Page 138 of Taming the Kraken

“Shh … don’t let Alexa know—” Reiya gasped as her world darkened. “Don’t let her see,” she muttered before everything faded to black.

“Reiya!” Xander screamed out in horror as he held her limp body. He tried to shake her awake, but she didn’t respond.

Lita grabbed Reiya’s hand as she tried to feel her energy, which was fluctuating wildly. As if its connection was being siphoned or strangled.

“Get her inside,” Lita whispered, her eyes watering. This didn’t look good. She turned her head toward where Alexa had disappeared through the barrier. “Gods … please protect my family.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

Nita slowly made her way to the barrier. She might not be Alexa’s official guardian, but it was her job to protect her right now. She had just reached the tree line, close enough to see the shimmer of the barrier through the trunks, when a rough hand grabbed her arm and turned her around.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Justice growled as she jerked her arm away from him.

“What everyone else should be doing!” Nita snarled back at him.

Justice scoffed and narrowed his eyes at her. “What everyone else should be doing?!” He whipped his hand behind him, pointing at the army in the distance. “Who among them wouldn’t die for her? Alexa is my family! Don’t you think I would do anything for her? But this …” He shook his head. “We all know better. We’ve seen the strength of a tier-one deity. It isn’t a battle we can win on our own, let alone with him holding a hostage … my cousin! Don’t you think it’s killing us?”

“So, you just give up? You just let her march away and do nothing?” Nita answered angrily, and Justice scoffed at her.

“Idiot. Is that what it looked like? That we just shrugged our shoulders and said off you go?” Justice lips curled up as he bared his clenched teeth. “I WOULD TAKE HER PLACE IN A SECOND!” he growled angrily. His shoulders lowered and he shook his head. “But I also trust her. I believe in her. We all do.” He looked at Nita and a sad smile formed over his face. “If we charge out there to fight, we will make the situation even more dangerous for Alexa. We will be more people she has to protect. It wouldn’t be us protecting her. We would either end up killed or become another hostage.” A crooked smile rose over his lips as he looked at her. “It is a lot tougher than guarding a place, isn’t it?”

Nita pursed her lips and nodded her head. Justice rested his hand on her head. “It’ll be okay. No matter what. This isn’t over. Alexa is the strongest fairy princess to ever exist. And she’s clever. I’m sure she has a plan.” Justice looked up past Nita at the woods. He understood how Nita was feeling. He wanted to raise his sword and create devastation out there. But he would be no more annoying than a gnat to Erebus. Right now, all they could do was trust in Alexa. And pray that Ken and Levi returned soon.

Alexa took commanding strides out of the barrier, her head held high. Her eyes were fixed on Erebus and his grip on Raine. She continued to close the gap until they were only a few yards apart. She wanted to slice that crooked smile off of Erebus’ face. His damn, smug, victorious face.

“Look at you … Though I have to say, I think I liked you better when you were dark.” Erebus’ smirk faded as his gaze landed on her neck. He scoffed, tightening his grip on Raine. He shook his head and clenched his teeth. Ken couldn’t wait to mark her. HER! What was so special about her? Just because she was his mate? Just because of the mate pull, he wanted her? Well, he would find out himself what was special about her. Maybe she was what he needed to find happiness.

“Let. Her. Go,” Alexa said, her voice cold. Her eyes met Raine’s, and she smiled. “Don’t worry, Raine. Everything is going to be just fine.” She looked past Erebus and noticed the strange distortion where the grass and background blurred and swayed unnaturally. The cloaked army …

A cruel smile spread over Erebus’ lips as he noticed Alexa’s gaze. With one hand, he held Raine’s arms above her head, the fingertips of his other hand trailing over her side. “You have no value to me except as a hostage.” His gaze lifted to Alexa as he moved his head to the crook of Raine’s neck, his tongue tracing over her skin. She struggled against him, and his cruel smile spread. “What will it be, Alexa? Should I taste her in another way? Or are you ready to play nice?”

Fucking pig. She watched as his hand began to trail lower, and Raine whimpered. He started to slide his hand inside her pants, and the temperature around them suddenly changed. The wind swirled as ice began to freeze his feet. “Careful,” Alexa said, her tone lethal. “I may not be able to straight-up kill you, but …” She allowed her ice to trail upward. “I’m sure I can freeze off an appendage.” His eyes twitched, and he removed his hand from Raine’s pants.

Erebus chuckled sinisterly as a smirk spread across his face. “No need to get nasty. Unless that’s what you want …” He held Alexa’s gaze. She looked at him differently than before. There was no fear in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of him at all, which he found unsettling. Maybe she thought Ken would be coming to her rescue?

“He isn’t coming for you. Neither is your father. Your guardian will be handling them right about now …” Erebus watched as her eyes flickered slightly, and he grinned. “Yes, I know where they are, and about the trap that was waiting for them. Such a shame …”

She gritted her teeth and glared at him. He was quite taken aback by her attitude. He expected her to have a panic attack or something. Something that would be easy to control. Instead, there was a murderous contempt for him in her eyes

For a split second, Alexa thought back to her father, mate, and guardian. She wondered if they were okay. But she quickly shook her head and focused on Erebus. She couldn’t let him get to her. She needed to concentrate on the task in front of her. Her eyes turned to Raine. Right now, she needed to make sure her family was safe, and that included getting rid of the cloaked army.

“Aren’t you worried?” Erebus asked.

Alexa smiled and stared at him. “Aren’t you? With the number of people wanting to kill you … I mean, your world is getting smaller and smaller.”

Erebus shrugged. “My world isn’t getting smaller. I’m just expanding it in another direction. But I have found a way to keep me undetected. Look at me, princess. I’m right in front of you. But do you sense me? My aura is blocked so no one can. And on that note …” He dangled Raine as he lifted her into the air with his one hand. “The exchange … I want your word that you will come with me willingly. You agree to this, and I’ll let her go.”

Alexa scoffed. “Not so fast. I want the army gone as well.”

“What army?” Erebus chuckled and looked around.

Alexa formed a ball in her hand, yellow with black swirls that spun rapidly. She launched the ball of energy behind Erebus. It smashed against an invisible barrier and caused a rippling effect. The vision of the army temporarily came into view as the barrier swelled in and out from the impact. She looked over at Erebus and raised her brows.

“Oh … that army.” Erebus shrugged. “They aren’t really my army.”

“Yeah, but I’m betting you can make them leave. Either you make them leave or I’ll eliminate them. But I am not going anywhere with them here.” Alexa watched Erebus’ eyes flicker as he stared at her.

“If I order the army to leave, you will come with me willingly. You will stay with me willingly.”