Chapter 43 Princessssss
Reiya could feel the mood with the other dragons shift around her.
With Mason and Weston now approving of her, the others were quickly following suit.
Weston, though, was openly flirting with her.
He seemed to be enjoying getting a rise out of Xander, going just far enough to provoke a small snarl before backing off.
From what she could gather, Xander, Mason, and Weston used to play together as children.
The King of the Northern Kingdom, Dex, was also close in age with them.
They were all born around the same time, but they all lived very different lives despite being the leaders or future leaders of their kingdoms.
Xander had been alone most of his life. Only high-level dragons could come near him because of his strong aura, and even then, he was the crown prince, so he was avoided.
He was basically raised by Lee and Grandpa Sage.
When the kingdoms gathered, he was able to have short moments of being a kid with the other princes.
Everything changed after Mason was cursed, though.
They were also older by then, too, taking on different responsibilities and becoming very busy with their own kingdoms.
Here, in this moment, though, Reiya could feel it ... the bond they shared. It was something they’d carried with them.
“How’s my angel doing?” Mason smiled as he brushed Reiya’s shoulder with his own.
“Touch your own mate,” Xander growled, pulling Reiya closer into his side.
“Hey, she can’t be your angel. You have my sister,” Weston snorted.
Ruby slid into Mason’s side and smiled. “Reiya is our angel. She is someone we decided is going to always be important to us. She saved us both.”
Reiya shook her hand back and forth in front of her. “Really, this isn’t necessary. Let’s just be normal friends. Please don’t treat me like a savior or something, because I’m not.”
“She’s so modest, too. It’s adorable. Mason, I want her. Can’t we take her back with us?” Ruby tugged onto Mason’s hand like a child pleading to get her way.
“She’s not a pet, Ruby.” Weston shook his head. “Besides, I call dibs on her next.” He winked at Reiya, and once again Xander let out a low snarl.
“You’re really testing my patience, Weston.” Xander leaned down and gently inhaled near Reiya’s head, taking in slight whiffs of her scent.
“Aww, look. He’s using his mate’s scent to calm himself. That’s adorable,” Ruby gushed.
Ruby was not at all what Reiya had pictured as a dragon.
She did not have that arrogant air about her.
She was sweet and gentle, someone she admired and liked instantly.
She was genuine. What she said about Xander had her thinking, though.
Was Xander just playing his part well? To even think to feign calming his fake anger with her scent was playing his role to perfection.
Lee was near Grandpa Sage, just a few feet away from them.
He was just standing there, listening to the Sage speak.
He didn’t really interact much, being more like a silent observer.
For him, though, this was probably incredibly dull.
He had been going to these things for who knows how long.
She was sure this was all very repetitive and boring for him.
She was trying to enjoy herself. She felt like she was really forming a friendship with these people, but something icy kept creeping up her back.
An occasional feeling of dread would seep deep into her stomach.
She was fighting her instincts, which were screaming at her to run, to escape .
.. but she stood there, smiling. Continuing to play her role.
Princessssss, I’ve found you. An eerie voice creeped into her head.
She took in a sharp breath and squeezed her fingers into Xander.
Her heart rate quickened at the sound of the invading voice.
She was afraid to answer it. She was afraid she knew who it was all too well.
Her mother had told her about the first time she’d heard him.
The first time she heard the demon, Abaas.
Xander gave her a side glance, feeling the ever-so-slight change in her. The rhythm of her heartbeat. The sound of her breathing. The tension she was holding and her grip on his arm. Something had alarmed her.
Who are you? Reiya answered the voice back.
She couldn’t focus anymore on the conversation in front of her.
She had to get out. She had to go somewhere where she could focus.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment. I just need to get some fresh air.
” Reiya didn’t give anyone a moment to respond, bolting out of the room and outside to the patio.
Mmmm, you know who I am. I’ve been waiting for you, the voice hissed into her head, creating a pitted, hollow chill inside her.
How did you find me? Reiya stared out into the dense forest. She knew he couldn’t or wouldn’t enter here, but she still was trying to pinpoint his location.
She heard him cackle in her head. It was such a deathly, unpleasant sound that she wrapped her hands around her head.
Do you really think you’re safe here, princessssss? Do you think all the dragons stand united?
Reiya could hear the smirk in his voice. Don’t think you can claim me. You couldn’t claim my mother, and you will not be able to claim me.
Mmmm, the sound of your voice makes me excited. I am going to claim you. All of you. And I can’t wait, princessssss.
Was it the chill of the air or the creepy tone in his words? Maybe both. But she felt herself shudder as a strange new tightness crept over her. He was trying to implant fear into her. He was creepy, but she wasn’t afraid. This bastard had haunted her family for too long.
Awful confident for a man whose ass was kicked by my father. And here you are, thinking you can defeat his daughter? Pfft.
A snarl erupted in her head. She must have hit a sour spot. Good. You would have been safer in Elysia, little girl. Who’s on your side, really? Do you think you can trust them? All of them? What about that dragon mate of yours? Do you really think he sides with the fairies?
Dragon mate ... he had to be talking about Xander. There was a mole in the castle. Who told you about my mate? Reiya felt a moment of panic. If she and Lee were exposed, then the demons also had this information. Who was sneaking information to the demons, and how?
