“That bastard keeps giving me the slip, but I’ll track him down. He can’t hide from me forever. I need to talk to Ken and get all of this figured out. I have a suspicion as to who this Wicker might be, but I need to talk to that idiot.” Lee growled in agitation. He pulled Reiya into his chest, wrapped his arms around her, and leaned into her neck, taking in his mate’s scent to calm himself down. Ever since the premonition, he’d been looking for the Kraken, Ken, but he kept managing to avoid him. Yet there were times he felt like he might be close by.
“You need to face it. You’re getting old, papa bear.” Xander, the Dragon King of the West, chuckled as he and Reiya’s brother and guardian Brody walked into the room. Brody rubbed his shoulder and grinned.
“I’m not getting older … I’m getting better.” Brody looked up at his sister and looked around. “Are you bored without Lila and Chelsie around?”
“No, I’m outnumbered.” She giggled. “At least Chelsie will be back today. Lila will be visiting her brother for a few more weeks, right?”
Xander pouted and nodded his head. “They’re getting things organized for the mating party that’s coming up. We’re not hosting it this year, but she’s helping to organize and plan events with Ciana.” They didn’t have to worry about planning the mating party this year. That would fall to Dex, the Dragon King of the North, and his mate Ciana.
“How is Justice doing with his training?” Reiya asked Brody and Xander.
“He’s doing good. His training has come a long way, and surprisingly, he is able to control himself very well. He’s now giving Mikah a run for his money. Knowing how strong Mikah is, that’s saying something. I think Mikah has been the most natural, raw talent the guardians have seen. He’s incredibly strong … And you know I have my theories on that. I think because of Alexa being a demigod, her guardian had to be stronger.” Brody was certain this was the reason Mikah was so strong. Fairy magic was peculiar that way. It adjusted to its owner.
A portal opened before them, and through it, the sound of screams belted into the room. Aedan walked through carrying Lucie, and Jasper hurried through beside them before Aedan closed the portal.
“Oh no …” Reiya ran up to Lucie, running her hand over her forehead. She was pale and her eyes were squeezed shut.
“Hand her over. Xander, go get Justice, quick!” Brody pulled Lucie from Aedan’s arms and was shocked that he was able toconnect to her so easily. Almost as if she was his charge, but the connection wasn’t as strong.
“It just happened.” Aedan sounded almost frantic as he raced in front of Brody, who carried Lucie down the hallway.
“Where’s her mate? We need to send for her mate. She can’t continue to endure this pain. It’s worse than I expected.” Beads of sweat dripped down Brody’s forehead as he eased himself and Lucie on the bed. He held her tightly against him while he tried to control his breathing. He could see her pain lessen slightly, but she was still in excruciating pain, and so was he.
“No,” Aedan growled angrily.
“Now Aedan, wait …” Jasper said, but Aedan shot him a dark look.
“I don’t trust him right now. I’m not bringing someone in who might have another woman,” Aedan growled angrily.
“What?!” Levi’s voice was dark and lethal. If someone was messing around on his precious niece, he didn’t care who the person was. He didn’t fear the vampires.
“I trust the prince. It was a misunderstanding, I’m certain of it.” Jasper tried to reason with Aedan.
“Look what it’s done to her! Do you think this just randomly happened? This is the stress from her mate not being faithful,” Aedan snarled, balling his fists up.
“Okay, Aedan. Go get your parents. They should be here right now,” Reiya said calmly as the door burst open. Xander, Alexa, Brody’s daughter Raine, Brian, Mikah, and Justice all ran into the room.
Justice sprinted to the bed. He looked up at Brody, who was squinting in discomfort, and then down at Lucie, who looked pale and exhausted. She was whimpering quietly. He reached for her, pulling Lucie into his arms and against his chest. He immediately felt like he was being cut apart with liquid fire. It burned his skin and stabbed him internally. This wasn’t pain …this was torture. How was she even managing to endure any of it on her own?
Brody sighed and looked up at Mikah. “We’re going to have to take shifts among the guardians. It’s too much. I’ve never felt anything like it. Somehow, I was able to connect with her. I think all of us guardians should be able to.” He looked at Reiya. “Why is it this intense?”
“I don’t know. We need to get my parents here as well. Raine, if I open a portal for you, can you go to them?” Raine nodded, keeping her eyes glued to Lucie. “Okay, good. Aedan and Raine, you two need to make haste. We need to know how to proceed here. And we’ll need Grayson and Chasen’s help with Lucie.”
“I’ll go see Grandpa Sage.” Xander turned quickly and jogged down the hall as two portals opened up. Aedan and Raine each vanished. They wouldn’t be gone long. Just enough time to tell the others what was happening.
Alexa walked to the edge of the bed and watched the sweat pour from both Lucie and Justice. “It isn’t much, but it’s all I can do.” Her eyes watered seeing them in pain, but all she could do was offer some comfort. She moved her hands slightly and a cold chill flowed around them. Small, sparkling blue crystals glistened and flickered in the breeze she pushed around them.
“Good thinking, Lex. Your ice element will be perfect here. Keep it flowing evenly, and don’t overexert yourself.” Reiya watched as Lucie continued to tremble. But what was concerning was that it seemed like Lucie wasn’t able to maintain consciousness. She was able to cry out in pain, but she wasn’t responding to any of them. “Lucie. Lucie, can you hear me?”
“Right before we went through the portal, she quit talking. It was like she fainted but she didn’t. Is she going to be alright? I never knew werewolves had heats like this.” Jasper walked near the bed, his hands trembling. “I can’t do anything. I can’t help her, and it’s killing me.”
“Easy, Jasper.” Reiya patted his shoulder. “This isn’t normal. Werewolf heats can be painful, but I’ve never heard of anything like this.”
“Maybe it’s her new fairy powers causing conflict?” Alexa looked over at her mother, who seemed to be at a loss.
“I’ve never seen …” Reiya looked over at Brody, who still was recovering, and then at Justice, who was doing his best to alleviate the pain for Lucie. “It’s draining the guardians.”
Almost simultaneously, two portals opened up, and the room was crowded with people. Freja and Hunter ran to Lucie. Chasen and Jin went to encourage Justice while Lita, Asher, and Grayson stood nearby analyzing the situation.
