Page 158 of Taming the Kraken

“Oh … Brandy … umm, this will be my route from now on.” The man shifted his gaze and wet his lips nervously.

“Why? Why isn’t Brandy handling this route anymore?” Mikah watched as the man lowered the crate to the ground.

“Well, here is your delivery.” the man said and started back along the path. Suddenly he was tossed against the wall and a hand gripped his throat, lifting him against the stone behind him.

“I guess that sounded like a question. I can be clumsy with the way I word things. Let’s try again, hmm?” Mikah began squeezing the man’s throat as he glared at him. “Tell me about Brandy.” He watched as the man struggled against him. Mikah smirked and applied more pressure. “I don’t mind holding you like this until you pass out. You aren’t stronger than me, so don’t bother trying. You won’t be leaving unless I get answers. Where. Is. She?”

“Mikah!” Alexa yelled as she came out the back door with Ken at her side.

“Good morning. You two are up earlier than I anticipated,” Mikah said casually as he continued to hold the man up.

“Put him down, Mikah, so we can talk.” Alexa watched as Mikah eased the man down, who then coughed and rubbed his throat.

“Thank goodness! I thought I was a goner.” The man continued to cough and then his eyes widened as his feet were engulfed in a solid block of ice.

“You know who I am … right, druid?” Alexa asked, and he nodded. “Good. I believe my guardian asked you a question. We want an answer.”

“I can’t …”

“I forgot to add that my mate is the Kraken.” Alexa patted Ken’s chest as she stared at the fearful eyes in front of her. “And my guardian is a titan. Sometimes they are so tough to control. They have horrible tempers. I don’t know what he might do to you or the other druids.” She shook her head as she sucked in air through her teeth. “And they aren’t even the ones you should be afraid of. If I don’t get an answer soon ...” The ice began to climb up the man’s pants. “I wonder how long it will last before it freezes off …”

“HER MATING CEREMONY IS TODAY!” the man cried out hysterically.

“WHAT?!” Mikah roared. He turned his head and looked around. “Where? I need to get there.”

“It probably already started. It’s at the Salt Stone Altar. You’ll never make it in time. And afterward, they get locked up for a month to make sure a child is conceived.” The man listened as Ken chuckled.

“I’ve always wanted to check off being a wedding crasher. Can’t miss this opportunity.” Ken grinned down at Mikah.

“I don’t know how I—” Mikah started, shaking his head.

“You can figure it out later,” Alexa said in a rush. “Get us there, Ken.”

“If you break up a mating ceremony, they will fight you,” the man said, and Alexa turned and smirked at him.

“They will lose,” Alexa said simply with a small shrug. She looked into Mikah’s blue eyes and nodded her head. “Thank you for being honest with yourself. Let’s hope we aren’t too late.”

Brandy sat on a stool, burying her head in her arms on the vanity. She was in a small white tent, with one attendant to help her get ready. There were two men standing guard on either side of the opening. Nothing like publicly showing she was being forced into this.

All females had to undergo an annual fertility check. This was to show which women were in their prime for carrying offspring. It was vital for the druids to not miss any window of opportunity. This was when Brandy’s world was turned upside down. When the elders demanded she take a mate, there was only one man ready to take her … Noah. She knew now he had used his position to make sure she had no other options but him.

“I can’t do this,” Brandy whispered as she gripped the mirror in front of her so tightly her knuckles turned white. She took a deep breath and looked up at the person standing behind her. “You know this isn’t right. We’re supposed to have a choice.”

The woman looked at her with sympathetic eyes and nodded her head. “I’m so sorry, Brandy. This is wrong.”

“There has to be something you can do,” Brandy pleaded. She reached out and touched the woman’s arm. “Just distract them long enough so I can escape.”

The woman glanced at the two guards and then back at Brandy. She looked down at Brandy’s hand and then took it in hers. She gave it a gentle squeeze and nodded her head. Before either of them could say anything, the tent flap opened.

“I came to escort my mate to the altar.” Noah smiled as he stepped into the tent, dressed in his ceremonial robes. The long sleeves and pant legs were white, broken only by the purple sash that was around his waist. This was one of the most important days of his life. He was finally getting the mate he’d been waiting for.

“Noah.” Brandy stood up and shook her head. “I don’t want this. I can’t. Call this off. I won’t be your mate. This is wrong to be forcing this.”

Noah’s smile faded and he glanced at the woman standing beside Brandy. He sneered at her and pointed at the tent opening. “Get out!” The woman rushed past him, and he narrowed his eyes at Brandy.

“What are you doing?” He roared as he took a step forward. “Are you going against the elders?”

“This is wrong!” Brandy said frantically as she shook her head. “We’re supposed to be able to make our own choices. Instead, they’re trying to force me … No! I won’t be your mate.”