Chapter 68 Truth
“What are you doing here?”
“I wasn’t about to leave her side. I promised to watch over her, remember? Now, what is going on?” Dex looked up at the face that was in turmoil in front of him.
“Reiya, we have a problem.”
Reiya walked out from Dex’s side and up to Xander. His face was torn, as if he had just come back from a tragic event. She reached her hands up and cupped his cheek.
“Hey, calm down.” She smiled up at him. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes flickered up to Dex and then he shook his head. “I can’t say …”
Reiya looked back at Dex and then returned her gaze to Xander. She knew it was about their secret. “Well, I think it’s okay if Dex knows the truth. Right? At least the general idea.”
“Knows what truth?” Dex asked, now fully intrigued by what was going on.
Reiya turned and looked at Dex. “Xander is not my mate.”
“Well, that cat just got let out of the bag.” Xander chuckled and shook his head.
“Wait … what?!” Dex couldn’t understand what was going on. Why would they lie about being mates? And who was the one who really marked the fairy princess? Who was Xander protecting?
“Xander, what’s the problem?” Reiya looked up at him and he sighed.
“My mate is here.” He smiled. “I found her, and I didn’t know what to do, so I hid down here and asked Reese to bring you to me.”
Reiya smiled. “That’s wonderful that you found your mate, Xander.”
“Not now it isn’t. Not yet. Now what are we supposed to do? I’m supposed to mark you today, remember?” Xander shook his head, flustered.
“Not at the risk of your mate getting hurt. I already explained this to you. When you found your mate, you couldn’t pretend to be mine anymore, remember?” Reiya sighed quietly. At least Xander wouldn’t have to slobber on her neck today. She just wasn’t sure what steps to take now.
“Reiya ...” Xander sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
“Xander. That’s it. The charade is over. You need to go and talk with your mate. Who is she?” Reiya asked curiously.
Xander's eyes flicked to Dex. “It’s Lila.”
Dex was standing there, quietly taking in everything he was hearing. “My baby sister is your mate. Your real one? So, what is this? What’s going on?” Dex motioned between Xander and Reiya. “Who marked you, Reiya?”
Reiya shook her head and frowned. “I, um …”
“Did someone force themselves on you?!” Dex suddenly yelled angrily.
“No, it’s nothing like that. It just has to be kept secret for now,” Reiya answered quietly.
“You were protecting her. You claimed her as your mate in order to protect her,” Dex sighed, nodding his head. No one would dare touch Reiya if they thought she was Xander's mate.
“There’s a lot to it. I’m sorry for lying to you.
Reiya is precious to me, but she isn’t my mate.
I just hope I can explain the mix-up to your sister without her getting upset.
” Xander sighed again. Lila would have heard that Xander had a mate already.
He hoped she would be understanding. When he saw her arrive, his body screamed at him to claim her, that she was his mate.
Instead, he quickly ran away before she noticed him.
“Xander, who is Reiya’s mate?” Dex looked at him and waited. “I want an answer.”
“Dex, this has to be kept secret. But I think you knowing might be helpful. Honestly, the royals knowing would be helpful.” Xander frowned and looked at Reiya. This was her secret. It was up to her if she wanted to tell.
“I’m just worried. The more people who know …” Reiya trailed off quietly.
“Your secret is safe with me, princess. Don’t you trust me?” Dex smiled and tilted his head.
She smiled, then nodded slowly. They couldn’t keep the charade up forever. It would be easier if she had a few more powerful dragons who knew their secret.
“Okay, Dex.” Reiya nodded her head and looked at Xander. “I think you should also tell Lila the truth. I think she will be more understanding then. I don’t want her looking at me like I’m competition.” Reiya smiled and then took in a breath. “I am Leviathan’s mate.”
Dex’s eyes bulged out, and his jaw dropped.
“Damn …” He nodded his head as the puzzle pieces came together.
“Well, I guess it makes sense. I mean, I knew you were too good for Xander. Of course you would be Leviathan’s mate.
You are prime-cut meat, and that lucky bastard knows it.
Are you his mate mate? Or did he just take you as his mate? ”
“I am Lee’s mate. He’s known since I was sixteen.”
“He’s known you since you were sixteen?” Dex’s gaze shifted between Xander and Reiya. How was Leviathan, their deity, connected to the fairy princess?
Reiya could almost read his mind. She twirled her fingers, and water spun around and danced in the air. “You see, Lee is my summon.”
“Well, holy shit. Our deity is at your beck and call? So, what’s with the secrecy?” Dex watched as Xander placed a hand on Reiya’s shoulder.
“Deities can’t take non-deities as mates. Lee is working on trying to fix that now. So, no one can know she’s his mate until then.” Xander watched Dex as he looked between him and Reiya.
“So … what’s the story with you two then? This seems to be more than just pretending. The two of you seem close.” Dex was also protective of his sister and didn’t want Xander skirting around on her.
“My wolf is sort of trapped inside me at the moment. I don’t know what my connection is to Xander, except that he feels like family to me.” Reiya didn’t know why, but that was how she felt.
“Same with me. She’s someone I feel close to.” Xander smiled and shrugged. “It isn’t in a mate way, though. Especially now that I know how it feels. It isn’t like that at all.” Xander chuckled a bit and sighed.
“Leviathan was going to let you mark his mate tonight?” Dex raised his eyes as this realization hit.
Reiya smiled. “It isn’t like he wanted him to. We were just trying to maintain this layer of protection.” Reiya looked at the floor as she tried to think what to do next.
