Page 96 of Taming the Kraken

“What isn’t good?” Alexa asked nervously.

“It has nothing to do with you. You’re fine. And you have a nice power boost now. It will take you time, but once you learn to utilize it, you’ll be even stronger.” Harley watched as she tilted her head in curiosity.

“Can I still teleport like before?” Alexa asked, and Harley shrugged.

“As of now, no. But later on down the road? Maybe.” Harley watched the impatient green eyes staring at him from behind Alexa, seeking an answer now. “That demonic power didn’t just come from any source. It was infused with the Demon King’s essence.”

“Are you sure?!” Levi said in mild alarm.

“Yes,” Abe answered confidently.

“I’m very sure. I know this energy very well. It was given by none other than the Demon King. For him to get involved means he has an interest here somewhere.” Harley looked over at Destiny and his unborn child. They were his world. His everything. If he had to, he would disappear with them. The Demon King’s involvement could only be bad news for everyone.

“That reminds me. I met someone. An old woman. She had gray hair and black eyes. I couldn’t recognize her power, but it was different. She looked like … I don’t know. Her skin was dull and gray. But I met her while I was still Xi. She knew about the nembrant glass. It seemed like she was working for Erebus. But I just remembered. While my head was hurting, I heard her talking to Erebus about freeing her granddaughter’s soul.” Alexa’s gaze moved to her uncle Hunter and aunt Freja.

“She said her name is Meryl.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

There was silence around them as everyone looked at Hunter and Freja, the King and Queen of the Werewolves. They knew Meryl, and it wasn’t a name that brought anything other than dread, death, and destruction wherever she went.

Freja felt a chill go down her spine as she thought back to the last time they had met. Meryl had been obsessed with Freja’s family since her mother had chosen a vampire mate. She had killed both of Freja’s parents as well as injected Hunter with a blood curse.

“Meryl … I killed her. How is this possible?” Freja looked up at her mate Hunter in disbelief.

“I wonder if she plans to settle her old grudge,” Hunter growled angrily. He glanced over at his son Aedan, who he knew would be apprehensive. His mate Deeana had remained at the Black Ice Pack against Aedan’s protests. Lycaon insisted Deeana would be safe and that it was important for a leader to stay behind. Aedan was adamant that if Deeana stayed behind, he would stay as well, but Deeana was unwavering in her decision to stay alone. She wanted time away from Aedan. If truth be told, Hunter was a bit anxious about the relationship. Deeana had a wall built around her and would only briefly let Aedan in before it was back up again. He knew his son was hurting, but he never voiced it.

Hunter knew what it was like to be rejected, and at this point, he wasn’t sure how things were going to go for Aedan and Deeana. Aedan wanted her. But Deeana—he honestly wasn’t sure. She seemed to care for Aedan, but she has been reluctant to accept his mark. If Aedan ended up rejected, all he could do was be there for him. For now, this worry needed to be pushed to the back burner.

“Is she a necromancer like Beryl turned into?” Lucie asked as she attempted to get up on her own. An attempt that failed. Three men and a little boy were on her instantly, all scolding her. Lucie clicked her tongue. “I can stand!”

“Sit down and relax. You don’t need to use up your energy standing.” Derrick slid into the seat and pulled her down onto his lap.

“Might as well forget it, Lucie. All our men see are porcelain dolls about to break.” Destiny leaned back as she rubbed her round, hardened stomach. Ever since Harley found out she was pregnant, he had doted on her relentlessly.

Harley walked back to Destiny and placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them lightly as he looked around at everyone. “She could have been brought back a number of different ways. She is working with demons. Necromancy, soul binding … I mean, there are many forms that she can be brought back as.”

“She could materialize and teleport. And she was strong. I remember feeling her aura. I’ve never felt anything like it,” Alexa murmured as she tried to remember the details.

“Materialize and teleport ... with black eyes.” Harley trailed off as his lips curled downward. He mindlessly rubbed Destiny’s shoulders. He’d avoided the depths of the demon realm for quite some time. Ever since he found his unborn mate, he’d distanced himself. He didn’t want his sweet mate being subjected to the horrors of the dark world. But because of his absence, there was a lot that he didn’t know now. Even the loyal men he kept by his side no longer had the same dealings.

Harley had moved all his interests into the corporate world. He had grown his businesses and become a global tycoon. For a demon, his work and business takeovers were non-violent but so satisfying. Destiny and her mother Jin were too kindhearted, and he would protect their gentle souls from any evil lurking. And one of those evils now was someone who was brought back from the dead with black eyes. A creature like that was very dangerous, and there was only one that came to mind right now.

“A nycrops.” Abe raised his brown gaze to Harley.

“How?!” Grayson scowled as he looked at the small child. It was hard to remember that this kid was much older than he appeared.

“Abe is right. A nycrops seems to fit the puzzle correctly. They must have sealed her body with an alabaster stone. It would have collected her soul and essence when she died. Then the demons would have only needed to retrieve it. And with the powers of the stone, they can bring back a species of their choosing.” Harley looked up at Levi. “Deities and original demons won’t have any issues with a nycrops. But even your guardians will have one hell of a fight on their hands. If she is indeed a nycrops, the demons have unleashed one hell of an ally.”

“I think they’re using her to work on the nembrant glass. Erebus asked her why it wasn’t working. Is there something special a nycrops can do with the glass?” Alexa asked, and Harley’s eyes widened.

“That’s it.” Harley nodded his head and sighed. “The nembrant glass was originally created by the nycrops, so they must need one for enhancements … or more production.” He shifted his gaze to Levi, then Ken.

“Right, we need to get rid of this nycrops as soon as possible. The last thing we need is more of that damn glass.” Levi growled. He didn’t like the sound of this at all. The whole discussion reeked of something sinister.

Asher, the patriarch of the family, finally spoke up. “At least the family is safe inside Elysia. We can take this time to observe and come up with a well-thought-out plan.”

“I’ll be taking Alexa and Mikah with me for a bit,” Ken stated firmly, leaving no room for objection. Though it happened anyway.