Taming Her Beastly Mate
Chapter 81

The room was in complete silence as the mirror glowed red. Titus and Brian had checked every royal throughout the night. It was now early morning, and they were on the very last royal. Instead of feeling relief at completing the check they now stood there in shock.

“What is this?” Lila asked as she stared into her reflection.

“It is a special mirror we are working on. It is supposed to reflect your mood based off of the color. Red means you are tired.” Rhea answered quickly as she glanced over at Levi. They would need to put Lila in a holding chamber until the glass could be extracted.

Bella wrapped her arm around Brian’s waist and looked up at him. She could see how noticeably upset he was, and Titus didn’t look any better. This also was unnerving. So many questions were swirling around in her mind. Who put the glass in Lila’s eye? Was it through a dream? Or was it someone who could get close to her? By putting one in Lila’s eye the next target was most likely Titus or Brian.

“I suppose I am a bit tired. There has been so much going on lately.” Lila smiled and shifted closer to Titus.

“There is a special room here that will help you rest.” Titus said with a small frown. This was killing him inside. His sweet mate, his confidant, the love of his life had a controlling piece of glass inside of her. They couldn’t trust her words. They couldn’t believe anything out of her right now. The only thing they could do was place her in a special holding room. A place where she couldn’t leave until they removed the glass. Bella had some training, but it was through a dream removal. Grandpa Sage had the ability to do it. They would need to send for him.

“I didn’t sleep well last night without Titus. I’m sure it will be better tonight. You have been busy all night messing with a mood mirror?” Lila asked looking up at Titus.

“We felt it was important. I insist you get some more rest.” Titus said as he watched Lila shrug her shoulders.

“I’m fine. I want to take a walk around Elysium today and visit the baby bears. I’m curious at seeing the potential guardians of the future.” Lila said with a small smile.

“All of the baby bears are living in homes now. They don’t live at the center. That is just active when it is time to pick a future guardian.” Rhea watched as disappointment washed over Lila’s face. She glanced up at Levi. Did Lila really want to see the kids or was this some sort of motive of the demons? Were they after the guardians? And was this for the guardian power or was it about getting the fairy princess?

“Come on.” Titus said putting pressure on Lila’s back. “You need to get some rest.”

Lila violently shrugged her shoulder away from Titus. “I said I am fine!” She snapped in an unnatural tone for her. Lila had a very sweet and gentle nature. She would never snap at Titus.

Titus looked at her in a bit of shock. He was trying not to feel hurt and told himself it isn’t her. She wasn’t going to go into the holding room willingly. And he wasn’t sure he had it in him to force her. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he glanced up to see Levi’s calm blue eyes.

“Take a walk Titus.” Levi commanded with a small nod. “I will handle this part.” Lila began to walk past everyone heading for the door. Levi quickly reached out and grabbed her by her wrist. Her head spun around, and her wide eyes landed on him. “I need to speak with you.” Levi had to tighten his grip as she began to tug violently against him.

“What do you want? What are you doing? Titus, make him let go of me.” Lila said in a whimpering voice.

Titus turned his head and looked away. He had to fight against his natural instinct to heed his mate’s cries. It was agony hearing every small whimper or sound Lila made. What if they couldn’t fix her? What if the nembrant glass took a permanent hold of her? His lips pursed together as his chest heaved in ragged breaths. He felt like he was stuck. He wanted to stay by his mate’s side, but he also had a job to do. His hands trembled as a soft hand rested on his arm.

“Titus, come take a walk with me.” Rhea squeezed his arm and pulled slightly coaxing him along.

“TITUS!” Lila screamed as Levi grabbed onto both of her shoulders.

“You would disobey your deity?!” Levi growled lowly as he gripped her tighter. She thrashed against him harder and that was enough evidence that she wasn’t in control. A dragon’s instincts made them naturally submit to him. The fact that she was fighting against him meant the nembrant glass was controlling her.

“Go with Rhea, Dad. I’ll stay with Levi and…mom.” Brian watched as his father looked down at the floor. He just slowly nodded his head without sparing him a glance. He couldn’t imagine how his father was feeling. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to ignore his mates’ cries like that.

“Titus.” Rhea pulled on him gently and walked him out of the room. She had always had a connection to Titus. He was her soul twin. It wasn’t much but she could provide him some comfort. As they stepped out everyone else was standing there in the main room. Their eyes were looking behind them as Lila’s screams echoed out through the castle.

“Lila.” Dex breathed out looking through the door.

Rhea swiftly shut the door to contain Lila’s cries. She kept her other hand on Titus and looked up at Dex with a small frown. “Lila has nembrant glass in her eye.”

“Da.mn it!” Dex growled and turned his head to the side angrily. Ciana walked up to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. He leaned down to her neck and breathed in her scent seeking her comfort. His precious sister was being controlled. “We can remove it right?”

“We should be able to. We will need to bring Grandpa Sage here.” Lilly spoke out with a clear authoritative voice. “I will have him show me the technique. And I will work on a quick solution for the future. The nembrant glass is going to be a foe of ours for the years to come. We are going to need both defensive and offensive plans in dealing with it.” She looked over at Titus who looked like he was ready to crumble.

