Page 45 of Taming the Kraken

“I said I would, so I will. I was going to fix the situation anyway.” Shiva sighed and dramatically threw her head back. “But I am going to make one demand.”

“I’m listening.”

Shiva’s cool blue eyes met hers. A sadness washed over them as her lips tugged downward. “Take Bella with you and protect her. She is lonely and should be under the watchful eye of your father, the dragon deity.”

“Shiva, no, I’m fine.” Bella shook her head, biting her inner lip.

“Shh, it’s okay. Of course you’re lonely. You know how to find me. I’m not going anywhere. Go and see the world, and if you don’t like it, you can always come back. And if you do like it, you can still visit me whenever you like. You will always be able to enter here.” Shiva reached out and patted Bella’s hand. “When you love something, you should set it free. I have kept you caged for too long. Not another word. You will go with the demigod unless she wishes to stay here too.”

Alexa smiled and shook her head. “Thank you, but I can’t live here.”

“Suit yourself.”

Alexa smiled and tilted her head. “You are nothing like they described you.”

“Or maybe I am. But it just depends on who it is.” Shiva suddenly scowled and let out a loud groan. “Speaking of depending on who it is …” They heard a thunderous explosion, and seconds later, a jagged seam ripped down through nothing, edges grinding, raw light bleeding out around it. Ken stepped out of the tear with all the ceremony of a man using a door he'd kicked in, Mikah and Brian close behind him. The moment they were clear, the seam snapped shut.

“Oh Ken. I’m so glad you made it,” Shiva huffed, rolling her eyes.

Ken’s green eyes immediately found Alexa. He sighed in relief to see her looking unharmed. His body relaxed and a small smile reached his lips. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

“I was worried about you,” he breathed out, lowering his head into her neck. “Are you alright?” He inhaled her scent and let the warm tingles embrace him. If there was something that would be his undoing, it would be her. He couldn’t think clearly when it came to her. He panicked and reacted.

“I’m fine.” Alexa leaned her head into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Erebus couldn’t see them here. She was going to hold him close and enjoy his touch. Recognition hummed through her veins as his scent blanketed her. Small sparks of electricity caressed her skin. Her heart rate picked up, beating against her chest as if it was screaming to the world.

Ken lifted his head and cupped her cheeks. He studied the little details of her face and leaned forward to brush his lips against her forehead.

“Now that is adorable.” Shiva began laughing hysterically. “A real live Beauty and the Beast. Oh gosh, it’s too much. I can’t breathe. My sides!” She snorted as she laughed, gripping her stomach.

Alexa watched as Ken turned sharply toward Shiva, but she quickly reached up, placing her hand on his cheek. His eyes came back to rest on hers and she smiled at him. “My beast.” She reached up on her tiptoes and lightly brushed her lips against his. His eyes flickered with so much emotion and love as he looked down at her.

Shiva snorted loudly as a fit of giggles echoed off the ice walls. “My dear, you can’t mean that. Have you seen his creature?” She shuddered and shook her head. “This …” She waved her finger in a circle, pointing at Ken. “Is only part of who he is. His grotesque beast is the other. You just can’t look at him the same way once you’ve seen it.”

“I can.” Alexa smiled up at him as she rested her hands on his chest.

His green eyes stayed captured by hers. No one else existed but her. He had never felt this way before in his life. My beast … if only she really meant that. She didn’t know what his monster looked like. Could she really look at him the same? What about after hearing about all the things he’d done in the past?

Yet her blue eyes shined up at him. In her eyes, he felt … safe. Safe from being judged. Like he finally belonged to someone. He knew he could never deserve her, but he needed her. He needed someone to look at him the way she was. She made him feel like he had worth. He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes.

Mikah stood there watching Alexa and Ken together. This was a weird moment for him. He was happy for her, but he wasn’t sure how he fit. Usually he would have gone to Alexa immediately to calm his beast. She was his life. His purpose. But right now … he never thought he would feel like he didn’t belong near her.

Mikah was her guardian, but her mate was a deity. Ken could protect Alexa better than he could. He didn’t hold romantic feelings for Alexa, but he was possessive of her in a protective way. Yet there was something aggravating him. He could feel his anger rising as he struggled to manage his control.

An icy breeze swirled around him, and for a moment, he thought it was Alexa. He glanced up to see sharp blue eyes fixed on him.

Shiva clicked her tongue and shook her head as she pointed at Mikah, pursing her lips. “And you are?”

“I’m her guardian,” Mikah replied tersely.

Shiva squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “How? How? How? How?” she repeated quietly, tapping her chin.

“Okay, I want to know what exactly is going on here. And why did you attack us? I thought you were going to help Alexa,” Brian growled, narrowing his eyes on Bella.

“I-I-I-I umm …” Bella stuttered in shock, not accustomed to an aggressive reaction. Her gray eyes met his angry hazel ones as she took a timid step back.

“Brian, it wasn’t her!” Alexa pushed back from Ken to shout at him. “We can explain, but Shiva has agreed to help you.” She wanted to make sure he didn’t do anything dumb that might make Shiva refuse to help him.

“Really? The hag agreed to help?” Ken asked, quirking his brow as he looked at Shiva. He followed her fixated gaze toward Mikah. Why was she looking at him like that?