Page 46 of Taming the Kraken

“I’m curious about your life … guardian. At what age were you discovered as a guardian? Where were you living?” Shiva listened to the indignant snort as Mikah turned his head away from her. “Okay, well, now I’m not asking. Someone tell me about this … guardian.” She hesitated over what to call him.

“He was five years old when we found him, and we discovered he was a good candidate to become my guardian. After he lost his family in the demon war, he was captured by dark elves and kept as a slave.” Alexa looked from Mikah to Shiva. “Why?”

“He’s been around your father?” Shiva arched her brows as she ran her tongue over her teeth.

“Of course. Mikah is my brother. He’s unofficially an adopted member of my family.” Alexa looked up at Ken to see he was studying Shiva intently. She glanced back as the goddess frowned.

“Loch Ness, we need to chat.” Shiva gave him a fake smile. Ken frowned and glanced down at Alexa. “Seriously? Nothing else can come in here.”

Ken muttered some incoherent words under his breath. He had a feeling whatever she was about to say was going to make him angry. He squeezed his arms around Alexa and brushed his nose in her hair. “I shouldn’t be long, but if you need me, call for me. I’ll hear you.” He pressed his lips to her head, breathing in her comforting scent. He then turned and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, lead the way.”

Shiva vanished, and a second later, Ken disappeared as well, leaving Alexa, Brian, Mikah, and Bella in the room alone.

“Well, this is a good time for us to all get acquainted since Bella will be coming to live with us.” Alexa bit her bottom lip and smiled as she noticed both Brian and Mikah’s exasperated expressions. “Let’s start with proper introductions.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Alexa walked over to Bella and patted her shoulder. “Bella, I want you to meet two men who are like brothers to me. This is Mikah, my guardian, and Brian, the Dragon Prince of the West.” She lifted her gaze up to Brian and Mikah. “This is Bella, the crystal dragon who removed my curse. She will be coming to stay with us.”

“If that’s okay …” Bella whispered quietly as she glanced up awkwardly at the two men.

“Of course it’s okay.” Alexa waved her off. “Shiva has agreed to help you, Brian. Her only demand was for us to take Bella with us.” She motioned to Bella with her eyes, signaling for him to greet her.

Brian stepped forward and then stopped. “I was going to at least shake your hand, but I better not. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You mean because of the heat?” Bella looked up at him beneath her eyelashes and watched him nod his head. “You don’t need to worry about that.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She looked at him expectantly.

Brian reached out cautiously, taking her hand in his. The moment he did, he felt frost travel up his arm, layering his skin with ice crystals. “You’re an ice dragon too?” He looked her over fully, as if seeing her for the first time. She was shorter than him, with a delicate frame. Her silver hair shined as it rested on her pale skin. But what really captivated him were her piercing gray eyes.

Bella released her hand from his grip and shook her head. “I’m a crystal dragon, remember?”

“What exactly is a crystal dragon?” Mikah asked, reaching his own hand out to shake hers. He grabbed her hand and enfolded his fingers around her delicate wrist. There was a warm, almost serene energy that flowed from her. It relaxed him, and he took down his guard. This was not someone who was a threat. He released her hand, bringing his back to his side. Her gray eyes were still on his, making him swallow uncomfortably. “Is there something on my face?” Mikah chuckled. “Or have you not seen someone as good looking as me before?”

“She saw me already. And I’m more attractive than you.” Brian smirked and tilted his head toward Mikah.

“Nice try, Brian, but my ass is more attractive than you.” Mikah grinned widely, flashing his pearly whites at Brian.

“The dingleberry growing on my ass is more attractive than you!” Brian shot back with a chuckle.

“Bella?” Alexa asked, watching Bella blink a few times and shake her head.

“It’s nothing.” Bella cleared her throat and smiled. “A crystal dragon is a dragon that learns its abilities over time. They are only born with the ability to purify, but as they age, they develop other skills. I’ve learned to manipulate the elements—wind, fire, lightning, water, and ice. I suspect as I grow older, I will continue to learn more. I’m especially interested in darkness and flare. Shiva said I have the potential to master them.”

Brian now looked at Bella with more interest. “You can fight with all those elements? That is amazing! A dragon like you …” He suddenly got quiet and shook his head. “You would be safe in the dragon kingdom, though. We would never exploit or use you. I would personally see that you would be treated with the utmost respect.”

“I bet you personally would. Even offering to give her a personal sponge bath.” Mikah chuckled as Brian’s eyes bulged.

“You’ll get used to them. They’re always joking like this.” Alexa shook her head and rolled her eyes. She glanced around the area as Brian and Mikah continued to tease each other. She wondered what Shiva wanted to talk to Ken about. To be honest, she was slightly annoyed at the goddess for how she had poked fun at her mate. He couldn’t help what his beast was like. She didn’t see how any of that mattered. No matter what his other form looked like … he was hers. All of him belonged to her. And soon, she would put her mark on his neck, permanently claiming him as her own. The question was … what kind of mark would it be?

Would the mark belong to her wolf or her dragon? Although Alexa had a wolf, she’d never belonged to a wolf pack. She was brought up in the dragon kingdom and naturally related more to them. Not that she didn’t relate to her wolf or her relatives, but she felt more of a connection to her dragon. However, Yuki was not a weak or timid wolf. She was a dominant dire wolf, and as such, she would most likely want to assert her dominance. Perhaps a mark on each side of his neck would be best? One to appease both her beasts?

Ken rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. “You’re sure?” He was standing in a green, circular room. It was a place where deities often met that was considered neutral ground.

Shiva scoffed and clicked her tongue in agitation. “Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I’m sure. I’m shocked you didn’t realize it.”

“I felt the one thing, but I knew there was something else there.” Ken groaned and pressed his head into his hand. “What was her father thinking?”

“I was curious about that as well, so I’ve summoned him.” Shiva smirked and shrugged her shoulders.