Taming Her Beastly Mate
Chapter 26

Alexis walked over to Bella and patted her shoulder. “Bella, I want you to meet two men who are like brothers to me. This is Micah, my guardian, and Brian, the dragon prince of the west.” She lifted her gaze up to Brian and Micah. “This is Bella the crystal dragon, who removed my curse. She will be coming to stay with us.”

“If that’s okay…” Bella whispered quietly as she glanced up awkwardly at the two men.

“Of course it is okay.” Alexis waved her off. “Shiva has agreed to help you, Brian. Her only demand was taking Bella with us.” She motioned with her eyes over at Bella for him to greet her.

Brian stepped forward and then stopped. “I was going to at least shake your hand, but I better not. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You mean because of the heat?” Bella looked up at him beneath her eyelashes and watched him nod his head. “You don’t need to worry about that.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She looked at him expectantly.

Brian reached out cautiously taking her hand in his. The moment he did he felt frost travel up his arm layering his skin with ice crystals. “You are an ice dragon too?” His eyes looked over her fully seeing her for the first time. She was shorter than him with a delicate frame. Her silver hair shined as it rested on her pale skin. But what really captivated him were her piercing grey eyes.

Bella released her hand from his grip and shook her head. “I’m a crystal dragon, remember?”

“What exactly is a crystal dragon?” Micah asked reaching his own hand out to shake hers. He grabbed her hand and enfolded his fingers around her delicate wrist. There was a warm almost serene energy that flowed from her. It relaxed him and he took down his guard. This was not someone who was a threat. He released her hand bringing his back to his side. Her grey eyes were still meeting with his making him swallow uncomfortably. “Is there something on my face?” Micah chuckled. “Or have you not seen someone as good looking as me before?”

“She saw me already. And I’m more attractive than you.” Brian smirked and tilted his head to Micah.

“Nice try Brian but my a*s is more attractive than you.” Micah grinned widely flashing his pearly whites at Brian.

“The dingleberry growing on my a*s is more attractive than you!” Brian shot back with a chuckle.

“Bella?” Alexis asked and watched the girl blink a few times and shook her head.

“It’s nothing.” Bella cleared her throat and smiled. “A crystal dragon is a dragon that learns its abilities over time. They are only born with the ability to purify. But as they age they develop other skills. I have learned the elements wind, fire, lightning, water, and ice. I suspect as I continue to grow older I will continue to learn more. I am especially interested in darkness and flare. Shiva said I have the potential to master them.”

Brian now looked at Bella with more interest. “You can fight with all of those elements? That is amazing! A dragon like you…” He suddenly got quiet and shook his head. “You would be safe in the dragon kingdom though. We would never exploit or use you. I would personally see that you would be treated with the utmost respect.”

“I bet you personally would. Even offering to give her a personal sponge bath.” Micah chuckled as Brian’s eyes bulged open.

“You’ll get used to them. They are always joking like this.” Alexis shook her head rolling her eyes. She glanced around the area as Brian and Micah continued to tease each other. She wondered what Shiva wanted to talk to Aken about. To be honest she was slightly annoyed at the goddess for how she poked fun at her mate. He couldn’t help what his beast looked like. She didn’t see how any of that mattered. No matter what his other form looked like he was hers. All of him belonged to her. And soon she would put her mark on his neck permanently claiming him as her own. The question was… what kind of mark would it be?

Would the mark belong to her wolf or her dragon? Although Alexis had a wolf she never belonged to a wolf pack. She was brought up in the dragon kingdom and naturally related more to them. Not that she didn’t relate to her wolf or relatives but just she had more of a dragon connection. However, Yuki was not a weak or timid wolf. She was a dominant dire wolf and it was likely she would want to assert her dominance. Perhaps a mark on each side of his neck would be best? One to appease both of her beasts.

__

Aken rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. “You are quite certain?” He was standing in a green circular room. It was a place where deities often met that was considered neutral ground.

Shiva scoffed and clicked her tongue in agitation. “Who do you think you are talking to? Of course I am sure. I am shocked you didn’t realize it.”

“I felt the one thing but… I knew there was something else there… ” Aken g*****d and leaned his head into his hand. “What was her father thinking?”

“I was curious about that as well. So, I’ve summoned him.” Shiva smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

“Why are you prying into this? What interest is this to you?” Aken lifted his head up shooting a dark glare at Shiva.

“Well obviously I care. I am sending my sweet Bella there. This is vital information.”

“As a spy?” Aken said coldly.

“Tsk. You are such a crude creature. I actually love those I take care of. I wonder if you can say the same.” A smug grin rose over Shiva’s face as a man with dark hair and blue eyes appeared.

Levi looked around and his eyes met with Aken. “Where is Alexis? Why was I summoned?”

“Alexis is safe. Her curse has been removed.” Shiva immediately answered as Aken snorted in agitation.

“Safe. Is she though?” Aken now shot an icy glare at Levi. “You know about her guardian?” He watched as the man sighed and nodded his head. “What in the hell are you thinking endangering my mate?!”

“He would never hurt Alexis!” Levi growled angrily. “I trust him. I have watched him grow. I wasn’t sure of him in the beginning, but he has worked very hard at controlling himself. I trust him with Alexis.”

“How? How can you trust him?” Shiva tilted her head to the side as she looked down at her fingernails. “He is a bomb waiting to go off. Surely you know this?”