Now that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?
Reiya felt hot arms pull her backward into a heated, brick chest. Her eyes fluttered up for a moment. She looked at Xander and bit her bottom lip. Then, shaking her head slightly, she looked back out into the darkness of the pines.
You think you can win against me? Reiya shot out angrily.
I hear that the sweet princessssss doesn’t have her wolf. What a weak little fairy princesssss you are. You don’t even have the ability to heal. Yes, yes. I know all of this, my sweet princessssss.
Reiya clenched her jaw and squeezed her fists. Xander was silently observing her and scanning the darkness as well. He could tell she was speaking to someone. To be able to reach her through a mindlink, they couldn’t have been that far away.
If it’s just you, one on one, I have no doubt that I will destroy you. I don’t need my wolf to take out the likes of you.
Cheeky princessssss. I like it. I can only imagine what it will feel like for you to melt beneath me. Your spirit will make it even better. I can’t wait to touch you, to impregnate you. Mmmm, yes … soon.
Imagining is all you’ll ever be able to do, Reiya spat out angrily. Hearing him say such things made her feel dirty and grossed out. She wasn’t his to touch.
I’ll be seeing you soon, princessssss. I just wanted you to know that, that you belong to me. You are destined to be mine. Oh, and one more parting word. I’ll be seeing your brother soon, too. He killed a few of my pack members, so I think a meeting with the Black Ice Pack is in order.
Reiya went to answer him back, but she felt the link sever.
Her heart was beating rapidly … in anger, in disgust, and in uncertainty.
She wasn’t afraid of him, but there was fear there as well.
The fear that she could end up in his clutches.
The fear for the safety of her brothers and her pack, and knowing there were enemies among them.
Unable to control the involuntary reaction, her body trembled slightly.
Turning, she sought comfort in Xander's embrace. She felt his reassuring arms engulf her, and she buried her head into his chest. She trusted Xander. Abaas was trying to plant doubt into her head, but it wouldn’t work.
Her body told her to trust him, and she did.
Small beads of water formed in her eyes.
She felt violated, mentally. He had forced his way into her head.
It was a grotesque feeling. Then, the way he spoke, and his words . .. it was unexpected and overwhelming.
She wasn’t weak, but at this moment, she felt weak. She was thankful for Xander, though. He didn’t say a word, just held her gently. She really wasn’t ready to talk. She was trying to rationalize everything that had just happened.
“What’s going on?” Lee’s voice came out with a lethal threat.
Reiya glanced up from Xander's chest. She didn’t even hear him. Her wet eyes looked up at his. She wanted to run into his arms, but she had to fight the urge. More than ever, it really wasn’t safe. She gripped her fingers into Xander to keep herself from doing it.
Xander looked over at Lee and then back down to Reiya. He wasn’t exactly sure what had happened.
Was Hunter going to be in danger soon? She needed to get word to him. Brody ... I need to see Chelsie. I think Hunter and Chasen may be in trouble. I don’t know what I should do.
I’m coming. Where are you?
Just outside.
Almost instantly, they heard a wrecking ball barreling out the door.
Brody spotted Reiya and made hasty strides over to her, yanking her out of Xander's arms and pulling her into his own. He could feel her trembling. He should have been with her. He could tell from Reiya’s voice that something had happened.
Without even waiting for Chelsie, he had taken off like a maniac.
His only goal was to get to her as fast as he could.
Chelsie wasn’t far behind him, though. She was by their side now, smoothing Reiya’s hair.
What happened?
Reiya shook her head. Brody, I don’t know what to do. I want to be with Hunter and Chasen. I can’t stand this.
Reiya, stop. Calm down and tell me what happened.
All Reiya could feel was this deep, strong desire to get to her brothers.
They were stronger together. But was this what Abaas was trying to do?
Was he trying to provoke her into leaving the dragon kingdom?
She was suddenly so conflicted and torn.
She let out the tiniest of whimpers as she struggled to compose herself.
Brody ... it’s Abaas. I heard his voice.
Reiya just couldn’t say any more at that moment, because she was still trying to process it.
She was worried about the Black Ice Pack.
What should she do? Obviously, she needed to warn them and her parents, but she wanted to be there.
She wanted to help. She needed to try to think about this with a level head, but she couldn’t right now.
Brody’s face turned very serious the instant he heard the name.
What the hell happened? This was why guardians shouldn’t take a mate.
He would have been near her when whatever it was happened.
Instead, he was with Chelsie. A surge of guilt panged inside of him.
“Reiya ...” Brody cooed to her. He could feel the tension in her body and her wet tears against his chest. “Let’s talk, okay?
Let’s go somewhere we can talk, so we can figure things out. ”
Her lungs seized as if drowning, each breath a battle against the crushing weight in her chest. Xander and Lee needed to know about the traitors lurking among them.
Her gaze collided with Lee's, his midnight eyes burned into hers, his knuckles white, jaw clenched so tight she could almost hear his teeth grinding.
The invisible thread between them pulled taut, vibrating with need.
Reiya pressed a hand to her sternum where an actual, physical ache bloomed.
She needed his comfort. He was only a few steps away but it seemed like an impossible chasm.
She just wanted him, needed to touch him, breathe him in, and find shelter in his arms.