Chapter 66 Protect
Lee had kissed Reiya goodbye, and she jumped in the shower.
They’d had a very intimate morning together, full of truths and affirmations, promising themselves to each other.
The emotional connection between them was sealed.
Now they just needed to seal the physical side of the deal.
She was nervously excited for that day. She couldn’t wait to be completely his.
She walked into the closet and pulled out a dress that she was to wear for the dinner tonight.
It was a long, form-fitting, silky black dress with spaghetti straps.
There was a slit on each side of the gown that came up to her lower thigh.
She put the dress on and prepared her hair and make-up, preparing to play her part tonight.
She had decided to pretend she was an actress getting ready to go on stage, and as the leading actress, she wouldn’t be outperformed. No, she had to shine.
She heard a knock at the door, and Chelsie walked in with Brody.
“Reiya, you’re so beautiful,” Chelsie gushed as she came up to admire her friend.
Reiya smiled. “Says the gorgeous girl in front of me. Your dress looks perfect on you.” Chelsie was wearing a blue satin sleeveless dress that accentuated her body beautifully.
“She is gorgeous, isn’t she?” Brody pulled Chelsie into his side and kissed her temple. “You look stunning as well, Reiya.” Brody looked at his sister and smiled. “I don’t think dad would approve of the dress, though.”
Reiya giggled. “What dress would dad approve of, a habit?”
Brody chuckled and nodded his head.
“We’ll be nearby tonight, Reiya, but for obvious reasons, won’t be near the main event.” Brody wanted her to know that, even though she might not be able to see them, they wouldn’t be far.
Reiya nodded and smiled. “Don’t worry about me or anything. I’m fine. I feel okay about all this.”
“Well, I don’t. Look how appetizing you look. How is Xander not going to want to devour you for real?” Chelsie pouted and folded her arms across her chest.
“Xander is family.” Reiya smiled as she looked at Chelsie. “Just think of him as one of my brothers.”
“Except he isn’t family. You’re just a delicious entree on the table,” Chelsie snorted, unconvinced.
“Chels, you can feel my feelings now. I trust Xander, and I want you to trust him, too.”
Chelsie smiled and nodded. “Well, we’ll be close by if you change your mind and want us to cause a scene. I’ll send my little bear in there to cause some havoc.”
“Hmmph … there is nothing little about your bear,” Brody teased lowly near Chelsie’s ear, which caused her to giggle.
“Too much information. Sister here.” Reiya closed her eyes and held her fingers up to her ears. “Okay, I’m done. So, let’s get this party started.”
Brody groaned a bit and dragged his feet, following Reiya and Chelsie.
“Don’t worry, Brody, they’ll have food there,” Reiya teased.
“Yeah, you don’t have to worry about robbing any picnic baskets today.” Chelsie giggled and yelped as he gripped her side.
“I’m heading down the stairs now, so I don’t see or hear anything that I shouldn’t.” Reiya giggled again as she headed down the long stairwell.
Brody and Chelsie followed behind her, and after the long, downward journey, they finally reached the main floor. Reiya opened the door and the three of them entered the hallway.
“Hey Reiya, I was just coming to get you …” Xander looked at her quietly, and a small blush rose on his cheeks. “Damn, Reiya, you look a bit too appetizing.”
“Brother my ass …” Chelsie snorted quietly.
“You look all nice and dressed to impress yourself.” Reiya walked up to Xander and took his arm.
He smiled down at her. She had no clue how charming she was.
Simply lovely. “I have to tend to a few things before the dinner gets started. I’m leaving you in Dex’s capable hands.
Stay away from Weston, though,” Xander growled as he walked Reiya down the hall.
“I don’t trust his philandering self near you. ”
“Weston is just a flirt, not unlike yourself.” Reiya gave him a wry smile and he chuckled quietly. They turned to walk into the great room, and Dex was standing there, along with Reese.
“Reese will also be watching over you. He’s family and I trust him. Plus, he knows I’ll kill him if anything happens to you, so there’s extra motivation there.” Xander watched Reiya roll her eyes.
“What exactly am I being protected from right now?”
“It doesn’t matter. You will always be someone that needs to be guarded. If I’m not around, you will have a guard.”
“Hmmm … awful confident in your capabilities.” Reiya shot him a side eye, and he grinned as he stopped and turned to look into her eyes.
“Yes, I am. I’m very capable.”
“Well … surprise, because so am I.” Reiya snorted and crossed her arms.
“I know, princess. Humor me, though.” He winked at her and then looked back at Brody. “I know, with the circumstances tonight, you may not be right there, but I do have others watching over her today, too. So, feel free to enjoy yourself. Take a night off as her guardian.”
“There’s never a day off, especially with this one. But I may relax on the job a bit more tonight.” He winked as he tugged Chelsie into his side. After all, he was getting to spend a night with his girl. He was going to treat this like a date.
Dex whistled. “Now, don’t you look enchanting? I’m lucky to get to have you at my side.”
“For now, Dex. Not for keeps.” Xander snorted at him and then turned to Reiya. “Be good.” He pointed at her and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Dex …” Xander’s eyes locked onto his. “She’s precious to me, so ...”
“Xander, go do what you need to. Nothing will happen to her next to me. She’s safe.