“Who was close enough to Lila…” Weston looked up at Titus with a puzzled look.

“If it wasn’t done through a dream then it was physically done, right?” Grayson gripped Ruby’s hand as he looked over at his son, Troy. His son’s mate was Nia and her father, Reese, was Titus right hand man. Someone who would have been close to Lila.

“Reese.” Levi’s voice rang clear as he stepped into the room. Brian and Bella walked up with him. “Reese needs to be checked at once.” He looked at Titus and gave him a small smile. “She is fine. She is in the lower level holding chambers. There is a somnus fairy that will keep her asleep.”

“Dad, mom is fine. She is resting peacefully right now. Hopefully when she wakes up it will all be like a bad dream.” Brian said trying to offer his dad some reassurance.

“With the high risk of there being others with the nembrant glass in the West Dragon Kingdom Levi will need to go there. At the very least Reese and his mate need to be checked out. You’ll need the strength of a deity so that there isn’t a ruckus. Maybe take Dex and Weston with you just for an extra set of hands? And Titus can take Rhea to go see Olga.” Lilly could see the scowl on Levi’s face as she spoke those words. He nodded his head slowly like he already realized this was the course of action they would have to take. This was a sensitive situation. And they needed to be strategic with their actions. It was best if the enemy wasn’t aware that they knew of their plans yet. At least until they were better prepared.

“Lila mentioned something that I found concerning. She wanted to see the young bears that were potentials to be future guardians. I’m not sure what the plans are but I am glad there are no cubs in the center right now.” Rhea could see the distress in her mother’s eyes hearing that news. She understood it because she felt the same way.

“I am going to get to work immediately on something that will replicate the mirror effects. There is too much at risk.” Lilly looked up at Tyler and Tristan who were standing at the far edge of the room. Her eyes glanced over all of her family who were quietly listening. She noticed Destiny sitting next to Lucy, but her mate was missing. “Destiny, where is Harley?”

“He went to check on a few things. He will be back tonight.” Destiny rubbed her baby bump lightly as she watched her grandmother nod her head.

“Tristan, I want the guards on full alert. I want to know of all movement in and out of Elysium. Cody. Jason. I want you two to keep the family close at all times. Stay inside of the castle.” Lilly nodded her head to Tyler. “We are heading downstairs, and I am going to work on the detecting the nembrant glass. Let me know when the Great Sage gets here.” She then walked to the end of the room to Tyler.

Rhea watched as her mother and father swiftly walked down the hall disappearing from sight. She walked into Lee’s arms as he pulled her tight against him.

“I have to part from you again…” Levi g*****d in irritation. If it was just notifying the Great Sage, he could do that instantly and still go with Rhea to see Olga. But he needed to check the people who could get close to Lila. And if any of them had the glass in their eye they would have to be dealt with.

“After you meet with Olga come straight back here. My communication will be open at all times…” Levi sighed into Rhea’s hair. “Why haven’t I mastered the ability to be in two places at once.”

Rhea smiled and tilted her head up at him. His lips found hers in a soft gentle k**s. “At least we are busy. Instead of just being stuck here worrying about our daughter.”

“I still need to replace Gaia after I’m done in the dragon kingdom. There is so much going on at once… I have no choice but to trust Alexis to Micah and Aken.” Levi squeezed Rhea in one more strong embrace. His heart was being pulled in so many different directions. The last thing he wanted to do was his duty.

“I love you, Lee. This battle will be over soon.” Rhea listened as Levi chuckled.

“This battle will end just in time for another war to start.” Levi said in a quiet voice.

“And I plan on winning them both.” Rhea said confidently gazing up into Lee’s eyes. No matter what obstacles they would face they would win. They had to.

__

Alexis sat on the balcony watching the setting sun. The breeze was playing with her long hair as she listened to the waves crashing against rocks. The golden-red light of the sun was coloring everything around her as it slowly vanished in the distance. She inhaled the cool salty breeze and glanced over at Erebus who was standing at the far end of the balcony.

They hadn’t talked much that day. It was as if he was battling a storm of his own on the inside. And she could just tell that it wasn’t the right time to bring up anything from the past… or future. Instead, she just quietly observed him trying to learn more about him. He had his hands placed on the stone railing just staring out into the horizon. His white hair was neatly pulled back revealing his face that was deep in concentration.

Eventually, she got up from her seat and stepped next to him. He didn’t even acknowledge her presence. She glanced down at the water below. It was a deep dark blue reminding her of the darkening night sky. It was mesmerizing the way the dark blue water rolled against the shoreline. She closed her eyes and inhaled the salty air. It was strangely peaceful even given her current situation.

“It’s a beautiful landscape here,” Alexis whispered as she looked at him from the corner of her eye. “Very peaceful.”

Erebus didn’t respond, just continued looking out into the horizon. His eyes were filled with so many emotions, yet none of them seemed to change his expression.

“What does the mate pull feel like?”

Erebus suddenly asked and Alexis almost choked on her spit. She turned her head to look at him completely. His eyes were still watching the ocean in front of him but there was an almost pained expression on his face.

