Page 67 of Taming the Kraken

“Well, no. I mean, I had Shiva there.” Bella averted her eyes. She didn’t want to say anything bad about her life with Shiva. It was just that Shiva wasn’t always a big conversationalist. Shiva liked to talk but did not like to listen. Sometimes Bella just wanted to experience more of the world. “Anyway, I’m ready to start learning what I need to do. I want to help Alexa as soon as I can.”

“Thank you so much, Bella.” Reiya smiled and motioned for Bella to follow her. Brian also followed them out of the room and Reiya glanced back at him. “You know gramps isn’t going to let you stay.”

Brian chuckled. “Of course not. I’m not you or Alexa, the favored ones,” he teased.

“Brian!”

Brian turned to see Ryker walking his way with his arm around Raine. He looked back at Bella and Reiya as he considered what he should do.

“Gramps isn’t going to let you stay anyway. You know where we’ll be.” Reiya smiled at Brian and watched as his gaze settled on Bella.

“Don’t do anything dangerous … please.” Brian watched as a sweet smile spread over Bella’s face.

“I won’t be doing anything dangerous for me. Though it would probably kill you.” Bella winked at Brian with a sweet giggle.

Brian loved her laugh, her smile … yeah, he was beginning to love everything about her. He followed her with his gaze as she walked away with Reiya. With every passing moment, the pull was getting stronger for him, while she remained oblivious to his struggling temptation.

“Who was that?” Ryker asked as he looked at Brian.

Brian finally looked away and turned his attention to Ryker and Raine. “We have a lot to talk about. Let’s head to my office. This needs to be discussed privately. But I have a big job for you, Ryker. And I’m hoping I can selfishly ask Raine to help as well.”

“You know I will help you in any way I can.” Raine looked around. “Where are Alexa and Mikah? And who was that woman with Aunt Reiya?”

“Like I said, we have a lot to talk about.” Brian smiled and nodded for them to follow him. News of his mate couldn’t get out right now. It would be weird for him to bring his fated mate here when he’d taken a chosen mate. This would all need to be kept secret until the time was right.

Mikah bit into an apple as he leaned back into the chair. He looked over at Alexa, curled up against Ken on the couch, his arm around her.

“I have a joke about paper bags.” Mikah grinned and then shrugged. “Eh, never mind. It’s TEARable.” He chuckled as Ken snorted.

“Oh, come on, that one was funny. Look, even Alexa cracked a smile.” Mikah sighed as a wry grin formed over his lips. “Why do paper bags never win poker games? Because they always fold.” Mikah laughed loudly and nodded his head at Ken. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean anything by it. I actually have a lot of respect for paper bags. One could call me SACreligious.”

Alexa giggled and tilted her head up to look at the paper-bag head above her. “You don’t have to wear that.”

“I know I don’t. I want to. No accidents for you. I’d rather wear this than put a blindfold on you.” Ken ran a hand along Alexa's side.

“Right. Blindfolds are for the bedroom.” Alexa heard Ken take in a sharp breath as Mikah choked on his drink.

“Nope, that one is below the belt. That is nothing like me KRAKEN jokes.” Mikah held his sides as he rumbled with laughter. “Oh come on, even Ken knows that one was funny.”

“I’m so sorry I left you alone with him for so long. He is unBEARable.” Ken smirked in his paper bag and listened to Mikah laughing.

“See, that’s the spirit!” Mikah looked at Ken and then frowned. “I need to make you a mouth hole.”

“It’s fine for now.” Ken wasn’t a fan of the paper bag. It was stuffy and very limiting. But it was worth it so that his mate could cling to him like she was. He didn’t want to upset her accidentally. If it was going to take a while, they might need to figure out a better mask besides a paper bag. For now, as long as he got to feel her warmth beside him, it was worth it. The sweet sparks that tingled between them were comforting.

“Thank you,” Alexa whispered as she gripped Ken’s shirt and leaned into him. “It would have been really hard for you to leave me right now, after … everything.” She didn’t want to be afraid of Erebus, but it was the feeling of being helpless around him that scared her. Both times she’d seen him, she hadn’t been able to fight him off. And after what happened last time, she was shaken up. It lit something inside her, though. She felt her feral beasts inside her rage, demanding his blood. She wasn’t afraid to fight him. She just needed her powers and her beasts.

Still, Erebus was crazy. And he had shown he was able to get to her.

It was comforting being next to Ken, even if she couldn’t see his face. She could smell him and feel his heat. She could hear his soothing voice and feel his soft touch. Her beasts needed this, and she needed this.

“Lex.” Ken looked down at her through the eyehole of his mask. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Your father needs to tighten his security up here. You know … if you were at my place, he couldn’t find you. I wonder if it would be better to take you there.”

“No,” Alexa said firmly. “What if Erebus thinks I’m with you when he can’t find me? He will kill someone in my family. I’d rather him get to me than hurt or kill one of them.” Plus Alexa was already working on a plan. The next time Erebus showed his face, she was going to leave him with a sting of her own.

Ken closed his eyes, his frustration clear on his face. It was all hidden behind the paper bag, though. In order to fully protect Alexa, he also needed to protect her family. He couldn’t let anything happen to them because he didn’t want her to hurt like that. He knew just how unhinged Erebus was, though. If Erebus was threatening to kill one of her family members, it would only be a matter of time before he followed through. He needed to find Erebus … and fast. But how? How could he lure Erebus out without using Alexa as bait?

“I’m hungry. Should I bring up dinner?” Mikah asked.