“He is her guardian!” Levi growled and watched as Shiva shrugged.

“Why didn’t you insist to have another guardian chosen?” Aken asked pinning his gaze on Levi.

“I did.” Levi exhaled loudly and slowly shook his head. “Rhea insisted that the fairy magic chose him for a reason. It was a battle I couldn’t win against her.” He turned and looked at Aken. “I’m sure you can understand this more now. You wouldn’t want to upset Alexis either. So I watched him and kept an eye on him. And he has never given me a reason to worry.”

“He doesn’t know though.” Shiva shook her head. “You never told him.”

“It is best he doesn’t know. He had a rough start in life. He doesn’t need another blow like this. He doesn’t need to have any doubts.” Levi inhaled slowly turning his gaze back to Aken. He could see the Kraken had knitted brows as his lips curled downwards. His body was tense and he looked conflicted. “It would hurt Alexis, Aken. This information can’t get out.”

“It is Alexis getting hurt that I am afraid of.” Aken snarled and shook his head.

“You’ve met him. Do you think he would hurt her?” Levi’s voice had a bite in it as he snapped at the man.

“I don’t think he would… willingly. But what if he loses his temper? What if he can’t control himself? What if he can’t control the bloodlust that will more than likely grow?” Aken felt conflicted about the situation. Levi was right this knowledge could end up hurting Alexis the most because of how Micah would take it. He couldn’t bear to see her heartbroken.

“That would never be directed towards Alexis.” Levi insisted. “With Erebus around, we need someone like Micah protecting her.”

Aken’s eyes widened, and his lips parted in shock. “You are using your knowledge about him to protect Alexis… even knowing what this can do to him? If something bad happens to Alexis, he will be unmanageable. Will you be the one to put him down?”

“If I have to, yes.” Levi’s voice was quiet and low. It would be painful but it was a decision he already came to.

“And what about Alexis then?” Aken shook his head. “I won’t see this type of pain on her face.”

“Well then, I guess you better make sure nothing happens to her. Of course your track record there isn’t the greatest. We all watched her get marked by the dragon prince in your absence.” Levi shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Of course, that isn’t exactly how all of that went down. And I need to have a few words with my daughter about keeping her mother and I out of the loop.” He had turned his head from the scene during the marking, but Rhea’s discerning eye captured the moment with her front row view of the event. It wasn’t something everyone would be able to notice. The Great Sage noticed as well that a real mark had not taken place.

“A few words? They better not be harsh words.” Aken glared at Levi who raised his brows up at him.

“Careful. She is my daughter.”

“My MATE. That trumps your daughter.” Aken growled as he faced Levi fully.

“Really? You two aren’t marked yet. Right now she is under my jurisdiction.”

“I don’t care what mumble jumble crap you want to spout off. You upset my mate and we will have a problem.” Aken watched as the cool eyes of Leviathan studied him quietly.

“She might be your mate but she will always be my baby.”

Aken smirked and folded his arms over his chest. “Well, your baby will eventually be carrying my baby.”

Levi’s dark eyes settled on Aken as a low snarl escaped his lips. “I’ll support my daughter no matter who she chooses as her mate. I know you’ll protect her… But she can’t escape being reprimanded when the moment calls for it.”

“I see. And what about your mate? Would you let her father upset her?” Aken raised his brows as he saw the dragon’s eyes twitch. He knew perfectly well there was no way Levi could stand for someone to upset his mate.

Shiva clicked her tongue loudly, “Well if you two are quite done I have a suggestion.” She watched as green and blue eyes stared intently at her. “Doesn’t this sound like something Kali would have information about? If there is a solution she would know of it. If not her Endymion…”

Levi g*****d lowly and then slowly nodded his head. “I know. But Selene and Kali aren’t exactly easy to get a hold of anymore. Selene interferes popping in and out. But she has covered Kali in a shield where I can’t replace her or Endymion.”

“I guess I can help. It may take me some time but when I replace her, I’ll see what she knows. What about the other part of him?” Shiva studied Levi as he shook his head.

“I think for now it is best that Micah doesn’t know anything about himself. His heritage and problems…” Levi shook his head. “I will talk to him about it after we replace Kali and have more information.”

Shiva yawned and then looked at the two men like they were a nuisance. “Anyways, we can leave now.”

“About the dragon prince-” Levi started and Shiva snorted loudly interrupted him.

“For heaven’s sake that’s all you guys think about. I’ll take care of it. Well… Bye!” Shiva gave him a fake smile.

“A pleasure as always Shiva.” Levi rolled his eyes as he turned to look at Aken.

A smirk played on his Aken’s lips. “Don’t worry ‘dad’ I’ll bring her back safely.”

“Don’t call me that,” Levi growled. “Just get her back home safe!” He snorted disappearing just as quickly as he came.

Aken chuckled and prepared to teleport back to Alexis. He disagreed with the blue whale, but he had a point. Micah as a person wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, he liked him. And it was obvious he was important to Alexis. As Alexis’ guardian, she was probably the one person he could never hurt. With that in mind, she would be safe with him. He could see the logic to keeping Micah with Alexis. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t danger. Someone could get badly hurt or killed if Alexis got hurt. It would be out of Micah’s control. He had to hope that the dark priestess would have a solution. He would do anything to make sure Alexis didn’t get hurt both physically and emotionally.

He knew there was more to Micah, and he had one part right. But there was still something that bothered him, and he now knew what it was.