Dr. Luna
The Fairy’s Forbidden Mate Chapter 25

Grayson was being practically pulled towards her by Ruby. Once Ruby reached Rhea she dropped Grayson's hand and jumped into the unsuspecting body. "Thank-you, so much. It has been so hard not being able to be with my mate, but I was going to wait for him forever. You are a god send. Because of you I can finally be with my mate." Rhea was surprised by her action initially but soon regained her composure and patted her kindly on her back.

"Thank you, Rhea. You will never know what this means to me. In the future, I will always be there for you. Consider the East Dragon Kingdom an ally for life. Life is what you gave to me and in return I will forever be indebted to you." Grayson spoke his words with conviction. It was music to Rhea's ears as long as he holds up to it.

There were two young women and a man standing behind the new couple. They seemed annoyed with Grayson and Ruby in their acceptance of Rhea. It was obvious by the way they were looking down at her. Grayson was the king and Ruby would be the queen now. These were two people at the top of the chain of command saying they were indebted to her, a non-dragon. They did not approve of the way their royalty was behaving.

"I'm very happy for the both of you and I am happy that I was able to get rid of the curse. I wish for the best for you both." Rhea said politely as Ruby stepped back and leaned into Grayson.

"We mean it Rhea. We both have agreed. We are indebted to you. We know that things are shaky with the demons and fairies right now. We have already discussed it. If you need our aid, we will bring the full might of the Eastern kingdom with us." Ruby affirmed what Grayson said. They would not leave them to their demise.

Rhea felt an instant relief in her chest. Titus had declared himself an ally of hers and now the King and Queen of the East have promised their full might. Somehow Rhea was managing the impossible. She could do this. She did do this. Ruby was also a princess of the Southern Dragon Kingdom. Maybe she could help her talk to her brother? In either case, things were finally starting to head into a positive light.

"Thank you... that means so much to me." Rhea said in a hushed tone.

"UUOOH!" One of the girls behind Ruby gasped out loudly pointing at Rhea. Rhea looked at the girl curiously. What did she did? Kelsie and Cody each took a protective stance at Rhea's side as they stared at the shocked girl. "Your...your.... neck!" The girl gasped out and all eyes were now on Rhea.

Rhea felt the unforgiving crimson stain her cheeks as she realized what they were now all staring at. She could feel an anger building up in Cody beside her. Her brothers have always kept men an Olympic pools length away from her. He didn't say a word, but his eyes bore into her side.

"Who did that to your neck?!" Melvin bellowed out as he stepped closer to Rhea.

"I don't see how it is any of your business." Rhea snapped back and crossed her arms defiantly. Her love bites were none of their business.

"It is if it was someone from the West Dragon Kingdom." His voice hissed out with malice as he glowered down at her.

"Why? What is the big deal? I hardly see why it is any of YOUR business." Rhea did not like this man one bit. She wanted nothing more than to engulf his body in a bubble of water and watch him struggle for air. Okay... her violent nature was the werewolf side of her. "Quit playing games with me." Melvin growled out.

A low growl rippled out beside Rhea. "Watch your tone with her." Cody warned as he took an aggressive stance.

"You should be concerned too! Don't you care that your sister has been marked?!" Melvin cried out furiously.

Rhea's eyes almost bulged out and she coughed as she tried to catch her breath. Cody and Kelsie were now looking over her neck intently.

"This isn't a mark. These are just... love bites." Rhea whispered out the last words in embarrassment.

"Did you not consent to that? To be a mate?" Grayson's voice was calm but sounded a bit alarmed.

"This isn't a mating mark." Rhea insisted. It couldn't be. If they only knew that is was from Lee than they would understand. He wouldn't have marked her. He didn't mark her... To mark her would be to claim her as his mate. It just wasn't possible.

"Hon.... That mark is a dragon's brand. That is a mating mark from a dragon. Look..." Ruby lifted her hair from her neck to reveal a similar looking but unique mark on her neck. A slight shade of red smeared over her cheeks and then she lowered her hair back down. "Each dragon has their own unique mark that they leave on their mates' neck. They brand it to their neck with their heat. You have been marked... and by the look on your face it looks like you had no idea about it. Did someone force themselves on you?" Ruby's kind voice was looking over Rhea with concern. If someone took advantage of her new dear friend, she was not going to idly stand by.

Cody growled when he heard about someone forcing themselves on his sister. He put a protective hand on her shoulder. "Rhea... is everything okay?"