“The charade with me and Xander is over. So, I’m not sure how to respond about the mark on my neck now, especially since your purple raisin friend won’t leave it alone.”
Xander growled. “Clovis better not come near you, or I’ll claw him in half.”
“Clovis is giving her problems?!” Dex snarled angrily. “I can keep you by my side, Reiya. No one would dare do anything to instigate a fight with me. I don’t mind claiming you as my mate,” he said with a small wink.
“I think the jig is up with that. I can’t go floating between kings as their mate. I guess I can say I’m not ready to say who it is yet.” Reiya couldn’t think of any other graceful way out of it.
“Xander covering for you as a mate makes sense for protecting you. It would be the easiest way to protect you. I’m sure this is a reason most people will understand.
Yes, they will be curious as to who actually marked you.
But the hype of Mason claiming Ruby, and …
Xander claiming Lila might help drown that out.
” Dex sighed and looked at Xander. “That’s my precious baby sister, so you better treat her well … ”
“I will, Dex. As long as she’ll still have me.” Xander smiled and nodded to him.
“I think we need to speak with Mason and Weston. We’re going to need their support and added protection for Reiya.” Dex was thinking logically about the situation. If she was still being protected by the four kingdoms, she would still be safe.
“I’ll ask Reese to bring them here,” Xander said quietly.
“Tell him to bring Lila here as well. I think the two of you need to talk.” Dex watched as Xander looked a bit nervous but nodded in agreement.
Lila could sense it immediately. She could sense that her mate was in this forgotten part of the castle.
As soon as she rounded the corner, she saw him.
It was Xander. But that didn’t make sense.
How was Xander her mate? She watched him looking at her with a small smile.
He walked past the others and up to her, gently taking her hand.
“We have a lot to talk about,” he said quietly.
She allowed him to lead her away and through another set of doors.
She didn’t know what was going on, but she wanted answers.
“Wait, wait, wait…. what’s going on here?” Weston pointed to the door where Xander and Lila had disappeared. “Reiya, are you okay with this?”
Reiya smiled and nodded. “Lila is Xander's mate.” She watched the confused faces in front of her.
Ruby stormed up to her and squeezed her arms around Reiya. “That bastard! He did force himself on you, didn’t he? I’ll kill him. I’ll choke him and burn him alive.”
Reiya giggled. “It isn’t like that at all. Xander was protecting me.”
Ruby pulled back and frowned. “Who marked you then, Reiya?”
Dex put his hand on Reiya’s shoulder and looked out at the others.
“This is something that has to stay a secret for now. I know that you all can be trusted, and Reiya trusts you too.” He smiled down at her and she nodded her head, looking at them.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, just tell me who I need to kill,” Ruby said angrily. Whoever touched her angel was dead.
“Ruby, no one forced themselves on her. This person is indeed her mate. The man who branded her is Leviathan.”
Ruby shut her mouth for a moment. “So, I guess I won’t be killing him then,” she giggled quietly.
“Wait, he branded her? She’s his mate? Oh man, I am dead. I’ve been flirting with Leviathan’s mate. I did it in front of him, too. I am so dead. Underworld, here I come.” Weston slapped his forehead.
Reiya giggled. “I think he’ll give you a pass this one time, since you didn’t know any better.”
Dex and Reiya filled them in on the whole story, explaining the reasons for everything. They were now waiting to hear their responses.
“I’m sorry we lied to you all,” Reiya added quietly.
“Well, no wonder. You’ve had a lot happen to you. Then to find out that you’ve been claimed by a deity. He better be easy on you. That experienced ogre better not have been rough with you. Is he attentive with you, sweets?” Ruby asked as she placed a gentle hand on Reiya’s shoulder.
“Ruby, are you asking her about their sex life?” Weston asked in curious disbelief.
“She’s such a sweet, innocent fairy. What if she’s being mistreated?” Ruby snorted at Weston and turned back to Reiya.
Reiya couldn’t believe what was just asked in front of everyone. Her cheeks were hot and flaming red.
“Ummm … he … we … haven’t,” Reiya choked out quietly.
Weston leaned against the wall. “Damn, he has more restraint than I do, I’ll give him that.” He looked up at the ceiling but noticed the small nod from Dex in agreement.
“He hasn’t completed the mating bond yet?” Ruby asked, astounded.
“He was waiting until he worked everything out. He said he wouldn’t be able to stay away from me afterward, so in order to keep our secret …”
“Aww, so underneath that rough persona, he is a sweetie, isn’t he?” Ruby gushed and held onto both of Reiya’s hands.
Reiya smiled. “He treats me well.”
“Well, guess I’ve struck out completely.
Stealing you from Xander was one thing. Stealing you from Leviathan is never going to happen.
” Weston smiled and winked at her. He then straightened himself up and spoke more seriously.
“No one will touch you, Reiya. They don’t need to know who your mate is.
Just that you have a dragon mate, and you will let them know when the time is right.
Anyone who gives you a hard time after that will have to deal with me. ”
Ruby smiled back at her brother and nodded. “You have the support of the four kingdoms. Anyone who doesn’t have a death wish will leave you alone.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.” Reiya felt herself relax a bit.
“So, you were going to let Xander … you know … on your neck, even though he isn’t your mate?” Mason asked incredulously.
“Xander is like a brother to me, and I’m like a sister to him. I know it’s hard to understand, but we’re connected somehow. I’m hoping I’ll know more when my wolf comes out. All we both know is that we feel like family. But it’s nothing more than that, from either of us.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I guess I can feel better about this whole situation, then.” Lila’s voice echoed as she entered the room with Xander at her side, bearing a fresh mark on her neck.