” Dex smiled at how protective Xander was over her.
He had never seen him like this before. It showed how much he treasured her.
She was special. She was captivating. She drew you in.
She was someone he could see himself becoming good friends with.
And he had never been the type of person to make friends easily.
Xander nodded. “Reese, keep a distance, but always in view.” With those final words, he walked away.
Dex chuckled and wrapped his arm into Reiya’s. “Well, now that the warden’s gone, let’s go for a walk. Have you seen the lower flower garden?”
Reiya shook her head, and his eyes lit up in excitement. “I’m so excited to show you, then. It’s a highlight of my trip. Nowhere else has a garden like it.”
Reiya turned and glanced at Chelsie and Brody. “You guys can go in and get seats inside the tent. I already have a seat reserved, so you may want to go and save your own.”
Brody and Chelsie stood there, staring at her like she was crazy.
“You two, I’m fine. You act like I’m about to get sniped by an assassin.
Seriously, get. Go and enjoy some time together.
” Reiya wanted them to enjoy themselves.
Honestly, having all these armed guards was ridiculous. She wasn’t exactly fragile.
The two continued to stand there, unconvinced.
“Chelsie, please. I can’t enjoy myself if you guys don’t go and have fun. I’ll mindlink you if there’s a problem.”
Chelsie snorted. “Fine. But I swear, if something happens to you, I’m having dragon soup.” She tugged onto Brody’s arm, and he reluctantly allowed her to pull him away.
Reiya sighed, shaking her head. This would be good for them. This was the best chance they had of not having to guard her. They needed to take advantage of moments like these.
“So, beautiful, you’re all mine right now?” Dex grinned as he led her out the door.
“I don’t think so. I’m coming too!” Weston yelled, walking up to the two of them. He looked Reiya over. “Yeah, I’m not letting you go anywhere alone with her.”
Dex laughed. “Like I’m the one who’s untrustworthy with women.”
Weston grinned. “This one is on a whole different level, and you know it.”
Reiya laughed and shook her head at the two men, stepping away from them.
“You know what’s really funny? The fact that you both think that you could actually do something about it if you wanted to.
You think I’m just a little doe that will fall prey to the wolves?
” Reiya giggled and walked ahead of them.
Weston looked at Dex. “Damn …”
“Yeah, Xander got a good one.” Dex smiled and followed after Reiya, with Weston at his heels.
“Honestly, though … you really think you could beat one of us in battle? We’re not just ordinary dragons.” Dex chuckled as he caught up to Reiya.
Reiya shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know that I wouldn’t make it easy on you, that’s for sure.”
“Princess, you don’t have to worry about such things in my company.
I might play around, but you belong to Xander, who is dear to me.
I’d never do anything to hurt him. You’re someone who I will protect for his sake but hope to make friends with for mine.
” Dex nudged her shoulder with his own and smiled at her.
“I’d like that too. I want us to be good friends.”
“What about me?” Weston pouted.
She giggled and looked at Weston. “Yes, I want to be friends with you, too. Maybe with fewer nose bleeds, if we can help it.” She winked at him, and he nodded his head with a chuckle.
“I’ll behave. You can’t blame me for looking, though. I am an unmated male, and you’re gorgeous. But I’ll tell my hands to behave themselves.” Weston winked at her and gave her body one more side eye.
“That’s all I ask.” Reiya smiled and then let Dex take her arm again as he led the way.
He led her down a spiral cobblestone path that was surrounded by lush, green bushes, which made a wall around the area.
As they reached the opening, Reiya was met with a breathtaking sight.
There were stone flowerbeds flooding the inner area.
It was filled with so many different exotic flowers.
But that wasn’t all. There were also several fae dragons in the area.
And, to her surprise, she saw sprites and brownies playing in the flower beds.
She smiled as she walked up to the brownies, and the sprites quickly flew over to her and perched on her shoulder. She reached down and picked up a brownie, holding it up to her chest. These were some of the creatures she was protecting. Creatures who were too weak to protect themselves.
A fae dragon landed on Reiya’s other shoulder. The fae dragon and sprite began to fight over the position.
“Hey, that’s enough. Be nice. There’s room for both of you up there. I won’t say it again, little friends,” Reiya called out gently, and they immediately responded to their princess.
Weston and Dex watched her curiously. They could see the fae dragon but not the sprite or the brownie.
Dex walked up next to her. “Your eyes are amazing. To be able to see what others can’t.
It’s almost as if your sight allows you to see deeper than most. Maybe even deeper into people’s souls.
” He looked at her curiously and wondered about her.
It wasn’t just her fairy sight. She did seem to be able to recognize friend from foe rather easily. Maybe the skills went together.
She smiled at Dex and shrugged. She lowered the brownie back down to the flower bed and smiled as the sprite and fae dragon flew off.
“Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget there are those out there that depend on us.” She met Dex’s gaze.
“We have a duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves, don’t you think? ”
He smiled and nodded. “Yes, we do.” Though he was actually referring to protecting the fairies.
The dragons had a duty to protect them. It wasn’t that they couldn’t protect themselves, but that they were going to be overwhelmed by an evil force.
The dragons had a duty to make sure nothing happened to them. The world needed fairies.