding. The pressure from being between the two of them was stirring a power deep inside her. She could almost feel it trying to claw its way out. It wasn’t able to set itself free … it only managed to make her head throb.
She walked away with Grandpa Sage. The situation felt weird.
She didn’t know that Lee was so close with the dragons.
It made sense, since they were his kind, but she had always imagined him just watching over them from a distance.
Xander made it sound like he actually visited there, if not lived there as well.
Grandpa Sage said they were really close, so they had to see each other often.
“Who is this lovely girl that seems to have captivated the lords?” A man with sun-kissed skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair walked up and stood in front of her and Grandpa Sage.
“Reiya, I would like for you to meet Reese. Reese is captain of the guards and Xander's cousin. Reese, this is Reiya. She is the princess of the fairies.”
“Oh? The lords are smitten over a fairy princess? Not that I can blame them. You are a beauty.” Reese winked at Reiya.
“I don’t think they’re smitten with me.” Reiya smiled back politely. It felt more like they were fighting over a toy than over a lover.
“I don’t know about that. I noticed that Xander's touch doesn’t harm you. That is very … curious. Want to dance, pretty lady?” Reese extended his hand to Reiya and flashed a wide grin to her.
Reiya smiled. Why not? She was getting more male attention than she’d ever gotten. She had always been surrounded by an overprotective power force. It was nice to finally get asked to dance without being afraid of her family.
“Are you sure you want to? I’m not exactly dressed to impress.” Reiya giggled, looking herself over.
“And you’re still one of the prettiest ladies here.” He winked and motioned for her hand with his fingers.
Reiya giggled and reached out, taking his hand. She smiled back at Grandpa Sage and allowed the gentleman to lead her out to the dance floor. She might as well enjoy herself.