Rhea shook her head frantically. "It can't be.... It isn't... it isn't a mark. If I am marked that means..."

"It means you are that dragon's mate. Who did this to you?" Melvin growled again with menacing eyes.

There was just no way. Lee hadn't marked her, right? He was a deity why would he mark HER of all people. Not only that, he didn't even ask her if it was okay. Taking a mate is a permanent thing. To not ask her if she also wanted him as a mate felt a bit forced. This wasn't the case though. They were wrong... they had to be wrong. Right?

"TELL ME!" Melvin growled out loudly and a loud bellowing roar was heard in the distance behind them.

Everyone looked back to see Lee, Titus and Grandpa Sage walking in from outside. Titus made quick authoritative strides to the group. He grabbed onto Rhea possessively and then pulled her body behind his. He turned to Melvin and dead pinned him with his amber eyes.

"MINE." Titus's voice was a low growl and his fangs ever so slightly were showing.

"My lord... you..... you didn't... my lord did you mark her?!" Melvin's eyes widened in shock.

"Why are you so surprised?" Titus continued with his deadly tone.

Wait... say what? Titus is claiming that he marked me? Rhea flashed her eyes quickly in the direction of Lee. He wasn't even looking at them and seemed almost uninterested as he stared in another direction. What... the... hell. Wait. Does that mean he really did mark me? And now he is forcing Titus to claim me? Ugh I am so confused. Rhea was angry and getting uncomfortable. She could not understand everything that was unfolding right in front of her.

"Titus, you marked her but didn't inform her you were taking her as your mate?" Grayson leaned back on his heels keeping his arm wrapped around Ruby. Rhea was the girl that just gave his life purpose again. He didn't want her being taken advantage of. He was going to protect her now like a little sister. She was his angel.

"It's not like I forced myself on her Gray.... You know me better then that. We just haven't had a chance to talk after the heat of the moment took over." Titus cleared his throat and gave him a wry grin. He watched Grayson nod his head knowingly. They were animals after all and sometimes that instinct took over in the throes of passion.

"You do realize what you have just done...." Melvin almost whispered out.

Titus snorted at him. "And what is that? What have I just done? Change tradition? Step up with the times? I stopped being an elitist. I am following my feelings. Do you wish to challenge me on this?" Titus watched Melvin close his mouth tightly and shake his head no. The man lowered his head and then walked away to the shadows. He had no intention of getting into a fight with Titus. He knew it would be a death sentence.

"Well... I can see the two of you need to talk. Maybe we can talk some more later Rhea." Grayson tugged onto Ruby's side and began to pull her away. She mouthed the words thank you one last time before they also left along with their little following. Rhea stood there a bit in shock. She was still standing behind Titus when she felt his hand tug onto hers gently. It snapped her attention to him. A small smile was on his face. "Come with me for a bit Rhea. I think we need to talk."

Cody growled and placed his hand on Rhea's shoulder while staring at Titus. "You are not taking her anywhere until I have a moment to talk with her. If someone is playing around with my sister, they are going to die." There was no lightness in his tone. He was promising to deliver a swift judgement of death. Swift sure but merciful...no.

"Cody... everything is okay. I think. Honestly, I'm pretty confused." Rhea looked from Cody back to Titus who was giving her a small smile. Behind him from her peripheral vision she could see Lee and Grandpa Sage talking. Lee wasn't even sparing her a second glance. It was like she was just some girl all of the sudden. Some girl among the numbers. This was when the sickening pit hit her stomach. What if she was just another number? What if this was a game he played? He marked other mates just because he could. Okay... she knew she was getting ahead of herself. It was just something about this entire situation seemed off. She didn't know what to think. She needed answers and talking to Titus was at least the first step. "I'm okay... I want to talk with him." Rhea looked back to Cody and lightly laid her hand on his. "Kelsie, keep him from getting into any trouble. I will come back and talk with you both soon."

"You better... babysitting Paddington here isn't exactly my thing." Kelsie grimaced as she looked at him.

Cody snarled. "I don't need no moldy horse to babysit me."

Rhea smiled at the two of them. Honestly... she didn't know what was going on and she felt better knowing the two of them were together. If worse came to worse, they were a force to be reckoned with. And she felt better having them both nearby.

Rhea looked up to Titus and nodded. "Okay, lead the way." Rhea thought about the irony about the marks on her neck. This all happened because of her feelings for Lee. Her emotions caused her into a heated intimate moment and now who knows what was going to happen because of it. There was one thing that she kept thinking though... love bites.