“Oh… well.” Alexis reached up and grabbed her chest. A small smile played on her lips as she felt her feelings. “It is like replaceing another piece of yourself. It is something that was missing from your life before. And suddenly you realize you were never whole to begin with. There is an overwhelming pull like gravity that holds you to this person. You need to be with them. You need to feel their touch. A touch that both excites and calms you. You need to hear their voice and to be close to them. You don’t care about anything else. It is so intense and wonderful at the same time. You want to protect them. To be everything you can for them.” She shook her head slightly. “It is so much more than all of that. It is a connection like no other. It is like your souls are bound together. And without their existence you don’t even want to live anymore.”

Erebus was silent for a long moment and Alexis turned to look at him. His face was stern, almost like he was in pain.

“Are you okay?” Alexis whispered. She didn’t know why she felt the need to ask how he was. But he looked like he was stuck in an emotional storm.

“I… I don’t…” He suddenly shook his head and looked at her. There was so much pain in his eyes that it made Alexis’ heart hurt. “I don’t know what to do…”

He locked eyes with her, his expression was one of a man that had given up. She could see the battle going on inside him. She listened to him exhale loudly as he leaned on the railing in front of him. “I wonder if the universe has a mate planned for me,” he whispered as the edges of his mouth pulled downward. “Or maybe I don’t deserve one…”

He turned and looked at Alexis and gave her a small smile. “You know I wasn’t always this way. I used to be different. I used to…” He suddenly got quiet and closed his eyes shut. With a slow long breath, he cleared his throat. “It’s time we turned in for the night.”

Alexis followed Erebus back inside. She stayed just a few steps behind him as he led her to her room. She listened to the sound of him sealing her door and stared into the darkness. She could feel the level of pain coming from Erebus. In his rage he killed Ivory. Something like that would have made someone dark. No wonder he was so bitter and angry. He lost his temper and killed the woman he loved. A woman who also betrayed him.

It was probably easier for him to push all of that onto Aken which was why he hated him so much. It was the only way he could cope. She walked over to her bed and pulled up the covers. Erebus was close to opening up to her. Just a bit more and maybe she could get the answers she really wanted.

__

“Aken, we will rest here for tonight. We are both too exhausted that even if we replace her, we won’t last against Erebus.” Micah listened as Aken swore under his breath.

“Why hasn’t she summoned me yet? She should have broken the necklace immediately.” Aken growled through his teeth as he sat down on the grass.

“You know Alexis. She must have a plan in mind.” Micah sighed in agitation.

“You don’t think he took the necklace from her, do you? And now she can’t summon me…”

“Don’t think about that. In either case we are going to replace her soon. We are getting closer.” Micah looked over as Aken looked up at the sky. His face was taunt and his expression weary. He didn’t look like the usual confident deity anymore. He looked like a man that was shattered.

Micah rolled over and closed his eyes. He understood his look because he felt it too. If something happened to Alexis… he couldn’t even allow himself to think it. Because that was a darkness he wasn’t prepared to fight. Instead, his mind drifted to someone else. Brandy. A small smile reached his lips as he thought about his fiery druid. He couldn’t wait to see her again. To wrap her in his embrace. He wanted to claim her again and again.

Micah felt his beast stir in agreement. There was something about Brandy that even captivated him on a primal level. He didn’t know why. But all he knew is the desire to see Brandy was suddenly becoming stronger. He didn’t know when… but he didn’t see Brandy as just a fling. Maybe he always felt this way but was denying it? But the more he thought of Brandy… the more she felt like she was his.

His mind drifted to unconsciousness as exhaustion overtook him. But he swore he heard a whisper in his mind. One that said, ‘MINE’.

__

Harley sat alone in the corner of a dimly lit room. There was the low sound of music playing as a few people quietly chatted over drinks. Everyone was well dressed in the established bar. At the far end of the room was a long black counter with black leather bar stools. A man with a gray mustache and gray curly hair slowly poured a liquid over ice. The man put two drinks on a tray and brought them over to where Harley was sitting. He placed one glass in front of Harley and the other across from him at an empty seat then left.

Harley spun the glass slowly letting the ice clink at the sides before he lifted it to take a sip.

“I see you already ordered me a drink.” A voice said as they took the empty seat across from Harley.

Harley lifted his eyes up and nodded his head. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“It’s been a while. How has life been now that you have taken a mate?” The man across from him asked as he removed his black jacket.

“Having a mate is everything. More than I could ever deserve. We are expecting our first child soon and I couldn’t be happier.” Harley smiled as he thought about his sweet Destiny. He had to protect her and their unborn child. Over everything that was his number one priority.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“It’s one of the reasons I asked to meet with you.” Harley suddenly became serious as he watched the man across from him sip his drink. “I want them safe. I want my child and mate safe.”

“Understandable.” The man said quietly staring at the melting ice in his cup. “Your mate… she is close with the fairy royals, isn’t she?”

Harley sighed and nodded his head. “I don’t like that look.”

“It might be for the best if you disappear from their world. Cut ties with the fairies. Cut ties with everything. And distance yourself.”

“Is it that bad?” Harley frowned as he stared the man down. “Taric… what do you know?”